Gluten-Free, Keto-Friendly Pizza: Papa Murphy's Options Explored

Papa Murphy's offers a variety of keto-friendly and gluten-free options for customers with specific dietary needs or preferences. The pizza chain, which operates on a take-and-bake model, allows customers to choose from a range of crust options, including a gluten-free crust and a crustless keto-friendly alternative. While the gluten-free crust contains a variety of ingredients, including water, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, and egg whites, the keto-friendly option does away with the crust entirely. Papa Murphy's also offers a range of keto-friendly toppings and sauces, allowing customers to customize their pizzas to fit their dietary needs.

Papa Murphy's gluten-free crust options

Papa Murphy's offers a gluten-free crust option for those with gluten intolerance or allergies. The crust is made by Udi's and is available in medium size only. While the crust itself is gluten-free, it is topped in a shared kitchen that also handles gluten-containing ingredients, so there is a risk of cross-contamination.

When ordering a gluten-free pizza from Papa Murphy's, it is important to inform the staff of your gluten intolerance or allergy so they can take the necessary precautions. This may include changing gloves, using separate utensils, and preparing the pizza in a separate area. Even with these precautions, there is still a risk of cross-contamination, and some customers with celiac disease have reported reactions after consuming Papa Murphy's gluten-free pizza.

The gluten-free crust has a base price of around $12 and can be paired with various toppings and sauces. However, keep in mind that the crust is bland and soggy, according to some reviews. The cooking time for the gluten-free pizza is the same as for regular pizzas (12-18 minutes), but it is recommended to slide the pizza off the tray and onto the oven rack halfway through to ensure even cooking.

Keto-friendly toppings

Papa Murphy's offers keto-friendly pizzas, which are crustless and served in a dish. Here are some keto-friendly toppings you can add to your pizza:

Meat Toppings

Meat is a great keto-friendly topping option, as it is low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Here are some meat toppings you can choose from:

• Pepperoni
• Ham
• Sausage
• Bacon
• Shredded chicken
• Ground beef
• Anchovies
• Salami
• Prosciutto

Sauce Toppings

When it comes to keto-friendly sauces, there are several options to choose from. Here are some ideas:

• Tomato paste
• Sour cream
• Crème fraîche
• Sun-dried tomato pesto
• Green pesto
• Salsa sauce
• BBQ sauce

Cheese Toppings

Cheese is another excellent keto-friendly topping, as it is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. Consider these cheese options:

• Shredded cheddar
• Mozzarella
• Goat cheese
• Blue cheese
• Feta cheese
• Parmesan
• Dairy-free cheese

Fresh or Dried Herb Toppings

Adding herbs to your pizza can enhance the flavour and make it more exciting. Here are some herb options:

• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Thyme

Vegetable Toppings

While vegetables are generally considered healthy, not all of them are keto-friendly. Here are some keto-friendly vegetable toppings to choose from:

• Olives
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Artichokes
• Green bell peppers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Pickled jalapeños
• Broccoli

Cross-contamination risks

As a chain, Papa Murphy's is considered a high-risk location for cross-contamination. Their pizzas are prepared in a shared kitchen with ingredients used to make traditional pizza crusts containing gluten. The probability of cross-contamination with gluten in the kitchen is high.

Papa Murphy's offers a gluten-free crust option, but it is not suitable for people with Celiac disease due to the risk of cross-contamination. The crust may work for those with a gluten intolerance or those who can handle trace amounts of gluten.

To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, customers can inform the staff of their gluten intolerance when ordering. The staff at Papa Murphy's are reported to be knowledgeable about Celiac disease and gluten intolerance and are willing to take precautions such as cleaning the space, changing gloves, and using new utensils and ingredients from the back when preparing gluten-free pizzas.

However, there are still reports of cross-contamination occurring, with some customers experiencing reactions after consuming gluten-free pizzas from Papa Murphy's. Therefore, it is essential for customers to carefully consider their level of sensitivity to gluten and make an informed decision about whether to dine at this establishment.

Dairy-free options

Papa Murphy's offers dairy-free cheese as an option for its pizzas. The dairy-free cheese is Violife cheese, and it is prepared in the same kitchen areas as other cheeses that contain dairy.

Papa Murphy's has a range of keto-friendly pizzas that can be made dairy-free by substituting the cheese with the dairy-free option. These pizzas include:

• Cowboy (Keto Friendly)
• Papa's All Meat (Keto Friendly)
• Papa's Favorite (Keto Friendly)
• Chicken Bacon Artichoke (Keto Friendly)
• Gourmet Vegetarian (Keto Friendly)

The Cowboy, Papa's All Meat, and Papa's Favorite pizzas are made with a traditional red sauce, which should be changed to a creamy garlic or olive oil and garlic sauce to make them keto-friendly.

The Chicken Bacon Artichoke pizza is already keto-friendly, with a creamy garlic sauce.

The Gourmet Vegetarian pizza is also keto-friendly, with a creamy garlic sauce.

In addition to the keto-friendly pizzas, Papa Murphy's offers a range of crustless pizza slices that can be made with dairy-free cheese. These include:

• All Meat – Crustless Slice
• BBQ Chicken – Crustless Slice
• Chicken Bacon Artichoke – Crustless Slice
• Chicken Garlic – Crustless Slice
• Cowboy – Crustless Slice
• Garden Veggie – Crustless Slice
• Gourmet Vegetarian – Crustless Slice
• Hawaiian – Crustless Slice
• Herb Chicken Mediterranean – Crustless Slice
• Murphy’s Combo – Crustless Slice
• Papa’s Favorite – Crustless Slice
• Pepperoni – Crustless Slice
• Rancher – Crustless Slice
• Thai Chicken – Crustless Slice
• Triple Pepperoni – Crustless Slice

For those who want a completely dairy-free option, there are also some dipping sauces and salads available. The following items are listed on Papa Murphy's website as not containing any dairy or wheat ingredients:

• Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce
• Garlic Dipping Sauce
• Marinara Dipping Sauce
• Chicken Bacon Artichoke Salad (without dressing or croutons)
• Chicken Caesar Salad (without dressing or croutons)

Customer reviews

Some positive reviews mention the convenience of being able to bake the pizzas at home, reducing the risk of cross-contamination. Several customers note that the staff are knowledgeable about gluten intolerance and celiac disease and take appropriate precautions during preparation, such as using new utensils, ingredients from the back, and changing gloves.

However, there are also several negative reviews from customers who experienced gluten reactions after consuming the gluten-free or keto pizzas. Some customers attribute this to cross-contamination during preparation, as pizzas are made in a shared kitchen with gluten-containing ingredients. Others mention that the gluten-free crust is only available in medium size and is more expensive than regular crusts.

Overall, while Papa Murphy's offers gluten-free and keto-friendly pizza options, the risk of cross-contamination may be a concern for individuals with celiac disease or high sensitivity to gluten. Customers are advised to communicate their dietary restrictions clearly and take necessary precautions to ensure their pizza is prepared safely.

Frequently asked questions