Panera Bread Gluten Free Menu: Full List & Prices Value guide

panera bread gluten free menu is a quick guide to planning your order at this chain in the United States.

You get a clear answer up front: this restaurant does not offer certified gluten-free items. It lists a “gluten-conscious” set of picks and prepares food in shared kitchens, so cross-contact is possible.

This guide shows what is realistically safe and what is not. It covers the full list of gluten-conscious items, typical price ranges, and a simple decision path for mild to severe sensitivity.

Expect common safe picks like salads, bowls, smoothies, and simple sides. Watch out for the biggest problem areas: sandwiches, bakery items, and soups thickened with wheat.

What you’ll get: scannable lists, modification tips, allergen reminders, and a “what to avoid” checklist so you can place an order with confidence.

What to Know Before Ordering Gluten-Free at Panera Bread in the United States

First, accept that a “gluten-conscious” label is not the same as medical-safe. The chain’s published disclaimer says gluten-conscious items are made in the same kitchen as gluten-containing items. That means cross-contact can occur, and the company does not guarantee zero traces.

What “gluten-conscious” means

In plain terms, it usually means no gluten-containing ingredients were added. It does not promise safety for people who must avoid gluten for health reasons.

Why cross-contact is a real risk

• Bakery-café setup: bread handling, warming stations, shared utensils, and fast assembly raise exposure.
• Off-site baked goods: dough shipped in still spreads traces when baked or warmed onsite.
• Hidden-risk items: croutons, granola/oats, soup thickeners, and some sauces can contain wheat.

Who should avoid this restaurant

If you have celiac disease, a severe wheat allergy, or high sensitivity, skip ordering here. If you choose to eat panera by preference, weigh your personal risk before you order.

Gluten-Free vs. Gluten-Conscious at Panera Bread

Labels can be confusing; this section separates strict gluten-free standards from a “conscious” approach. Panera Bread does not offer certified gluten-free items, so branding is not a safety promise.

That means even salads and bowls made from naturally gluten-free ingredients can face cross-contact during assembly. If you have celiac disease or a severe wheat allergy, this is a real risk.

Common exposure points

• Shared prep boards and cutting surfaces
• Shared tongs, utensils, and salad lines
• Warming shelves and nearby baked goods

Why ingredient lists are not enough

Ingredients show what is included, but the kitchen workflow matters as much as each item. Process steps can transfer traces between orders.

Use this guide if you follow a gluten free lifestyle with reasonable caution, not if you require zero-contact safety. Later sections will point to the simplest orders and ingredient-based choices on the menu.

panera bread gluten free menu: Full Gluten-Conscious Options List

Use this organized list to find practical gluten-conscious items at a glance. The roster groups salads, bowls, breakfast, and blended drinks so you can scan the cafe’s offerings quickly.

Gluten-conscious salads currently listed by Panera

• Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken — best use: protein-rich lunch; allergens: eggs, dairy.
• Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken — best use: light dinner; allergens: nuts, dairy.
• Greek Salad (with or without chicken) — best use: side or main; allergens: dairy (feta).

Warm bowls without gluten ingredients

• Baja Bowl (with/without chicken) — best use: filling dinner; allergens: dairy, possible soy in dressings.
• Mediterranean Bowl (with/without chicken) — best use: balanced meal; allergens: dairy, nuts in some toppings.

Breakfast items labeled gluten-conscious (oat caveat)

• Greek Yogurt with Mixed Berries Parfait — best use: quick morning snack; allergens: dairy, granola may contain oats.
• Steel Cut Oatmeal with Strawberries & Pecans — best use: hearty breakfast; note: oats are not certified gluten-free here.

Smoothies and blended drinks commonly considered gluten-free

• Strawberry Banana — post-workout smoothie; dairy-free options available.
• Green Passion — green blend for energy; vegan option with almond milk.
• Mango / Peach & Blueberry with Almond Milk / Strawberry — kid-friendly and light choices.

Quick scan tips: confirm prices and calories in the app since local pricing varies. Ask staff about cross-contact if you need strict avoidance.

Gluten-Conscious Salads at Panera Bread

Choosing the right salad means reading ingredient cues and asking a couple of simple questions. Salads on the gluten conscious menu often list clear ingredients, which helps you pick options with less risk of cross-contact.

Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken

This is a hearty salad with eggs, bacon, avocado, and shredded chicken. It’s popular for a filling lunch and pairs well with the Green Goddess dressing.

Watch for croutons and confirm they are not added to your bowl. Ask staff to place dressing on the side if you want more control.

Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken

Sweet and crunchy with apples, candied nuts, and cheese, this salad blends textures and flavors. Nuts and dairy are the main allergens to note.

Request nut-free substitutions if needed and check that salad toppers were kept separate from baked goods areas.

Greek Salad (with or without chicken)

The Greek salad stays simple: greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta. Adding chicken boosts protein while keeping ingredients easy to verify.

Location-Based Salads

Some cafes list Seasonal Greens or Tomato Basil Cucumber salads. If you see them, read the ingredient list and ask whether any toppings sit near croutons.

Dressings & Hidden-Gluten Watchouts

• Ask for dressing on the side to avoid cross-contact from shared ladles.
• Confirm no soy/teriyaki-style ingredients in the dressing; some guides flag ginger, lemon, and tangerine soy vinaigrettes as exceptions.
• When you’re sensitive, request a glove change and a fresh bowl since assembly often happens near croutons.

Warm Bowls and Meal Bowls Without Gluten Ingredients

A warm bowl serves as a compact meal that’s easy to customize for protein or dairy needs. These bowls are filling, often built from whole ingredients, and avoid bread by design. They work well on the conscious menu for diners seeking simpler options.

Baja Bowl vs. Baja Bowl with Chicken

The Baja Bowl centers on rice, beans, salsa, and bold seasonings. Choose the version with chicken for added protein and satiety.

Watch sauces and crunchy toppings. Swapping dressings can introduce hidden gluten via soy or thickened sauces.

Mediterranean Bowl vs. Mediterranean Bowl with Chicken

The Mediterranean option pairs grains or greens with roasted veggies, olives, and tangy cheese. Add chicken to make it a fuller meal.

It pairs nicely with fruit or a simple side salad for a balanced plate.

Simple Dairy-Free Modifications

• Remove cheese and skip yogurt-based drizzles.
• Ask for extra vegetables or avocado for volume.
• Confirm sauces are not thickened with wheat or soy-based marinades.

Line reality: bowls are assembled in shared areas. If you need medical-level avoidance, treat these as gluten-conscious, not guaranteed safe.

Soups at Panera: What’s Sometimes Gluten-Free and What’s Not

Recipes and thickening methods shift by location, making soups the riskiest area to assume safety. Soups may look simple, but ingredients and prep vary. That means you must confirm each recipe at the store before ordering.

Sometimes naturally okay

Guides often list Turkey Chili and Autumn Squash Soup as sometimes gluten-free. These items can be made without wheat thickeners.

Still, confirm current ingredients and handling at your location since recipes change seasonally.

Soups that typically contain gluten

• Broccoli Cheddar: uses roux or flour for creaminess.
• Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice: commonly thickened with wheat.
• Tomato Soup, Chicken Tortilla, Baked Potato: may include croutons, noodles, or flour thickeners.

Serving details that matter

Soups are often paired with a baguette or roll. Croutons and add-ons can introduce traces. Ask staff to refuse the bread side and skip croutons.

Safe-ordering script: “Can you check the current allergen guide for this soup and tell me if it’s handled near bread or croutons?”

Breakfast, Oatmeal, and Parfaits: Gluten Considerations

Breakfast is a convenient stop, yet oats and granola introduce a hidden question for sensitive diners. Many choose morning items for speed and comfort. Yet a single ingredient can change the safety of an order.

Greek Yogurt with Mixed Berries Parfait

The Greek yogurt parfait is creamy, portable, and popular. The real issue is the granola or oats topping.

If you avoid oats for medical reasons, ask staff to remove granola. That leaves a dairy-rich, fruit-forward option with minimal handling near baked goods.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Strawberries & Pecans

Steel cut oats are listed on the gluten conscious menu, but they are not certified gluten free here. Packaging and kitchen handling can introduce traces.

Who should skip oats: people with celiac disease or severe sensitivity should avoid non-certified oats and pick another breakfast item.

Smoothies as a Safer Morning Option

Smoothies — like Strawberry Banana, Green Passion, and Mango blends — often avoid bakery cross-contact. They make good gluten conscious options when you want minimal risk.

Always confirm add-ins and skip seasonal cookie or brownie mix-ins that can add wheat. If in doubt, choose a plain fruit-and-milk or dairy-free blend.

Drinks, Sides, and Kids Picks That Can Fit a Gluten-Free Diet

Simple drinks and sides make it easier to build a low-risk order when kitchen cross-contact is a concern. Start by pairing a clearly labeled beverage with a single-ingredient side to keep things predictable.

Everyday beverages

Coffee, cold brew, plain tea, espresso drinks, lemonade, and soda typically contain no wheat ingredients. Flavored syrups and seasonal add-ins can introduce uncertainty, so ask before you order.

Hot chocolate note

Hot chocolate is usually safe if you skip marshmallows. That small tweak removes an extra processed topping and reduces ingredient questions.

Chips and snacks

Kettle Cooked Potato Chips list potatoes, vegetable oil, and sea salt and are the simplest chip choice. Check labels for other chip varieties and remember factory cross-contact can vary.

Simple sides that work

Fruit cups, whole apples or bananas, greek yogurt, and hard-boiled eggs are straightforward sides with low risk of hidden wheat. These items pair well with drinks for a light snack.

Kids picks and soup caution

For kids, choose fruit, yogurt, or chips and skip bread sides by default. If choosing chili or soup, confirm current ingredients and request no croutons.

Menu Items to Avoid at Panera When You’re Gluten-Free

Knowing what to avoid makes ordering faster and helps you dodge costly mistakes. This short list covers the biggest risks so you can skip trouble items at a glance.

No gluten-free bread, bagels, or baked goods. The chain does not offer certified gluten-free bread or pastries. That rules out most sandwiches, bagels, muffins, and bakery goods for anyone seeking strict avoidance.

Sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, and bread bowls are obvious sources of wheat and major cross-contact hotspots in a bakery-café setup. Avoid them entirely.

• Mac & cheese: uses wheat pasta and is not a safe pick.
• Wheat-thickened or crumb-topped dishes: many creamy entrees use roux or crumbs that contain wheat.
• Salads with croutons or soy/teriyaki-based components: these often contain gluten or are handled near baked goods.
• Soups to skip: Broccoli Cheddar, Tomato Soup, and Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice variants commonly contain wheat.

How to Order More Safely: Reducing Gluten Exposure at Panera

A short script at the counter can change how your order is handled. Tell staff if you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy so they treat the request as medical, not just a preference.

Use simple, clear language. For example: “I have a severe wheat allergy / celiac disease—please prepare my order with a glove change and no contact with bread or croutons.” Saying “allergy” or “disease” typically prompts extra care.

Make these easy modifications when you order.

• No croutons, sauces and dressings on the side.
• Avoid bread sides; ask for fruit, chips, or yogurt instead.
• Keep swaps minimal—remove cheese or add avocado rather than complex substitutions.

Request a glove change and ask for ingredients from unopened bins when possible. This helps with high-risk items like salad toppings stored near bakery areas.

Always check the chain’s allergen guide online, then confirm with staff in-store. Recipes and suppliers can change by location, so a phone or in-person check reduces risk.

Decision checklist: If you react to trace amounts or have celiac disease, this restaurant may not be safe. If you choose to eat here by preference, stick to the core gluten-conscious list: salads, bowls, smoothies, and simple sides.

Conclusion

This wrap-up sorts the practical risks and sensible choices so you can place a confident order.

The core takeaway: the chain offers gluten-conscious options but no certified gluten-free items, and cross-contact is possible in a bakery-café setting. For safety, avoid bread-heavy categories, pastries, mac cheese, and typical wheat-thickened soup like tomato soup.

Stick to simple entrées — salads or bowls — plus a plain side such as fruit or chips. Always check the allergen guide, ask staff about current ingredients, and request minimal handling when you order.

Use this guide to pick one solid plate, save the short ordering checklist, and decide if you can comfortably eat panera based on your sensitivity and allergy needs.