Updated February 2025! Papa John’s is one of the largest pizza chains in North America, and they’re actually a trendsetter for vegan options in the U.K. Their dairy-free and vegan menu items aren’t as prolific in the U.S. and Canada, but they still have a good selection of custom order cheese-less pizza options, sides, and sauces to nosh on. And unlike Pieology who added milk to their pizza dough, Papa John’s removed it from their thin crust! We also love how transparent they are at Papa John’s with both allergens and ingredients. We’ve used that information to create this very complete but quick menu guide.
Papa John’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen & Vegan Notes
Be aware of special order requirements in parentheses () next to the menu items, and see the Heads Up notes to help fill in the blanks. Please note that this guide is for the U.S. locations, and the company states that their U.S. allergen and ingredient information covers Canada, too. Options may vary in other countries.
Allergen & Vegan Notes: All items listed below are made without egg, peanut, tree nut, soy, and wheat ingredients unless otherwise noted. They might not list items made with refined soy oil as containing soy, in line with the FDA’s definition of allergenic soy. Be sure to inquire if concerned about all forms of soy. Papa John’s is known for being special diet friendly and most locations will show you the label information on request. Let them know if you are dealing with an allergy in advance as they do have protocols. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Pizzas
Heads Up! There aren’t any dairy-free or vegan menu pizzas at Papa John’s in the U.S. and Canada (there are in the U.K.), but you can custom order a pizza using the crust, sauce, and topping options below. Please note that the Papadias are cheese heavy and grilled with parmesan on the grill (presenting a high cross-contamination risk on the grill).
Pizza Crusts
- New York Style Crust (contains wheat) (seasonal)
- Original Crust (contains wheat)
- Thin Crust (contains soy, wheat)
Heads Up! The Gluten-Free Crust at Papa John’s does contain milk. According to the company, the pan oil they use for their pizzas is dairy-free, but always check at your location. The seasonal NY Style Crust, when available, is their dairy-free Original Hand Tossed Dough hand-stretched and cut to make large foldable slices. Their Stuffed Crusts are stuffed with cheese, and are therefore, not dairy free.
Pizza Sauces
- Pizza Sauce
- BBQ Sauce (tree nut facility warning)
Heads Up! Naturally, the Ranch, Creamy Tomate Sauce (where available), and Alfredo Sauces do contain milk.
Cheese
Heads Up! Papa John’s does offer dairy-free cheese alternative (and a whole vegan menu) in the U.K. But they do not yet offer any type of dairy-free or vegan cheese in the U.S. or Canada.
Protein Toppings
- Anchovies (regional)
- Bacon
- Beef
- Canadian Bacon
- Grilled Chicken
- Pepperoni
- Philly Steak
- Salami
- Sausage
- Spicy Italian Sausage
Heads Up! The Meatballs at Papa John’s do contain milk.
Produce Toppings
- Banana Peppers
- Black Olives
- Green Olives
- Green Peppers*
- Mushrooms*
- Onion*
- Pepperoncinis
- Pineapple
- Sliced Jalapenos
- Spinach*
- Tomatoes*
* These items have an allergen warning, “May be stored in a facility that also stores other allergens.”
Papadias
Heads Up! They don’t typically customize the Papadias without dairy, since they are basically quesadillas with a parmesan dusted crust instead of a tortilla.
Wings
- Unsauced Roasted Wings
- BBQ Wings (tree nut facility warning)
- Buffalo Wings (tree nut facility warning)
- Honey Chipotle Wings (tree nut facility warning)
- Hot Lemon Pepper Wings (tree nut facility warning)
Heads Up! The Boneless Wings at Papa John’s do contain milk and cannot be ordered dairy-free.
Sides
Heads Up! The Papa Bites and Garlic Knots at Papa John’s do contain milk and reportedly cannot be ordered dairy-free.
Dessert
Heads Up! All desserts at Papa John’s do contain milk, including the Papa Bites, Cinnamon Pull Aparts, Brownies, and Cookies.
Dipping Sauces & Seasonings
- Barbeque Dipping Sauce (tree nut facility warning)
- Buffalo Dipping Sauce (tree nut facility warning)
- Crushed Red Pepper Packet
- Honey Chipotle Side Sauce (tree nut facility warning)
- Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce (contains egg; tree nut facility warning)
- Hot Lemon Pepper Side Sauce (tree nut facility warning)
- Pizza Dipping Sauce
- Special Seasoning Packet (contains wheat)
- Special Garlic Dipping Sauce (contains soy)
- Special Zesty Dipping Sauce (contains egg; tree nut facility warning)
- Spicy Garlic Dipping Sauce (contains soy)
Heads Up! The Ranch sauces and of course the cheesy sauces contain milk. Also avoid Papa John’s Classic Italian Seasoning – it’s a parmesan blend.
Papa John’s Vegan Menu Guide
See the section above for additional allergen notes.
Vegan Pizza Crusts & Breadsticks
- New York Style Crust
- Original Crust
- Thin Crust
- Original Breadsticks (made with Original dough)
Vegan Pizza Sauces
Vegan Toppings
- Banana Peppers
- Black Olives
- Green Olives
- Green Peppers
- Mushrooms
- Onion
- Pineapple
- Sliced Jalapenos
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
Vegan Sauces & Seasonings
- Barbeque Dipping Sauce
- Buffalo Dipping Sauce
- Crushed Red Pepper Packet
- Hot Lemon Pepper Side Sauce
- Pizza Dipping Sauce
- Special Garlic Dipping Sauce
- Special Seasoning Packet
- Spicy Garlic Dipping Sauce
Papa John’s Vegan Menu Items in the UK
Papa John’s UK is on the forefront of catering to vegan diners. They offer dairy-free Sheese cheese alternatives, and have several vegan pizzas right on the menu (including Jackfruit Pepperoni and Vegan Garden Party pizzas). They also serve Vegan Ham & Cheese Sticks, Potato Tots, and Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy Ice Cream. But use caution and reference their allergen chart. Some other items, like the Italian Seasoning, contain dairy at the UK Papa John’s restaurants.
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Angela R. was kind enough to share this photo of her dairy-free Papa John’s order.
Where to Find Papa John’s
There are over 3000 Papa John’s in the U.S., but over 5000 locations worldwide. See the websites below for addresses, hours, and online ordering in the U.S. and U.K.
Website: www.papajohns.com (U.S.) and www.papajohns.co.uk (U.K.)
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars (based on 4 reviews)
Needs to get vegan choices in the USA
July 25, 2022
Needs to get vegan choices in the USA As well!
Pj
Delicioys
July 6, 2022
I love PapaJohns! The taste is very fresh and there are lots of options.
Tina WM
Great customer care
January 24, 2022
I love how they label the pizza and even used a clean cutter on my order too when I mentioned a milk allergy
Jess
Wow!
October 17, 2020
Great to hear that papa Johns has gone dairy free to some extent. Now I can have Papa Johns again!
Paul WSammarco.
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
