Embarking on a keto diet has become increasingly accessible, thanks to more chain restaurants offering low-carb options. Blaze Pizza is one of the first nationwide food chains to offer a menu item specifically for keto dieters. Among these options, the keto crust has garnered significant attention. This article provides a comprehensive look at Blaze Pizza's keto crust, examining its nutritional content, ingredients, taste, and how it fits into a ketogenic lifestyle.
What is the Blaze Pizza Keto Crust Made Of?
The keto crust at Blaze Pizza is crafted with a specific blend of ingredients designed to minimize carbs while maintaining a pizza-like experience. The ingredients include:
- Cauliflower Rice
- Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cheese
- Casein Protein
- Flaxseed
- Eggs
- Whey Protein
- Yeast
- Spices
- Cultured Brown Rice
Many keto dieters might be concerned when they read “rice flour” or “brown rice” in ingredient lists, but you don’t necessarily have to be. It doesn’t matter whether your carbs come from spinach or brown rice, they all affect ketosis the same way. Count the carbs from the Blaze keto crust the same way you would any other meal.
A pro tip to figure out how much of an ingredient is actually used in the crust: brown rice is listed after yeast and spices on the ingredients list.
Nutritional Information
Understanding the nutritional content is crucial for anyone adhering to a keto diet. For an entire 11-inch Keto Pizza, the nutritional breakdown is approximately:
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- Calories: 910
- Fat: 50g
- Protein: 83g
- Total Carbs: 25g
- Fiber: 10g
This results in a net carb count of 15g for the entire pizza, or about 1g net carb per slice. This low net carb count is what makes it a keto-friendly option.
Taste and Texture
The taste and texture of the keto crust are critical factors for those seeking a satisfying pizza alternative. While it may not perfectly replicate the experience of a traditional high-carb pizza, it offers a decent substitute.
Overall the flavors were not as strong as a normal pizza. I think this was due to the blandness of the crust. If I had to give it a rating I would say 7 out of 10. Some modifications we would make for the next time we order would be to change up the cheeses. With the crust not delivering much flavor we would opt for a stronger tasting cheese. The garlic pesto was great, we would get it again.
Customization Options
One of the appealing aspects of Blaze Pizza is the ability to customize your order. When you start your online order and select the keto pizza it automatically populates with these options. Don’t think that these are the only options available to you though. Feel free to add and remove toppings to your liking.
The Keto Pizza automatically comes with Spicy Red Sauce, Mozzarella, Bacon, Cherry Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Spinach. If you plan on getting creative with your order, customization is always an option.
Read also: Low-Carb Pizza Guide
Sauce
Did you know you don't have to add red sauce to your keto crust? You have options! There are four different types of sauce you can use on your pizza. The red sauce is made without added sugar so it's keto-friendly. The spicy red sauce just adds in some hot pepper so it's a good choice too.
Toppings
When it comes to all of the toppings, you have to be mindful of what you put on your keto pizza. Any of the vegetables are going to be low in carbs. The only veggies that I would keep an eye on are the cherry tomatoes, especially if you are planning to add tomato sauce as the base on the keto crust. It's okay to add pineapple to your keto-friendly pizza, as long as you don't add too many. Pineapple is really high in carbs and natural sugar. It also depends how strict you are on your low carb diet. Have fun adding any type of cheese that you want! And, last but not least, meats! After your pizza comes out of the brick oven, you can ask them to add some finishes on top.
Blaze Pizza Keto vs. Cauliflower Crust
It's important to distinguish between the keto crust and the cauliflower crust offered at Blaze Pizza. Unfortunately, the cauliflower crust is not a keto pizza crust. It has 14g net carbs in each 11-inch pizza. You might be able to eat one slice, but when you are on the keto diet, each gram counts.
Ordering Tips for Keto Dieters
Here are some helpful tips for ordering keto-friendly options at Blaze Pizza:
- Don't rely on their specialty pizzas - it's best to build your own! This is mainly because when you make your own, you can control how many carbs you are consuming. Start with the keto crust, then add your favorite toppings. You can even make it a vegetarian pizza and use vegan cheese if you want.
- Be Mindful of Toppings: Any of the vegetables are going to be low in carbs. The only veggies that I would keep an eye on are the cherry tomatoes, especially if you are planning to add tomato sauce as the base on the keto crust.
- Consider Sauces: Did you know you don't have to add red sauce to your keto crust? You have options! There are four different types of sauce you can use on your pizza.
- Salads: Like other fast food restaurants, they also offer simple salads with different types of dressing. When you order a salad, ask for the dressing on the side and ask for no croutons. Some types of salad might come with fresh fruit or quinoa or other types of seasonal produce.
- Drinks: The best thing to drink will always be water.
- Alcohol: Even though it's okay to drink a little bit of alcohol on the keto diet, they only sell beer and wine. Beer has way too many carbs, and wine has sugar in it.
- Desserts: Unfortunately, they do not have any keto-friendly desserts.
- Dough knots: Their dough knots aren't made with the keto crust, so steer clear of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few answers to the most frequently asked questions about ordering keto food at Blaze Pizza!
Read also: Keto Pizza Options Explored
- Is Blaze Pizza keto friendly? Yes, Blaze Pizza has plenty of keto-friendly choices that will fill you up and give you a sufficient and complete meal. I love that they also have an online nutrition calculator. This tells you exactly how many carbs you are eating when you put together your meal.
- Is Blaze Pizza cauliflower crust low-carb? No, do not let the name fool you. The cauliflower crust might be gluten-free, but it is certainly not low enough in carbs to be keto-friendly. One 11-inch pizza made from cauliflower crust has 14g net carbs.
- What's in the keto crust at Blaze Pizza? The keto crust is made from cauliflower rice, mozzarella cheese, casein protein, flaxseed, eggs, whey protein, yeast, spices, and cultured brown rice. Each slice of crust has just 1g net carb!
- Is the Blaze Pizza red sauce keto? Yes! The red sauce is made without added sugar so it's keto-friendly. The spicy red sauce just adds in some hot pepper so it's a good choice too.
Keto-Friendly Alternatives
If this post on eating at Blaze Pizza has your mouth watering, why not try some of these low-carb pizza recipes at home?
- Zucchini Pizza Bites are extra cheesy and topped with tangy black olives.
- Gluten-Free Coconut Flour Pizza Crust is easy to top with your favorite sugar-free sauce and toppings.
- Zucchini Pizza Boats are a delicious way to enjoy low-carb zucchini squash.
- Bacon Ranch Keto Chicken Crust Pizza is a fun twist on a really popular pizza restaurant favorite.
- Low-Carb Pizza Casserole is gluten-free, keto-friendly, and only has 3g net carbs in each slice.