Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells that promote both innate and adaptive immune responses. Pertinent to adaptive immunity, DCs activate naïve T cells by presenting peptides on MHC class II molecules. Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) is a widely used food additive and a potent activator of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Studies from our lab demonstrated that tBHQ impedes CD4 and CD8 T cell activation and effector function, but the effects of tBHQ on dendritic cell function remain unclear. To address this, splenic DCs were collected from wildtype C57BL/6 mice and treated with tBHQ (0.5 or 1 μM) for 30 mins prior to activation with either LPS or influenza A virus for 24 h. tBHQ treatment led to a significant decrease in the expression of the MHC class II receptor, CD80 and CD86, suggesting tBHQ may negatively impact DC maturation and activation. In addition, tBHQ inhibited secretion of IL-6, and to a lesser extent, TNFα, by LPS and IAV-activated DCs. Overall, our data suggest that tBHQ inhibits the expression of proteins important for DC function, which could ultimately have a negative impact on T cell response to pathogen.