Gluten free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people adopting them for medical or personal reasons. For those who love pizza but need to avoid gluten, a common question arises: Does Pizza Hut have gluten free pizza options on their menu?
Quick Answer
Yes, Pizza Hut does offer gluten free pizza at many of its locations in the United States. Pizza Hut launched its first official gluten free pizza in 2015, later expanding the offering to make it available nationwide by the end of 2016. Most Pizza Hut locations now have at least one gluten free crust option that can be customized with various toppings.
More Detailed Answer
After hearing requests from customers for years to add gluten free options to their menu, Pizza Hut finally unveiled their first gluten free pizza in 2015. It launched at only a few test locations at first, but received positive feedback from both gluten free and non-gluten free customers.
By the end of 2016, the gluten free pizza was made available nationwide at most Pizza Hut locations. The gluten free pizza features a thin and crispy crust made with ancient grains like sorghum and amaranth. This provides the light and crispy texture Pizza Hut customers expect in a pizza crust, while being safe for those who need to avoid gluten.
When ordering a gluten free pizza from Pizza Hut, customers can customize it just like any other pizza. All of Pizza Hut’s pizza toppings are gluten-free, so customers have their choice of meats, vegetables, and cheeses to create their perfect pizza. Even the sauce used on the gluten free pizzas is Pizza Hut’s standard marinara recipe, which does not contain gluten.
The only difference is swapping out the regular pizza dough for the specialized gluten-free crust. The gluten free crust is prepared and cooked separately from the regular crusts to avoid any cross-contamination that could affect customers with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Nutrition Information on Pizza Hut’s Gluten Free Crust
For those monitoring carb counts or other nutrition facts, here are some details on the nutrition content of Pizza Hut’s gluten free crust:
| Serving Size | 1 slice (1/6th of 12″ pizza crust) |
| Calories | 140 |
| Fat | 2.5g |
| Sodium | 430mg |
| Carbs | 30g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Protein | 3g |
As you can see, while not low-carb, the gluten free crust itself is relatively balanced nutritionally. It provides a good amount of fiber and protein. Once toppings are added, the nutrition facts will vary depending on your choices. In general, loading up on veggie toppings will provide lower calorie and carb counts than ordering extra meats and cheese.
Pizza Toppings and Other Menu Items at Pizza Hut
In addition to their gluten free pizza crust, all of Pizza Hut’s pizza toppings are gluten-free as well. So there are ample options to build a delicious gluten free pizza. Some of the most popular gluten free toppings available include:
- Pepperoni
- Italian sausage
- Chicken
- Bacon
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Green peppers
- Black olives
- Tomatoes
- Pineapple
- Spinach
- Jalapeños
Along with pizza, there are some other gluten free items at Pizza Hut that can be ordered as sides or meals:
- Salads without croutons
- Chicken wings with gluten free buffalo sauce
- Sandwiches made with the gluten free crust and gluten free toppings
However, it’s important to note that while these menu items are safe from a gluten perspective, Pizza Hut kitchens are not 100% gluten free environments. There is always a possibility of cross-contamination from gluten-containing ingredients. Customers with celiac disease or severe gluten intolerances may want to exercise caution when ordering.
Availability and Pricing
The availability of the gluten free pizza does vary across Pizza Hut locations. If you have celiac disease or are highly sensitive, it’s always smart to call your local Pizza Hut first to ensure they carry the gluten free crust.
Additionally, confirm that they have procedures in place to prepare the gluten free pizzas safely in a dedicated space to prevent cross-contamination. If a specific location is not well-versed in gluten free practices, those with celiac may want to avoid ordering there.
Pricing on the gluten free pizza typically costs a little more than the standard pizzas. On average, you can expect to pay about $2 extra for a small gluten free pizza, and up to $3-5 extra for a large gluten free pizza compared to regular crusts. The exact gluten free pizza prices can vary by location.
Overall Experience and Reviews
In general, reviews of Pizza Hut’s gluten free pizza have been quite positive. Customers tend to say the flavor and texture of the crust holds up well and tastes good when loaded up with savory pizza toppings. The crispy, thin crust gets high marks for having an enjoyable texture similar to a typical pizza.
Most compliments from customers focus on being pleasantly surprised that the gluten free crust from a large chain pizza company tastes so good and fresh. The vast majority of feedback indicates customers are happy to have the gluten free menu item as an option when they want pizza.
Of course, there are a some criticisms too. Some customers feel the gluten free pizza costs too much compared to pizzas on the regular menu. Others report that on certain visits, the gluten free crust has been too soggy or didn’t rise properly. But overall, most reviews praise Pizza Hut’s gluten free pizza offering.
Here are some direct quotes from customers reviewing their experiences ordering the gluten free pizza from Pizza Hut:
“I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and texture of the gluten free pizza crust. It was thin and crispy without tasting dry or cardboard-like. The crust held up well even when loaded with lots of cheese and toppings.”
“It’s not the cheapest pizza since it costs extra for the gluten free crust, but I’m willing to pay a little more so I can enjoy pizza again without getting sick.”
“The crust reminded me of the thin crust I used to order before I went gluten free. I would definitely order the gluten free pizza from Pizza Hut again.”
“I’m always nervous about eating out with celiac, but I felt comfortable eating at Pizza Hut because they seemed well-trained in gluten free preparation.”
“The texture was a bit mushy the last time I ordered, but overall Pizza Hut does a good job recreating the pizza experience in a gluten free way.”
So in summary, while experiences can vary, the majority of gluten free pizza reviews for Pizza Hut are good. Most customers find the crust an acceptable gluten free alternative to regular pizza that satisfies the pizza craving.
Making Your Order Gluten Free
Ordering your gluten free pizza requires taking some extra care to ensure proper preparation:
- Mention your need for gluten free immediately when ordering.
- Confirm the location has gluten free pizza crust available before customizing your order.
- Request that the pizza be prepared away from other pizzas to avoid cross-contamination.
- Ask if they change gloves and preparation tools for gluten free orders.
- Stick to basic pizza ingredients and avoid complex add-ons that make contamination more likely.
- Speak up clearly and ask questions if you have any concerns about preparation.
Communicating your needs clearly and confirming proper procedures are followed is important, especially if you have celiac disease or are highly sensitive to gluten. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give instructions to help the staff make your order safely.
Gluten Free Crust Tips
To get the best results when ordering the gluten free crust, keep these tips in mind:
- Ask them to bake it a little longer for a crispier crust.
- Avoid overloading wet or heavy toppings that can make the crust soggy.
- Stick to thinner meats like pepperoni over thick cuts of sausage or chicken.
- Load up on veggies for moisture without the heaviness.
- Drizzle olive oil or garlic butter on the crust before baking for extra flavor and crunch.
- Add some red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning to liven up the taste.
With some tweaks and special instructions, you can get a gluten free pizza from Pizza Hut that tastes amazing. The crust might still be a bit different than regular pizza dough, but it holds up well with the right toppings and preparation.
Is Pizza Hut Celiac Friendly?
While Pizza Hut’s gluten free offering is a nice option, those with celiac disease do have to exercise caution and take some risks when eating at any restaurant that serves mostly gluten-containing foods. There are a few factors to consider when deciding if Pizza Hut is celiac friendly:
- There is always the possibility of cross-contamination from kitchen tools, surfaces, and airborne flour dust.
- Not all staff may be well-trained or knowledgeable about celiac and gluten free needs.
- The gluten free crust may be prepared in close proximity to regular crusts.
- Some locations are small spaces without totally separate prep areas.
For those reasons, while the gluten free crust itself is safe, Pizza Hut locations are likely higher risk for those needing to strictly avoid cross-contact for medical reasons. Eating the pizza could be OK if you experience minor symptoms from cross-contamination. But for celiac patients who react severely, there may be safer choices.
Other Gluten Free Pizza Options
If the gluten free crust at Pizza Hut doesn’t work for your needs or isn’t available in your area, there are other alternative you can try to get your pizza fix:
- Local pizza restaurants may have gluten free menus not advertised widely. Ask around about less obvious choices.
- Grocery stores now sell various gluten free pizza crusts you can take home and customize.
- Order from a dedicated gluten free pizza company online that ships frozen pizzas.
- Make your own homemade pizza crust from scratch with gluten free flours.
- Use a cheese or chicken crust for an extremely low-carb pizza base.
- Buy individual ready-made gluten free crusts to bake at home and add your own toppings.
- Try alternate bread options like corn tortillas or puff pastry as makeshift crusts.
While not perfect substitutes, these options can help you get a pizza fix while avoiding any gluten. Be flexible and get creative with toppings on alernative crusts and you can make some delicious pizzas at home.
Traveling and Eating Pizza Hut Gluten Free
One challenge when eating at any pizza chain that offers gluten free crust is consistency across locations. What store you visit makes a big difference in the taste and safety of the final product.
Some tips for finding the better Pizza Hut locations include:
- Look for newly built or remodeled stores that are well-designed for modern food safety.
- Check reviews online and look for positive mentions of gluten free handling.
- Call ahead to ask targeted questions about their prep procedures before visiting.
- Stick to larger pizza chains when in unfamiliar areas since they have more standardized policies.
- Explain your needs clearly and watch closely how they prepare your order.
With vigilance, those that need to eat gluten free can still enjoy pizza from chains like Pizza Hut in most areas. But extra care and caution is required when trusting your food to the training and know-how of different stores.
Conclusion
In summary, Pizza Hut does provide a workable gluten free pizza option at most of their locations across the United States. Feedback is generally positive on the taste and texture of the gluten free crust. While not 100% risk-free, the gluten free pizzas may work for certain gluten intolerances and sensitivities. However, those with celiac disease should use caution and evaluate whether there is enough mitigation in place to feel comfortable eating there. With proper handling, Pizza Hut can be an accessible option to get safe and enjoyable gluten free pizza conveniently. But there are also many homemade and gourmet alternatives to try for those that react more strictly or want more control. Over time, gluten free menus at large chains like Pizza Hut have continued to expand and improve, providing more choices when dining out with food sensitivities.
