Stuffed Crust Pizza - Wikipedia

Pizza with filled crusts Stuffed crust pizza

Type	Pizza
Place of origin	United States

Stuffed crust pizza is pizza with cheese (typically mozzarella) or other ingredients added into the outer edge of the crust. The stuffed crust pizza was popularized by Pizza Hut, which debuted this style of pizza in 1995.

History

[edit]

Pizza Hut introduced stuffed crust pizza, created by Patty Scheibmeir, and launched it on March 25, 1995. It was marketed in a commercial with Donald Trump.[1]

Pizza Hut was sued by the family of Anthony Mongiello for $1 billion, over claims that Pizza Hut's stuffed crust infringed on Mongiello's 1987 patent (US4661361A) on making stuffed pizza shells.[2][3] A feature film titled Stolen Dough on Apple TV by filmmaker Stefano Da Frè extensively details the Mongiello family's challenges to prove their case in a court of law; however Pizza Hut was ultimately found to have not infringed on the Patent in 1999, the court stating "...[the] plaintiff does not have a product patent, and its method patent is not infringed simply because some examples of defendant's completed product approximate plaintiff's product."[4][5]

DiGiorno began offering a cheese stuffed crust pizza in grocery stores in 2001.[6]

In 2012, Pizza Hut launched hot dog stuffed crust pizza in Japan, China, and South Korea, followed by Australia, Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.[7] Domino's also sold a hot dog stuffed crust pizza in the U.S., U.K., and New Zealand.[8][9][10]

Pizza Hut New Zealand has sold Marmite stuffed crust pizza,[11] and Pizza Hut Japan introduced a pizza with a crust of pockets stuffed with, alternately, Camembert, shrimp, sausage, and mozzarella.[12] Pizza Hut Japan offered a crust stuffed with shrimp and mayonnaise, and Pizza Hut Germany offered a "German King" with a sausage, bacon, and cheese-stuffed crust.[13] Pizza Hut Japan and South Korea have sold pizza with shrimp and cheese-stuffed crust, and Pizza Hut Hong Kong made abalone sauce "Cheesy Lava"-stuffed crust pizza.[13] Pizza Hut Australia made a pizza with a crust stuffed with miniature meat pies.[11]

In 2020, Papa John's released its own cheese-filled stuffed crust pizza.[14]

In 2023, Little Caesars also introduced stuffed crust pizza; it is available during the winter season. That same year, Pizza Pizza also introduced stuffed crust pizza.[citation needed]

In 2025, Domino's USA announced that they were launching their own stuffed crust pizza.[15]

See also

[edit]

• Pizza in the United States
• Pan pizza
• List of tomato dishes
• Food portal

References

[edit]

1. ^ Klara, Robert (September 22, 2016). "Yes, It Was Donald Trump Who First Introduced Pizza Hut's Stuffed Crust to the World". Adweek. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
2. ^ Bhasin, Kim (February 1, 2013). "There's A Controversy Surrounding The Origins Of Pizza Hut's Famous 'Stuffed Crust'". Business Insider. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
3. ^ Wong, Venessa (February 1, 2013). "Did Pizza Hut Really Invent the Stuffed Crust Pizza?". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
4. ^ Souldern, Jeanne (February 7, 2024). "Roll tape! Filmmaking duo steadily at work in Carbondale". The Sopris Sun.
5. ^ "Angelo Mongiello's Children, LLC v. Pizza Hut, Inc., 70 F. Supp. 2d 196 (E.D.N.Y. 1999)". Retrieved August 15, 2019.
6. ^ DiGiorno (May 13, 2018). "Our History". DiGiorno.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
7. ^ "Hut Life – Official Pizza Hut Blog". Hut Life – Pizza Hut Brand Blog. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
8. ^ "The Best/Worst Things Pizza Hut Has Ever Served Up". Gizmodo UK. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
9. ^ "This is why we're fat: Domino's NZ launches hot dog stuffed crust". www.zmonline.com. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
10. ^ "Domino's - Search Results". corporate.dominos.co.uk. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
11. ^ a b "13 Absolutely Insane Pizza Hut Pizzas". TheThings. March 28, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
12. ^ "Pizza Hut Japan's New Crust Comes with Alternating Cheese, Shrimp, & Sausage Pockets". Retrieved January 13, 2019.
13. ^ a b "10 Crazy Asian Pizzas". slice.seriouseats.com. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
14. ^ "Papa John's stuffed crust pizza drove Q1 sales boom". www.msn.com. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
15. ^ Pizza, Domino's. "Stuffed to Perfection: Domino's® Finally Launches Parmesan Stuffed Crust!". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved March 3, 2025.

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List of pizza varieties by country