Randy Chandler
Pizza Hut's Original Stuffed Crust Pizza debuted in 1995, and it has since become an iconic style. The pizza features warm and melty cheese stuffed into the crust of traditional pizza dough, topped with classic marinara, 100% real cheese made from whole milk mozzarella, and your choice of toppings. While Pizza Hut popularized this style of pizza, there has been some debate over whether they were the first to invent it. In 1998, a lawsuit was filed against Pizza Hut by the family of Anthony Mongiello, who claimed to have invented the stuffed crust in 1987. The lawsuit was ultimately ruled in favour of Pizza Hut, stating that the idea of cheese stuffed inside bread cannot be owned. Pizza Hut has continued to innovate and introduce new variations of their stuffed crust pizza, such as the Nothing But Stuffed Crust option, which features just the legendary crust with cheesy goodness inside.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of debut | 1995 |
| Inventor | Patty Scheibmeir |
| Calories per slice | 340 |
| Cheese type | Mozzarella |
| Other ingredients | Sausage, bacon, shrimp, mayonnaise, abalone sauce, meat pies, hot dogs, Marmite, Camembert |
| Movie | "Stolen Dough" |
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What You'll Learn
- Pizza Hut's stuffed crust is made with 100% real mozzarella cheese
- The chain was sued for $1 billion by the Mongiello family, who claimed to have invented the stuffed crust
- The lawsuit failed as the judge ruled that the idea of cheese inside bread cannot be owned
- Pizza Hut's competitors have since released their own versions of stuffed crust pizza
- The chain has also released variations of the original stuffed crust pizza in different countries
Pizza Hut's stuffed crust is made with 100% real mozzarella cheese
Pizza Hut's Original Stuffed Crust Pizza, launched in 1995, is made with 100% real mozzarella cheese. The pizza chain has become famous for its unique and crazy menu items, and its stuffed crust was the beginning of this trend.
The idea for the stuffed crust came about when Patty Scheibmeir, a former Pizza Hut employee, met with a group of customers in the early 1990s. One customer mentioned that they didn't eat their crusts, and Scheibmeir realised that perhaps the chain was focusing too much on toppings and not giving enough attention to the crust. And so, the idea for a stuffed crust was born.
Pizza Hut's Original Stuffed Crust Pizza is made with warm and melty 100% real cheese, made from whole milk mozzarella, stuffed into the crust of traditional pizza dough. The dough is hand-tossed, and the edges are pulled past the cooking tray, with string cheese added along the edge, and then folded back over. This creates the golden crust that is so beloved by customers.
The Original Stuffed Crust Pizza has been a staple in households across the globe for years, and it has become an iconic style that many have tried to recreate. Pizza Hut's innovation in the pizza space has been a game-changer, and while there have been many imitators, nothing beats the original.
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The chain was sued for $1 billion by the Mongiello family, who claimed to have invented the stuffed crust
In 2017, the Mongiello family took legal action against Pizza Hut, alleging that the company had stolen their idea for stuffed crust pizza. The family claimed that they had invented the concept of stuffing cheese into the crust of a pizza and that Pizza Hut had infringed on their patent. The patent in question was filed by Frank Mongiello in 1996 and granted in 1998, two years after Pizza Hut introduced its popular stuffed crust option. The lawsuit sought damages of $1 billion, claiming that Pizza Hut had profited from the family's invention without their consent or proper compensation.
The Mongiello family's story dates back to the early 1990s when they operated a small pizzeria in Long Island, New York. According to the family, they developed the idea of a cheese-filled crust to differentiate their pizza from competitors and filed for a patent to protect their invention. They approached Pizza Hut in 1995, offering to sell the patent and their unique recipe, but the deal fell through. Pizza Hut introduced its own version of stuffed crust pizza shortly after, which became an instant success and has since become a staple on their menu.
The lawsuit gained significant media attention, with many outlets questioning the validity of the Mongiello family's claims. Some pointed out that the concept of stuffed crust pizza may have been independently invented by multiple people, and that proving sole inventorship could be challenging. Others noted that the family waited over two decades to take legal action, which could weaken their case. Nonetheless, the Mongiellos were determined to fight for what they believed was rightfully theirs.
The outcome of the lawsuit is not publicly known, indicating that a settlement or agreement may have been reached behind closed doors. Regardless of the legal outcome, the case highlights the ongoing battle between independent inventors and large corporations in the food industry. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of intellectual property protection and the potential consequences of using another's inventions without proper authorization.
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The lawsuit failed as the judge ruled that the idea of cheese inside bread cannot be owned
Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza has been a staple in households across the globe since its debut in 1995. The pizza consists of warm and melty cheese stuffed into the crust of traditional pizza dough, topped with classic marinara sauce, 100% real cheese made from whole milk mozzarella, and one's choice of toppings. While Pizza Hut popularized this style of pizza, there is some debate as to whether they were the first to invent it.
In 1998, Anthony "The Big Cheese" Mongiello, CEO of Formaggio Cheese in Hurleyville, New York, sued Pizza Hut for $1 billion, claiming that he had invented stuffed crust pizza as a 18-year-old Italian-American in 1987, and that Pizza Hut had infringed upon his patent (US4661361A). Mongiello's story was detailed in a 2024 documentary titled "Stolen Dough" by filmmaker Stefano Da Fre. However, Pizza Hut was ultimately found to have not infringed upon the patent in 1999, as the court stated that 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."
The judge's ruling essentially noted that the idea of cheese inside bread cannot be owned, and as a result, Pizza Hut has continued to make stuffed crust pizzas for over two decades. Despite the lawsuit, Pizza Hut has established itself as a pioneer of innovative menu items, with the stuffed crust pizza being just the beginning. The success of the stuffed crust pizza, which generated more than $300 million in sales in its first year, set the stage for Pizza Hut's continuous innovations and unique concepts.
Over the years, Pizza Hut has introduced various stuffed crust pizzas, including the "German King" with a sausage, bacon, and cheese-stuffed crust in Germany, and the abalone sauce "Cheesy Lava"-stuffed crust in Hong Kong. In 2020, they launched a hot dog stuffed crust pizza in several countries, including Japan, China, and the United States. The popularity of Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizzas has led to other pizza chains, such as Little Caesars and Papa John's, introducing their own versions of stuffed crust pizzas.
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Pizza Hut's competitors have since released their own versions of stuffed crust pizza
Pizza Hut's introduction of the stuffed crust pizza in 1995 was a game-changer for the company and the pizza industry as a whole. The chain popularized the concept, and it quickly became a staple in households across the globe. However, despite Pizza Hut's dominance in the stuffed crust pizza market for over two decades, competitors have since emerged with their own versions.
One notable competitor is Little Caesars, which introduced its own version of stuffed crust pizza in 2016. Little Caesars' entry into the market marked a significant shift, as it offered a different take on the stuffed crust concept. Their version, known as the Stuffed Crust DEEP!DEEP!, provided a new option for customers seeking a deeper and more indulgent crust experience.
In addition to Little Caesars, other pizza chains have also joined the stuffed crust game. Papa John's, for instance, released its own cheese-filled stuffed crust pizza in 2020. Internationally, Pizza Hut's branches in Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong have each offered unique variations, such as crusts stuffed with shrimp, sausage, bacon, and even abalone sauce. These regional variations showcase the diverse interpretations of the stuffed crust concept.
Furthermore, Pizza Inn, headquartered in Dallas, introduced a unique twist with its stuffed-crust dessert pizza, the Chocolate Chip Pizzert, in 2024. This sweet take on the traditional savoury dish demonstrates the innovative directions in which stuffed crust pizza can evolve. DiGiorno also entered the market in 2001, offering a cheese-stuffed crust pizza in grocery stores, providing a convenient option for consumers.
While Pizza Hut may have pioneered the stuffed crust phenomenon, the success of the concept has naturally led to competitors rising to the challenge. The result is a diverse array of stuffed crust options for consumers, each with its unique twist on the original idea. This competition fosters innovation, benefiting pizza enthusiasts worldwide.
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The chain has also released variations of the original stuffed crust pizza in different countries
Pizza Hut's Original Stuffed Crust Pizza debuted in 1995, and it has since become a staple in households across the globe. The chain has released several variations of the original stuffed crust pizza in different countries.
In Japan, Pizza Hut offered a crust stuffed with shrimp and mayonnaise, and in Germany, they offered a "German King" pizza with sausage, bacon, and cheese-stuffed crust. Pizza Hut Japan and South Korea have also sold pizzas with shrimp and cheese-stuffed crusts, while Pizza Hut Hong Kong introduced an abalone sauce "Cheesy Lava"-stuffed crust pizza. In Australia, Pizza Hut made a pizza with a crust stuffed with miniature meat pies.
In 2012, Pizza Hut launched a hot dog-stuffed crust pizza in Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. The chain also introduced a Marmite-stuffed crust pizza in New Zealand and a Camembert-stuffed crust pizza in Japan.
Pizza Hut has also experimented with different types of cheese in their stuffed crust pizzas. While their classic recipe uses whole milk mozzarella, they have also used string cheese, which is a type of low-moisture mozzarella, for its ability to form long strings when melted.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Pizza Hut has not changed the cheese in their stuffed crust. It is still made with 100% real cheese made from whole milk mozzarella.
Pizza Hut uses mozzarella cheese in their stuffed crust. The cheese is warm, melty, and gooey.
A large hand-tossed Pizza Hut pizza with marinara, pepperoni, and cheese comes in at 300 calories per slice. Adding stuffed crust only increases the calorie count by 40 calories per slice, making it 340 calories per slice.
Pizza Hut has offered a variety of unique crusts in different countries. For example, Pizza Hut Japan offered a crust stuffed with shrimp and mayonnaise, while Pizza Hut Australia made a pizza with a crust stuffed with miniature meat pies.
