Deep Dish Pan Pizza: Pizza Hut's Secret Menu

Pizza Hut is a popular pizza chain that offers a variety of pizza options, including deep-dish pan pizzas. While the availability of deep-dish pan pizzas at Pizza Hut may vary by location and time, there are several resources and recipes available online that suggest and confirm that Pizza Hut does, in fact, offer deep-dish pan pizzas.

Pizza Hut's website mentions the availability of Detroit-Style Pizza, which is a rectangular deep-dish pizza with a crispy, cheesy crust edge. This option was introduced in 2021 and may still be available at select locations. Additionally, Pizza Hut has also offered its Original Pan Pizza since the 1980s, which has recently been revamped with a new baking process and a different type of cheese.

There are also several copycat recipes online that aim to replicate the taste and experience of Pizza Hut's deep-dish pan pizzas. These recipes provide instructions on how to make the crust, sauce, and toppings to match the flavor and texture of Pizza Hut's offerings.

Pizza Hut's Detroit-Style Pizza

The Detroit-Style Pizza is available in four recipes:

• Double Pepperoni: Classic pepperoni and Pizza Hut's signature crispy cupped pepperoni.
• Meaty Deluxe: Crispy cupped pepperoni, Italian sausage, and bacon.
• Supremo: Italian sausage, green peppers, and red onions.
• CYO (Create Your Own): Customers can choose their own toppings, with the first topping included in the base price and additional toppings costing $1 each.

The Detroit-Style Pizza was first introduced in early 2021 and was so popular that it sold out two weeks earlier than projected. It was brought back by popular demand in August 2021 and again in 2022, with a Detroit-Style-inspired anthem by TikToker Jon Moss to celebrate its return.

The Detroit-Style Pizza is available at participating Pizza Hut locations nationwide for a limited time.

Pizza Hut's Original Pan Pizza recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) dry active yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup non-fat dry milk powder
• 1 1/3 cup warm water (105 degrees F)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for dough)
• 9 ounces vegetable oil (3 ounces per pan)
• Butter-flavored cooking spray
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 16 ounces mozzarella cheese
• Toppings of your choice

Method:

First, make the dough. Combine the yeast, sugar, salt, and dry milk in a 2-quart size mixing bowl. Next, add the water and stir to mix. Let the mixture sit for 2 minutes or until the yeast starts to bubble. Then, add the oil to the yeast mixture and stir to combine.

Now, add the flour in one cup increments, stirring after each addition, until a dough forms and the flour is all combined. Turn the dough out onto a flat, lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Divide the dough into three equal balls.

Place about 3 ounces of oil in the bottom of each 9-inch cake pan or cast-iron skillet. Tilt the pans to spread the oil evenly. Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball of dough to a 9-inch circle and place in the prepared pans. Lightly coat each dough disk with cooking spray or oil and cover with plastic wrap.

Place in a warm, draft-free location and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until puffy. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by combining all the ingredients until blended. Let sit at room temperature for at least one hour. The sauce can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using.

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. For each 9-inch pizza: Spoon 1/3 cup of the sauce on the dough and spread to within 1 inch of the edges. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese. Place toppings of choice in the following order: thin meats like pepperoni or Canadian bacon, vegetables, ground or cubed meats, additional mozzarella cheese.

Place the pizzas in the oven and cook until the outer crust is brown and the cheese is bubbly in the center (11-15 minutes, depending on how many toppings you use). Remove from the oven. Let cool for 2-3 minutes then remove from the pans to a cutting board and cut into wedges using a pizza cutter.

Pizza Hut's deep-dish pizza sauce placement

The amount of sauce used is also an important consideration. Pizza Hut's deep-dish pizza has a generous amount of sauce, which not only enhances the flavour but also creates a visually appealing presentation. The sauce is typically spread evenly across the pizza, ensuring that each slice has a good balance of sauce, cheese, and toppings.

In addition to its placement and quantity, the consistency of the sauce plays a vital role in the overall taste experience. Pizza Hut's sauce is known for its slightly sweet and incredibly thick texture. This thickness not only adds to the indulgent experience but also ensures that the sauce doesn't make the crust soggy. The sauce is carefully prepared with a blend of spices and herbs, such as garlic and red pepper flakes, creating a robust and flavourful profile.

The sauce-to-cheese ratio is another critical factor in the success of Pizza Hut's deep-dish pizza. The cheese is distributed evenly, ensuring that each bite delivers a harmonious combination of sauce and cheese. This balanced approach enhances the overall taste and texture, making Pizza Hut's deep-dish pizza a favourite among customers.

By prioritising the placement, quantity, consistency, and ratio of sauce to cheese, Pizza Hut has perfected the art of deep-dish pizza. This attention to detail ensures that each bite offers a delightful blend of flavours and textures, making it a memorable and satisfying dining experience.

Pizza Hut's new cooking process

The pan itself has also been redesigned to make the crust become more golden-brown and buttery as it cooks in the oven. This "state-of-the-art pan technology" allows the crust to cook differently, making it crispier. The new cooking process was rolled out in 2019, and the revamped pan pizza is now available nationwide.

Pizza Hut's cheese and sauce ratio

Pizza Hut is known for its unique cheese blend, which has been a closely guarded secret for over 60 years. The blend combines part-skim mozzarella and cheddar cheese, formulated to create the perfect flavour, texture, and consistency. The cheese blend is designed to melt evenly and stretch easily, resulting in a gooey and stretchy layer on top of the pizza. This stretchiness allows the cheese to form long, stringy strands when pulled apart.

The ratio of proteins and fats in the cheese blend is carefully considered to create the perfect balance of flavour and texture. The cheese has a mild flavour that complements the other toppings without overpowering them. The moisture content is also controlled to ensure the cheese melts evenly and doesn't become greasy.

Pizza Hut's attention to detail extends beyond their cheese blend. They are committed to using high-quality, fresh ingredients, such as tomatoes from the central valleys of California, picked just four hours before being used in their sauce. This commitment to freshness ensures that their customers receive the highest quality vitamins and nutrients.

In terms of the cheese-to-sauce ratio, Pizza Hut has optimised their pizza-building process over the years. Originally, Pizza Hut received whole slices of LePrino's 100% mozzarella cheese. However, as the company grew, they transitioned to using shredded cheese, which allowed for a more consistent and even distribution of cheese on top of the sauce. This change not only saved time but also enhanced the melting process, revolutionising pizza-making at Pizza Hut.

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