CopycatSpices
Copycat Pizza Hut Pan Pizza
Recreate Pizza Hut's iconic pan pizza at home with a buttery, crispy-bottomed crust and that signature thick, oily edge that makes it unforgettable.
copycat · pizza-hut · fast-food · pizza
🕑Prep20 min
🍳Cook20 min
⏱Total40 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyMedium
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (110°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the pan
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Your choice of toppings (pepperoni, sausage, peppers, etc.)
Instructions
- 1.Activate the yeast. Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Let sit for 5-7 minutes until foamy.
- 2.Make the dough. Add flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a soft dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 5 minutes until smooth.
- 3.Prepare the pan. Pour the melted butter into a 12-inch cast iron skillet or deep-dish pizza pan. Tilt to coat the bottom and sides completely. This is the secret to that crispy, buttery bottom.
- 4.Press the dough into the pan. Place the dough in the buttered pan and press it out to the edges, pushing it slightly up the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
- 5.Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 475°F and position a rack in the lower third.
- 6.Add toppings. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a half-inch border. Add the mozzarella cheese and your desired toppings.
- 7.Bake until perfect. Bake for 18-20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden and the crust is deeply browned on the bottom. Let cool for 3 minutes before slicing.
Copycat Pizza Hut Pan Pizza
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus 30-45 minutes rising)
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 slices
Pizza Hut’s pan pizza is in a category of its own. That thick, pillowy crust with the fried-in-butter bottom is what separates it from every other chain pizza. The crust is essentially deep-fried bread — the dough rises in a pool of melted butter, which fries the bottom and sides as it bakes, creating that signature crispy, golden shell around a soft interior.
This recipe uses a cast iron skillet to replicate the heavy pan Pizza Hut uses in their restaurants. The butter pooling around the dough is the entire secret.
The Cast Iron Difference
- Cast iron retains heat. It gets ripping hot and stays hot, which is what gives you that evenly fried bottom crust without burning.
- Don’t skimp on the butter. Three tablespoons sounds like a lot. It is a lot. That’s the point. The dough literally fries in it.
- Let it rise in the pan. The second rise happens right in the buttered skillet. This is crucial — the dough absorbs some of the butter as it rises, giving it that rich, almost brioche-like quality.
Why This Beats Delivery
A large pan pizza at Pizza Hut costs $15-20 before delivery fees and tip. This recipe costs about $4 in ingredients and takes 20 minutes of active work. You also get to control exactly how much cheese and toppings go on — and trust me, you’ll be more generous than Pizza Hut.
