Does McDonalds have vegetarian options?

It’s something in me which feels conflicted. When you think of veganism, what comes to mind is healthy and natural. Fast food, on the other hand, is literally the opposite. There are a lot of people who choose to be vegan and so if they want to dine at McDonald’s, The stage is set!

Dining out for us vegans isn’t as challenging as it may seem. Fortunately, most restaurants have added vegan and plant-based options to their menus. I’m so excited that even McDonald’s has added plant-based items to its menu. I’m going to discuss a selection of plant-based foods suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and I’ll also going to share my experiences with you. So, let’s not waste any time and get straight to the point!

Does McDonald’s have vegetarian options?

The answer is Yes. You can have a vegan and vegetarian lunch, dinner, or even satisfy your cravings with a drink without worrying about it including non-vegan ingredients or animal products. McDonald’s offers many options on its menu that are made with ingredients suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.

McDonald’s vegetarian options

Hash browns

Just like french fries, hash brown’s vegan status depends on where you are. In the UK, Australia, and Canada, this popular and tasty breakfast is plant-based. The ingredients: Potatoes, Non-Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed, in varying amounts), Salt, Maize Flour, Dehydrated Potato, Dextrose, Stabiliser (Diphosphates), Black Pepper Extract. Prepared in the restaurant using non-hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Burgers and wraps

• McPlant Burger (McDonald’s vegan burger)

It’s a vegan burger featuring a patty from Beyond Meat. If you’re asking for my take, it has the same iconic taste as other McDonald’s burgers. The ingredients include a Vegan Sesame Bun, Vegan Sauce, mustard, ketchup, onions, pickles, Lettuce, tomato, and, of course, Vegan Cheese.

• Double McPlant burger

So, following the success of the McPlant burger, McDonald’s introduced an upgraded version of its vegan burger, the McPlant double, which can satisfy plant-based cravings as well. It highlights two patties sourced from a plant-based brand, Beyond Meat.

• Vegetable Deluxe Burger

While plant-based burgers are pleasing, there could be moments when we crave a more veggie-focused option. The ingredients of this tasty vegan burger are, red pepper and pesto veggie dippers in a sesame seed bun. It’s served with lettuce and sandwich sauce.

• The Spicy Veggie One (McDonald’s veggie wrap)

This spicy veggie tortilla wrap is packed full of veggie dippers with spicy relish, red onion and tomato. This wrap looks yummy and totally hits the spot for us vegans!

Nuggets

These veggies dippers are gluten-free, and they’re prepared using hydrogenated vegetable oil. If you’re curious about the ingredients, the dippers include, Yellow Split Peas, Tomato, Breadcrumb, Cooked Arborio Rice, Rice Flour, Sundried Tomato Pesto, Tomato Paste, Red Wine Vinegar, Olive Oil, Basil, Red Onion, White Sugar, Garlic Puree, Cornflour, Black Pepper, Red Pepper. You can completely satisfy yourself with them.

Sides

• Fries

There is much discussion surrounding the plant-based nature of McDonald’s french fries and it actually depends on which country you’re in. But i can assure you, in the UK, McDonald’s fries are vegan because they contain zero animal products. You should be aware of the fact that, in countries like America, the fries are flavored with natural beef flavoring which contains milk and so, obviously, they aren’t vegan.

• Pineapple Stick

I am personally a fan of pineapple, and this item excites me every time.It’s a juicy stick of pineapple that you can enjoy instead of fries.

• Carrot Bags

This carrot bag is an enjoyable snack for your busy days. It’s a great addition to your daily veggie intake while being a healthy choice.

Salad

This one is a fresh salad featuring fresh lettuce, cucumber, tomato slices, and red onion.

Drinks

Well, no meal is complete without a drink, right? McDonald’s offers organic juice drinks like apple juice, fruit smoothies, which are made with non-animal ingredients, and also, Tropicana Orange Juice, bottles of water, Coca Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Fanta Orange, Oasis, Robinsons Fruit Juice, and Sprite Zero are available.So don’t worry about your drink and enjoy yourself.

Does McDonald’s serve veg?

McDonald’s UK vegan menu:

• McPlant – This features a burger made with a juicy plant-based patty co-developed with Beyond Meat
• Vegetable Deluxe Burger – This one includes Red pesto veggie goujons along with sandwich sauce and shredded lettuce
• The Spicy Veggie One – This wrap contains spicy relish, red onion, lettuce, and tomato in a toasted tortilla
• Veggie Dippers – Veggie dippers incorporates a blend of red pepper and sundried tomato pesto
• Melon Fruit Bag – This fruit bag contains a fresh, juicy melon
• Cucumber Sticks – This features a refreshing watery cucumber
• Hash Browns – Hash browns are made from fluffy shredded potatoes
• Fries – McDonald’s French fries are fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside

So as you can see, we vegans have numerous options to choose from this menu. I highly recommend the McPlant, which features a Beyond Meat patty along with vegan sandwich sauce, ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and of course, dairy-free cheese. It’s an excellent choice for dining out, especially if you’ve chosen McDonald’s. In fact,  McPlant was first introduced in Britain in 2022 and has since become quite popular!  Regarding French fries, I can answer your question about whether they are vegan or not. In the UK McDonald’s fries are cooked in a sunflower and non-hydrogenated oil which means they are vegan-friendly. They don’t contain any animal-based coatings or ingredients. Dissimilar to the fries served in McDonald’s branches in the United States, the fries served in European restaurants are completely vegan and approved by the Vegetarian Society. The reason US McDonald’s fries aren’t vegan is that they’re cooked in oil with “natural beef flavoring,” and they also contain milk powder and are fried in animal lard, making them absolutely non-vegan.

McDonald’s USA vegan menu

• Apple Pie – McDonald’s Apple Pie recipe features 100% American-grown apples, and a lattice crust baked to perfection and topped with sprinkled sugar.
• Fruit and Maple Oatmeal – feature two full servings of whole-grain oats flavored with a hint of cream and brown sugar ( It’s only suitable for vegans if they request it without cream).

The plant-based menu in the US isn’t as extensive as it is in the UK, but there are still some vegan options available. We talked about McPlant, which is a popular choice among vegans. Only a few branches offer the McPlant option in the US, and unfortunately, it is not entirely vegan because it contains mayo and cheddar cheese. The good news is, you can order it without these ingredients, but ensure it’s prepared separately from egg and meat on the grill.

McDonald’s Germany vegan menu

• Fresh Vegan TS Burger – The Vegan TS burger features a patty crafted from soy and wheat. It comes in the traditional sesame seed bun, and contains salad, tomato, pickles and red onion.
• McFlurry Chocolate Vegan
• McFlurry Chocolate Vegan Kitkat and Strawberry Sauce
• McSundae Chocolate Sauce Vegan and Strawberry Sauce

Germany’s McDonald’s is the only place worldwide to serve a vegan McFlurry which includes plant-based KitKat version. The usual McDonald’s McFlurry (non-vegan) contains dairy ice cream, milk power, whey powder, glucose syrup, and other flavoring. But, the new one, will feature a vegan chocolate soft-serve base paired with a fruity-sweet vegan strawberry sauce and crunchy vegan chocolate Kitkat wafer chunks. Vegan TS Burger has a meaty taste even though it contains no animal-derived ingredients.

McDonald’s Canada vegan menu

Unfortunately, Canada doesn’t have many vegan options to offer customers, and the menu doesn’t appeal to me much. McDonald’s provides a burger called the P.LT. (Plant, Lettuce, Tomato), which is made with Beyond Meat, but it comes with cheddar cheese. Besides, it’s cooked on the same grill as meat and eggs. For Canadian vegans, there are several options available, including Fries, Apple Pie, Hash Browns, Apple Slices, Fruit and Maple Oatmeal (without cream), and Side Salad (served with Balsamic Vinaigrette).

McDonald’s Australia vegan menu

Australia is more like Canada. According to the McDonald’s Australia website, none of its menu items are certified as vegan. But you know, certain ingredients may not contain animal products, we cannot ensure there will be no cross-contamination during transportation, storage, or preparation in the  kitchen. There are still some plant-based options you can choose. You can choose from the Hash Brown, Fries, Apple Slices, Garden salad, Side Salad, and Loaded Fries (With Guacamole and Salsa).

Final word

Vegans are on the rise, prompting brands to make changes to their menus and products in order to capture a share of the growing vegan market. McDonald’s is attempting to tap into the vegan and plant-based market by adding vegan options, while KFC and Burger King are also trying to keep up. But the reality is that non-vegan brands have only added vegan products to their menus for greater profit and revenue. We vegans, just like myself, choose to support vegan restaurants and fast food chains.

Some people believe that eating at McDonald’s and other fast food chains that focus on meat based options, allows them to develop their operations and result in more animals being slaughtered. But let me tell you, I don’t really think that way. Being a passionate vegan myself, entering the vivid world of vegan menus feels like an enjoyable culinary journey. With each bite of those vegan burgers and trying out all the options, i can’t help but share my excitement with my vegan and vegetarian friends. Together, we’re sparking a movement, inspiring more people to try out these delicious items, This can increase the popularity of the vegan menu.

If you’d like my opinion, when I visit McDonald’s, I definitely order the McPlant. To me, the McPlant is a step towards a greener world! I’m sure that you, as a fellow vegan, would also appreciate the delicious taste of this plant-based burger. it’s essential to consider the points I mentioned earlier, such as ensuring that the branch where you order the McPlant hasn’t cooked it on the same grill used for eggs and meat.

As a vegan, which item would you choose? Let me know in the comments.

Source:
https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/mcdonalds-vegan-menu-options/

https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/menu/vegetarian.html

sara

Hi, I’m Sara, a vegan mom of two. My family and I have been living a vegan lifestyle for over 8 years now. I’m excited to share tips and insights about veganism and plant-based living through my posts. I love exploring new ideas, reading, and finding ways to grow. My passion for learning drives me to share what I discover, hoping to inspire and inform others along the way. As a content writer and screenwriter, I’m passionate about creating impactful stories around veganism, animal rights, and social justice. I’ve written several short films that explore the connection between veganism and social justice, with my work featured in various publications. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop them in the comments section or shoot me an email through the contact form on the website—I usually respond within 24 hours.