Personal Pan Pizza (Pizza Hut Copycat)
This copycat Pizza Hut personal pan pizza has that thick, buttery crust and that cheesy, saucy topping you remember. It’s easy to make at home and perfect for a fun, easily customizable, nostalgic meal without the takeout cost.
There’s just something about those personal pan pizzas that brings back all the nostalgia.
Maybe I’m showing my age, but I grew up on the Book It program.
Remember it?
Reading so many books per month just to earn that delicious personal pan pizza.
It was a way of life.
Nowadays, Pizza Hut is harder to come by.
But just because we don’t have a Pizza Hut nearby anymore doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy a copycat Pizza Hut personal pan pizza that tastes pretty close to the real deal.
This homemade version recreates that rich deep dish crust you remember and love.
And you can top it however you like, making it perfect for picky eaters or letting everyone build their own.
It’s the perfect choice to share a piece of nostalgic pizza with your kids to give them a taste of our classic childhood experience.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need a set of ingredients for the dough, a set for the sauce, and then toppings.
For the dough you’ll need:
- Yeast– 1 packet, or 2 1/4 teaspoons, of instant yeast
- Water– The water needs to be about 110°F. Too cool and the yeast won’t activate and too warm and the yeast will die.
- Sugar– Granulated
- Flour– All purpose though you could substitute whole wheat or bread flour for a chewier texture
- Salt
- Olive oil– This is one of those recipes you don’t want to substitute a different oil
- Melted butter– To brush into your pans
For the sauce you’ll need:
- Tomato sauce– A 15 ounce can. Make sure you get the kind that doesn’t have a bunch of added seasonings
- Spices– Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt
- Sugar– A pinch of granulated sugar to cut the acid
And finally for the toppings, you’ll need:
- Cheese– Shredded mozzarella or shredded Italian cheese blend
- Other toppings– Pepperoni, cooked sausage, mushrooms, veggies, etc
How to Make
If you break it down into steps, making a copycat Pizza Hut personal pan pizza is pretty easy.
Start by making that signature deep dish crust.
To do that, mix yeast, warm water, and sugar together in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer.
Let it sit 5 to 10 minutes until bubbles form so you know the yeast has activated.
Then stir in flour, salt, and olive oil until dough forms.
Either turn the dough out on a floured surface to knead it for 5 to 7 minutes or use the stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment to knead the dough on medium speed until smooth and elastic.
Transfer the dough to a bowl greased with olive oil, cover it and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Once the dough has doubled in size, brush four 6-inch cake pans or cast-iron skillets generously with melted butter.
Divide the dough into 4 equal balls and press each one evenly into the bottom of a prepared pan, pushing slightly up the edges.
Cover each skillet or and let the crusts rest for 10–15 minutes while preheating oven to 450°F.
While the dough rests, stir together the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and sugar.
Let it simmer for 5–10 minutes over medium.
Once the sauce is ready and the pizza crust has rested and risen a bit, spread 2–3 tablespoons of sauce over each crust.
Sprinkle sauce covered with mozzarella and add your favorite toppings.
Put the pans on the lowest oven rack and bake for 12–15 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
Brush crust edges with extra melted butter before serving for that classic Pizza Hut flavor.
Serve and enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the oven or air fryer for best results, it keeps the crust crisp.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t want make the pizza dough yourself or don’t have time? Buy a bag of dough in the refrigerated deli case.
- Play with flavor combinations. Make cheese lovers by adding a mix of mozzarella, provolone, or even cheddar for flavor. For meat lovers, top it with a combo of pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ham. For veggie lovers, pile on mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, and olives.
- Add even more flavor by brushing melted butter mixed with garlic powder on the crust.
- Turn these into mini dessert pizzas and use the same crust but top it with Nutella and marshmallows.
Other Pizza Recipes
Copycat Pizza Hut personal pan pizza jazzes up pizza night with some childhood nostalgia.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other pizza recipes?
Try these:
- Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza
- Pizza Crunch Recipe
- Slow Cooker Pizza
- School Cafeteria Breakfast Pizza
- Mini Deep Dish Pizzas
If you’ve tried this COPYCAT PIZZA HUT PERSONAL PAN PIZZA, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Personal Pan Pizza (Pizza Hut Copycat)
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast or 1 packet
- 1 cup warm water about 110°F
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp melted butter for brushing pans
For the Sauce
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
For the Toppings
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Favorite toppings pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, veggies, etc.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix yeast, warm water, and sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.2 1/4 tsp instant yeast, 1 cup warm water, 2 tbsp sugar
- Add flour, salt, and olive oil. Stir until dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 2 tbsp olive oil
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Brush four 6-inch cake pans or cast-iron skillets generously with melted butter.2 tbsp melted butter
- Divide the dough into 4 equal balls and press each one evenly into the bottom of a prepared pan, pushing slightly up the edges.
- Cover and let rest for 10–15 minutes while preheating oven to 450°F.
- In a small saucepan, combine tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and sugar. Simmer for 5–10 minutes.1 15 oz can tomato sauce, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp sugar
- Spread about 2–3 tablespoons of sauce over each crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella and add your favorite toppings.2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Place pans on the lowest oven rack and bake for 12–15 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
- Brush crust edges with extra melted butter before serving for that classic Pizza Hut flavor.
Notes
- Don't want make the pizza dough yourself or don't have time? Buy a bag of dough in the refrigerated deli case.
- Play with flavor combinations. Make cheese lovers by adding a mix of mozzarella, provolone, or even cheddar for flavor. For meat lovers, top it with a combo of pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ham. For veggie lovers, pile on mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, and olives.
- Add even more flavor by brushing melted butter mixed with garlic powder on the crust.
- Turn these into mini dessert pizzas and use the same crust but top it with Nutella and marshmallows.
Nutrition
