5 Tips For Ordering The Hands-Down Best Papa Johns Pepperoni Pizza

Ordering pizza used to be pretty simple. You called the local pizza shop, ordered a couple of toppings, and got it delivered fresh to your door. But the menu items were also pretty simple back then, too — meaning customers didn't have as many options to customize their orders. Now, pizza chains like Papa John's offer all sorts of new, delicious ways to get the pie of your dreams.

From changing the crust style and flavor to ordering different sauces, extra cheese, or meat, Tasting Table has compiled five ordering tips for getting the best pepperoni pizza from Papa John's. On its own, pepperoni is a beloved flavor — it has just the right amount of spice, saltiness, and crunch. But when you mix-and-match it with these specific tricks, you'll get an elevated version of the classic.

Ready to shake up your Papa John's order? Try these pizza ordering hacks next time you get delivery or takeout. Each tip is fairly easy to accomplish when ordering online or in person, and they won't inflate the pizza's overall price by much. A win-win!

Papa John's offers several crust options, including Original, Garlic Epic Stuffed, Regular Epic Stuffed, New York-style, thin crust, pan crust, and gluten-free. If you typically leave the crusts behind, try it stuffed with garlic and cheese, or order Papa John's Epic Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust for even more meaty deliciousness. You can also change the crust flavor to Garlic Parmesan Cheese for a small additional charge. No matter what style you choose, it changes the texture of the pizza entirely, offering a new experience each time.

Just keep in mind that, depending on location, Epic Stuffed Crust and Garlic Epic Stuffed Crust are around $4 to $5 extra. So if you're hoping to enjoy some 'za on a budget, skip the stuffed crust and go for another style. Don't toss the crust at the end: Get Papa John's Special Garlic Sauce, Original Pizza Sauce, or Ranch Sauce for dipping. It'll transform dry, tough crust into a breadstick-like delicacy.

Next up is the sauce. Go for Original Pizza Sauce or choose another flavor, like Alfredo, Buffalo, ranch, or BBQ. For a creamier pizza, Alfredo or ranch will taste delicious, but if you want a tangier flavor with heat that matches the pepperoni, Buffalo or BBQ sauce will do. If you ever miss the taste of traditional tomato, you can also get a side of the Original Pizza Sauce for dipping.

Papa John's also has an option to choose light, normal, or extra sauce. That way, if you prefer a drier pizza, you can ask for minimal sauce. But if you're a sauce fiend, you can go all-out with extra sauce. None of these sauce substitutes will cost extra, either, making for an easy, affordable way to change up your Papa John's pepperoni pizza.

If you prefer crispy, almost-charred flavor, start ordering your pizza well done. According to Reddit reports from former Papa John's employees, pizzas are pushed further back into the oven and cooked slightly longer to get a well-done bake. The result is a pizza that's crunchier, has slightly burnt edges, and bubbly pepperoni and cheese. If you like crackly pepperoni slices that snap easily and give off a nice smoky flavor, this tip is for you.

Just note that if your Papa John's location is busy, it might take longer to get your order if you get it well done. Redditors also reported that certain locations allegedly don't cook well-done pizzas long enough when they're in a rush to fulfill orders or the oven is full. Because the success of this tip may vary, be patient and maybe try it out during a slower time of day.

While delicious, you don't have to stick with plain mozzarella cheese at Papa John's. The pizza chain offers a couple of other options, including a Three Cheese Blend made with provolone, asiago, and fontina cheese, and a Parmesan Romano mixture. According to Papa John's website, the provolone in the Three-Cheese Blend has a smoked flavor, which could add a whole new layer of depth and taste to your pie. It's no wonder Tasting Table called it an underrated cheese you should consider for pizza!

Choose one cheese option, or select them both from the ultimate cheesy pie. Unlike the sauce offerings, you can request certain cheeses on just the left or right half of the pie instead of the whole thing. Good news for cheese lovers: At Papa John's, you can order normal or extra portions of each one to create your ideal balance of creamy, sharp, and tangy flavor.

Just because you're ordering a classic pizza doesn't mean you have to skimp in the topping department. In fact, if you're craving even more pepperoni than what the traditional "extra" provides, order the Papa John's Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza. This delectable pie comes with 30% more of the savory, meaty topping, plus Parmesan Romano Cheese Blend, a well-balanced Italian Seasoning finish, and Signature Pizza Sauce. 

Make it even more mouthwatering by adding the Pepperoni-Stuffed Crust mentioned earlier. You'll be in pepperoni paradise with this topping covering every inch of your pie. It's also recommended to pair the pepperoni with other complementary toppings. One popular combination is pepperoni and black olives, which offer a buttery taste and texture that cuts through the meat's spice. Another combo is pepperoni and sausage. Both deliver a salty, savory flavor that tastes delicious with melted cheese.