Can I put my manager down as a refrence?

I currently work at McDonalds, but im getting sick of it and i'm interested in applying else where. I was wondering, can I put my managers down as a reference and do I have to ask them? Or can I just put then down? I'm scared as how I could ask them, because i don't want to quit Mcdonalds, just see what other oppotunitys are avalible and possibly take one. But i don;t wnat them to get the wrong idea?