Does Papa John‘s Do a Pan Pizza? The Ultimate Guide

Papa John‘s is one of the most popular pizza chains in America, known for its quality ingredients and delicious pizzas. If you‘re a fan of pan pizzas with a crispy, buttery crust, you may be wondering – does Papa John‘s do a pan pizza?

The short answer is yes, Papa John‘s does offer a pan pizza. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Papa John‘s pan pizza, including:

• What is a pan pizza?
• Papa John‘s pan pizza options
• How Papa John‘s pan pizza is made
• Pan pizza vs. other Papa John‘s crusts
• Topping ideas for Papa John‘s pan pizza
• How to order Papa John‘s pan pizza
• Nutrition information on Papa John‘s pan pizza
• Tips for baking pan pizza at home

What is a Pan Pizza?

A pan pizza is a style of pizza made by baking the dough in a deep, oiled pan to create a thick and crispy crust. The pan helps conduct heat to the bottom and edges of the crust, giving it a fried, crunchy texture on the outside.

Pan pizzas are generally thicker than traditional hand-tossed or thin crust pizzas. The dough is pressed into the pan, allowing it to rise up the sides a bit to form a little edge around the perimeter. This helps contain the toppings and moisture.

The result is a pizza with a soft, chewy, and crispy crust that provides the perfect base for flavorful sauces and toppings. Pan pizza strikes a tasty balance – more substantial than a thin crust, but not as thick as a deep dish or Sicilian pizza.

Papa John‘s Pan Pizza Options

Papa John‘s offers both a regular pan pizza and a thin pan pizza:

Papa John‘s Regular Pan Pizza

This is Papa John‘s signature pan pizza offering. According to Papa John‘s, their pan pizza features a sweet and savory sauce made with plenty of tomatoes and herbs for delicious flavor. It has a thick, golden brown crust that provides the ideal crispy base.

The regular pan is available in small, medium, and large sizes ranging from 10 inches to 14 inches. You can build your own pan pizza or order one of Papa John‘s specialty pan pizzas.

Some customer favorites include:

• The Works – loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, onions, green peppers, and mushrooms
• MeatZZa – piled high with pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon, pork sausage, and beef
• Hawaiian BBQ Chicken – sweet and tangy with grilled chicken, bacon, onions, and BBQ sauce

Papa John‘s Thin Pan Pizza

This is a thinner, crispier version of the pan pizza. Papa John‘s thin pan has the same pan-baked crust as the regular version, but it‘s stretched thinner for an extra crispy texture.

The thin pan is a nice midpoint between the regular pan and a thin crust pizza. It provides a crispy base similar to a thin crust, but with a slightly thicker and doughier bottom thanks to the pan.

The thin pan crust is available in 10" and 14" sizes. You can customize it with your favorite toppings or order one of Papa John‘s specialty pizzas on the thin pan.

How Papa John‘s Makes Their Pan Pizza

Papa John‘s pan pizzas are made with a proprietary process designed to achieve the ideal crust – crispy, buttery, and full of flavor:

• Sweet and savory seasoning – Papa John‘s pan pizza dough contains a special blend of savory garlic and herbs and sweet paprika to give it signature flavor.

• Olive oil – The dough is brushed with olive oil before baking to achieve a rich, buttery crust.

• High oven temperature – Pan pizzas are baked at a high temperature of roughly 475°F to get the bottom and edges crispy.

• Well-seasoned pans – Papa John‘s uses well-seasoned, dark pans that have been conditioned over time to make the perfect pan pizza crust.

• Pressed into the pan – The dough is pressed into the corners and up the sides of the pan by hand to help it achieve maximum crisping.

• Topped generously – Toppings like cheese and veggies are layered generously over the crust to take advantage of the pizza‘s thick base.

The result is a hearty, crispy crust that provides the ideal taste and texture for pan pizza perfection.

Pan Pizza vs Other Papa John‘s Crusts

So how does Papa John‘s pan pizza compare to some of their other crust offerings? Here‘s a quick breakdown:

Pan Pizza vs Thin Crust

• Pan – Thick, soft, doughy interior with crispy, buttery exterior. Rising crust edges.

• Thin – Uniformly thin, crispy crust. Lighter base lets flavors of toppings shine.

Pan Pizza vs Hand Tossed

• Pan – Crispier crust with defined edges. Thicker base than hand tossed.

• Hand tossed – Traditional pizza crust. Medium thinness, slightly chewy. More rustic texture.

Pan Pizza vs Gluten-Free

• Pan – Made with regular flour for soft and crispy crust. Contains gluten.

• Gluten-free – Free of gluten but still tasty. Crust is rice-flour based.

So in summary, pan pizza sets itself apart with its thick, crispy crust and fried edges – a tasty contrast to Papa John‘s other crust types.

Topping Ideas for Papa John‘s Pan Pizza

The crispy crust and raised edges of a pan pizza are perfect for holding hearty toppings and gooey cheese. Here are some delicious ideas for customizing your Papa John‘s pan pizza:

Meats

• Pepperoni
• Italian sausage
• Bacon
• Ham
• Ground beef
• Chicken

Veggies

• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Green peppers
• Black olives
• Tomatoes
• Spinach
• Jalapeños

Cheese

• Extra mozzarella
• Feta
• Parmesan
• Provolone
• Cheddar

Sauces

• BBQ sauce
• Ranch
• Spicy buffalo sauce
• Pesto
• Garlic sauce

Fruits

• Pineapple
• Banana peppers

Don‘t be afraid to mix and match flavors! Spicy meats like pepperoni pair nicely with sweet pineapples. Creamy BBQ chicken is delicious with red onions. And classic combos like sausage and mushrooms are hard to top.

How to Order Papa John‘s Pan Pizza

Ordering a pan pizza from Papa John‘s is simple:

1. Choose pan crust: When customizing your pizza online or in-store, select "Pan Pizza" for your crust.

2. Pick size: Choose from 10", 12", or 14" pans. Bigger sizes work well for feeding groups.

3. Choose toppings: Build your own combination or select a pre-designed specialty pan pizza.

4. Pick-up or delivery: Choose your method of getting that hot, fresh pizza conveniently to your door.

You can order online at www.papajohns.com, via Papa John‘s mobile app, by phone, or by visiting your local Papa John‘s pizza shop.

Online ordering makes it easy to customize your perfect pan pizza before baking. But you can also request any additions or subtractions for pre-designed specialty pizzas when you get to the store.

Nutrition Information on Papa John‘s Pan Pizza

Like most pizzas, Papa John‘s pan pizza can range quite a bit in calories, carbs, and other nutrition depending on the toppings you select.

However, here are some general nutrition facts for Papa John‘s pan pizzas:

• 1 slice (1/8 14" pan pizza): 340 calories, 16g fat, 14g protein, 41g carbs

• 1 slice (1/6 10" pan pizza): 220 calories, 10g fat, 12g protein, 26g carbs

The thick, doughy pan crust means Papa John‘s pan pizzas do tend to have a higher calorie and carb count than some of their thin crust options.

Adding lots of high-fat meats and cheeses will further increase the calories. But you can make healthier choices by loading up the veggies and proteins while limiting fatty meats and extra cheese.

Overall, enjoyed in moderation, Papa John‘s pan pizza can be a tasty indulgence when you have a craving for that crispy, chewy crust experience.

Tips for Baking Pan Pizza at Home

Love the pan pizza experience but want to save by baking your own at home? Here are some tips:

• Use a cast iron skillet or pizza pan – The thick, heat-conducting material is ideal for getting the crust crispy.

• Brush pan with olive oil – This gives the crust a rich flavor and color.

• Press dough into edges – Push it into corners and up sides to mimic rising edges.

• Par-bake crust – Partially bake just the crust before adding toppings to crisp it up.

• Load on toppings – Take advantage of the thick crust to pile them on generously.

• Bake at 500°F – The high heat crisps the bottom and edges nicely.

• Finish with seasonings – Sprinkle garlic powder, Italian seasoning or grated parmesan over the hot pizza when done for extra flavor.

With the right techniques and toppings, you can recreate the delicious pan pizza experience at home. Experiment until you get the crust and flavors just how you like them.

Is Papa John‘s Pan Pizza Worth It?

At the end of the day, is Papa John‘s pan pizza worth trying? For pan pizza fans, the answer is a resounding yes!

The crispy interior crust and doughy fried edges provide the satisfying pan pizza taste and texture you crave. Toppings are generously layered over a sturdy base that holds up well. And convenient ordering options let you customize the perfect pie or simply grab a pre-designed specialty pizza.

While it does come at a slightly higher price than some other crust options, pan pizza is an indulgent treat when you have a craving. Papa John‘s has perfected their unique sweet and savory pan pizza recipe over the years. So when you want that quintessential buttery, crispy pan pizza experience, Papa John‘s delivers.

The Final Take

Yes, Papa John‘s proudly serves up delicious pan pizzas with their signature seasoned crust. The regular and thin pan options provide a crispy, crunchy base that perfectly complements all your favorite toppings.

Whipping up a custom pan pizza or ordering a tried and true specialty pie is an easy way to enjoy a hearty, satisfying meal with Papa John‘s quality ingredients. So next time you have a pan pizza craving, look no further than Papa John‘s!