Is There Gluten in Pizza? What to Know Before Your Next Slice

Magnus Whitmore May 8 0 Comments

If you're wondering if there's gluten hiding in your pizza, the short answer is yes—at least in most pizzas you'll find at a typical restaurant or store. It's the crust that's the problem. Standard pizza dough gets its chewiness from wheat flour, which is packed with gluten. So if you're dealing with celiac disease, a wheat allergy, or any kind of gluten sensitivity, traditional pizza is pretty much off the table.

It's not just the crust, though. Some pizza sauces use wheat as a thickener, and certain toppings (like breaded chicken or fake bacon bits) might sneak in gluten, too. It's easy to get caught off-guard, especially when you think the only problem is the crust. Reading the full list of ingredients every time is a must—trust me, I've combed through enough labels to know just how tricky it can be.

• Gluten Basics: What's Hiding in Pizza?
• Types of Pizza Crusts: Wheat, Gluten-Free, and More
• Dining Out and Ordering Tips
• Making Your Own Gluten-Free Pizza

Gluten Basics: What's Hiding in Pizza?

Most people know that gluten comes from wheat, but when it comes to pizza, this protein sneaks in more places than just the dough. The big culprit is always the crust, since most classic pizzas are made with wheat flour. This means every slice packs a dose of gluten, unless it’s labeled specifically as gluten free.

Here’s what you’re really biting into with a standard pizza:

• Flour: Regular pizza dough uses either white, whole wheat, or durum wheat flour. All of these contain gluten.
• Sauces: Sometimes pizza sauces use modified food starch or even flour to thicken things up. This isn’t always obvious—especially in cheaper frozen pizzas or takeout.
• Toppings: You might think meat and veggies are safe, but breaded toppings (like chicken, eggplant, or fake bacon bits) nearly always have wheat-based coatings.
• Cross-contamination: Even if you order a gluten free crust at a restaurant, it’s easy for your pizza to pick up stray gluten from shared ovens, cutters, or preparation surfaces.

Surprisingly, according to a 2024 survey in the States, only about 17% of major pizza chains can guarantee a pizza that’s completely free of cross-contact with gluten. That’s a low number if safety is your top concern.

Pizza Component	Usually Contains Gluten?	Notes
Regular crust	Yes	Made with wheat flour
Gluten-free crust	No*	*May have cross-contact in some kitchens
Tomato sauce	Sometimes	Depends on thickeners/starches used
Cheese	No	Pure cheese is safe but processed blends may vary
Toppings	Sometimes	Breaded meats and some processed toppings contain gluten

If you see 'thickener,' 'malt,' 'modified food starch,' or 'natural flavors' on an ingredient list and there’s no gluten free label, don’t take chances. Ask, Google it, or skip that pizza. The trick is knowing what questions to ask before you order or eat.

Bottom line: Unless you’re holding a certified gluten free pizza, assume there’s gluten somewhere in the mix—so always double-check every part, not just the crust.

Types of Pizza Crusts: Wheat, Gluten-Free, and More

Most pizzas start with a classic wheat crust, which means gluten is front and center. Regular pizza dough relies on wheat flour—it’s what gives that stretchy, chewy bite so many people love. Whether it’s New York-style, deep-dish, or thin-crust, almost every traditional option uses wheat. If you’re avoiding gluten for health reasons, these are the types you want to skip.

What about all the gluten-free options popping up lately? Gluten-free crusts swap out wheat flour for alternatives like rice flour, corn, potato starch, or even chickpea flour. Some versions lean on cauliflower, which isn’t just trendy—it’s actually a solid way to get more veggies in. A lot of big pizza chains and local spots offer a gluten-free crust nowadays, but cross-contact in pizza ovens is always something to ask about if you need to be really strict.

It gets more interesting if you poke around specialty shops or supermarkets. You’ll spot crusts made from almond flour, cassava, quinoa, or a mix of seeds and nuts. These can be awesome if you need to avoid not just gluten, but also grains or eggs (some crusts are vegan, but not all—so double-check the ingredients).

Here’s a quick look at some common types and what’s in them:

Crust Type	Main Ingredients	Contains Gluten?
Classic Wheat	Wheat flour, water, yeast	Yes
Cauliflower	Cauliflower, cheese, eggs	No
Rice Flour	Rice flour, tapioca, potato starch	No
Chickpea (Socca)	Chickpea flour, water, olive oil	No
Almond	Almond flour, eggs	No

The gluten-free pizza world is way more interesting now than it was even five years ago. You can actually get pretty close to the taste and texture of “real” pizza if you know where to look and what to ask for. But always double-check—labels, menus, and restaurant staff—especially if you’re ordering out. Not all gluten-free crusts are safe for someone with a severe gluten intolerance because kitchens aren’t always fully gluten-free. If you’re cooking at home, you’re in control, and that makes all the difference.

Dining Out and Ordering Tips

Eating out when you're avoiding gluten can feel like walking through a minefield, especially at pizza joints. Even restaurants that offer gluten-free crusts aren't always as safe as they sound—cross-contamination is a real thing, and it happens more than you'd think. Flour can linger in the air, and those gluten-free pies might hit the same oven or get sliced with the same cutter as the regular stuff.

If you want to improve your odds of staying safe, don't just trust the menu—ask questions. Here are some things I've learned to ask when I grab gluten-free pizza with my son Corwin:

• Do you prep gluten-free pizzas in a separate area? If yes, great. If not, it's riskier.
• Do they use a dedicated pizza cutter and baking tray for gluten-free orders?
• Is the sauce completely gluten-free? A lot of standard pizza sauces use wheat as a thickener.
• Has the staff actually been trained on food allergies or celiac safety?

Chain pizza restaurants like Domino’s, MOD Pizza, and Papa Murphy’s now offer gluten-free options, but every store can be different with how careful they are. Fast food chains admit right on their websites that cross-contact can happen. If you have severe reactions, skip these places or ask to see how they're handling the pizza. Small local spots can sometimes be safer if they make their gluten-free dough from scratch and really know your situation.

Don't forget: some toppings, like meatballs, sausage, and fried chicken, can hide wheat flour. Stick to tried-and-true toppings like fresh veggies, plain cheeses, and unseasoned meats. If you're super sensitive, you might want to order a salad with oil and vinegar while everyone else munches pizza. Not exciting, but definitely safer.

Here’s a quick look at pizza chains and the status of their gluten-free setup:

Pizza Chain	Gluten-Free Crust	Dedicated Prep?
Domino's	Yes*	No
Papa Murphy's	Yes	Varies by location
MOD Pizza	Yes	No
Uno Pizzeria	Yes	Some do

*Domino’s gluten-free crust is made off-site and shipped in, but is cooked in the same ovens as regular pizza.

The bottom line: trust but verify, talk to the staff, and when in doubt, just pass. You’ll thank yourself later.

Making Your Own Gluten-Free Pizza

Making gluten-free pizza at home is honestly way easier than you might think. Skip the wheat flour, and you’ll avoid gluten entirely. But don’t just grab any old flour replacement—you want crust that doesn’t taste like cardboard. Most folks go for blends that include rice flour, tapioca starch, or potato starch. Brands like Bob’s Red Mill and King Arthur Baking have solid gluten-free pizza mixes you can find almost anywhere these days.

If you’re going straight from scratch, here’s a basic process you can count on:

• Start with a certified gluten-free flour mix—these are tested for cross-contamination, which is key.
• Add yeast, a little sugar, warm water, olive oil, and salt. Some people toss in eggs for extra binding, but you can skip them for a vegan option.
• Mix well; gluten-free dough is stickier than traditional dough, so use a spatula or wet hands.
• Spread the dough out on parchment paper. Don’t expect it to stretch like classic dough. Just pat it down to the thickness you like.
• Bake the crust partway first (about 10 minutes at 425°F/220°C). Then add sauce, cheese, and any toppings that are certifiably gluten-free before finishing the bake.

One mistake a lot of people make is assuming all pizza toppings are safe. Always double check—some processed meats, sauces, or even shredded cheese blends have gluten or wheat starch hiding inside. Read those labels or buy single-ingredient toppings like fresh veggies and plain meats.

There’s no one-size-fits-all recipe for gluten-free pizza, but here’s a quick comparison of popular flours to help you decide:

Flour Type	Texture	Flavor
Rice Flour	Light, crispy	Neutral
Almond Flour	Dense, moist	Nutty
Chickpea Flour	Chewy	Savory, earthy

Personal tip: use parchment paper for baking, and don’t be afraid to experiment. I’ve made pizzas with everything from cauliflower crust to chickpea flour for my kid Corwin, and the trick is to find the texture you like best. The best part? You can finally enjoy pizza night without worrying about gluten sneaking in.