Gluten free products can be expensive, so here’s the breakdown on the best gluten free hot dog buns for your money. Schär Hot Dog Rolls taste the most like traditional white bread buns, Katz Hot Dog Buns have a grown-up artisanal feel, Kinnikinnick New Hot Dog Buns are a great vegan option with a whole wheat taste, and Udi’s Classic Hot Dog Buns are the best value. Keep reading for all the details on each bun.
Updated July 21, 2024
8 minute read
What Are the Best Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns?
Who wants to waste money on something that doesn’t taste very good? Not me – and if you’re talking about gluten free items, it’s likely you’d be wasting A LOT of money. That’s why I’ve put together a list of the 4 best gluten free hot dog buns and where to buy them so you don’t end up wasting your money on something disappointing.
In the past decade, gluten free items have gone from rare to commonplace, and that’s great news for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. There are a few items, however, that are just a little bit trickier to find. Like, say, hot dog buns.
For some reason, these mainstays of backyard bonfires and sporting events are not high on the list of easy-to-find gluten free items. They’re not super cheap when you do find them, too.
Scroll down for all the info or click on the link for the specific information you need:
- Are There Any Good Gluten-Free Buns?
- What Brand of Hot Dog Buns are Gluten Free?
- Where to Buy Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns
- The Reviews
Also, I’m not a guy.
Are There Any Good Gluten-Free Buns?
Absolutely! The days of gluten free baked goods that have the texture of cardboard and bizarre and overpowering flavors are long gone.
Multiple nationally-known gluten free brands now offer delicious hot dog buns that are practically identical to their “normal” versions. Scroll down to the review section see how they compare to each other in taste, texture, and price.
Gluten free baked goods have come such a long way in the past decade. Seriously, the first time I ate a gluten free piece of “bread” years ago I thought it was one of the most revolting things I’d ever tasted. After attempting to eat a sandwich made with the stuff, I gave the rest of the loaf to my uncle, who is well known in my family for liking pretty much everything.
He threw it out.
Which is why I’m really pleased that I was able to find so many quality baked goods that I was actually able to make a “best gluten free hot dog buns” list at all. It would not have been possible even a few years ago.
What Brand of Hot Dog Buns Are Gluten-Free?
While some local bakeries near you may offer gluten free hot dog buns, my four favorite nationally-available gluten free hot dog buns are Katz Hot Dog Buns, Kinnikinnick New Hot Dog Buns, Schär Hot Dog Rolls, and Udis Classic Hot Dog Buns.
(Other national gluten free brands used to offer hot dog buns, but many have been discontinued)
Where to Buy Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns
Gluten free items hot dog buns can be found at many chains, including Walmart, Kroger, Ingles, Publix, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and more. Unfortunately, what exact items are stocked varies from store to store, so you may have to do some searching. If you have a specific bun in mind, head over to the Kinnikinnick, Schär, or Udis websites and check out their store locators to find which stores in your area carry them.
If you’re looking into ordering online, be advised that to make it worth your while you may need to order a lot of baked goods at once (I’ve found when it comes to food that minimum purchase amounts may apply). Also, if you’re not planning on eating everything within a couple days of their arrival, make sure you have room in your freezer to store them first.
The Reviews
To be clear, I 100% personally bought and then tried all these hot dog buns.
It wasn’t easy to find all of them, either. I found Udi’s in my local supermarket, but online orders had to be made for Katz and Kinnikinnick, and I actually had to drive 36 miles round trip to get the Schär buns. Some brands I tried to get but couldn’t (for instance, it appears that Canyon Bakehouse has stopped making hot dog buns in favor of sub rolls).
And now you can benefit from my efforts :-). Please note that all prices are from either the company’s websites or my local stores in July 2024.
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NOTE BEFORE WE BEGIN: Every single bun on this page has great flavor – no bizarre smells or aftertastes that can sometimes appear in gluten free baked goods. They will all complement your hot dog and not overpower it.
{IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Sadly, as of July 2024, Katz appears to have discontinued its hot dog buns. If they bring them back, I will review that new version.
1. Katz Hot Dog Buns
Price: $4.74 for 4 ($1.19 per bun)
Nutrition: 210 cal, 1 g fiber, 8 g fat, 4 g protein, 220 mg sodium, 2 g sugar
Allergen Info: Contains egg. Gluten free, dairy free, nut free.
My Impressions:
This bun is perfectly fine just thawed, but I think toasting it really takes it up a notch. It made it feel like a more “grown up” hot dog, with its flour-dusted artisanal look. It was nice and soft on the inside, and toasting gave it a lovely crisp outside.
I’m not sure why, but something in the flavor almost reminded me of cornbread – I certainly don’t mean that in a bad way, as it was all part of the more sophisticated “grown up” feeling I mentioned. Great stuff.
PROS: Nice texture, really great when toasted, a more “grown up” bun
CONS: It wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, but this bun does have the most calories and fat of the ones tested.
You can get Katz Hot Dog Buns at their online store HERE.
2. Kinnikinnick New Hot Dog Buns
Price: $4.75 for 4 ($1.19 per bun)
Nutrition: 180 cal, 2 g fiber, 2.5 g fat, 1 g protein, 400 mg sodium, 3 g sugar
Allergens: Vegan. Contains corn and potato; Has no egg ingredients but may contain egg; FREE from gluten, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, soy
My Impressions:
Out of all the buns, this one has the most “whole wheat” feel to it. It’s a more “grown up” bun, and it looks and feels like it came from a local bakery.
It wasn’t overly sweet, with a nice outer crust and chewy interior that reminded me of the dinner rolls I used to eat in my pre-gluten-free days. It paired very well with not just hot dogs but also some chicken sausage I tried.
PROS: A whole wheat taste and homemade feel are highlights here.
CONS: If you’re a butterfingers like me with a knife, the fact that these aren’t pre-sliced may be a problem.
Use Kinnikinnick’s Store Finder to find a retailer near you.
3. Schär Hot Dog Rolls
Price: $5.99 for 4 ($1.50 per bun)
Nutrition: 150 cal, 4 g fiber, 1.5 g fat, 1 g protein, 300 mg sodium, 3 g sugar
Allergen Info: Contains soy; Non GMO, Free from gluten, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts and dairy
My Impressions:
The Schär Hot Dog Roll is definitely the closest to the traditional “backyard cookout” hot dog bun I remember from when I was a kid. It has that squishy, white bread feel that is just your 100% old school hot dog bun.
This bun also passed my “double check” test, where something tastes so much like the original gluten-y version that I feel the need to double check the packaging to make sure it’s gluten free. It also is the longest of all the buns, so if you have longer hot dogs or sausages, this would be your best bet.
PROS: Pretty much identical to the classic white bread hot dog buns you remember as a kid. Nice and long for those longer hot dogs and sausages.
CONS: Far and away the most expensive of the buns at $1.50 each
You can get Schär Hot Dog Rolls at their online store HERE.
4. Udi’s Classic Hot Dog Buns
Price: $5.78 for 6 ($0.96 per bun)
Nutrition: 190 cal, 5 g fiber, 5 g fat, 4 g protein, 350 mg sodium, 5 g sugar
Allergens: Contains egg; Free from gluten, dairy, tree nut, peanut, and soy.
My Impressions:
When I first ate this bun just thawed, it felt like a little too much bread for the dog, like I wished it was a little thinner. That being said, when I later ate one that was toasted, that feeling vanished and I really enjoyed it.
I will say having that extra bit of bread also helps it stand up to hot dogs with more toppings that might turn a weaker bun to mush.
The Udis bun is a little chewier than the others, which may sway some people’s opinion of it. (For example, while I enjoyed it, my aunt was not a fan.)
PROS: Even though the overall price is higher, you get 6 buns in this package (as opposed to 4 in the rest), making this the best value of all of them. It also has the most fiber.
CONS: It’s the shortest bun in the batch, so if you have longer hot dogs they’ll probably hang out. Some of the buns in my package were oddly cut – like half was wider than the other side – but it honestly didn’t really matter to me when I was eating them. Your mileage may vary.
You can get Udi’s Classic Hot Dog Buns at their online store HERE.
One Last Bite
All the buns on this page really are tasty, and I don’t think you’d go wrong with any of them.
It really just comes down to personal preference. Do you like a white bread squish or a more whole wheat style? What price point is okay for you? And what’s available in your local supermarket? (though online is definitely an option in this case).
All of which is why I’m not picking one brand as having the absolute best gluten free hot dog buns. All four of these are winners in different ways.
In any event, I hope this guide helps you or the gluten free person in your life who, up until now, has been relegated to a sad, bun-less hot dog at the family cookout. Happy Cooking!
For our full list of reviews of allergen free food and related products, please visit our review page. For our full list of recipes, please visit our complete recipe list. If you’d like recipes for specific dietary issues, head to these pages for all our gluten free recipes, dairy free recipes, vegan recipes, soy free recipes, nut free recipes, low carb recipes, egg free recipes, and shellfish free recipes.
