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Want to know how to order gluten-free pizza at restaurants or which pizza to buy at stores?
Pizza is one of the trickiest foods to enjoy when dining out with the celiac disease. There are many cross-contact points to manage, including aprons, sauce ladles, gloves, ingredients, the cutter, the pan, and even the oven itself.
That’s not to say it’s impossible to order safe gluten-free pizza from restaurants with celiac disease. In fact, as a dietitian who’s had celiac for over 10 years, I’ve been able to order safe pizza before. However, it is difficult and it requires you to be on top of your celiac-safety game.
In some cases, you may find that ordering gluten-free pizza is not possible at certain locations or you may find buying and cooking your own pizza at home is safer and more worth it. We’ll be covering all of these scenarios in this post!
BUT before we dive in, don’t forget to grab my FREE Gluten-Free USA Restaurant Cheat Sheets to help simplify dining out for you. Visit this webpage to download them!
When talking about ordering gluten-free pizza, I’m talking about it in the context of celiac safety. So we need to understand what celiac is, to understand why we are so careful.
Celiac is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and contaminated foods like oats), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine.
These attacks lead to damage to the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body.
This inflammatory response to gluten and related nutrient deficiencies can cause a wide variety of symptoms in people with celiac. From bloating, headaches, constipation, joint pain, bone health complications, infertility, weight gain, weight loss, and more.
This can start at any age, and occur in any body, as long as someone is eating gluten and has the celiac genes. If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to additional serious health problems.
Additionally, we talking about gluten-free pizza, we need to know what gluten is. Gluten is a protein found in barley, rye, contaminated oats, and wheat. It may be helpful to remember the acronym “BROW” when trying to remember what foods have gluten.
In baked goods, gluten holds things together working as a binding agent. It gives texture and chew to foods.
Most people can safely eat gluten. However, some people have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease which means they need to avoid gluten. It can cause digestive issues such as diarrhea and nausea as well as nonintestinal symptoms such as rashes, headaches, or joint pain in these populations.
In this post, we’ll be talking about safety mostly in the context of avoiding gluten with celiac which is more standardized and tends to be the most strict out of the gluten-related disorders.
Finally, before we get into how to order gluten-free pizza and where to buy it, let’s talk about what it is.
Pizza is generally a large, flat, round dough covered with toppings and baked. It is Italian in origin. Pizza was invented in Naples, Italy in the 1600s. Pizza did not start to get popular in the USA until waves of Italian immigrants brought it over in the 1940s.
The crust is typically made with wheat flour, yeast and water. (The crust typically has gluten because of the wheat flour).
The dough is then allowed to rise. Then it is pressed out and often thrown up in the air to stretch it out. The most common toppings include tomato sauce and cheese. Meat such as sausage or pepperoni is popular. Vegetables can be included too.
Generally, pizza is not gluten-free, which makes ordering gluten-free pizza at restaurants difficult. Usually, wheat-based flour is used to provide gluten which gives the pizza a chewy crust. If the pizza itself doesn’t have gluten in it, then often it’s at risk for coming into cross-contact with it (more on that in a moment).
Fortunately, there are gluten-free doughs that some pizzerias or restaurants use. There are some available for sale in stores too. Gluten-free doughs are most often made with rice flour combined with something else such as tapioca starch. A lack of gluten causes some interesting challenges.
Gluten-free doughs can be too tough or not hold together well. We’ll be talking more about this in future parts of this post.
When ordering gluten-free pizza at restaurants, you’ll want to know what ingredients to avoid. Obviously, you’ll want to avoid wheat flour typically found in crusts and in some sauces.
Some dressings or sauces such as Alfredo or balsamic or barbecue have natural flavorings that might not be gluten-free if they are derived from barley extract or a wheat derivative. So you’ll want to check on that too.
Additionally, other toppings might be flavored or breaded with gluten ingredients so you’ll need to check those as well. When in doubt, ask to see that actual ingredients to determine safety for yourself.
Gluten in the ingredients of pizza is the only thing to be mindful of when ordering gluten-free pizza. A pizzeria is a gluten-filled establishment which means there are multiple points of potential cross-contact with gluten.
If you have celiac disease or need to be as careful as someone who has celiac disease when dining out, you’ll want to verify the restaurant can properly manage cross-contact. Some points of cross-contact to be mindful of at a pizzeria include…
A note about convection ovens: this is a debated cross-contact topic. Until we have research on how much cross-contact these ovens actually transfer, it’s my professional opinion as a celiac dietitian (who’s also had celiac for over 10 years) that you should be cautious and avoid them in most circumstances. If you want to know more about the research on cross-contact with gluten and celiac, I break it down into simple terms in my Celiac Crash Course.
As you can see, there are multiple points to consider where gluten could be introduced into your gluten-free food. This is a lot to check and manage so it requires a high level of restaurant skills and social battery to do.
If you need help with building your restaurant skills so you can feel confident when ordering out and evaluating risks, remember I teach you how to do this in my Gluten-Free Dining Course. It’s a self-paced course designed to help you stay safe at restaurants using 4-simple steps! Learn more about the course here.
There are many things to consider in eating out pizza. There are many points in which your food could experience cross-contact or have gluten introduced. Some questions you might ask when checking a restaurant for safe gluten-free options include:
This is not an all-inclusive list but a great starting point for helping you evaluate safety at pizzerias. Remember that pizza making can result in gluten being in many places in the kitchen and it’s important you’re managing that.
How to order gluten-free pizza out of the way, do any of the common pizza chains have gluten-free pizza options? The answer is yes!
However, many of these gluten-free pizza options are not considered celiac-safe due to a variety of different cross-contact points. While I can’t possibly review risk levels at every pizza place ever, a dietetic intern and I contacted some common USA pizza chains to see if they have gluten-free pizza options and what the cross-contact risk was.
Below are our findings, however, please note that cross-contact points may vary greatly by location and staff knowledge. Additionally, do not take anyone’s research, including my own, as a substitute for your own risk evaluation. It’s important that you always evaluate the safety of options for yourself as the restaurant industry can change quickly and again, varies greatly by location.
And don’t forget that if you need help with building your restaurant skills so you can feel confident when ordering out and evaluating risks, remember I teach you how to do this in my Gluten-Free Dining Course. It’s a self-paced course designed to help you stay safe at restaurants using 4-simple steps! Learn more about the course here.
Is it possible to order gluten-free pizza at Donatos? Donato’s means to give a good thing in Latin. Donato’s is known for their pizza and fresh ingredients. They have 200 locations in the nation. They have gluten-free crusts.
Per this Donato’s allergen guide, any of their pizzas can be made GF. They use a GF crust from Venice Bakery. Venice Bakery has a 100% gluten-free plant to make their pizza crusts. It is a rice-based crust. Donato’s also has a cauliflower crust made by corporate. Doughs are shipped in pre-made and then patted into the pan.
According to the Donato’s location we contacted, they use a convection oven (an oven with a fan) and don’t have a dedicated oven or a dedicated space 6ft away to prepare gluten-free pizzas.
They do however have a dedicated pizza pan, knife, and spatula plus, they use fresh gloves when preparing gluten-free pizza. They have a number of gluten-free pizzas (if made on the cauliflower crust) including Pepperoni, Serious Cheese, Chicken Spinach Mozzarella, Classic Trio, Hawaiian, Founder’s Favorite, Margherita, Mariachi Chicken or Beef, Serious Meat, The Works and Very Vegy.
The cross-contact point that is not managed here is that the pizzas will be made less than 6 ft away from gluten, which according to some research, is not enough space to mitigate air-born flour risk. Additionally, the pizza is cooked in an oven that has a fan. Thus, Donatos is likely not a safe place to order pizza from.
Is it possible to order gluten-free pizza at Domino’s? Domino’s is known for its pizza delivery. They are the largest pizza chain in the world. There are 6,571 locations in the US. They have a gluten-free crust.
You can see which of their items have wheat with this link and this link shows the ingredients of items.
According to the Domino’s we contacted, they do have gluten-free dough and their pizzas can be made with it. The crust is rice based made to <20ppm of gluten in a gluten-free facility. However, Domino’s does not have a gluten-free area in which they prepare gluten-free pizzas.
However, their gluten doughs are shipped in and formed on the counter using cornmeal. So wheat flour should not be in the air like it would be if they uses wheat flour. So the 6ft rule may not apply here.
They are also willing to use fresh utensils and pans and gloves. If you want the white sauce on a pizza ask for the Garlic Parmesan sauce which is gluten-free. However, all of their pizzas contain natural flavorings either in the sauces or toppings. I called corporate but was unable to clarify whether or not the natural flavoring is gluten-free. So this is a risk you need to be mindful of.
And if the natural flavors didn’t seal the fate, unfortunately, the pizzas are cooked in an oven with a fan (convection oven) with all the other pizzas. All of this makes Domino’s pizza likely an unsafe place for people with celiac to order gluten-free pizza.
Is it possible to order gluten-free pizza at Papa John’s? This pizza joint is known for its fresh ingredients and affordable pizza. There are 2,554 locations in the US. They also have a gluten-free crust.
You can see which of their items have wheat with this link. And this link shows the ingredients of items.
They have a gluten-free crust made from rice, quinoa, and tapioca. They can make any of their pizzas on that crust. However, according to the location we contacted, they use a convection oven which is not considered celiac-safe. We did not get any additional clarity on other cross-contact points.
The pizzas with bacon have a smoke flavor which may contain gluten but we did not get clarification on this. The meatballs have breadcrumbs. The pepperoni, Philly steak, alfredo sauce, and salami have natural flavorings which we also did not get clarification on.
This leaves the Cheese, Sausage, Garden Fresh, and Tuscan 6 Cheese as safe on a gluten-free crust. However, because the pizza is cooked in a convection oven, and there was a lack of clarity on managing cross-contact in other areas, it’s not considered generally celiac-safe.
Is it possible to order gluten-free pizza at Pizza hut? There are 6,616 Pizza Huts in the US. They are known for their signature pan pizza. They have a gluten-free crust.
Pizza Hut® Pizzas that are made with Udi’s® Gluten-Free Crust are currently offered in 1/3 of Pizza Hut® restaurants nationwide. Please go to pizzahut.com and enter your zip code or address for Delivery or Carryout and look for the Gluten Free tab on the Pizza page.
You can build your own pizza on their crust but meatballs and Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce have gluten. I called multiple locations and couldn’t find one that carries that gluten-free crust. Check with the location first before going.
We don’t have enough information to recommend or not Pizza Hut because we couldn’t find a location that has gluten-free crusts so we were unable to check on cross-contact precautions.
Is it possible to order gluten-free pizza at Little Caesars? This pizza place is known for affordable pizza and quick delivery. Way back before my celiac days, I remember getting their $5 pizza for dinner was always exciting in my house.
There are 4,173 locations in the USA. They do not offer a gluten-free crust. They made that decision because it was too difficult to manage cross-contact and they didn’t see it as being profitable. Given their footing as an affordable pizza, I totally get where they’re coming from, as gluten-free pizza is quite pricey. However, this means Little Caesars is not a safe place for someone with celiac disease.
Is it possible to order gluten-free pizza at Marco’s Pizza? There are 1,051 locations in the US. They are known for their dough, their sauce, and their 3-cheese blend. They do have a gluten-free crust.
However, the location we contacted confirmed they use a convection oven which is not considered generally celiac-safe. They also make their dough from scratch and do not prepare gluten-free pizza 6ft away from the gluten-filled.
The pepperoni, chicken fresco, deluxe, Hawaiian chicken, buffalo chicken, white cheezy pizza and all meat pizzas have natural flavorings that we could not get clarification on if they were gluten-free. And the Philly pizza has wheat extract. This leaves the cheese and the garden pizzas made on cauliflower crust to be gluten-free.
And even though there are gluten-free options, if you have celiac there are two likely cross-contact points that make Marco’s pizza likely unsafe. Those points are the convection oven and the lack of space between gluten-free and gluten-filled pizza prep.
Can you order gluten-free pizza at Mellow Mushroom? Mellow Mushroom is known for their hand-tossed, stone-baked pizzas. There are 165 Mellow Mushrooms in the US with a concentration in the South. They have a gluten-free crust.
The location we contacted has a dedicated gluten-free oven. Another location we contacted did not but the oven was not convection, and they were willing to place the pizza on the top rack.
We also confirmed with this location that the dough is shipped in but spread out on the counter using cornmeal. This eliminates the need for a 6ft distance in pizza prep as flour is not being thrown in the air for pizza dough prep.
The locations we contacted stated they make every effort to avoid cross-contact including wiping down the area where they will be preparing the pizza. They put gluten-free pizzas on their own pans and they are willing to change out the utensils for fresh ones.
The Kosmic Karma, Veg Out, Mighty Meaty, and House Special can be made on a gluten-free crust (which has tapioca, sorghum, and amaranth).
You might ask if they could place the pizza on parchment paper after the wipe down the line in preparing your order. However, there is a risk with sauces and toppings serving utensils are likely directly touching the gluten-filled pizzas when preparing. However, you may be able to convince them to pull from fresh bins.
In my opinion as a dietitian specializing in celiac who’s also had celiac for over 10 years, the risk for gluten exposure is high, but it may be manageable, unlike other pizza locations we’ve contacted.
Can you order gluten-free pizza at Mod Pizza? Mod is known for its quick make-it-in-a-line pizzas and friendly service. They are a fast-casual restaurant. They were founded in 2008 in Seattle, Washington. There are over 500 Mod Pizza locations now. They have gluten-free crusts. This link shows allergen ingredients such as wheat.
They do have gluten-free crusts available and according to their allergen sheet, all their pizzas and dressings are gluten-free.
However, cross-contact-wise, their pizzas are made on a crowded line with no gluten-free prep area. According to the location we contacted, they cannot change out the serving utensils. They have a stone-fired oven. They cook all pizzas (including gluten-free ones) on the same pizza stones.
I personally don’t recommend Mod to someone with celiac because of the extreme crowding on their line, they won’t change utensils and their pizza stone is potentially a cross-contact point (we have no research on the safety of sharing pizza stones so I’m taking an abundance of caution with it here).
Is it possible to order gluten-free pizza at California Pizza Kitchen? California Pizza Kitchen is known for its innovative and unique pizza flavors. There are 146 California Pizza Kitchens in the USA. They have a gluten-free crust. See this link which shows allergen info and it lists all the gluten-free pizzas.
Their Cauliflower Crust features a custom blend of cauliflower, mozzarella cheese, egg whites, rice flour, herbs, and spices. These gluten-free pizzas are prepared using the strict procedures approved by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), using a validated gluten-free crust and other ingredients verified by our suppliers as gluten-free.
They have a whole gluten-free protocol making sure to minimize cross-contact and they have a dedicated gluten-free preparation area. The GF Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, GF Pepperoni, GF Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage, GF Margherita, GF Traditional Cheese Pizzas are all gluten-free when made on their cauliflower crust.
California Pizza Kitchen is likely safe because of its validation by GIG. That said, remember that this does not mean you don’t have to ask about cross-contact. Their status with GIG could change. Additionally, even if they have protocols, you always need to verify they are being followed and advocate for yourself.
Can you order gluten-free pizza at Uno’s? Uno’s is known for their deep-dish pizza. There are 77 Uno’s locations in the USA. They do have a gluten-free crust. Use this link to find ingredients.
They have three pizzas they can make gluten-free. The veggie, cheese or pepperoni. The crust is made from rice flour and tapioca starch.
According to the location we contacted, they are careful with cross-contact and would put GF pizza on the top shelf of the oven. However, they use a convection oven which is not considered generally celiac-safe right now.
Because Uno’s uses a convection oven, it’s likely unsafe for people with celiac.
Can you order gluten-free pizza at Blaze Pizza? Blaze has 306 locations. They are known for their freshly made doughs that they make in-house.
They have a gluten-free crust. Use this link to see the ingredients. They also have a Keto Pizza and a Vegetarian pizza both made on a cauliflower crust.
The location we called did not have a separate prep area but they use a special mat to lay the pizza on and a dedicated cutter and fresh gloves. Because they make the gluten-filled pizza doughs in-house and they aren’t able to maintain 6ft between the gluten-filled and gluten-free made doughts, I would not recommend Blaze to someone with celiac.
It is complicated to order gluten-free pizza at restaurants with celiac disease. There’s a lot to be aware of and it’s one of the hardest cuisines to safely enjoy with celiac. That said, just because it’s hard, does not mean it’s impossible.
I hope this post gave you insight into what to look for and who might be a safe option for you. That said, if you want more help and guidance on how to dine out safely with celiac, don’t forget I share my 10 years of wisdom from living with celiac in my Gluten-Free Dining Course. It’s a self-paced dietitian-led course that teaches you how to stay as safe as possible when dining out in just 4 simple steps. Check it out here.
And if ordering pizza feels too overwhelming for you, let’s talk about your options when it comes to buying GF pizza from stores.
Not ready to venture into the realm of ordering gluten-free pizza from restaurants? There are two types of pizzas you can buy and make from the store. There are pre-made pizzas that are usually frozen or gluten-free pizza crusts that you make and top yourself.
What you buy depends on your goals. Do you want a fun pizza night with the family where you top and bake your pizzas together? Or do you want a quick and easy meal to throw into the oven after a busy day?
Obviously, other things can play into what kind of pizza you decide to make but those are the two common ones. And whatever you decide, below are some of your options!
Let’s start with pre-made gluten-free pizzas available at the store. These pizzas can be refrigerated (like the take-and-bake gluten-free pizzas at Donatos) but they usually are frozen. So let’s talk about some of the common ones found in stores.
Our first options comes from Tali Di Napoli. Their gluten-free pizza crust contains gluten-free wheat starch and buckwheat and rice. The toppings include cheese, tomatoes, olive oil, and basil. It’s sold as a six-pack for $120 and shipped to you. It has over two hundred 5-star reviews.
They say, “Our gluten-free pizzas are certified Gluten Free and Celiac Safe. We received our certification through an independent organization, Coeliac UK. You can read more about them here. Our Gluten Free Pizza production line is free of any cross-contamination.”
Coeliac UK certification requires the products labeled gluten-free must meet a range of criteria to ensure that they are gluten-free, both in terms of the ingredients and the production process. To be certified they test all of the products using a UKAS or equivalently accredited laboratory. They also audit the facilities yearly.
Another gluten-free frozen pizza options comes from the Freschetta brand. It is owned by Schwan. Schwan was started in 1952. Schwan’s is now owned by CJ CheilJedang of South Korea as of 2019. Freschetta prides itself on fresh ingredients and no chemical-raising agents.
Freschetta gluten-free pizzas have a gluten-free claim. The crusts are made of rice and tapioca. They have margarita, spinach and mushroom, and four cheese-style gluten-free pizzas. They are $9.99 each. They are frozen pizzas and I can find them at most grocery stores around me.
Perhaps one of the most popular frozen pizza brands with gluten-free pizza is Digiorno. It was started in 2008 by Kraft Foods. In 2010, Kraft sold the brand to Nestle. Nestle is a huge Swiss company that has been around for 156 years. Digiorno aims to make the best-frozen pizzas you can buy.
Digiorno pizza has a gluten-free claim. The crust is made with wheat starch, buckwheat, and rice.
It says the wheat starch has been rinsed to remove the gluten and meets FDA guidelines for gluten-free food. Diogornio GF pizza only seems to come in pepperoni. It is a frozen pizza and costs $10.49.
To learn more about the safety of this pizza, check out this detailed blog post!
Additionally, Daiya has gluten-free pizza options available in the freezer section. Otsuka Pharmaceutical out of Tokyo owns Daiya. They have been around since 1964. Daiya believes that plant-based living is better for our health, better for the planet and better for animal welfare.
Their crust is rice and tapioca. The pizzas are also dairy free and vegetarian. The “meat” is vegetarian. It comes in Cheese, Supreme, Meatless Pepperoni, Fire Roasted Vegetable and Margharita. Their pizzas are certified gluten-free. Expect to pay about $7.68. This type of vegan cheese on these pizzas actually melts!
This is a great option for my gluten-free and lactose intolerant friends, or for my vegan and gluten-free folk.
Lastly, on our list of frozen pizzas to consider buying are Udi’s gluten-free pizzas. Conagra Brands owns Udi’s. They are an 11.8 billion dollar company with 18,000 employees.
Udi’s mission is to show you a new way to approach gluten-free living. No more bland or crumbly food. That said, they have a rough reputation when it comes to their gluten-free bread, with much of it having big holes in it.
The Udi’s gluten-free pizzas are certified gluten-free. They come in pepperoni, supreme or cheese. The crust is made of rice, tapioca and egg whites. It costs $10.49. Udi’s is the same company that makes gluten-free crusts for pizza hut.
Their pizza definitely holds up a lot better than their gluten-free breads in my opinion.
Now if you want a more customizable option, gluten-free pizza crusts and mixes are an alternative to ordering gluten-free pizzas from restaurants. They require more work than pre-made pizzas but they can be fun to make. Below are some options…
First up on our gluten-free pizza crusts to buy is Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pizza Crust. Pillsbury just launched a GF crust mix that you can find in stores and it’s such a pleasure to make.
It requires a few ingredients and is easy to mix up. My favorite part about making this pizza crust is how easy it is and the delicious pizza flavor that comes from making the crust. All my senses were happy while making this which is rare.
Full disclosure, they did sponsor an Instagram post with me but I am not receiving compensation for including them in this post. I just really loved the experience I had making their crust.
Another gluten-free pizza crust mix option is by King Arthur. A very popular baking brand with lots of gluten-free options.
King Arthur makes a variety of flours and baking mixes. They are a completely employee-owned company. This mix is certified gluten-free. It contains gluten-free wheat starch, corn, and sorghum.
To make the crust you will need the mix plus water, olive oil, sugar, salt, and yeast. It costs $12.95. I’ve never tried it but I’ve had generally great experiences with other GF mixes made by this brand.
Another gluten-free pizza crust to try is by BFree. BFree is a relatively new company having started in 2011. They are based out of Dublin, Ireland.
Their crust has a gluten-free claim. It is made with corn, rice, tapioca, and bamboo. It costs $9.94 for a package of two. It’s a pre-made crust so perfect if you don’t want to mix your own dough. I’ve never tried it but it’s an option to try!
If you’re looking for more gluten-free pizza crusts to try, you’ll also want to keep your eyes out for Schar crusts.
Schar is a German company. They now have a completely gluten-free line and facility. Their crust is certified gluten-free. It has rice, corn and potato in the crust. It costs $7.58.
The bonus to this crust? It has 3g of gluten-free fiber. It’s also not a mix, it comes pre-made. So if you want a quick customizable crust, this is another great option.
It is possible to buy and order gluten-free pizza from stores and restaurants. You just need to be careful when ordering at restaurants and be ready to try a few options to find your favorite when shopping.
Many pizza chains have gluten-free pizzas and some take precautions against cross-contact. However, eating out can still be tricky. Because of the nature of the preparation and environment, eating pizza in a restaurant does come with higher risks than dining out with other cuisines.
You will need to ask them about cross-contact precautions and be diligent about checking the safety of your food should you try to order pizza..
It is safer to eat pizza at home. There are a number of gluten-free frozen pizzas on the market that are arguably more simple to eat because you don’t have to do all of the speaking up and verification. You just put the frozen pizza in the oven and enjoy.
There are also crusts and crust mix to make your own. These will require more work than frozen pizza and may have better outcomes. It just depends on what you want from your pizza – a quick and easy meal or perhaps a fun cooking experience.
Want more help with dining out with celiac disease? Don’t forget to grab my free restaurant cheat sheets!