Shots fired! Papa Johns brings back Cheesy Burger Pizza after Pizza Hut launches Cheeseburger Melt

Last month, Pizza Hut introduced their new Cheeseburger Melt, something our reviewer was, shall we say, less than enthused about. And now, Papa Johns is responding in kind with not-so-subtle digs at the Hut by bringing back their fan favorite Cheesy Burger Pizza, because, as they note in a press release shared with Guilty Eats, “others have forgotten about the pizza in their burger mashups.” Ouch!

“The Cheesy Burger Pizza has been a favorite for over a decade and fans have passionately let us know they want it back through endless comments, tweets and phone calls begging for its return,” says Kimberly Bean, Vice President of Integrated Marketing and Menu Strategy. “While other chains are going up against the burger, we’re putting pizza first and staying true to our commitment by giving fans exactly what they want - pizza.”

To celebrate the return of the pizza to the chain’s menu, they’re offering $10 pies on the first 500,000 orders, as well as a chance to win free slices.

“But wait!” you may ask. “What is on the Cheesy Burger Pizza?” My best friend, I will tell you right now. It’s your regular Papa Johns dough, topped with burger sauce, beef, tomatoes, dill pickles, and “real cheese made with mozzarella,” served with a side of garlic sauce and pepperoncini, as usual for the chain.

Not only is the Cheesy Burger Pizza returning, though, Papa Johns is adding two other items: the returning Cheesy Burger Papadia, and the new Cheesy Burger Papa Bites. The former is a flatbread sandwich, and specifically seems targeted at the Cheeseburger Melt. The latter are less garlic knots than stuffed fillings in dough, in one or two bite portions.

All three items are available as a Cheesy Burger Trio for Papa Rewards members now, and will hit the menu proper on June 13. The Papadia will be priced at $6.99, the Papa Bites at $4.99.

Looking for info on the free slices? That’s coming soon at the appropriately named website https://theyforgotthepizza.com/. Oh my! These burns are hotter than a Papa Johns pizza!