Papa Murphy's does not accept EBT for prepared food, but you may be able to use EBT at some locations for certain items

Papa Murphy's is a take-and-bake pizza chain where you buy unbaked pizzas to cook at home. The store does not accept EBT cards for pizza orders at most locations. However, some Papa Murphy's locations operate inside grocery stores or have grocery sections, and in those cases you may be able to use EBT for may have access to grocery items sold separately from the pizza counter — things like bread, milk, or vegetables if the store stocks them.

The key difference is between prepared food and unprepared food. EBT covers raw or uncooked items you prepare yourself at home. Pizza, even unbaked, is considered prepared food because Papa Murphy's has already mixed, shaped, and topped it. You cannot use EBT to pay for it, regardless of whether you bake it yourself.

If a Papa Murphy's shares a building with a grocery store or has a grocery section, ask the cashier whether EBT is accepted for non-pizza items. The answer depends on whether that location is set up as a separate merchant with its own register system.

Key Takeaways

  • Papa Murphy's pizza cannot be purchased with EBT because it is classified as prepared food, even though you bake it at home.
  • Some Papa Murphy's locations inside grocery stores may accept EBT for separate grocery items like produce or dairy, but not for pizza.
  • EBT covers only raw or uncooked food you prepare yourself, not food that has been mixed, shaped, or assembled by a business.
  • If you are unsure whether a specific location accepts EBT for groceries, call ahead or ask the cashier before you order.

What EBT actually covers at restaurants and food chains

EBT is designed to help you buy food to cook at home, not to eat prepared meals. This is why most restaurants, pizza chains, and fast-food places do not accept it. Papa Murphy's falls into this category because the business prepares the food — they make the dough, add sauce, and place toppings — even though you finish cooking it.

The only restaurants that accept EBT are those in the Restaurant Meals Program, which operates in a small number of states and serves elderly, disabled, or homeless people. Papa Murphy's does not participate in this program. Your state's EBT program rules determine what counts as prepared food, but the general rule is: if a business has done any work to the food beyond basic packaging, EBT will not cover it.

Where you can use EBT instead

If you want pizza or other prepared food, you will need to pay with cash, a debit card, or a credit card. However, you can use EBT at grocery stores to buy ingredients to make your own pizza at home — flour, yeast, tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings like pepperoni or vegetables all may have access to.

You can also use EBT at farmers markets, some food co-ops, and online grocery delivery services like Amazon Fresh and Instacart in states where that option is available. These places let you buy the same raw ingredients you would find in a grocery store.

Papa Murphy's locations inside grocery stores

Some Papa Murphy's operate as a department or counter inside a larger grocery store. In these cases, the grocery store itself accepts EBT for may have access to food items, but the Papa Murphy's counter usually operates as a separate business with its own register. You would not be able to use EBT to pay for pizza at the Papa Murphy's counter, even though you are in a grocery store.

However, you could use EBT to buy groceries from the rest of the store, then pay cash or another card for pizza at the Papa Murphy's counter. If you are unsure how the location is set up, ask a manager whether the Papa Murphy's counter and the grocery store share a register system or operate separately.

How to find places that accept EBT near you

Your state's EBT program website lists retailers that accept EBT. You can also use the USDA's online store locator at fns.usda.gov to search for authorized retailers in your area. Most grocery stores, supermarkets, and farmers markets appear in these searches, but pizza chains and restaurants do not.

If you are looking for affordable food options, food banks and community meal programs do not require EBT and can provide prepared or unprepared food at no cost. You can find these through your local 211 service by calling 2-1-1 or visiting 211.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use EBT to buy frozen pizza from a grocery store?

Yes. Frozen pizza sold in the grocery store freezer section is considered an unprepared food item and qualifies for EBT. The difference is that the grocery store is selling you a product you will finish preparing at home, not a business that has already prepared it for you to bake.

What if I have a Papa Murphy's gift card — can I use EBT to buy one?

No. Gift cards are not food and do not may have access to for EBT. You can only use EBT to buy food items directly, not cards or vouchers that represent food.

Does Papa Murphy's accept any government food assistance besides EBT?

Papa Murphy's does not participate in any federal food assistance programs. You would need to pay with cash or a personal card. If you receive SNAP benefits, those come on an EBT card, so the answer is the same.

Can I use EBT at a Papa Murphy's in a Walmart or Target?

Some Papa Murphy's locations operate inside Walmart stores. The Walmart grocery section accepts EBT, but the Papa Murphy's counter does not. You would use EBT for groceries and a separate payment method for pizza.