Papa John’s is one of the most popular pizza chains in the United States. Their thin crust pizza is a popular menu item. Many people wonder how many calories are in a Papa John’s thin crust pizza. This is an important question for people watching their calorie intake or following a specific diet plan. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the calories and other nutrition information for a Papa John’s thin crust pizza.
Calories in a Papa John’s Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
The number of calories in a Papa John’s thin crust cheese pizza depends on the size. Here is a breakdown of the calories by common pizza sizes:
Small (10″) Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
A small, 10-inch thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s contains about 1,280 calories.
This is based on the listed serving size of 1/8 of a 10” pizza, which contains 160 calories. Multiplying this by 8 to calculate the calories for the entire 10-inch pizza equals 1,280 calories.
Medium (12″) Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
A medium, 12-inch thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s contains about 1,920 calories.
This is based on the listed serving size of 1/6 of a 12” pizza, which contains 320 calories. Multiplying this by 6 for the total slices in a 12-inch pizza equals 1,920 calories.
Large (14″) Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
A large, 14-inch thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s contains about 2,730 calories.
This is calculated based on the listed serving size of 1/8 of a 14” pizza, which contains 341 calories. Multiplying this by 8 for the total slices equals 2,728 calories, rounding up to 2,730 calories.
So in summary:
| Pizza Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small (10″) | 1,280 |
| Medium (12″) | 1,920 |
| Large (14″) | 2,730 |
As you can see, the calories increase as the pizza gets larger, ranging from 1,280 calories for a small thin crust cheese pizza to 2,730 for a large.
Calories in a Papa John’s Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza
Adding pepperoni to a Papa John’s thin crust pizza increases the calorie count due to the additional calories from the fatty pepperoni. Here are the calories for a thin crust pepperoni pizza by size:
Small (10”) Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza
A small, 10-inch thin crust pepperoni pizza from Papa John’s contains about 1,440 calories.
This is calculated based on the listed serving size of 1/8 of a 10” pepperoni pizza, which contains 180 calories. Multiplying this by 8 slices equals 1,440 calories.
Medium (12”) Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza
A medium, 12-inch thin crust pepperoni pizza from Papa John’s contains around 2,160 calories.
This is based on the listed serving size of 1/6 of a 12” pepperoni pizza, which contains 360 calories. Multiplying this by 6 slices in the full pizza equals 2,160 calories.
Large (14”) Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza
A large, 14-inch thin crust pepperoni pizza from Papa John’s contains about 3,060 calories.
This is calculated based on the listed serving size of 1/8 of a 14” pepperoni pizza, which contains 383 calories. Multiplying this by 8 for the total slices results in 3,064 calories, which rounds down to 3,060 calories.
In summary:
| Pizza Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small (10″) | 1,440 |
| Medium (12″) | 2,160 |
| Large (14″) | 3,060 |
The calories increase along with the pizza size, ranging from 1,440 calories in a small thin crust pepperoni pizza up to 3,060 calories in a large. The extra pepperoni adds around 160-330 calories compared to a plain cheese pizza depending on the size.
Calories in Other Papa John’s Thin Crust Pizza Toppings
In addition to pepperoni, Papa John’s offers various other toppings that can be added to a thin crust pizza. These additional toppings will increase the calorie count. Here is an overview of how many extra calories some common Papa John’s pizza toppings add:
- Sausage: Adds around 80 extra calories per serving
- Chicken: Adds around 60 calories per serving
- Bacon: Adds about 45 calories per serving
- Onions: Adds around 20 calories per serving
- Mushrooms: Adds approximately 10 calories per serving
- Green Peppers: Adds around 10 calories per serving
So items like sausage, chicken, and bacon will have a more significant impact on calories than vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, and peppers. However, the more toppings included, the higher the calorie count will be. For example, a pizza with pepperoni, sausage, onions, green peppers, and mushrooms will have substantially more calories than a plain cheese or pepperoni pizza.
When customizing a Papa John’s thin crust pizza, keep the calorie counts of additional toppings in mind. Load up on veggie toppings and limit higher calorie meats for a marginally lower calorie pizza. But also consider portion sizes, as a smaller pizza with extra toppings may still be lower in calories than a large plain pizza.
Nutritional Profile of Papa John’s Thin Crust Pizzas
Now that we’ve covered the calories, let’s look at some of the other key nutritional information for Papa John’s thin crust pizzas:
Fat
A thin crust cheese pizza ranges from about 5-15g of fat per serving depending on the size, with pepperoni pizzas containing about 5-10g more fat. Much of this fat comes from the cheese and any fatty meat toppings like pepperoni or sausage.
Carbs and Protein
The thin crust has around 15-20g of carbs per serving and 5-10g of protein. These numbers are fairly consistent regardless of toppings, since the majority of carbs and protein come from the crust itself.
Sodium
Sodium content ranges from about 600-900mg per serving. This can add up quickly for those limiting their sodium intake.
Sugar
Around 3-5g of sugar per serving comes from the pizza sauce. Papa John’s uses tomato sauce sweetened with sugar rather than plain tomatoes.
So in addition to calories, Papa John’s thin crust pizzas also deliver substantial amounts of fat, carbs, and sodium. This is typical for pizza, given ingredients like cheese, meat, and refined flour crust. Those looking for a more balanced meal may want to pair pizza with a side salad.
How Papa John’s Thin Crust Compares to Regular Crust
Papa John’s also offers traditional regular or “original” crust pizzas in addition to thin crust. Here’s how the nutrition profiles of the two styles compare:
- The thin crust has fewer calories and carbs than the regular crust.
- Thin crust has 2-5g less fat per serving compared to regular crust.
- Sodium and sugar content are similar between the two crusts.
- Both have the same amount of protein per serving.
So overall, thin crust has a slight edge in terms of being lower in calories, carbs, and fat. The difference is modest though, so those who strongly prefer the flavor and texture of regular crust can still indulge while only adding around 100 extra calories per serving.
Tips for Enjoying Papa John’s Pizza as Part of a Healthy Diet
Here are some tips for enjoying Papa John’s pizza as part of a balanced, healthy diet:
- Opt for thin crust over regular crust to save on calories, carbs, and fat.
- For toppings, load up on veggie options like mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and peppers rather than fatty meats.
- Choose a small or medium pizza and supplement with a side salad for balance.
- Aim for reasonable portion sizes. 1-2 slices may be plenty to feel satisfied.
- Pair your pizza with water or unsweetened iced tea instead of soft drinks.
- Modify your other meals to accommodate pizza calories. Have a light breakfast and lunch.
- Split a pizza with a friend or save leftovers for another meal.
While pizza is often thought of as an indulgent treat, intelligent portions and smart substitutions can help keep you on track with your health goals, even when enjoying Papa John’s thin crust pizza.
Conclusion
In summary, the number of calories in a Papa John’s thin crust pizza ranges from around 1,280 for a small cheese pizza up to 3,060 for a large pepperoni pizza. Factors like pizza size, cheese, and meat toppings impact the calorie count substantially. Compared to regular crust, thin crust pizzas are slightly lower in calories, carbs, and fat, though not by a drastic amount. Those watching their intake can enjoy Papa John’s pizza in moderation by focusing on reasonable portions, extra veggie toppings, and thin crust over regular. Pair pizza with lighter sides and other meals to help support an overall balanced diet.
