What’s Vegetarian at Papa Murphy’s? (Updated for 2026)
Papa Murphy’s runs on a simple idea: you buy the pizza raw, then bake it fresh in your own oven. That take-and-bake setup turns out to be great for plant-based eaters, because you control exactly what goes on top. So what about the vegetarians? You’ve got a lot of room here. The crusts are vegan, the cheese is made without animal rennet, and you can load up on veggies or even ask for dairy-free cheese at many stores.
A Quick Look at Papa Murphy’s
Papa Murphy’s came together in 1995, when Terry Collins merged two Pacific Northwest chains, Papa Aldo’s Pizza (started in 1981) and Murphy’s Pizza (started in 1984). The combined company kept the take-and-bake model both were built on: the pizza is assembled fresh at the store, but you bake it at home.
The chain is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, and has been owned by the Canadian conglomerate MTY Food Group since 2019. With more than 1,000 stores across the United States, it’s the largest take-and-bake pizza chain in the country. Because every pizza is built to order, vegetarians and vegans can customize freely, which is a real advantage over chains with fixed recipes.
What’s Vegetarian at Papa Murphy’s? (Updated for 2026)
Papa Murphy’s Vegetarian and Vegan Options
| Menu Item | Vegetarian | Vegan |
|---|---|---|
| Original, Thin & Pan Crusts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cheese Pizza | ✅ | ❌ (dairy cheese) |
| Garden Veggie Pizza | ✅ | ⚠️ (vegan with dairy-free cheese) |
| Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza | ✅ | ⚠️ (vegan with dairy-free cheese) |
| Build Your Own (veggie toppings) | ✅ | ✅ (dairy-free cheese or no cheese) |
| Traditional Red Sauce | ✅ | ✅ |
| Garlic / White Sauce, Pesto, Ranch | ✅ | ❌ (dairy/egg) |
| Regular Mozzarella (non-animal rennet) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Violife Dairy-Free Cheese (where stocked) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Garden / Italian Salad (modify) | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Cookie Dough & Cinnamon Wheel | ✅ | ❌ (dairy & egg) |
| Meat pizzas (Cowboy, All Meat, pepperoni, etc.) | ❌ | ❌ |
Vegetarian Pizzas at Papa Murphy’s
The easiest vegetarian orders are the ready-made veggie pizzas and a custom build:
- Garden Veggie: A classic loaded with mushrooms, black olives, onions, green peppers, and roma tomatoes over red sauce and cheese.
- Gourmet Vegetarian: A step up with a mix of vegetables and herbs, also vegetarian as built.
- Build Your Own: Start with a vegan crust and red sauce, then add up to five veggie toppings. This is the most flexible option and the easiest way to control exactly what’s on your pizza.
One reassuring detail: Papa Murphy’s says the rennet in its cheese comes from a non-animal source, so the regular cheese pizzas are vegetarian-friendly.
What’s Vegan at Papa Murphy’s?
Papa Murphy’s is more vegan-friendly than most pizza chains. The original, thin, and pan crusts are all vegan, and the traditional red sauce has no animal products. To build a vegan pizza, start with one of those crusts and red sauce, pile on vegetables, and either skip the cheese or ask for the Violife dairy-free mozzarella. Here’s the catch: as of 2025, some locations stopped stocking the dairy-free cheese, so call your store first to check. Skip the white and garlic sauces, pesto, ranch, regular cheese, and the dessert items, which all contain dairy or egg.
Special Dietary Requirements and Allergies
Because you finish baking at home, Papa Murphy’s gives you more control than a typical pizza place, but a few things still need attention. The crusts contain wheat, so they aren’t gluten-free, though the chain does offer a separate gluten-free crust. Dairy shows up in the regular cheese and in the white, garlic, pesto, and ranch sauces. The dairy-free Violife cheese is the workaround for vegans, but its availability varies by location, especially after some stores dropped it in 2025. Meat toppings are prepped in the same stores, so flag cross-contact if that matters to you. Papa Murphy’s publishes a full nutrition and allergen guide on its website worth checking before you order.
Tips for Vegetarians at Papa Murphy’s
- Build your own pizza on a vegan crust with red sauce for full control over the toppings.
- The regular cheese is fine for vegetarians, since the rennet is non-animal.
- Going vegan? Call ahead to confirm your location still carries the Violife dairy-free cheese.
- Stick with the traditional red sauce; the garlic, white, pesto, and ranch sauces contain dairy or egg.
- Load up on veggie toppings like mushrooms, peppers, onions, olives, and spinach.
- Double-check that no meat toppings were added if you ordered a customized pizza.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion: What’s Vegetarian at Papa Murphy’s?
Papa Murphy’s is one of the most flexible pizza chains for vegetarians and vegans, thanks to vegan crusts, non-animal rennet, and full build-your-own control. Stick with the veggie pizzas or a custom build, use the red sauce, and call ahead about dairy-free cheese if you’re vegan. For more help eating out, see our guide to eating vegetarian and vegan at restaurants, browse the full restaurants category, or check what’s vegetarian at Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Little Caesars.
