What oil does Papa John's fry in?
Papa John's cooks with soybean oil.
In detail: soybean oil in pizza dough; soybean oil base in signature garlic dipping sauce.
Ordering at Papa John's? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderPapa John's at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Soybean oil |
| Seed oils | Yes |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | D (11.4 g average per item, 212 items) |
| Is it a seed oil? | Soybean oil: Yes |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Papa John's
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Super Hawaiian Pizza, Gluten-Free Crust (2 slices, small) | 1.9g |
| BBQ Chicken Bacon Pizza, Original Crust (2 slices, small) | 2.8g |
| Fiery Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Gluten-Free Crust (2 slices, small) | 2.8g |
| Tuscan Six Cheese Pizza, Original Crust (2 slices, small) | 3.2g |
| Create Your Own Pizza - Pan Crust (Medium) | 3.2g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Papa John's order
Pick your meal, sides, sauces and drink in the app and see your seed oil total before you order. It logs to your day in one tap. Free on iPhone and Android.
Build my orderWhat oil do other chains like Papa John's use?
- What oil does Domino's use? Soybean and canola oil
- What oil does Pizza Hut use? Soybean oil and vegetable oil blend
- What oil does Little Caesars use? Soybean oil
- What oil does Marco's Pizza use? Corn and olive oil
- What oil does MOD Pizza use? Olive oil
- What oil does Jet's Pizza use? Corn oil
- What oil does Mellow Mushroom use? Soybean oil
- What oil does Papa Murphy's use? Soybean oil
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Papa John's report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.
Frequently asked
What oil does Papa John's fry in?
Papa John's cooks with soybean oil. In detail: soybean oil in pizza dough; soybean oil base in signature garlic dipping sauce.
Does Papa John's use seed oils?
Yes. Papa John's cooks with soybean oil. Its seed oil grade is D, about 11.4 g of polyunsaturated fat per menu item.
Does Papa John's use beef tallow?
No. Papa John's cooks with soybean oil, not beef tallow.
Does Papa John's use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Papa John's cooks with soybean oil. If you have a peanut allergy, ask the restaurant directly, because oils and suppliers can vary by location.
What is the lowest seed oil order at Papa John's?
Super Hawaiian Pizza, Gluten-Free Crust (2 slices, small) (1.9 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: BBQ Chicken Bacon Pizza, Original Crust (2 slices, small) (2.8 g) and Fiery Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Gluten-Free Crust (2 slices, small) (2.8 g).
Which Papa John's item has the most seed oil?
Garlic Parmesan Wings (24), at about 92.4 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.