So, you’re thinking about going Paleo. Getting in touch with your inner caveperson by way of eating Fred Flinstone-sized steaks? Sounds great! 

There’s just one mammoth problem: Paleo means no grains or dairy, which means no more pizza. 

“Ooga-booga,” you say, because that’s caveperson for “Oh no!”

Well, wait, not so fast. Your local pizzeria doesn’t have to go completely extinct from your diet when you go Paleo, you just have to be selective with what you order.     

“Ooga-booga!,” you say, cavespeak for “Thank goodness! So, what is Paleo pizza? And what can I order from a pizzeria on Paleo?”

Glad you asked!

How can I eat pizza on the Paleo diet?

Pizza is still possible on the Paleo diet, though you’ll have to avoid pizzas made with the usual wheat-flour dough. That also rules out many gluten-free doughs, because those are usually made with pulverized legume grains. Fortunately, cauliflower pizza is still on the table!

Is all cauliflower pizza Paleo-friendly?

Not always, but there are Paleo-friendly cauliflower crust pizzas out there. Caulipower, for example, makes their crust with almond, cassava, tapioca, eggs, and other Paleo-friendly ingredients to create a low-carb base for pizza. Cauliflower crust pizza isn’t exactly the same as the real thing, but it is the next best thing for Paleo and low-carb dieters.

Is there cheese on Paleo cauliflower pizza?

Yes! The only difference is, you’ll need to order yours with vegan cheese. 

Vegan cheese is made from plant-based ingredients like vegetable oil, nuts, nutritional yeast, and tapioca flour. Those ingredients are all kosher for Paleo eating,  and the final product is surprisingly similar to the cheese you know and love. There’s a vegan version of every cheese you can think of. Mozzarella. Ricotta. Parmesan. You name it, they’ve got it, sans dairy.

Do pizzerias make cauliflower crust pizzas?

It used to be impossible to find cauliflower crust pizzas at restaurants near you, but these days, they’re pretty much everywhere. With the Slice app, you can find and order the best cauliflower pizza near you for pickup or delivery. 

“When [cauliflower pizza] first came around, I thought it was a fad,” Gourmet Pizza Company founder and alternative pizza expert Kristina Lima told The Sauce. “Now, I think it’s going to hang out for a while,” Lima said. “ The numbers have grown exponentially since we started carrying it. It’s not like the low-carb diet that came and went. This is something else…I’m just not quite sure what it is yet.”

What else can I order from a pizzeria on Paleo?

As you might have guessed, some of your usual faves won’t be doable. No mozzarella sticks. No garlic knots. No 3-foot mega-slices topped with piles of pork roll and American cheese and encrusted with massive pepperoni pinwheels. 

Don’t worry, your local pizzerias still have plenty of options for Paleo dieters:

Salads

As long as you skip beans, corn, potatoes, and other problematic produce, you can eat pretty much any salad on the Paleo diet. Remember: our ancestors weren’t just hunters, they were hunter-gatherers. 

For you, that means fresh salads with spinach, broccoli, arugula, mushrooms, and brussels sprouts, and your local pizzeria has you covered. Just make sure you avoid salad dressings with dairy and processed sugar. Go for the red wine vinaigrette instead of the bleu cheese and you’re pretty much set.   

Need more protein for your Paleo meal? No problem! Get your salad topped with grilled chicken, shrimp, or whatever else you’re craving.  

Burgers in lettuce wraps

Your local shop has so much more than pizza – they’ve got burgers, too! Typical burger buns are a no-go, but many pizzerias offer their hamburgers with lettuce wraps, making for a perfect Paleo lunch or dinner. Just be sure to skip sugary ketchups and similar add-ons.  

Seafood 

You can order flounder, mussels, shrimp, salmon, clams, cod….the list goes on and on. No breading, of course, but there are some easy and arguably more delicious workarounds for that. If you’re craving calamari, order it grilled, instead of fried. And, if pasta comes with your entree, simply swap it out for a salad. Easy!

Fresh-cut fruit 

No, you can’t finish your Paleo pizzeria meal with a cannoli, but that doesn’t rule out dessert! As long as there’s no sugar added, you can still enjoy apples, blueberries, blackberries, kiwis, grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew, and all of your fave fruits! Lots of local shops have fresh-cut fruit on the menu. Just zip past the zeppoles and you’re set.

Alright, now I’m hungry. What are the best pizzerias near me?

Ah, the most important question of all! Whether you’re Paleo, low-carb, vegan, or an all-out omnivore, you can find and order the best pizza near you on the Slice app.