Papa John’s is one of the most popular pizza chains in the United States. They are known for their fresh, quality ingredients and delicious pizzas. One of their signature items is their thin crust pizza. With its crispy, cracker-like crust and generous toppings, it’s easy to see why this is a customer favorite.
But with pizza being a indulgent food, many people wonder just how many calories are in a Papa John’s thin crust pizza. The number of calories can vary quite a bit depending on the size of the pizza and the toppings selected. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the calorie counts for different thin crust pizzas from Papa John’s.
Calories in a Small Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
Let’s start with one of the simplest thin crust options – a small, 10″ thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s. This pizza contains just their classic pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese as toppings.
Here are the nutrition facts for a small, thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s:
| Serving Size | 1/4 pizza (107g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 260 |
| Total Fat | 8g |
| Saturated Fat | 3.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 520mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 33g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Sugars | 2g |
| Protein | 11g |
So for a small, 10″ thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s, each slice contains about 260 calories. For the whole 10” pizza with 4 slices, the total calories comes out to around 1,040.
While pizza is high in calories overall, a thin crust cheese pizza is a fairly decent option as far as pizza goes. You get a good amount of protein from the cheese, and the thin crust means fewer calories from carbohydrates than a regular or thick crust.
Calories in a Medium Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
Now let’s look at the calorie content of a medium, 12″ thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s.
Here are the nutrition facts:
| Serving Size | 1/6 pizza (114g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 270 |
| Total Fat | 9g |
| Saturated Fat | 4g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 550mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 34g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Sugars | 2g |
| Protein | 12g |
For the medium 12″ pizza, each slice has about 270 calories. For the whole pizza cut into 6 slices, the total calories is around 1,620.
So just bumping up by 2 inches increases the calorie count by around 580 calories for the whole pizza. Still fairly reasonable for a pizza of this size.
Calories in a Large Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
Finally, let’s look at nutrition information for a large, 14″ thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s:
| Serving Size | 1/8 pizza (140g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 340 |
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 20mg |
| Sodium | 690mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 41g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Sugars | 3g |
| Protein | 15g |
With the large pizza, each of the 8 slices contains 340 calories. So the total calorie count for a 14” large thin crust cheese pizza from Papa John’s comes to around 2,720 calories.
As you can see, the calories really start to add up once you get into the larger pizza sizes. But portioned out into 8 slices, it’s still a manageable calorie count for one slice of pizza.
Calories with Meat Toppings
When you start adding in extra meat toppings beyond just cheese, the calories will increase. Here’s a look at how the calories change with some popular meat toppings from Papa John’s:
Pepperoni
– Small: +70 calories per slice
– Medium: +80 calories per slice
– Large: +100 calories per slice
Sausage
– Small: +90 calories per slice
– Medium: +100 calories per slice
– Large: +120 calories per slice
Beef
– Small: +80 calories per slice
– Medium: +90 calories per slice
– Large: +110 calories per slice
Bacon
– Small: +90 calories per slice
– Medium: +100 calories per slice
– Large: +120 calories per slice
Chicken
– Small: +80 calories per slice
– Medium: +90 calories per slice
– Large: +110 calories per slice
As you can see, adding on those extra meat toppings tacks on a significant number of extra calories. Just a couple meat toppings can add 200+ calories onto your thin crust pizza slice.
So if you’re trying to watch your calorie intake, opt for lighter toppings like peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc. Or stick to just cheese or veggies on your thin crust pizza.
Calories for Vegan Thin Crust
Papa John’s also offers a vegan thin crust pizza, which contains no animal products. Instead of cheese, it’s topped with Papa John’s vegan cheese alternative.
Here’s a look at the nutrition info:
| Serving Size | 1/8 pizza (140g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 260 |
| Total Fat | 8g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 730mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 41g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4g |
| Sugars | 3g |
| Protein | 12g |
Going with the vegan cheese actually reduces the calories and fat since it lacks the high-calorie dairy cheese. The sodium is a bit higher to make up for flavor. But overall, the vegan thin crust comes out to around 2080 calories total for a large pizza, compared to 2720 calories for a regular thin crust with cheese.
So if you’re looking to cut back on calories and fat, the vegan crust is a great option. You’ll save over 600 calories for the whole pizza.
Thin Crust vs Hand Tossed Crust
How do Papa John’s thin crust pizzas compare to their original hand tossed pizzas in terms of calories?
Here’s a comparison of the nutrition facts for a large cheese pizza:
| Crust | Calories (1 slice) | Calories (whole pizza) |
|---|---|---|
| Thin Crust | 340 | 2,720 |
| Hand Tossed | 370 | 2,960 |
As you can see, the hand tossed crust adds an extra 30 calories per slice compared to the thin crust. This adds up to about 240 more calories for the whole large pizza.
The difference comes from the dough in the crust. Hand tossed crust uses a thicker, more substantial dough while the thin crust is flattened and stretched very thin. So by saving on some of those doughy carbs and calories, you can reduce the calorie count by using a thin crust.
Tips for Cutting Calories
While pizza is rarely a low calorie food, there are some easy ways to lighten up your Papa John’s thin crust pizza:
Stick to Smaller Sizes
Choose a 10” or 12” pizza instead of 14” to save yourself 200-400 calories per pizza.
Load Up On Veggies
Pile on all the veggies you want—mushrooms, onions, peppers, spinach all add lots of flavor for minimal calories.
Limit Meat Toppings
Stick to just one meat topping like pepperoni or chicken instead of two or three kinds.
Ask for Light Cheese
Request light cheese or half the regular amount to cut back on fat and calories.
Add Some Spice
Boost flavor without calories by adding spices like red pepper flakes, oregano, garlic powder, etc.
Dip Crust in Sauce
Skip the buttery flavor by dipping crust in marinara instead of brushing with oil or butter.
The Calorie Bottom Line
So how many calories are in a Papa John’s thin crust pizza? The exact amount can vary greatly based on the size and toppings. But in general, you can expect the following calorie counts:
– Small (10”): 260 calories per slice, 1,040 total
– Medium (12”): 270 calories per slice, 1,620 total
– Large (14”): 340 calories per slice, 2,720 total
Going with veggie toppings instead of meat can help lightly the calorie load. And choosing thin crust over hand tossed will save around 240 calories for a whole large pizza.
While pizza is high in calories, a Papa John’s thin crust pie can be a reasonable option when portioned out into slices. Balance it out with lighter sides like a salad for an indulgent yet balanced meal.
