Papa Johns Ditches the Crust with New Pizza Bowls

Jelisa Castrodale
·2 min read
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If you want to start a fight among pizza lovers, ask them "Thick crust or thin crust?" Everyone has their own dough density preference. But Papa Johns has thrown a third option into the thick-or-thin debate, by releasing a pizza with no crust whatsoever.

Earlier this month, the Atlanta- and Louisville-based pizza chain announced its new Papa Bowls, which are basically just combinations of their most popular pizza toppings, baked together and served in a bowl instead of on a crust. (And unlike a slice of pizza, it's perfectly acceptable to eat a Papa Bowl with a knife and fork.)

Papa John's Papa Bowls
Papa John's Papa Bowls

Courtesy of Papa John's

"We are very excited to offer Papa Bowls as a new menu category and as a new way consumers can experience our premium ingredients," Scott Rodriguez, Papa Johns Senior Vice President of Menu Strategy and Product Innovation, said in a statement. "Our signature crust continues to be a beloved favorite, but we know that sometimes customers crave something different. We want them to know we are committed to delivering on all of those cravings through our menu."

At the time of launch, there are three Papa Bowl varieties to choose from, each based on one of Papa Johns' pizzas. The Italian Meats Trio features "signature pizza and alfredo sauces," along with meatballs, pepperoni, sausage, three cheeses, green peppers, onions, and tomatoes; The Chicken Alfredo Papa Bowl layers grilled chicken, alfredo and garlic parmesan sauce, spinach, mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes, and tops them with a three cheese blend; and the Garden Veggie version which is a combo of banana peppers, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, and spinach, with pizza sauce, garlic parmesan, and three cheeses. (You can also customize your own Papa Bowl, if you're not into these three.)

The concept of a crustless pizza isn't totally new to anyone who has followed a low-carb or keto diet, and Papa John's isn't the first pizza company to put their toppings in a bowl, heat them up and serve them. Marco's Pizza currently offers All Meat, Deluxe and Build-Your-Own Pizza Bowls, Johnny's Pizza House has nine (!) Pizza Bowls on its menu, and Arizona-based Venezia's Pizzeria offers four standard Zero Crust Pizza Bowls and four choose-your-own protein versions.

Papa Johns new Papa Bowls have been available to its Papa Rewards loyalty members since Monday, August 15, and they will be available nationally starting on Monday, August 22. All three of its so-called "Signature Varieties" and any customized Papa Bowl will be priced at $7.99 each.