Pizza Hut's Stuffed Cheese Crust: Why It's No Longer On The Menu

Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza was one of the biggest revelations in the history of pizza. The genius combination of warm, gooey cheese stuffed into the crust was debuted by Pizza Hut in 1995 and became an instant success, generating more than $300 million in sales in its first year. However, despite its popularity, Pizza Hut faced a lawsuit in 1995 from the family of Anthony Mongiello, who claimed that the chain stole their stuffed crust idea, patented in 1987. Pizza Hut denied any violation of patents, and in 1999, the court ruled in their favour, stating that the idea of cheese stuffed inside bread couldn't be owned. While Pizza Hut continued to reign supreme with its stuffed crust for years, the introduction of alternative crust options, such as the hot dog stuffed crust in 2012, may have led some to wonder if the chain was phasing out the original stuffed cheese crust.

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Pizza Hut's stuffed crust was an instant success

Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza was an instant success. The pizza chain launched the product in 1995, and it quickly became an iconic style. It was an overnight success, generating more than $300 million in sales in its first year.

The genius combination of soft, golden crust stuffed with warm, gooey cheese was an instant hit with pizza lovers. The stuffed crust gave people a reason to eat the crust, which was often thrown away or discarded by some picky eaters. The addition of cheese-filled crust also did not significantly increase the calorie count of the pizza, making it an attractive option for those watching their calorie intake.

Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza was so popular that it became the basis for the company's continuous innovations. The company introduced various stuffed crust pizzas in different countries, such as Japan, Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Australia. The success of Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza also inspired other pizza chains, like Papa John's and Domino's, to follow the trend and create their own versions.

The popularity of Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza also led to some controversy. In 1995, the company was sued by Angelo Mongiello's Children LLC, a family-run pizza company, who claimed that Pizza Hut stole their stuffed crust idea, which they had patented in 1987. The case went to court in 1999, and the judge ruled in favour of Pizza Hut, stating that the plaintiff did not have a product patent and that the method patent was not infringed.

Despite the controversy, Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza remained a favourite among customers and continued to be a successful and iconic product for the company.

The concept of stuffed crust pizza was not original to Pizza Hut

While Pizza Hut is often credited with inventing the stuffed crust pizza, the concept was not original to the chain. In fact, there is a decades-long debate surrounding the true origin of the stuffed crust pizza.

Anthony "The Big Cheese" Mongiello, a Brooklyn native and CEO of Formaggio Cheese in Hurleyville, New York, claims to have invented the stuffed crust pizza as a teenager in the 1980s. Mongiello, the son of a cheese industry professional, has a patent from 1987 to back up his claim. In 1999, Mongiello sued Pizza Hut for $1 billion, alleging that the chain infringed on his patent. However, the court ruled in favour of Pizza Hut, stating that Mongiello's patent was a method patent and was not infringed upon simply because some examples of the defendant's completed product approximated the plaintiff's product. The story of Mongiello's invention and subsequent legal battle is featured in the documentary "Stolen Dough" by filmmaker Stefano Da Frè.

Additionally, there are claims that a pizza with a stuffed crust has been popular in Naples since the 1940s. However, this version differs in form from the continuous loop style made popular by Pizza Hut, DiGiorno, and Mongiello's design.

Patty Scheibmeir, a former Pizza Hut employee, is also credited with creating the original stuffed-crust pizza for the chain. Scheibmeir stated that she came up with the idea after meeting with a group of Pizza Hut customers in the early 1990s, realizing that the crust was often overlooked in favour of toppings.

While the exact origins of the stuffed crust pizza remain disputed, it is clear that the concept was not original to Pizza Hut alone. The popularity of Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza, however, cannot be denied, as it became an iconic style and generated more than $300 million in sales in its first year.

A lawsuit was filed against Pizza Hut by the Mongiello family

Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza debuted in 1995 and was an instant success. The pizza chain was the first major chain to introduce this style of pizza, and it generated more than $300 million in sales in its first year. However, despite the popularity of the stuffed crust, Pizza Hut faced a lawsuit from the Mongiello family, who claimed that the chain had stolen their idea.

The Mongiello family, also known as Angelo Mongiello's Children LLC, sued Pizza Hut for $1 billion, arguing that the chain had infringed upon a patent they had filed in 1987. Brooklyn native Anthony "The Big Cheese" Mongiello claimed that he had invented the same type of pizza in 1987, and he had a patent to prove it. Mongiello's story was detailed in the 2024 film "Stolen Dough" by filmmaker Stefano Da Frè, which depicted his pursuit of justice and his desire to tell his side of the story.

According to Mongiello, the idea for stuffed crust came about by accident. He was asked to make a pizza by a friend's mother, who said she would make the tomato sauce. As Mongiello worked for a cheese company, he offered to bring the cheese and pick up the dough balls from the local bakery. However, when he picked up the dough balls, he realised they were much smaller than the ones he had seen at a local pizzeria. So, he put two dough balls together, hoping to get an adequate-sized dough, and this is how he accidentally invented the stuffed crust.

The Mongiello family's lawsuit against Pizza Hut centred around the claim that the chain had infringed upon their patent for the stuffed crust idea. They argued that they had even approached Pizza Hut with opportunities to license their invention, but their attempts were rebuffed. However, Pizza Hut representatives denied any violation of patents, and the case went to court in 1999.

Ultimately, the judge ruled in favour of Pizza Hut, stating that the plaintiff did not have a product patent and that its method patent was not infringed upon simply because some examples of the defendant's completed product approximated the plaintiff's product. This ruling allowed Pizza Hut to continue offering its popular stuffed crust pizza to customers for years to come.

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Pizza Hut's competitors started offering stuffed crust pizzas

In 2014, Pizza Hut debuted a bacon and cheese-stuffed crust pizza with three types of cheese and Applewood smoked bacon. The following year, in 2015, they introduced a hot dog-stuffed crust pizza in the UK and Canada, which eventually made its way to the US. In 2016, Pizza Hut took the idea even further with their Ultimate Cheese Crust Pizza, which featured 16 cheese-filled pockets that could be pulled apart from the pizza. This limited-time offering included a mix of five different cheeses.

In 2016, Little Caesars entered the market with their Stuffed Crust DEEP!DEEP! pizza, ending Pizza Hut's dominance in this category. In 2020, Papa John's released its own cheese-filled stuffed crust pizza. Pizza Hut New Zealand also innovated with a Marmite-stuffed crust pizza in 2017, combining the popular yeast-based spread with cheese in the crust. Pizza Hut Japan introduced a variety of stuffed crust pizzas, including shrimp and mayonnaise, Camembert, shrimp and cheese, and sausage and mozzarella. Pizza Hut Germany offered a "German King" pizza with sausage, bacon, and cheese-stuffed crust.

In 2023, Pizza Pizza and Little Caesars introduced their versions of stuffed crust pizzas, increasing the competition in this space. While Pizza Hut popularized stuffed crust pizza and faced several claims of patent infringement, competitors have since entered the market with their own interpretations, creating a diverse range of options for consumers.

Pizza Hut replaced cheese-stuffed crust with hot dog-stuffed crust

Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza, with its warm and melty cheese baked directly into the crust, has been a beloved staple for pizza lovers since its debut in 1995. However, in 2012, Pizza Hut decided to switch up its iconic cheese-stuffed crust and introduced a new innovation: the hot dog-stuffed crust pizza.

This new creation replaced the usual cheese filling with a succulent hot dog sausage bursting from the famous stuffed crust, topped off with a free mustard drizzle. The hot dog-stuffed crust pizza was first launched in Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, marking a departure from the traditional cheese-filled crust that had been a fan favourite for over two decades.

The decision to replace the cheese-stuffed crust with a hot dog-stuffed option was likely driven by Pizza Hut's reputation for introducing unique and crazy menu items. The company has established itself as a pioneer in the pizza space, always looking to bring new and unexpected concepts to its consumers. This particular innovation, the hot dog-stuffed crust, offered a novel twist on the classic pizza experience.

While some customers expressed hesitation and even disgust at the idea of combining hot dogs and pizza, others embraced the innovation as a tasty treat. The hot dog-stuffed crust pizza showcases Pizza Hut's willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of what a pizza can be, solidifying its position as a leader in the highly competitive pizza chain market.

It is worth noting that Pizza Hut has faced a long-standing debate over whether they were the original inventors of the stuffed crust concept. Despite the controversy, the company has continued to build upon the idea, creating new variations like the hot dog-stuffed crust, to the delight or dismay of pizza enthusiasts around the world.

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