Updated September 12, 2026
Noodles & Company Gluten-Free Menu 2026: What Is Safe and What Is Not
Three noodle swaps, the up-charges, the dishes with no safe version, and honest customer reports about cross contact — both the good outcomes and the reactions.
Pipette
Main swap noodle
Pad Thai
GF by default
No
Dedicated fryer
None
Company guarantee
⚠ Read this firstNoodles & Company does not have a dedicated gluten-free kitchen. The company states it cannot guarantee any dish is completely gluten-free. If you have celiac disease, read the cross contact section below before you order, and speak with your doctor or dietitian about eating at shared-kitchen restaurants.
Noodles & Company offers three gluten-free noodle swaps: the gluten-sensitive pipette noodle, the rice noodle, and the zucchini noodle. The pipette noodle costs about $1.50 extra per entrée and zucchini noodles about $0.75 extra. Pad Thai is the only entrée built on gluten-free noodles by default, since it uses rice noodles. Everything else needs a swap, and the kitchen is shared.
Gluten-free options at a glance
| Gluten-free noodle choices | 3 (pipette, rice, zucchini) |
| Pipette noodle up-charge | About +$1.50 per entrée |
| Zucchini noodle up-charge | About +$0.75 per entrée |
| Naturally gluten-free entrée | Pad Thai (rice noodles) |
| Dedicated gluten-free kitchen | No |
| Dedicated fryer | No |
| Separate pans for allergy orders | Yes, reported by customers at some locations |
| Company guarantee | None |
| Catering pan option | Gluten-Sensitive Pipette Mac & Cheese, $55 |
On the up-charge figures. These come from 2025 reporting. Each restaurant sets its own prices, so treat them as a guide and check at your location.
The three gluten-free noodles
| Noodle | What it is | Up-charge | Works in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gluten-sensitive pipette | Small shell-shaped pasta made without wheat | About +$1.50 | Most pasta and mac dishes |
| Rice noodle | Thin rice-based noodle | Included in Pad Thai | Pad Thai |
| Zucchini noodle (zoodles) | Spiralized zucchini, no pasta at all | About +$0.75 | Most pasta dishes |
The pipette noodle is the main swap. It holds sauce better than zucchini and works in nearly every pasta bowl on the menu.
Name change note. Older guides call this noodle “gluten-free fusilli.” That name is out of date. The current product is the gluten-sensitive pipette noodle, and the word “sensitive” in the name is deliberate. The company is signalling that this is not a certified gluten-free product.
Which Noodles & Company dishes can be made gluten-free?
Can be swapped to a gluten-free noodle
| Dish | How to order it |
|---|---|
| Buttery Parmesan Noodles | Swap the egg noodle for pipette. Ask for a clean surface and fresh utensils for plating. |
| Pasta Fresca | Swap rigatoni for pipette. Ask for a separate sauce ladle and a fresh plate. |
| Basil Pesto Cavatappi | Swap cavatappi for pipette. Ask for clean utensils and a fresh sauce ladle. |
| Rigatoni Rosa | Swap to pipette and ask for grilled chicken instead of the parmesan breaded chicken. The breading contains wheat. |
| Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese | Swap elbow noodles for pipette. |
| Roasted Garlic Cream Tortelloni | Tortelloni is filled pasta and may not be swappable. Ask before ordering. |
Gluten-free without a swap
| Dish | Why |
|---|---|
| Pad Thai | Built on rice noodles. Still ask for the wok and utensils to be cleaned first. |
| Side Salad | No pasta, no croutons. Check the dressing. |
| Chicken Caesar Salad | Order with no croutons. Confirm the Caesar dressing ingredients at your location. |
Avoid these
| Dish | Why |
|---|---|
| Chili Garlic Ramen | The ramen noodles contain wheat and so does the broth. Shared noodle pots add more risk. There is no safe swap here. |
| Japanese Pan Noodles | Thick wheat pan noodles, cooked in shared woks with shared ladles. Avoid unless the location confirms separate prep. |
| Anything with parmesan crusted chicken | The breading contains wheat. Ask for grilled chicken instead. |
| Cheesy Garlic Bread and baguette | Wheat bread. |
Cross contact: the part that matters most
This section is the reason this page exists. Every other gluten-free list for this chain stops at which dishes can be swapped. That is only half the question.
What the company says
Noodles & Company states that it can prepare dishes with ingredients that do not contain gluten, but cannot guarantee any dish is completely gluten-free because of cross contact during cooking. It says its restaurant environments contain gluten and that it cannot remove all risk built into its cooking process. It recommends that anyone who is highly allergic or intolerant to gluten check with a physician before eating there.
What the kitchen setup actually looks like
- No dedicated fryer. Anything fried shares oil with wheat products.
- Some dedicated equipment for allergy orders at some locations, but not a dedicated line.
- Not a dedicated gluten-free facility.
- Find Me Gluten Free flags this as a chain, which usually means a high risk of cross contact, and states it may not be possible to eat safely there with celiac disease.
What real customers report
Reports are genuinely split. Both sides belong on this page.
GoodPositive experiences
- One customer spoke with the head chef and was told the kitchen keeps separate pans and areas for wheat allergies. The receipt carried an allergy alert.
- Another ordered Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi with the pipette noodle and reported no symptoms 24 hours later. The cashier understood the request and called a manager, who delivered the food and confirmed it.
- One customer called ahead and was told the kitchen cooks gluten-free noodles first thing in the morning and can finish them in clean water.
- A symptomatic celiac who has eaten there many times reported no problems, noting the options are limited but feel safe.
BadNegative experiences
- A celiac customer ordered gluten-free noodles, told staff about the condition, was assured there was an allergy protocol, and still had a reaction.
- Another found two regular wheat noodles in a gluten-free mac and cheese bowl about 80 percent of the way through the meal. That points to a shared pot or spoon.
- One reviewer reported elbow macaroni arriving in a gluten-free mac, and whole orders arriving with wheat noodles instead of the gluten-free or zucchini noodles that were requested.
Our read: The outcome depends heavily on the individual restaurant and the staff working that shift. Some locations run a careful allergy protocol. Others do not. That inconsistency is the real risk here, not the ingredients.
How to order more safely
If you decide to eat here, these steps come directly from customers who reported good outcomes.
- Say “celiac” or “allergy,” not “gluten-free.” Staff enter allergy orders differently in the system, which triggers kitchen steps that a preference order does not.
- Ask for a manager. Multiple positive reports involved a manager taking over the order personally.
- Go early. One location cooks the gluten-free noodles first thing in the morning, in clean water, before the wheat pots are running.
- Ask for a fresh sauce ladle and a clean plate. Sauce ladles move between bowls.
- Skip anything breaded or fried. There is no dedicated fryer.
- Check your receipt for an allergy alert. Its presence means the order went in correctly.
- Call ahead at a new location. Practices are not consistent between restaurants.
Why other gluten-free lists for Noodles & Company are wrong
Most gluten-free guides for this chain have not been updated since the 2025 menu change. Here is what they still list that is no longer accurate.
| Listed on other sites | Status |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin Mac & Cheese | Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese now holds this slot |
| Penne Rosa | Rigatoni Rosa appears to be the replacement |
| Whole Grain Tuscan Fresca | Not on current menus |
| Chicken Veracruz Salad | Not on current menus |
| Mexican Street Corn Salad | Not on current menus |
| Leanguini | Removed, confirmed by the company |
| Some zucchini dishes | Removed, confirmed by the company |
| “Gluten-free fusilli” | Renamed. The current product is the gluten-sensitive pipette noodle |
| Tomato Basil Bisque | Listed as gluten-free on older guides; not confirmed on current menus |
One widely shared guide is dated August 2025. Another is from 2024. A third still shows a 2022 menu. If a gluten-free list mentions Penne Rosa or fusilli, it predates the current menu.
⚠ Zucchini noodles need checking. The company has confirmed that some zucchini dishes were removed. Whether the zucchini noodle swap is still offered is not clear from public sources. Ask at your location before you plan around it.
Related: What changed on the Noodles & Company menu →
Gluten-free catering
| Pan | Price | Calories (whole pan) | Serves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gluten-Sensitive Pipette Mac & Cheese | $55.00 | 4,790 | About 8 |
The same cross contact limits apply to catering. A shared kitchen prepares it.
Kids meals
Kids dishes including buttered noodles, spaghetti and meatballs, and mac and cheese can be ordered with the pipette noodle. Confirm the current kids menu at your location.
For a child with celiac disease, the cross contact section above applies with more weight, not less. Children are less able to notice and report early symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
Does Noodles & Company have gluten-free noodles?
Yes. Noodles & Company offers three gluten-free noodle choices: the gluten-sensitive pipette noodle, the rice noodle used in Pad Thai, and the zucchini noodle. The pipette noodle can replace the pasta in most dishes for an extra charge.
How much do gluten-free noodles cost at Noodles & Company?
The gluten-sensitive pipette noodle adds about $1.50 per entrée. Zucchini noodles add about $0.75 per entrée. Prices are set by each restaurant, so check your location for the exact amount.
Is Noodles & Company safe for celiac disease?
The company does not claim it is. It states it cannot guarantee any dish is completely gluten-free due to cross contact, and advises anyone highly allergic or intolerant to check with a physician first. Customer reports are split between no symptoms and clear reactions.
Is Pad Thai gluten-free at Noodles & Company?
Pad Thai is made with rice noodles, so it is gluten-free by recipe. It is still cooked in a shared kitchen. Ask for the wok and utensils to be cleaned first if you are avoiding gluten strictly.
Does Noodles & Company have a dedicated gluten-free fryer?
No. There is no dedicated fryer. Anything fried shares oil with wheat products. Customer reports indicate the kitchen does use some separate equipment for allergy orders, but it is not a dedicated gluten-free facility.
What should you avoid at Noodles & Company if you are gluten-free?
Avoid Chili Garlic Ramen, since both the wheat ramen noodles and the broth contain wheat. Avoid Japanese Pan Noodles, which use thick wheat noodles and shared woks. Skip parmesan crusted chicken, garlic bread and the baguette.
Can you get gluten-free mac and cheese at Noodles & Company?
Yes. Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese can be made with the gluten-sensitive pipette noodle instead of elbow noodles. A Gluten-Sensitive Pipette Mac & Cheese catering pan is also available at $55 and serves about eight people.
How do you order gluten-free at Noodles & Company?
Tell staff you have celiac disease or an allergy rather than asking for gluten-free. Allergy orders trigger different kitchen steps. Ask for a manager, request a fresh sauce ladle and clean plate, and check the receipt for an allergy alert.
Are zoodles still available at Noodles & Company?
Unclear. The company confirmed it removed some zucchini dishes from the menu. Whether the zucchini noodle swap is still offered varies and is not confirmed in public sources. Ask at your location before planning around it.
Our sources and method
We do not have access to the company’s kitchen. Everything here comes from company statements, published allergen guidance, and customer reports. We show both positive and negative reports rather than only one side.
| Claim | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|
| Company gluten policy wording | Noodles & Company | Sept 2026 |
| Dedicated fryer status, chain warning, customer reports | Find Me Gluten Free chain page | Sept 2026 |
| Dish-level swap guidance, Chili Garlic Ramen warning | Great Without Gluten | Sept 2026 |
| Up-charge amounts, kids menu, soup and salad options | Published menu guides, compared | Sept 2026 |
| Gluten-free catering pan price and calories | Published menu listings | Sept 2026 |
| Leanguini and zucchini dish removal | Noodles & Company statement | Sept 2026 |
Limitations you should know about. Up-charge prices come from 2025 reporting and may have changed. Some dish availability could not be confirmed against a current official menu, and we say so in the text rather than presenting a guess as fact.
This is not medical advice. If you have celiac disease, speak with your doctor or dietitian about whether eating at shared-kitchen restaurants is right for you.
Corrections. If you work at Noodles & Company or have first-hand information, email info@noodleandcompanymenu.com. We will update the page and note the change.
This site is not owned by, operated by, or affiliated with Noodles & Company.
This is not medical advice. If you have celiac disease, speak with your doctor or dietitian about whether eating at shared-kitchen restaurants is right for you.
Corrections. If you work at Noodles & Company or have first-hand information, email info@noodleandcompanymenu.com. We will update the page and note the change.
This site is not owned by, operated by, or affiliated with Noodles & Company.