The Pizza Hut restaurant chain has announced its latest modern menu innovation, Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza, alongside a toppings transformation, marking the biggest toppings menu overhaul in over 10 years.
The origins of the tavern-style pizza date back to Chicago in the 1930’s and became a staple within taverns with bartenders serving up the thin-crust pizza style cut into squares, often free of charge, in an enticing effort to keep patrons staying longer. In recent years, the style has grown in popularity as a favorite among pizza enthusiasts who gravitate towards its square-cut, crispy thin-crust style that makes it a shareable and snackable offering. What’s more, the cracker-thin crust is then loaded from edge to edge with tasty toppings. Pizza Hut’s take on the tavern-style pizza is available in four recipes: Pesto Margherita, The Ultimate, Spicy Chicken Sausage, and Double Pepperoni.
“These menu additions represent a bold step forward as part of our culinary mission to bring a modern innovation that embraces what we know our customers are loving and looking for in a pizza. Tavern is not just a pizza; it is a culinary trend that reflects the excitement of today’s pizza scene,” said Rachel Antalek, chief food innovation officer at Plano, Texas-headquartered Pizza Hut. “We perfected these recipes to truly pay homage to Chicago and the hundred-year-old style in a modern way while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a pizza with new toppings and flavors.”
As part of this launch, the Yum! Brands subsidiary unveils its biggest toppings transformation in over a decade with eight new toppings and sauces joining menus across the USA as permanent additions. The additions include Spicy Marinara Sauce, Pesto Sauce Swirl, Chicken Sausage, Fresh Diced Garlic, Grape Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Fire Roasted Peppers and Crispy Cupped Pepperoni. Descriptions of each offering follow:
• Pesto Margherita Tavern Pizza: A combo of sweet marinara, grape tomatoes, garlic and basil pesto topped to the edge and served square-cut on Thin ‘N Crispy crust & sprinkled with parmesan-oregano seasoning.
• The Ultimate Tavern Pizza: A square-cut Thin ‘N Crispy crust topped to the edge with sausage, pepperoni, fire roasted peppers, onions, grape tomatoes & parmesan-oregano seasoning.
• Spicy Chicken Sausage Tavern Pizza: A square-cut Thin ‘N Crispy crust topped to the edge with spicy marinara, chicken sausage, fire roasted peppers, caramelized onions and parmesan-oregano seasoning.
• Double Pepperoni Tavern Pizza: A combination of sweet marinara, classic pepperoni and crispy cupped pepperoni topped to the edge and comes square-cut on Thin ‘N Crispy crust & sprinkled with parmesan-oregano seasoning.
The four new Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza recipes or a create your own one-topping version can be ordered at participating Pizza Hut restaurants nationwide starting at $12 for a large pizza.
