Pizza is a popular food that many people enjoy as an occasional treat or even as a regular part of their diet. While pizza can be delicious, it is also typically high in calories, especially chain restaurant pizzas loaded with cheese and fatty meats. For people watching their weight or overall health, understanding the calorie content of pizza is important. This allows you to make informed choices and balance your pizza indulgence with other meals and snacks.
One common question for those looking to make healthier pizza choices is: how many calories are in a 12 inch stuffed crust pizza? The answer depends on the type of pizza and specific ingredients. In this article, we’ll break down the average calorie counts for 12 inch stuffed crust pizzas from 3 major national pizza chains in America – Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.
How Many Calories in a 12 Inch Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza?
Pizza Hut offers several 12 inch stuffed crust pizza varieties. Here are the average calorie counts for some of Pizza Hut’s most popular 12” stuffed crust pizzas:
Cheese Pizza
– Hand-tossed Style Crust: Approximately 2,400 calories
– Thin ‘N Crispy Crust: Approximately 2,000 calories
– Pan Pizza Crust: Approximately 2,600 calories
Pepperoni Pizza
– Hand-tossed Style Crust: Approximately 2,800 calories
– Thin ‘N Crispy Crust: Approximately 2,400 calories
– Pan Pizza Crust: Approximately 3,000 calories
Supreme Pizza
– Hand-tossed Style Crust: Approximately 3,000 calories
– Thin ‘N Crispy Crust: Approximately 2,600 calories
– Pan Pizza Crust: Approximately 3,200 calories
Meat Lover’s Pizza
– Hand-tossed Style Crust: Approximately 3,200 calories
– Thin ‘N Crispy Crust: Approximately 2,800 calories
– Pan Pizza Crust: Approximately 3,400 calories
As you can see, Pizza Hut’s 12” stuffed crust pizzas range from about 2,000 calories for a basic cheese pizza on a thin crust up to 3,400 calories for a Meat Lover’s on a Pan crust. The many layers of cheese and fatty meats in Pizza Hut stuffed crust pizzas contribute significant calories.
How Many Calories in Domino’s 12” Stuffed Crust Pizza?
Here are the average calories counts for popular 12” stuffed crust pizzas from Domino’s:
Cheese Pizza
– Handmade Pan Pizza: Approximately 2,400 calories
– Crunchy Thin Crust Pizza: Approximately 1,800 calories
– Classic Hand-tossed Pizza: Approximately 2,200 calories
Pepperoni Pizza
– Handmade Pan Pizza: Approximately 2,800 calories
– Crunchy Thin Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,200 calories
– Classic Hand-tossed Pizza: Approximately 2,600 calories
The Works Pizza
– Handmade Pan Pizza: Approximately 3,400 calories
– Crunchy Thin Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,800 calories
– Classic Hand-tossed Pizza: Approximately 3,200 calories
Meatzza Pizza
– Handmade Pan Pizza: Approximately 3,000 calories
– Crunchy Thin Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,400 calories
– Classic Hand-tossed Pizza: Approximately 2,800 calories
Domino’s stuffed crust pizza options range from 1,800 calories for a thin crust cheese pizza to 3,400 calories for their ultimate meat lovers “The Works” pizza on a pan crust. As with Pizza Hut, the thick doughy crust and layers of cheese significantly increase the calorie count.
How Many Calories in Papa John’s 12” Stuffed Crust Pizza?
Here are the calorie counts for popular 12” stuffed crust pizzas from Papa John’s:
Cheese Pizza
– Original Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,400 calories
– Thin Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,000 calories
Pepperoni Pizza
– Original Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,800 calories
– Thin Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,400 calories
The Works Pizza
– Original Crust Pizza: Approximately 3,200 calories
– Thin Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,800 calories
Meatzza Pizza
– Original Crust Pizza: Approximately 3,000 calories
– Thin Crust Pizza: Approximately 2,600 calories
Similar to Pizza Hut and Domino’s, Papa John’s 12” stuffed crust pizzas range from 2,000 calories for a basic thin crust cheese pizza up to 3,200 calories for a loaded meat pizza on an original crust.
Factors Affecting Calories in Stuffed Crust Pizza
As the numbers above illustrate, the exact calorie count for a 12” stuffed crust pizza depends on several factors:
Type of Crust
Thicker, doughier crusts like pan, hand-tossed, or original style crusts add extra calories compared to thin, crispy crusts. More dough means more calories.
Cheese Amount
Extra cheese significantly increases the calorie density of pizza. Stuffed crust pizzas loaded with gooey cheese in the crust and on top can have several hundred more calories than lighter cheese versions.
Toppings
Meat toppings like pepperoni, sausage, bacon etc. add fat and drive up calories compared to veggie toppings like onions, mushrooms etc. The more meat, the more calories.
Portion Size Consumed
The estimates above are based on the total calories for the entire 12” pizza. Consuming just 1-2 slices would reduce your calorie intake compared to eating half or more of the pizza.
Tips for Lower Calorie Stuffed Crust Pizza
If you want to enjoy stuffed crust pizza while limiting calories, here are some tips:
– Choose thin, crispy crust instead of thick, doughy crust
– Ask for light cheese or half the usual cheese amount
– Load up on veggie toppings instead of fatty meats
– Stick to 1-2 slices instead of half a pizza or more
– Share the pizza with others instead of eating it all yourself
– Balance it out by eating lighter meals before and after pizza
– Opt for plain stuffed crust instead of flavors like buttery garlic Parmesan
– Select a smaller pizza size like 10” or 8” instead of 12”
Healthier Stuffed Crust Pizza Alternatives
In addition to tweaking your pizza order, you can also make healthier stuffed crust pizzas at home. Some ideas include:
– Cauliflower crust pizza: Replace dough with riced cauliflower
– Veggie crust pizza: Use a base of shredded vegetables
– Zucchini crust pizza: Thinly slice zucchini instead of dough
– Portobello mushroom crust pizza: Use whole mushroom caps
– Quinoa or chickpea crust pizza: Make crust from quinoa or chickpea flour
– Grilled chicken crust pizza: Use thinly pounded chicken breast
– Ground turkey crust pizza: Form crust from ground turkey
These lower carb, higher protein options remove the calorie-dense pizza dough while still giving you the experience of a stuffed crust. You can fill the crust with cheese, marinara sauce, veggies and lean proteins for a guilt-free pizza night.
Conclusion
A 12 inch stuffed crust pizza can pack some serious calories, especially meat-lovers versions from pizza chains. But you don’t have to give up your pizza night. By choosing thin crusts, asking for less cheese, loading up the veggies, and limiting portions, you can enjoy stuffed crust pizza without breaking the calorie bank. And for even more nutrition, try making a stuffed crust pizza on a base of veggies, chicken, or turkey instead of dough. Armed with the facts on calories, you can have your pizza and eat it too!
