Papa Johns is once again proving that pizza innovation can be both indulgent and approachable with the launch of its latest creation: the Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza. This new menu item blends the comforting familiarity of garlic bread with the savory satisfaction of a premium cheese pizza, delivering a flavor-packed twist designed to make every bite unforgettable.
The Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza builds on Papa Johns’ long-standing tradition of using high-quality, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and it starts where all great pizzas begin—with the dough. Known for its clean and simple recipe, Papa Johns’ signature original dough contains just six ingredients: flour, salt, sugar, water, oil, and yeast. This commitment to simplicity and quality has been at the heart of the brand since its founding, and it remains the canvas for much of Papa Johns’ menu innovation.
For this latest release, the crust gets an upgrade with a golden, garlic-parmesan coating that delivers a savory aroma and a crispy, slightly smoky texture. But that’s just the beginning. The edge of the crust is enrobed in a blend of five premium cheeses—Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, Fontina, and Provolone—each selected for its distinct flavor profile. Together, they create a rich and layered taste experience that is cheesy, tangy, nutty, and creamy all at once.
“We wanted to capture the essence of garlic bread and marry it with the boldness of a multi-cheese pizza,” explained Mark Gabrovic, Vice President of Culinary at Papa Johns. “The Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza adds a smokey flavor and crisp texture to the crust, enhancing the experience from the very first bite. Our garlic-parmesan crust complements the tang of our sweet pizza sauce and the richness of the cheeses, creating a balance that’s hard to resist. I encourage everyone to start from the outside in—you’ll appreciate the crust even more that way.”
Papa Johns has long treated its crust as more than just a vessel for toppings. Over the years, the brand has experimented with innovative crust formats—from the decadent Epic Stuffed Crust, which tucks gooey mozzarella into the edge, to the NY Style Crust, a thinner, foldable option inspired by classic New York pizzerias. These variations allow Papa Johns to cater to a wide range of tastes and occasions, while keeping its dough recipe consistent and uncompromising in quality.
Shivram Vaideeswaran, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at Papa Johns, emphasized how central the dough is to the company’s culinary philosophy:
“Our dough has always been the heart of everything we do. It’s a recipe rooted in simplicity and integrity—just six ingredients, perfected over decades. That foundation is what empowers us to innovate boldly with menu items that are different and unique, especially with our crusts. The Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza is the perfect example. Every bite is a combination of our high-quality toppings, our clean-ingredient dough, and the craveable five-cheese and garlic parmesan blend that takes the crust to the next level.”
In creating the Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza, Papa Johns’ culinary team paid close attention to flavor balance and texture. Parmesan and Romano bring a sharp, nutty complexity, while Asiago adds a tangy edge. Fontina melts into a creamy, buttery layer, and Provolone offers a mild smokiness that ties the entire cheese profile together. The garlic-parmesan coating on the crust amplifies the aroma, ensuring that the experience begins before the first bite.
This product launch also reflects a broader trend in the pizza industry—elevating the crust from a background player to a centerpiece of the meal. Once considered something to leave behind on the plate, the crust has now become a destination for bold flavors and unexpected textures. Papa Johns has leaned into this shift, encouraging customers to savor their pizza from “the outside in.”
The Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza is also designed to appeal to multiple audiences:
- Cheese enthusiasts will appreciate the distinct blend of five varieties, each contributing a different dimension.
- Garlic bread lovers will enjoy the crust’s bold seasoning and crisp finish.
- Pizza traditionalists will still find the familiar comfort of Papa Johns’ classic toppings and sauce.
In keeping with its approach to value-driven innovation, Papa Johns is offering the new Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza at an attractive price point. For a limited time, customers can enjoy a Large 1-Topping Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza for just $11.99, making it an easy choice for families, gatherings, or anyone wanting to elevate their next pizza night without breaking the bank.
Papa Johns is supporting the launch with a marketing campaign that highlights the sensory experience of the pizza—from the aroma of garlic butter wafting through the air to the cheese pull that stretches from crust to slice. The campaign is expected to include television spots, digital advertising, and social media content that encourages fans to share their “outside-in” eating moments.
This new offering is part of a larger strategy for Papa Johns, which has consistently focused on menu innovation to keep its brand fresh in a competitive market. In recent years, the company has introduced items like the Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust, Papadias (flatbread-style sandwiches), and Shaq-a-Roni pizzas, each generating buzz and expanding the brand’s reach to new audiences.
The Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza fits perfectly into that portfolio—a product that builds on what Papa Johns does best while pushing the boundaries of flavor and texture. It also reaffirms the brand’s dedication to keeping its ingredient standards high, resisting the temptation to cut corners in favor of short-term cost savings.
In an industry where consumer tastes are constantly evolving, Papa Johns’ approach seems to be resonating. Customers are increasingly looking for pizzas that feel premium, without losing the sense of comfort that makes pizza a go-to meal. By reimagining something as familiar as garlic bread through the lens of its artisanal dough and cheese expertise, Papa Johns has created a product that feels both new and nostalgic.
As Vaideeswaran put it, “At Papa Johns, we’re not just making pizza; we’re making moments. Whether it’s a game night with friends, a family dinner, or a solo indulgence, the Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza turns an ordinary meal into something special.”
With its combination of premium ingredients, culinary craftsmanship, and approachable price point, the Garlic 5-Cheese Crust Pizza is poised to become a fan favorite. But like all good things, it won’t be around forever—so cheese lovers and garlic enthusiasts alike will want to savor it while they can.
If you’d like, I can also create a punchier, more headline-driven version of this that’s optimized for press release distribution or food blog coverage. That way, it works both for storytelling and media pickup. Would you like me to do that next?
