Authentic Pizza Hut Pan Pizza (Printable Version)

Golden thick pan pizza with soft chewy interior and bubbly melted cheese, inspired by the iconic classic we all love.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
03 - 1 ½ tsp sugar
04 - 1 ½ tsp salt
05 - 1 cup warm water (110°F)
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

→ Sauce

08 - 1 cup canned tomato sauce
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - ½ tsp dried basil
11 - ½ tsp garlic powder
12 - ½ tsp onion powder
13 - ½ tsp sugar
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Toppings

15 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
16 - 20-24 slices pepperoni
17 - 1 tbsp olive oil for brushing crust

# How-To:

01 - Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Pour in yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix until a rough dough forms.
03 - Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 7-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Lightly oil a bowl, place dough inside, cover, and let rise in a warm location for 1 hour until doubled in size.
05 - Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with softened butter. Brush bottoms with a small amount of olive oil for enhanced crispness.
06 - Punch down dough and divide into 2 equal portions. Press each portion evenly into prepared pans, pushing dough slightly up the sides.
07 - Cover pans and let dough rest for 10-15 minutes.
08 - Preheat oven to 450°F.
09 - Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
10 - Spread half the sauce on each crust. Distribute cheese evenly over sauce. Add desired toppings.
11 - Brush exposed crust edges with olive oil for golden browning.
12 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbling.
13 - Remove from oven and let cool for several minutes. Slice and serve hot.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The buttered pan creates this incredible fried bottom that delivery places just cannot replicate at home
  • You get two medium pizzas which means everyone can customize their own toppings without any family negotiations
  • The dough rises right in the pans so you do not need fancy equipment or pizza stones
02 -
  • The butter in the pan is not optional because it creates that distinctive fried crispy bottom that makes this pan pizza so special
  • Letting the dough rest in the pan for those 10 to 15 minutes before topping prevents the crust from puffing up too much and losing its structure
  • The high oven temperature is crucial because lower heat will give you a soft pale crust instead of the golden crispy edges you want
03 -
  • Do not skip the butter coating on your pans because this is what creates the signature crispy fried bottom that sets this pizza apart
  • Let the pizza cool for at least 5 minutes before slicing to prevent all the cheese from sliding off onto your cutting board

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