
Papa John's is an American pizza company founded in 1984 by John Schnatter. The company has gone through several changes since its founding, including a change in management that saw Schnatter himself ousted from his role as CEO. Papa John's offers a range of pizzas with different crusts and toppings, including cheese. The company sources its cheese from Leprino Foods, which also supplies other major pizza chains. Papa John's offers a 2-cheese blend of Parmesan and Romano, and a 3-cheese blend of Provolone, Fontina, and Asiago. The company has also introduced innovative menu items, such as the Crispy Parm Pizza, which features a thin crust coated with a blend of shredded Parmesan and Romano cheeses baked on the bottom for added crunch.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese options | Parmesan/Romano or Three Cheese Blend |
| Three Cheese Blend | Provolone, Fontina, and Asiago |
| Cheese supplier | Leprino Foods |
| Cheese type | Part-skim mozzarella |
| Cheese ingredients | Pasteurized milk, skim milk, cultures, salt, enzymes, modified food starch, cellulose, whey protein concentrate, sodium citrate |
| Parmesan and Romano ingredients | Pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, powdered cellulose, natamycin |
| Parmesan cheese | GMO-free microbial rennet |
| Crispy Parm Pizza | Thin crust coated with a blend of shredded Parmesan and Romano cheeses that's baked on the bottom |
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What You'll Learn

Papa John's cheese sources and types
Papa John's offers a variety of cheese options for its pizzas, including Parmesan, Romano, and Cheddar cheeses, as well as a Three Cheese Blend. The Three Cheese Blend, also known as the "Parmesan/Romano" blend, combines Provolone, Fontina, and Asiago cheeses.
The company sources its cheese from Leprino Foods, a dairy giant that also supplies cheese to other well-known pizza chains like Domino's, Little Caesars, and Pizza Hut. However, each chain, including Papa John's, uses a unique blend of cheeses tailored to their specific requirements.
The cheeses used by Papa John's are made from cow's milk and include Part-Skim Mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, Provolone, Fontina, and Asiago. These cheeses are then combined with other ingredients such as modified food starch, cellulose, whey protein concentrate, and sodium citrate.
In addition to the cheese on their pizzas, Papa John's also offers a range of dipping sauces, including blue cheese, honey mustard, and ranch. Customers can also request extra Parmesan cheese as a topping or seasoning for their pizzas.
While the specific cheese sources and types used by Papa John's may vary regionally, the company's partnership with Leprino Foods ensures a consistent supply of quality cheese for their pizzas.
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The process of making Papa John's pizza
Firstly, the dough is prepared. Papa John's uses unbleached, enriched wheat flour, water, sugar, soybean oil, salt, and yeast to make their dough. The dough is then rolled out with a spiky docker to remove any bubbles and is put in a pan, specifically for their pan pizza.
The next step is to add the sauce. Papa John's uses a variety of ingredients in their sauces, including fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, spices, and olive oil. The sauce is spread over the dough, and then it's time for the toppings.
Papa John's offers a range of toppings, including pepperoni, BBQ chicken, and vegetables like onions, peppers, and mushrooms. The number of toppings and their placement are carefully considered to ensure each slice has an even distribution. This includes the "No Topping Zone" in the centre of the pizza, where nothing is placed to avoid obliteration during the cutting process.
After the toppings, the cheese is added. Papa John's offers a Parmesan/Romano blend or a Three Cheese Blend of Provolone, Fontina, and Asiago. The cheese is spread all the way to the crust to create a "cheese ring."
Finally, the pizza is baked. Pan pizzas are cooked in a different oven than hand-tossed and thin-crust pizzas due to varying bake times. Once baked, the pizza is boxed up and sent out, along with any extra dipping sauces, like the famous garlic sauce, that customers might order.
Overall, the process of making Papa John's pizza involves a combination of fresh ingredients, careful preparation, and unique blends of sauces and cheeses to create a flavourful, signature pizza.
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Papa John's cheese-based sauces
Papa John's offers a variety of cheese-based sauces to accompany their pizzas. The chain's most popular sauce is its garlic sauce, which was released in a limited-edition 1-gallon jug in 2018. Papa John's also offers a range of other dipping sauces, including BBQ, blue cheese, Buffalo, cheese, honey mustard, pizza sauce, and ranch. These sauces provide customers with additional flavour options and enhance the overall pizza experience.
In addition to dipping sauces, Papa John's also offers cheese as a topping for its pizzas. Customers can choose between a Parmesan/Romano blend or a Three Cheese Blend, which consists of Provolone, Fontina, and Asiago cheeses. The chain's focus on quality is reflected in its choice of cheese supplier, Leprino Foods, which also supplies cheese to other major pizza chains.
The type of dough used for Papa John's pizzas can also affect the cheese-based sauces that are offered. For example, the chain's Pan Pizza, introduced in 2016, features a unique dough recipe and baking process that sets it apart from their other pizzas. The dough is rolled out with a spiky docker to eliminate bubbles and is then placed in a pan instead of being hand-tossed. The sauce, toppings, and cheese are then added, with the cheese spread all the way to the crust to create a "cheese ring."
Papa John's also offers a Crispy Parm Pizza, which features a thin crust coated with a blend of shredded Parmesan and Romano cheeses baked on the bottom for added crunch. This innovative pizza provides customers with a unique twist on a classic favourite, allowing them to customise their pizza experience.
Overall, Papa John's cheese-based sauces and toppings play a crucial role in the chain's success and popularity. The variety of cheese options, combined with different types of dough and baking processes, allows Papa John's to cater to a wide range of customer preferences and dietary needs.
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Papa John's cheese-based pizzas
Papa John's offers a variety of cheese-based pizzas that are sure to satisfy any cheese lover's cravings. The cheese options available at Papa John's include part-skim mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, cheddar, provolone, fontina, and Asiago cheeses. These cheeses are sourced from Leprino Foods, a dairy giant known for its quality.
One of the most popular cheese-based pizzas on the menu is the classic cheese pizza, which features a generous amount of mozzarella cheese topped with a signature tomato sauce. For those who want to take their cheese experience up a notch, Papa John's also offers a three-cheese blend pizza, which combines the sharpness of provolone, the creaminess of fontina, and the nutty flavour of Asiago. This blend creates a unique and indulgent cheese experience.
In addition to their classic options, Papa John's also offers innovative creations like the Crispy Parm Pizza. This pizza takes a creative approach by coating the thin crust with a blend of shredded Parmesan and Romano cheeses, baking it to perfection, and then adding sauce, toppings, and more cheese on top. This results in a crispy, crunchy surprise on the bottom of the pizza.
For those who enjoy a more complex flavour profile, Papa John's also offers specialty pizzas that combine cheese with other ingredients. The garlic sauce, for example, is a popular choice that adds a savoury kick to any pizza. Papa John's also offers a range of dipping sauces, including blue cheese, buffalo, and honey mustard, which allow customers to further customise their cheese experience.
The variety of cheese-based pizzas at Papa John's showcases the company's dedication to innovation and their commitment to using quality ingredients. Whether you're a traditionalist who prefers a classic cheese pizza or an adventurous eater seeking new flavour combinations, Papa John's has something to satisfy your cheese cravings.
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Papa John's cheese and animal products
Papa John's offers a variety of cheese options for its pizzas, including Parmesan, Romano, and Cheddar cheeses, as well as a Three Cheese Blend made up of Provolone, Fontina, and Asiago cheeses. The company also provides dipping sauces, such as BBQ, blue cheese, Buffalo, cheese, honey mustard, pizza sauce, and ranch.
The cheeses used by Papa John's are sourced from Leprino Foods, which also supplies other major pizza chains. The company has stated that its products may come into contact with dairy and wheat during preparation.
In terms of animal products, Papa John's has clarified that the rennet used in their Parmesan cheese is GMO-free microbial rennet, which is not animal-derived, making it suitable for vegetarians. However, their blue cheese and ranch dressings do contain animal-derived rennet. Additionally, the natural flavours in the pizza crust are believed to be microbial derivatives, which are not animal-derived, but this has not been confirmed by Papa John's.
The different types of pizza dough also vary in their use of animal products. The original hand-tossed dough is vegan, while the thin crust dough contains milk ingredients (whey), and the gluten-free dough contains both milk and egg ingredients (whey and egg whites).
While Papa John's offers a range of cheese and animal-based products, there have been calls for the company to introduce vegan cheese options to cater to a wider range of dietary preferences and shape the future of pizza.
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Frequently asked questions
Papa John's uses a variety of cheeses, including Parmesan, Romano, Provolone, Fontina, Asiago, and Part-Skim Mozzarella.
Papa John's offers vegetarian-friendly options, but it's important to note that their cheese may contain rennet, which is derived from microbial enzymes rather than animal enzymes. Their website provides detailed allergen and ingredient information.
The process varies slightly among their different pizza types. For the Pan Pizza, the dough is rolled out with a spiky docker and placed in a pan. Sauce and toppings are added, followed by cheese spread to the crust. The Original Hand-Tossed dough is vegan, while the Thin Crust and Gluten-Free doughs contain milk and/or egg ingredients.
Yes, Papa John's offers various dipping sauces, including cheese sauce, and you can also add extra cheese on top, like their limited-time Crispy Parm Pizza, which has cheese baked on the bottom of the crust.
Papa John's sources its cheese from Leprino Foods, a dairy giant that also supplies other major pizza chains like Domino's and Pizza Hut. Leprino cheeses complement Papa John's pizzas perfectly.

























