Papa Johns new and improved Pan Pizza launched Thursday, a makeover that went through many iterations to perfect.
“The Pan Pizza recipe was several years in the making, with every ingredient chosen with care and intention,” said Mark Gabrovic, VP of culinary at Papa Johns. “We tested countless dough formulations, baking methods, oils, flours and even pans. We listened to customer feedback on past offerings and used those insights in the test kitchen, experimenting with different ingredient choices and putting extensive time into research and development. Our goal was to make sure every detail was perfect and every bite felt intentional.”
The final pizza is characterized by a fluffy, thick crust with an airy interior. Parmesan cheese and Papa Johns Special Garlic Sauce are baked directly into the bottom of the pan to achieve a caramelized, crispy exterior. A six-cheese blend of mozzarella, provolone, fontina, parmesan, asiago and romano make for an extra-indulgent cheesy finish that can hold up to seven more edge-to-edge toppings. A final dusting of Italian seasoning completes the elevated flavor profile.
“What makes this pizza work is how thoughtfully each layer builds on the next,” said Gabrovic. “You start with a crisp, buttery crust that’s golden and crackles, then the Italian seasoning comes through with that aromatic, savory note. As you bite in, you hit that fluffy, airy center, which balances the richness of the six-cheese blend. And my favorite part is the garlic sauce cooking out around the edge—it creates this crown that goes from savory crisp to creamy, tying the whole bite together.”
Papa Johns Pan Pizza is now available nationwide, starting at $11.99 for a one-topping pie.
Atlanta-based Papa Johns has been a leading innovator in the pizza space, introducing new formats and flavors over the last few years. In September, the chain rolled out the Papa Dippa, a pizza that is cut into strips instead of slices for easy dipping into the brand’s signature garlic sauce. The limited-time offer came with three additional garlic-based dips.
The Crispy Parm Pizza featured a layer of parmesan and romano cheeses baked on the bottom of the crust—a possible forerunner to the technique used for the Pan Pizza. This resulted in an extra-crisp exterior with double the cheese flavor.
Papa Johns Croissant Pizza debuted in Dubai in June 2025, featuring a crust made of flaky, buttery baked croissant dough with a braided edge. It was a hit such a hit overseas that the pizza chain dropped it in select U.S. locations for one day only last September—exclusively for Rewards Members.
And the Papadia—a handheld filled and folded flatbread sandwich based on the Italian piadina—launched back in 2021, but several line extensions have rolled out since.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.