Make Pizza Hut Pan Crust At Home: The Ultimate Guide

Pizza Hut's pan crust is a favourite among many, and you can recreate it at home with a few simple steps. The key to a good pan pizza is a slow rise time and a heavy cast-iron pan. Here's a list of ingredients and steps to help you make the perfect pan pizza:

Ingredients

- Water

- Yeast

- Sugar

- Salt

- Oil

- Flour

- Pizza sauce

- Cheese

- Toppings of your choice

Steps

1. Combine water, yeast, sugar, and dry milk, stir, and allow to proof for 5-10 minutes until foamy and bubbly.

2. Add in oil, flour, and salt. Use a mixer or your hands to form a soft and smooth dough.

3. Coat cake pans heavily with olive oil.

4. Divide pizza dough into three pieces and press into the bottom of each pan, pushing up to the edges.

5. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and allow to rise for about an hour or until doubled in size.

6. Add pizza sauce to the risen dough, leaving about an inch of crust uncovered around the edges.

7. Add desired toppings and sprinkle generously with cheese.

8. Bake at 450-550 degrees F for about 12-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

Dough ingredients and preparation

Ingredients

• 1 package (1/4 ounce size) 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)
• 4 cups all-purpose flour

Preparation

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

Sauce ingredients and preparation

The sauce is an essential component of the Pizza Hut pan pizza experience, and you can make it at home with a few simple ingredients. Here's a detailed guide on the sauce ingredients and preparation process to achieve that signature Pizza Hut flavour.

Ingredients:

• Tomato paste or tomato sauce: You can use either tomato paste or tomato sauce as the base for your sauce. If you opt for tomato paste, you'll need to add water to adjust the consistency.
• Water: If you're using tomato paste, add water to thin it out and create a sauce-like consistency. The amount of water can vary depending on your preference for a thicker or thinner sauce.
• Spices: The key spices used in Pizza Hut's sauce include dried oregano, dried basil leaves, dried thyme, garlic powder, and black pepper. You can adjust the amounts to suit your taste preferences.
• Lemon juice: A small amount of lemon juice adds a tangy twist to the sauce.
• Sugar: A teaspoon of granulated sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes and enhances the overall flavour.
• Olive oil: A tablespoon of olive oil is used in the sauce preparation.

Preparation:

• Combine all the ingredients: In a small saucepan, combine the tomato sauce or paste, spices, lemon juice, sugar, and olive oil. Stir well to mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
• Cook over medium heat: Place the saucepan on the stove and turn the heat to medium. Continue cooking until the sauce starts to boil, ensuring that it doesn't burn.
• Simmer and thicken: Once the sauce reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer. Cover the saucepan and allow the sauce to cook gently for 30-45 minutes. This step helps intensify the flavours and thicken the sauce to your desired consistency.
• Adjust and stir: During the simmering process, you can adjust the seasoning by adding more spices or lemon juice to taste. Stir the sauce occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• Cool and store: Once the sauce has reached your desired consistency and flavour, remove it from the heat and let it cool. You can then store the leftover sauce in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or freeze it for up to three months.

Toppings and cooking instructions

For the toppings, you can choose whatever you like best. Here are some ideas:

• Thin meats like pepperoni or Canadian bacon
• Vegetables
• Ground or cubed meats
• Mushrooms
• Peppers
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Sausage
• Black olives
• Spinach
• Zucchini
• Pineapple
• Bacon
• Ham
• Salami
• Jalapenos

For the cooking instructions, follow these steps:

• Preheat your oven to 475 degrees F.
• Spoon 1/3 cup of the sauce onto the dough and spread it to within 1 inch of the edges.
• Sprinkle with 1 1/2 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Place your desired toppings on the pizza, starting with thin meats, followed by vegetables, ground or cubed meats, and finishing with additional mozzarella cheese.
• Place the pizzas in the oven and bake until the outer crust is brown and the cheese is bubbly in the centre (11-15 minutes, depending on how many toppings you use).
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes.
• Remove from the pans and cut into wedges using a pizza cutter.
• Brush the crust edges with garlic butter for additional flavour (optional).

Tips for a crispier crust:

• Preheat your oven for at least 30 minutes before baking.
• If you like a thicker crust, let the dough rise for a bit longer.
• Oil the pans generously to prevent sticking.
• Avoid overloading the pizza with toppings, especially in the centre, as it can make the crust soggy.
• For a crispier bottom, pre-bake the crust for a few minutes before adding toppings.

Freezing and reheating instructions

Freezing Pizza

Pizza can be frozen before or after cooking. If freezing before cooking, par-bake the crust for around 5 minutes at 450ºF to help it hold its shape. Then, let the crust cool, add your sauce, cheese, and toppings, and wrap the pizza in clingfilm, followed by a layer of aluminium foil. If freezing leftover pizza slices, wrap each slice in plastic wrap and aluminium foil, then stack them in the freezer.

Reheating Pizza

The best way to reheat pizza is in the oven or toaster oven at 350ºF for 8-10 minutes. This method ensures a crispy crust and melted cheese. If you're short on time, you can reheat pizza in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat for about 5 minutes. For a super-quick option, microwave your pizza for 30-60 seconds, but be aware that this will not result in a crispy crust.

Pan alternatives

If you're looking for alternatives to a pizza stone, there are several options available. Here are some of the best methods to achieve a crispy and evenly baked pizza crust:

Inverted Baking Sheet

Place a rimmed baking sheet upside down on the lowest shelf of your oven before preheating it. This will allow you to easily slide the pizza onto the hot surface, resulting in a crisp crust.

Cast Iron Skillet

A large cast iron skillet can be preheated upside down, similar to the baking sheet method. It mimics a pizza stone by providing a hot surface for your pizza to cook on.

Grill

Grilling your pizza, especially on a charcoal grill, can give you extremely high temperatures, resulting in a crispy, charred crust.

Pizza Pans

Pizza-specific baking pans made of heavy-duty aluminum with air vents or a ridged design can help create airflow under the pizza, preventing sogginess. Look for pans with a non-stick coating to make releasing the pizza easier.

Baking Steels

Baking steels are heavy-duty slabs of steel that can withstand high temperatures. They offer a larger surface area than pizza stones and are virtually indestructible.

Frequently asked questions