Pizza Hut has introduced its latest menu innovation, the Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza, alongside a significant toppings transformation. This marks the biggest overhaul of the toppings menu in over a decade. Pizza Hut is the first global pizza chain to offer a Tavern Pizza, as well as Chicken Sausage, Pesto Swirl, and Spicy Sauce as permanent toppings. Rachel Antalek, Pizza Hut’s new Chief Food Innovation Officer, leads this new era with the debut of these additions nationwide.
The Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza, originating in Chicago in the 1930s, features a thin-crust style cut into squares. Traditionally served in taverns to encourage patrons to stay longer, this style has gained popularity for its crispy, square-cut, shareable nature. Pizza Hut’s version aims to offer a modern take on this classic style, combining a cracker-thin crust loaded with edge-to-edge toppings. The new Tavern-Style Pizza comes in four varieties: Pesto Margherita, The Ultimate, Spicy Chicken Sausage, and Double Pepperoni.
Rachel Antalek emphasized that these menu additions align with Pizza Hut’s mission to provide modern culinary innovations that resonate with customer preferences. The recipes are designed to pay homage to the traditional Chicago style while incorporating contemporary flavors.
The launch also includes the biggest toppings transformation in over a decade, introducing eight new toppings and sauces: Spicy Marinara Sauce, Pesto Sauce Swirl, Chicken Sausage, Fresh Diced Garlic, Grape Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Fire Roasted Peppers, and Crispy Cupped Pepperoni. These toppings can be enjoyed on the new Tavern-Style Pizzas or selected for custom orders.
The Pesto Margherita Tavern Pizza features sweet marinara, grape tomatoes, garlic, and basil pesto on a Thin ‘N Crispy crust, topped with parmesan-oregano seasoning. The Ultimate Tavern Pizza includes sausage, pepperoni, fire roasted peppers, onions, and grape tomatoes on a Thin ‘N Crispy crust with parmesan-oregano seasoning. The Spicy Chicken Sausage Tavern Pizza combines spicy marinara, chicken sausage, fire roasted peppers, and caramelized onions on a Thin ‘N Crispy crust, also topped with parmesan-oregano seasoning. The Double Pepperoni Tavern Pizza offers classic pepperoni and crispy cupped pepperoni with sweet marinara on a Thin ‘N Crispy crust, sprinkled with parmesan-oregano seasoning.