
Papa John's has been offering pan pizza since 2016, when it was launched as the company's biggest launch in over a decade. The pan pizza features a thick and crunchy crust with cheese to the edges, and a new hearty tomato sauce. The crust is made with just seven ingredients: flour, extra virgin olive oil, cold-filtered water, sugar, salt, yeast, and oil. The pan pizza was introduced to the menu to attract new consumers who are heavy pan lovers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Crust | Thick, crunchy, doughy, bland, chewy |
| Edges | Crispy |
| Toppings | Cheap, synthetic |
| Sauce | Hearty tomato |
| Price | $16.50 for 3 toppings |
| Size | 12" |
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What You'll Learn

Papa John's pan pizza was launched in 2016
Papa John's launched its pan pizza in October 2016. The new crust option was described as "pan-baked for a thick, crunchy crust" and was paired with a new "hearty" tomato sauce. The pizza was only available in a 12" size, and the chain offered it with up to three toppings for $10 for a limited time.
The pan pizza was not an entirely new concept for Papa John's, as they had introduced a similar pizza back in 2005, which was eventually discontinued in 2009. The 2016 version of the pan pizza aimed to improve upon the previous version and offer a thicker and crunchier crust. The pizza dough is baked in an oiled pan, with the dough pushed up against the edges, resulting in a thicker crust with crispy edges.
Reviews of the pan pizza were mixed. Some customers praised the toppings and sauce, finding the pizza enjoyable. However, others found the crust disappointing, claiming it was too dry, doughy, and bland. Some also noted that the cheese was unevenly distributed, affecting the desired caramelized crispiness.
Papa John's pan pizza provided a thicker and crunchier alternative to their original hand-tossed and thin crust options. While it received some criticism, it offered customers a different crust experience and contributed to the variety of pizza options available at Papa John's.
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The pizza has a thick crust
Papa John's pan pizza features a thick crust. This style of pizza is baked in an oiled pan, with the dough pushed against the edges, resulting in a thick crust with crispy edges. The pizza chain describes it as "light and fluffy" with "cheesy caramelized goodness".
The pan pizza is a departure from Papa John's original hand-tossed and thin-crust pizzas. The new crust option is made with just seven ingredients: flour, extra virgin olive oil, cold-filtered water, sugar, salt, yeast, and oil. The cheese is meant to extend to the edge of the pizza, creating a caramelized crust.
Reviews of the pan pizza are mixed. Some customers have praised the pizza, calling it hearty and enjoying the thick and crunchy crust. However, others have found the crust to be too thick and chewy, with the toppings sitting on top of the dough rather than nestled below the edges as expected.
Papa John's chief ingredient officer, Sean Muldoon, stated that the development of the pan pizza took a year and a half to achieve the desired "cheesy, buttery, crispy" taste profile. The pan pizza was launched in 2016 as a response to consumer demand and to attract new customers who are fans of pan pizza.
Overall, while some customers have enjoyed the thick crust of Papa John's pan pizza, others have been disappointed, expecting a crispier and less doughy texture.
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The crust is described as crunchy or crispy
Papa John's pan pizza features a thick and crunchy crust with cheese that goes all the way to the edges, resulting in a caramelized crust. The pizza is baked in an oiled pan, with the dough pushed up against the edges, creating a thicker crust with crispy edges.
The pan pizza was introduced as a new menu item in 2016, with Papa John's chief ingredient officer, Sean Muldoon, stating that it took them a year and a half to develop a pan pizza that fit the "cheesy, buttery, crispy" taste profile they wanted.
While some customers have expressed disappointment with the pan pizza, particularly regarding the crust being too doughy and bland, others seem to appreciate the crispiness of the edges. One review mentions that the pan pizza crust should be crispy all around the edges and on the bottom, but their orders fell short of this expectation, resulting in a thick and chewy dough.
The pan pizza is described as having a "thick, hearty crust that's light and fluffy with crispy edges and cheesy caramelized goodness" by Papa John's. However, it's important to note that individual experiences may vary, and the crispiness of the crust could depend on various factors, including the specific location, the pizza maker, and the freshness of the ingredients.
Overall, while the pan pizza crust at Papa John's is intended and marketed as crunchy or crispy, especially around the edges, actual customer experiences may differ, with some finding it less crispy and more doughy than expected.
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The pizza was previously discontinued in 2009
Papa John's pan pizza was previously discontinued in 2009. The pizza chain reintroduced the pan pizza in October 2016, calling it their "biggest launch in over a decade".
The launch of the pan pizza in 2016 was highly anticipated by customers, with Papa John's chief ingredient officer Sean Muldoon stating that they "used to get questions all the time, from consumers to operators to franchisees... 'Why don't you have pan?'" The pan pizza was expected to attract new consumers who were "heavy pan lovers".
The development of the pan pizza took Papa John's a year and a half to perfect, aiming to achieve a cheesy, buttery, crispy taste profile. The pizza is baked in an oiled pan, resulting in a thicker crust with crispy edges and a light and fluffy texture.
Despite the excitement surrounding the launch, some customers were disappointed with the quality of the pan pizza. Reviews noted that the crust was super thick and chewy and lacked the expected crispiness. However, others enjoyed the pizza, citing the toppings and sauce as positive aspects.
Papa John's pan pizza has received mixed reviews, with some customers enjoying the thick and crunchy crust, while others found it underwhelming compared to similar offerings from competitors.
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The pan pizza has received mixed reviews
Papa John's pan pizza has received mixed reviews. While some customers appreciate the pizza, others have expressed disappointment with the crust, toppings, and overall taste.
Some customers have praised Papa John's pan pizza for its thick and crunchy crust, which is described as "hearty" and chewy. The pan pizza is said to have a unique taste and texture that sets it apart from other pizzas offered by the chain. The crust is baked in an oiled pan, resulting in a thicker crust with crispy edges and a fluffy texture.
However, others have criticized the pan pizza for the same reasons. Some reviewers found the crust to be too thick, doughy, and bland. They claim that the toppings are sparse and do not extend to the edges of the pizza, as they should with a pan pizza. One reviewer mentioned that the pizza lacked the desired crispiness, with the toppings sitting on top of a thick layer of dough instead of being nestled below the edges of the crust.
The mixed reviews also extend to the overall taste of the pizza. While some customers found the combination of toppings and sauce enjoyable, others described the pizza as "gross" and "synthetic." Some reviewers mentioned that the pizza had a soggy taste and that the toppings lacked quality.
Papa John's pan pizza was introduced as a response to consumer demand and was intended to attract new customers who prefer pan pizza. The pizza chain's chief ingredient officer, Sean Muldoon, stated that it took them a year and a half to develop a pan pizza that fit their desired taste profile. However, despite their efforts, the pan pizza seems to have divided opinions among customers.
Overall, the mixed reviews of Papa John's pan pizza highlight the varying preferences and expectations of customers when it comes to pizza crust, toppings, and taste. While some appreciate the thick and crunchy crust, others prefer a thinner and crispier option. The reviews also indicate room for improvement in terms of topping distribution and overall flavor.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Papa John's offers pan pizza with a thick, crunchy crust. The crust is baked in an oiled pan with the dough pushed up against the edges, resulting in a thicker crust with crispy edges.
The pan crust is made with just seven ingredients: flour, extra virgin olive oil, cold-filtered water, sugar, salt, yeast, and oil.
Papa John's pan crust is described as "cheesy, buttery, and crispy." However, some reviews claim that the crust is too doughy and bland, while others say that it is thick and crunchy with crispy edges.











































