Does Pizza Ranch have anything gluten-free? A complete guide

November 10, 2025 •

4 min read

While an estimated 1 in 100 people worldwide have celiac disease, many more are gluten-sensitive. In response, Pizza Ranch offers specific gluten-sensitive options. So, does Pizza Ranch have anything gluten-free? The answer is yes, with careful ordering needed to ensure a safe meal.

Quick Summary

Pizza Ranch offers a certified gluten-free crust for custom-made pizzas, which are prepared with specific procedures to minimize cross-contamination. While the buffet poses a high risk, some hot bar items and the salad bar are available, with careful consideration for those with sensitivities.

Key Points

Certified Gluten-Free Crust: Pizza Ranch offers a special gluten-free pizza crust, available by custom order only, not on the buffet.
Cross-Contamination Protocols: Gluten-free pizzas are prepared using separate, sanitized utensils and baked in their own pan to minimize cross-contact.
Buffet is High-Risk: Due to airborne flour and shared utensils, the buffet—including the hot and salad bars—is not a safe option for individuals with Celiac disease.
Custom Ordering is Safest: The safest way to enjoy a gluten-free meal at Pizza Ranch is by ordering a custom pizza specifically made with the gluten-free crust.
Ingredients Can Change: Always verify menu item ingredients with the local restaurant, as suppliers and recipes can vary over time.
Consult a Manager: For serious sensitivities, always inform staff and speak with a manager about their specific kitchen protocols before ordering.

Navigating Pizza Ranch’s Gluten-Free Menu

For those managing a gluten-free diet, finding safe restaurant options can be a challenge, especially at a buffet-style restaurant like Pizza Ranch. Thankfully, Pizza Ranch has implemented protocols to accommodate guests with gluten sensitivities by offering a specific gluten-sensitive menu. This includes a certified gluten-free pizza crust and a list of other potential items. The key to a safe meal lies in understanding the difference between custom ordering and using the buffet, and taking into account the risks of a shared kitchen space.

The Certified Gluten-Free Pizza Crust

Pizza Ranch’s primary gluten-free offering is its certified gluten-free pizza crust, available in a single size for dine-in, carry-out, or delivery. This is crucial for anyone with Celiac disease or a high level of gluten intolerance. The crust is not a part of the standard buffet, eliminating the risk of exposure to the general population of pizza crusts. The crust itself is made from a blend of rice flour, water, rice starch, and other ingredients, and does not contain wheat.

To ensure preparation reduces cross-contact, Pizza Ranch has developed specific procedures. These include:

Using separate, sanitized utensils for preparation.
Baking the gluten-free pizza in its own pan.
Placing the finished pizza in a box to protect it from airborne flour and other contaminants.

Customers can choose from a list of over 20 gluten-sensitive toppings and two sauces to create their own pizza or select from specialty pizza options available with the gluten-free crust. It is important to note that while the crust is certified gluten-free, other ingredients are not.

Ordering for Celiac Disease vs. Gluten Sensitivity

Pizza Ranch's official allergen menu stresses that while procedures are in place, their kitchens are not gluten-free environments. This means cross-contact can still occur. For individuals with Celiac disease, the custom-ordered, packaged pizza is likely the safest option. For those with a less severe gluten sensitivity, evaluating other menu items is an option, but with extreme caution.

The Hot Bar and Salad Bar: Weighing the Risks

The most significant risk for anyone avoiding gluten is the buffet. A shared space with communal utensils and airborne flour poses a high risk of cross-contamination. While Pizza Ranch lists certain items from their hot bar and salad bar as being prepared without gluten-containing ingredients, the buffet environment means these items cannot be guaranteed gluten-free.

Salad Bar: Fresh vegetables are naturally gluten-free. However, shared tongs and utensils can transfer crumbs or toppings from other dishes. Toppings like croutons, dressings (unless certified gluten-free), or other components are a risk. The only truly safe way to approach the salad bar is to either request fresh ingredients from the kitchen or take your portion from a freshly set-up bar and use clean utensils.
Hot Bar: Items like mashed potatoes (without gravy), corn, and green beans are often listed as gluten-sensitive. The buffet setting, however, makes them extremely susceptible to cross-contamination. A guest could accidentally drop a piece of breaded chicken into the mashed potatoes, or use a utensil from another dish. For this reason, those with Celiac disease should avoid the hot bar entirely.

Comparison of Ordering Gluten-Free at Pizza Ranch


Feature	Custom-Ordered Gluten-Free Pizza	Pizza from the Buffet	Hot/Salad Bar Items
Preparation	Separate, sanitized utensils; baked in own pan and boxed.	Prepared with regular pizza ingredients in an open kitchen area.	In an open buffet setting with communal utensils.
Availability	All Pizza Ranch locations; custom order for dine-in, carry-out, or delivery.	Standard buffet; high-risk for cross-contamination.	Available at the buffet; high-risk for cross-contamination.
Risk of Cross-Contamination	Minimal, with specific procedures in place. Not 100% guaranteed safe due to shared kitchen.	Very high risk due to shared surfaces, flour, and utensils.	Very high risk due to shared surfaces and utensils.
Best For	Celiac disease and high gluten sensitivity.	Not recommended for any level of gluten sensitivity.	Only for low-risk sensitivity, with caution. Not for Celiac disease.

Conclusion

Pizza Ranch does offer gluten-free options, primarily a certified gluten-free crust for custom-ordered pizzas. They have taken proactive steps to minimize cross-contamination during the preparation of these items. However, the buffet environment, which is a major draw for the restaurant, remains a high-risk area for anyone with a serious gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease due to shared food and utensils. For the safest experience, guests should always order a custom gluten-free pizza and avoid the buffet entirely. When in doubt, always speak with a manager to confirm the latest protocols and discuss your specific needs. For more details on the menu, review the Pizza Ranch Nutrition and Allergens page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Pizza Ranch offers a certified gluten-free crust made from a blend of rice flour and other starches.

No, gluten-free pizzas are not offered as part of the buffet. They must be custom-ordered to ensure safety and avoid cross-contamination.

Pizza Ranch provides a list of sauces and toppings that do not contain gluten in their ingredient statements. However, they cannot guarantee zero cross-contact due to the shared kitchen environment.

While some items on the hot and salad bars may not contain gluten ingredients, the buffet environment poses a very high risk of cross-contamination from shared utensils and airborne particles, making it unsafe for individuals with Celiac disease.

There is no information in the search results about certified gluten-free dessert options specifically made to prevent cross-contamination. The buffet dessert bar should be considered high-risk due to potential cross-contact.

For gluten-free pizzas, Pizza Ranch uses separate sanitized utensils, bakes the pizza in its own pan, and places it in a box after cooking.

The crust ingredients include rice flour, water, rice starch, cane sugar, canola oil, potato starch, yeast, salt, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda), extra virgin olive oil, and xanthan gum.