10 Popular Pizza Hut Menu Items Ranked, from Pepperoni Pizzas to Dessert Favorites

Pizza Hut's expansive menu can be overwhelming, but Tasting Table ranked 10 of the most popular items, from pepperoni pizzas to desserts. Our list considers flavor, value, and consistency, helping you decide which dishes are worth your time and money during your next order.

Navigating Pizza Hut’s Updated Menu: A Guide to Choosing the Best Items for Your Cravings

After a long and tiring week, hunger sets in. Pizza sounds like the solution—quick and satisfying. However, logging onto Pizza Hut’s website brings unexpected confusion. Once familiar from childhood, the menu looks different, sparking an existential crisis. Should the choice be the classic pepperoni or something new, with the risk that it might not live up to expectations?

Fortunately, a self-proclaimed pizza expert is here to help. What are their qualifications? Residing in New York City, the recently dethroned pizza capital of the United States, and growing up in the heart of the pizza belt, they've spent years making, eating, and studying pizza as part of their work as a journalist.

Several factors must be considered when ordering from Pizza Hut, all used to rank these popular items. First, time is essential—delivery or pickup delays can diminish the quality of the pizza. Second, expectations must meet reality; if the crust is advertised as crispy, it should be crispy. Price is another important consideration, as pizza, while generally affordable, can become costly depending on toppings and extras. Lastly, personal taste and nostalgia often dictate what is ultimately enjoyed.

10. Medium Original Pan Pizza: Tavern Double Pepperoni

Given pepperoni’s status as the most popular pizza topping, the decision was to review two versions: the Pepperoni Lover’s and the Tavern Double Pepperoni. The original pan pizza crust was chosen for its thickness and was thought to support better the two types of pepperoni—classic and “crispy cupped.”

In theory, this combination would excite any pepperoni enthusiast. However, the reality was overwhelming and greasy. While the crispy cupped pepperoni did add a crunchier texture, the classic topping felt redundant. The greasiness extended beyond the toppings, further complicating matters with the thick, oily pan pizza crust. Too much sauce was added to the mess, making the pizza soggy after a single bite.

Opting for a different crust is advised for those still inclined to order this pie— perhaps hand-tossed, Thin ‘N Crispy, or the new tavern-style crust. And don’t forget some napkins to handle the excess oil. This option ranks last at $26.34 after tax for a medium pie. Save your money by avoiding the original pan pizza and exploring other crust options.

9. Breaded Boneless Wings

When craving boneless wings, one typically expects a juicy chicken tender with a crispy, satisfying exterior. While some people report receiving such wings from Pizza Hut, this was not the case here, and it's doubtful that others can expect much better. According to Pizza Hut’s ingredient tracker, the “bone out” wings consist of reformed chicken breast mixed with rib meat, water, spices, and broth. While the broth adds a semblance of juiciness, it feels processed and far removed from what was anticipated. The texture wasn’t tough, but it also wasn’t tender.

The garlic parmesan sauce chosen for the tasting wasn’t sour—there was a clear garlic powder presence, but the parmesan flavor was nearly absent, leaving just a hint of dairy. The only real advantage to these wings is the price, which came to $11.20 after tax, about $3 cheaper than traditional wings. However, this does not include dipping sauces, which cost an absurd 99 cents each. If you’re craving wings, the bone-in variety is a better choice, but it’s probably best to skip them altogether.

8. Baked Cinnamon Sticks with Icing Dip

Cinnamon sticks are a sweet cousin to the cheese and breadsticks. They use the same dough but are topped with cinnamon and sugar. Best enjoyed after a light meal, these dessert sticks weren't ideal after a heavy, dough-laden feast. They somehow managed to be both oily and dry. While the cinnamon and sugar added a pleasant crunch, the rest of the stick was floppy.

Dipped in the accompanying icing, the dessert became a sugary carbohydrate overload. The icing lacked any notable flavor beyond sweetness. Incorporating cinnamon into the icing dip might have enhanced the experience, but overall, these sticks were a pass, especially given their $10.11 price tag after tax.

7. Traditional Wings

Tasting Pizza Hut’s traditional bone-in wings was a mixed experience. While fast food fans praise the chain’s WingStreet partnership for supposedly improving wing quality, the results didn’t live up to the hype. The traditional wings were far superior to the boneless option, but not by much.

The highlight was the mild Buffalo sauce, which struck the right balance of garlic without being too sweet. However, the wings themselves were mediocre. The skin was chewy and thick rather than thin and crispy, and while the meat was flavorful, the wings were only modest in size. The sauce was more enjoyable than the wings themselves, and it seemed necessary to drown them in sauce to enhance their flavor. Priced at $13.39 for six wings, getting bone-in wings from a specialized chicken restaurant is probably wiser.

6. Roasted Garlic Cheese Sticks

The roasted garlic cheese sticks fared better. These fluffy yet dense sticks, made with a dough similar to the original pan pizza crust, offered a pleasant texture. They were a solid choice with a cheese pull that stretched with each bite and minced garlic pieces scattered beneath the cheese.

However, the joy of cheese sticks often lies in the dipping sauces, and Pizza Hut’s sauces were a major letdown. The extra sauces (ranch and garlic) were so sweet that they tasted more like a dessert than a savory addition. At nearly $1 per sauce, the total cost rose to $12.81 after tax, making the sticks a pricey indulgence. For the same price, a personal pan pizza might offer better value.

5. Triple Chocolate Brownie

The triple chocolate brownie stood out as a clear winner among the desserts. While eating such a decadent dessert after a heavy meal can feel overwhelming, this brownie defied expectations. Despite its dry, prepackaged appearance, the interior was rich, fudgy, and full of melty cocoa goodness. Comparable to a flourless chocolate cake, it was decadent and satisfying.

Though $9.79 for a dessert may seem steep, the portion size was generous. If you desperately need a chocolate fix, this brownie fits the bill perfectly. Pair it with vanilla ice cream and save the savory items for another time.

4. Buffalo Chicken Melt

Priced at $7.61 after tax, the Pizza Hut melts—available in four varieties—are the most affordable non-deal items on the menu. Uncertain of what to expect due to the vague online description, this melt was a pleasant surprise. While none of the melts appear in Pizza Hut's ingredient listings, the crust is likely made from the new tavern-style pizza dough. The combination of chicken, Buffalo sauce, onions, and cheese could quickly become messy, but the crisp, cracker-like crust helped maintain a clean dining experience. The Buffalo sauce, while present, could have been a bit more prominent, but overall, this melt is a solid choice for a quick solo lunch.

Despite the low price, ranch sauce is included with all melts. While it may pair better with the other varieties—such as Pepperoni Lover’s or Chicken Bacon Parmesan—it felt unnecessary with the Buffalo Chicken Melt.

3. Small Hand-Tossed Pizza: Pepperoni Lover’s

A fan favorite for years, the Pepperoni Lover’s pizza offers a satisfying pepperoni experience. Despite almost as much pepperoni as the Tavern Double Pepperoni, this version allows enough room for the other ingredients to shine. Unlike the Double Pepperoni option, the pepperoni here is crispy but not overly so.

What sets this pizza apart is its superior crust. The more traditional and New York-style hand-tossed dough provides a less greasy and more manageable pizza. The small size, priced at $13.60 after tax, was more than sufficient, and ordering a medium would save nearly $4 compared to the Double Pepperoni’s original pan crust.

2. Medium Thin 'N Crispy Pizza: Hawaiian Chicken

The most polarizing item on this list, the Hawaiian Chicken pizza, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. A twist on the classic Hawaiian, this version combines marinara sauce, ham, green bell peppers, chicken, and pineapple. Initially skeptical, adding grilled chicken and green peppers enhanced the overall flavor rather than overpowering it.

The Thin 'n Crisp crust was the perfect base for these sweet and savory toppings. The moisture from the pineapple and bell peppers balanced its dryness, preventing the pizza from becoming too brittle. While I do not like the Canadian-invented ham and pineapple combo, this culinary curiosity somehow worked. At $22.31 for a medium pie after tax, it offers a reasonable price for a unique flavor experience.

1. Medium Tavern Pizza: Pesto Margherita

Pizza Hut’s new Chicago-inspired Tavern crust has quickly risen to the top of the ranks. Thin but not as brittle as the Thin 'N Crispy, it is seasoned with parmesan-oregano "Hut Dust" and cut into squares. The middle slices, surrounded by toppings, stood out, but every slice offered a delightful experience. Fresh grape tomatoes, garlic, and basil pesto brightened the light, airy crust.

This was the first item tasted, and it set the bar high. It’s hard to believe this pizza came from a significant chain. It was priced at $22.31 after tax, and like the Hawaiian Chicken, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference. With four topping combinations available for the Tavern crust, including The Ultimate and Spicy Chicken Sausage, it’s difficult to imagine any topping combination beating the tangy pesto, Margherita.