What oil does Papa John's fry in?
Papa John's cooks with soybean oil in pizza dough; soybean oil base in signature garlic dipping sauce.
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 |
|---|---|
| Pizza Sauce Dip | 0.0g |
| Pizza Dipping Sauce | 0.0g |
| Breadsticks (2) | 3.0g |
| Cheese Pizza, Original Crust (2 slices) | 4.0g |
| Cinnamon Pull-Aparts (1 serving) | 4.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
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.
Frequently asked
Does Papa John's use beef tallow?
No. Papa John's cooks with soybean oil in pizza dough; soybean oil base in signature garlic dipping sauce, not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.