Papa Johns brings back its Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust Pizza
The offering was first launched in 2022 as an extension of the fast-food pizza chain’s cheese-stuffed crust, which debuted in late 2020.
July 13, 2026
Papa Johns is bringing back its Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust Pizza for a limited time nationwide. It features sliced pepperoni and cheese tucked inside the crust, finished with Papa Johns signature garlic seasoning.
A large, one-topping pizza is available starting at $14.99.
"The Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust Pizza is a perfect example of our commitment to delivering quality in every part of the pizza," Vice President of Culinary Mark Gabrovic said in a statement. "Starting with our signature fresh, never-frozen dough made with just six simple ingredients, we carefully make each pizza with real pepperoni, melty cheese and the handcrafted preparation that makes Papa Johns special. By putting the same care into the crust as we do every other ingredient, we've created a pizza experience that stands out from the first bite to the last."
Papa Johns first launched the Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust Pizza in April 2022 as an extension of its original Epic Stuffed Crust launch in December 2020, which the company called a “high-demand menu item.” It was brought back to several markets in late 2023.
Its latest return signals an intensifying competition in the stuffed-crust category. Pizza Hut introduced its stuffed crust in 1995, while Little Caesars regularly brings back its Stuffed Crazy Crust as a limited-time offering. Just last year, Domino’s jumped into the category with its Parmesan Stuffed Crust. Regional chains like Hungry Howie’s also offer Stuffed Flavored Crust pizzas.
The Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust Pizza also comes as Papa Johns works to recover from several tough quarters, including a same-store sales decline of 6.4% in Q1. The company is also planning to close about 300 underperforming locations as part of that recovery effort.
The pizza category overall has struggled lately. It was the only category to experience negative sales in 2025, according to Technomic data, as six out of the top 10 pizza chains declined, including Papa Johns (-1%), Marco’s (-2.4%), Papa Murphy’s (-3%), MOD Pizza (-10.6%), and Hungry Howie’s (-5.2%).
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
Follow her on TikTok: @aliciakelso
About the Author
Alicia Kelso
Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News
Alicia Kelso is the executive editor of Nation's Restaurant News. She began covering the restaurant industry in 2010 for QSRweb.com, FastCasual.com, and PizzaMarketplace.com. When her son was born, she left the industry to pursue a role in higher education, but swiftly returned after realizing how much she missed the space. In filling that void, Alicia added a contributor role at Restaurant Dive and a senior contributor role at Forbes.
Her work has appeared in publications around the world, including Forbes Asia, NPR, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, Crain's Chicago, Good Morning America, and Franchise Asia Magazine.
Alicia holds a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University, where she competed on the women's swim team. In addition to cheering for the BGSU Falcons, Alicia is a rabid Michigan fan and will talk about college football with anyone willing to engage. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her wife and son.
Follow her on TikTok @aliciakelso
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