What's vegan at Jack in the Box? Jack in the Box is a fast food chain that serves burgers, chicken, tacos, salads, sides, desserts and more. They are located in 21 states in the US. But what are the vegan options at Jack in the Box? Let's look at the ingredients and find out.
All nutritional and allergen information and ingredients can be found on the Jack in the Box website.
Jack in the Box Vegan Menu Items
Let's look at the entire Jack and the Box menu. Here are the vegan options broken down by category.
Burgers and More
While many are hoping for an Impossible Burger or Beyond Burger, as of now there are no vegan burger options.
- No vegan options.
Chicken and More
- No vegan options.
Better for You
- Tree Top Applesauce Pouch
Something Different
There's one option that you can order from the Something Different menu...with modifications.
- Chicken Teriyaki Bowl - Order it without the chicken. You can also ask for extra veggies.
Snacks and Sides
The vegan sides mainly center around French Fries.
- French Fries
- Seasoned Curly Fries
- Halfsies
- White Rice
Breakfast
I've listed French Toast Sticks but unfortunately they aren't always on the menu. They will sometimes return for a "Limited Time".
- French Toast Sticks (Not always available)
- Hash Browns
Salads
While Jack in the Box has several salads, the only vegan one is the side salad. Order it with the Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette.
- Side Salad (no croutons)
- Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Spicy Corn Sticks
Drinks
There are lots of vegan drink options at Jack in the Box.
- Barqs Root Beer
- Black Iced Coffee
- Coca-Cola
- Coca-Cola Fuze Iced Tea
- Coffee, High Mountain Arabica (Regular & Decaf)
- Dasani Bottled Water
- Diet Coke
- Diet Dr. Pepper
- Dr. Pepper
- Fanta Orange
- Fanta Strawberry
- Gold Peak Classic Blend Iced Tea
- Hi-C Fruit Punch
- Jumpin' Jack's Splash
- Jumpin' Jack's Splash, Diet
- Minute Maid 100% Apple Juice
- Minute Maid Lemonade
- Simply Orange Juice
- Sprite
Shakes and Desserts
- No Vegan Options
Kids Menu
- Tree Top Applesauce Pouch
- French Fries
- Seasoned Curly Fries
Value Menu
- French Fries
Dipping Sauces
- Barbeque Dipping Sauce
- Franks Red Hot Buffalo Dipping Sauce
- Pancake Syrup
- Sweet N' Sour Dipping Sauce
- Teriyaki Dipping Sauce
Sandwich Sauces
- Ketchup
- Mustard
Other
- Fire Roasted Salsa
- French's Mustard Packet
- Gold-n-Sweet Whipped Spread
- Grape Jelly Packet
- Hot Taco Sauce Packet
- Kikkoman Soy Sauce Packet
- Strawberry Jam Packet
Jack in the Box Curly Fries and French Fries
French fries are usually a safe choice for vegans. But sometimes they are fried in lard which is animal fat. Let's look at the ingredients for their Curly Fries and their French Fries.
Seasoned Curly Fries Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Canola, Palm, Soybean), Enriched Flour (Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Corn Meal, Spices, Dextrin, Garlic Powder, Leavening (Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Onion Powder, Cornstarch, Yeast Extract, Spice and Coloring, Natural Flavor, Dextrose, Annatto (color). Cooked in Canola Blend Frying Oil.
Good news! Yes, their curly fries are vegan! They do not contain any animal products and they are fried in vegetable oil.
However, as with any restaurant, there's a risk of cross contamination from the fryer. They might also be frying meat or dairy products in a shared fryer with the fries. But whether or not that bothers you is a personal choice.
How about their regular French Fries? Here are the ingredients.
French Fries Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Canola, Palm, Soybean), Modified Food Starch (Potato, Corn, Tapioca), Rice Flour, Dextrin, Salt, Leaven
Yes their French fries are vegan but also have the same risk of cross contamination.
Are Jack in the Box Tacos Vegan?
Tacos are a popular choice at Jack in the Box. Taco shells are usually vegan but what is their taco filling made out of?
Regular Taco Ingredients: Regular Beef, Water, Ground Dark Chicken, Textured Vegetable Protein (Soy Flour, Caramel Color), Defatted Soy Grits, Seasoning [Chili Pepper, Corn Maltodextrin, Spices, Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour (Contains Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, and Folic Acid), Salt, Garlic Powder, Hydrolyzed (Corn, Soy, Wheat) Proteins, Monosodium Glutamate, Onion Powder, Natural Flavors, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Succinic Acid], Salt, Tomato Paste, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Sulfiting Agent). TORTILLA INGREDIENTS: Ground Corn, Water, Lime.
No, Jack in the Box regular tacos are definitely not vegan even though they contain soy protein. They also contain real meat, both beef and chicken and they also usually have a slice of American cheese on them.
Tiny Taco: Water, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Stone Ground Corn Masa Flour (With Trace Of Lime), Onions, Tomato Paste, Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Modified Food Starch, Seasoning (Salt, Spice, Garlic Powder, Paprika [color]).
Unfortunately, the Tiny Tacos contain chicken and are not vegan.
Vegan Meal Options
So there aren't a lot of choices that do not contain meat, dairy or egg. But you can put together a couple of meals that aren't too terrible.
- Breakfast: French Toast Sticks (if they have them) and Hash Browns
- Lunch/Dinner: Side Salad (no croutons) with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Curly Fries with vegan dipping sauce, and a Tree Top Applesauce Pouch
- Chicken Teriyaki Bowl without the chicken and some French Fries
FAQ
What are halfsies?
Halfsies are an order of fries that are half regular French Fries and half Seasoned Curly Fries. Halfsies are vegan!
Where are Jack in the Box restaurants located in the United States?
They have locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
Do they have any burgers made from a meat substitute?
Unfortunately, no. They only have burgers made from actual meat.
Are the Jack in the Box Curly Fries vegan?
Yes they are! The ingredients are listed above.
Are the Mini Churros vegan?
Unfortunately, the Mini Churros contain both egg and dairy and are not vegan.
Summary
There aren't many vegan options at Jack in the Box. You can get Hash Browns for breakfast, French Fries and Curly Fries, a Side Salad without croutons, and the Chicken Teriyaki Bowl without Chicken. This is not a vegan-friendly fast-food chain but if it is your only choice, you can put together something to eat. Hopefully in the future they will have more options that fit in with a vegan diet as many other chains are doing.
Wondering what's vegan at other chain restaurants? Check out:
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