Does In N Out Burger Have Veggie Burgers? | What You Can Order Instead

No, In-N-Out does not sell a veggie burger patty, but vegetarians can order a Grilled Cheese with fries and custom toppings.

If you’re standing in line at In-N-Out and hoping for a meat-free burger that still feels like a real menu item, the answer is pretty plain: there is no veggie burger on the regular menu. You won’t find a bean patty, plant-based patty, or house-made vegetable burger there.

That doesn’t mean a vegetarian is stuck with nothing. In-N-Out has a well-known off-menu option called the Grilled Cheese, and that’s the closest thing the chain offers to a meat-free burger-style order. It comes on a bun with melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, spread, and optional onions. For many vegetarians, that’s the practical swap.

The bigger question is whether that swap feels satisfying enough to replace a burger. That depends on what you want. If you want a true vegetable or plant-based patty, In-N-Out won’t give you that. If you want a simple meat-free sandwich from a burger chain, the Grilled Cheese gets you there.

Does In N Out Burger Have Veggie Burgers? Full Menu Reality

In-N-Out’s official menu is built around beef burgers, fries, drinks, and shakes. The burger lineup centers on the Hamburger, Cheeseburger, and Double-Double. The chain also lists its “Not So Secret Menu,” which includes the Grilled Cheese. That item is cheese-based, not vegetable-based, so it still does not count as a veggie burger in the way many diners mean it.

That distinction matters. A veggie burger usually means a burger with a meatless patty made from beans, soy, grains, mushrooms, peas, or mixed vegetables. In-N-Out does not list that kind of item. So if you searched this topic because you wanted to know whether they have a meatless patty, the clean answer is no.

If you searched because you just need a vegetarian order that feels close to a burger, the answer shifts a bit. You can still leave with a bun, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and sauce in your hands. It just won’t include a veggie patty in the middle.

What Vegetarians Can Actually Order At In-N-Out

The Grilled Cheese is the order most people mean when they talk about a vegetarian burger at In-N-Out. According to the chain’s Not So Secret Menu, it comes with two slices of melted American cheese, hand-leafed lettuce, tomato, spread, and optional onions on a freshly baked bun.

That gives you a burger-shaped meal without the beef patty. It’s simple, a little messy, and closer to a classic fast-food cheeseburger than people expect if they’ve never tried it before. You can also ask for custom onion choices, and many diners pair it with fries to make the meal feel more complete.

Fries are another meat-free option. In-N-Out says its fries are made from fresh potatoes cooked in 100% sunflower oil. That makes them a clean side for vegetarians who just want something straightforward without hidden meat ingredients in the fryer oil.

If you eat dairy and eggs, the menu has enough for a basic meal. If you’re vegan, the choices narrow fast because the Grilled Cheese has dairy and the spread contains egg.

How The Grilled Cheese Compares To A Real Veggie Burger

A real veggie burger usually tries to replace the role of the patty. It adds heft, texture, and a different protein source. The In-N-Out Grilled Cheese does none of that. It leans on melted cheese for richness and on the bun, lettuce, tomato, and spread for the classic burger feel.

That means the bite is softer and lighter in one way, yet also saltier and richer because the cheese is doing all the heavy lifting. Some people like that. Others take one bite and think, “This is good, but this is not a veggie burger.” Both reactions make sense.

If your goal is a familiar fast-food order with no meat, it works. If your goal is a plant-based burger with a patty that can stand in for beef, it misses the mark.

What To Know Before You Order Meat-Free

There are a few details worth sorting out before you walk up to the counter. Vegetarian and vegan are not the same thing, and In-N-Out’s menu makes that gap clear.

Vegetarian diners

If you eat dairy and eggs, the Grilled Cheese is the cleanest burger-style choice. Fries also fit. You can ask for toppings the way you like them, which helps you build something closer to your usual order.

Vegan diners

If you avoid all animal products, the Grilled Cheese won’t work because of the cheese. The spread also contains egg, based on the chain’s official ingredient listing in its Nutrition Info. A vegan order would need more modification, such as fries and a bun with vegetables, while skipping cheese and spread.

Cross-contact concerns

In-N-Out is a burger chain built around beef and dairy. Even if your order is meat-free, it’s still made in a kitchen where meat and cheese are handled all day. For some people, that’s fine. For others, that rules it out. If your food choices are tied to allergy or strict dietary practice, that kitchen setup matters.

Best Meat-Free In-N-Out Orders

If you want the menu stripped down into easy choices, this table gives you the clearest path.

Order	What’s In It	Who It Fits
Grilled Cheese	Bun, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, spread, onions if wanted	Vegetarians who eat dairy and egg
Grilled Cheese Without Spread	Same sandwich, minus the spread	Vegetarians who want to skip the egg-based sauce
Grilled Cheese With Extra Onion	Cheese sandwich with more bite from fresh or grilled onions	Vegetarians who want a fuller burger feel
Fries	Fresh-cut potatoes cooked in sunflower oil	Vegetarians and many vegans
Bun With Lettuce, Tomato, Onion	Bread and vegetable toppings only	Vegans who want a sandwich-style option
Fries Plus Drink	Simple side-based meal	People who do not want a cheese sandwich
Grilled Cheese Combo Feel	Grilled Cheese paired with fries and a drink	Vegetarians wanting a full fast-food meal
Custom No-Cheese Veggie Bun	Bun with lettuce, tomato, onions, no cheese, no spread	Vegans who want the closest thing to a burger shape

Why Some People Think In-N-Out Has A Veggie Burger

The confusion usually comes from three things. First, the Grilled Cheese looks like a burger order, sits inside the burger world of the menu, and gets talked about a lot online. Second, many chains now carry plant-based patties, so people assume In-N-Out joined in. Third, some diners use “veggie burger” as shorthand for “any burger without meat,” even when there is no vegetable patty involved.

That shorthand causes the mix-up. At In-N-Out, “meat-free burger-style item” exists. “Veggie burger patty” does not.

If you’re ordering for a group, this is the point that saves time. One person may be happy with a Grilled Cheese. Another may be expecting a black bean burger or an Impossible-style sandwich. Those are not the same thing, and In-N-Out only covers the first version.

How Filling Is The Grilled Cheese?

This is where expectations matter. The Grilled Cheese can hit the spot if you’re after something salty, soft, cheesy, and familiar. It can feel underpowered if you usually rely on a veggie patty for a denser bite and more staying power.

The official nutrition listing shows the Grilled Cheese has 380 calories, 15 grams of protein, and 19 grams of fat. That puts it in snack-for-some, meal-for-others territory. Add fries and a drink, and it feels much closer to a standard fast-food meal.

Texture is the bigger deal than calories. Without a patty, the center is mostly melted cheese and cold vegetables. Some people love that contrast. Some want more chew. If you know you’ll miss the heft of a true burger, set your expectations early and pair it with fries.

Nutrition Snapshot For Popular Meat-Free Choices

If you’re comparing options, these numbers help show what changes when meat is off the tray.

Item	Calories	Protein
Grilled Cheese	380	15g
French Fries	360	6g
Grilled Cheese + Fries	740	21g

Is There Anything Close To A Vegan Burger?

Not in the usual sense. There’s no plant-based patty, and the menu’s burger-style vegetarian choice depends on cheese. A vegan diner can still piece together a small meal from fries and customized bread-and-vegetable items, though it won’t feel like a proper burger substitute.

The spread is another thing to watch. Since it contains egg, leaving off the spread is part of a stricter vegan order. That also changes the flavor a lot, since the spread adds tang and moisture. Without it, a plain bun with vegetables can feel dry unless you add ketchup or mustard.

So if you’re asking whether In-N-Out has a vegan veggie burger, the answer is an even firmer no than the vegetarian version of this question.

When In-N-Out Works Well For Vegetarians

In-N-Out works best for vegetarians who like simple fast food and don’t need a faux-meat patty to enjoy the meal. The chain’s small menu is part of the appeal. Ordering is easy, ingredients are familiar, and the Grilled Cheese feels like a real menu choice rather than a weird workaround.

It also works well when the group picked In-N-Out and you just need a decent meat-free order without making the whole trip a hassle. In that setting, a Grilled Cheese and fries can do the job just fine.

It works less well if you want variety. Some burger chains offer mushroom burgers, black bean burgers, or plant-based patties with a long list of topping choices. In-N-Out is not trying to be that kind of place.

When You May Want Another Spot

If the whole point of the meal is finding a true veggie burger, another restaurant will serve you better. The same goes for vegan diners who want more than fries and a custom bun. In-N-Out keeps its menu tight, and that simplicity leaves a gap for plant-based eaters.

That gap does not make the chain bad at what it does. It just means the restaurant is built around a different kind of customer. Knowing that ahead of time saves the letdown of walking in expecting a veggie patty that was never there.

The Straight Answer

Does In N Out Burger have veggie burgers? No. It does not sell a vegetable or plant-based burger patty on its menu. The closest vegetarian option is the Grilled Cheese, which gives you the burger format without the meat. Pair it with fries, tweak the toppings if you like, and you’ll have a workable meat-free meal. If you want a true veggie burger, you’ll need a different burger chain.