Where Was Stuffed Crust Pizza Invented?

Today, stuffed crust pizza is the undisputed champ of pizza parties all over the country. Using a pizza’s crust to add even more cheese is a great way to take a pie to the next level.

Who was the luminary who thought to stuff cheese inside pizza crust? Here’s an explainer on stuffed crust pizza’s unsung hero, what makes a great cheese-stuffed crust and new innovations in pizza crust. 

Take It Back to Brooklyn, 1987

Anthony Mongiello is a Brooklyn pizza maker who invented the stuffed crust pizza in 1987. His nickname? “The Big Cheese.” 

He is an award-winning cheesemaker who noticed that the big, airy crumb of many traditional pizza parlors’ crust could potentially hold more cheese. Adding a rope of cheese around the entire perimeter of a pizza meant a lot more cheese per pie. This drove up demand for his product in a move worthy of a Papa Johns CEO. 

Perfecting the Stuffed Crust

Early stuffed crust pizzas were little more than snack-size string cheese sticks rolled up in a pizza’s crust. That’s still a valid way to make a stuffed crust pizza, but here are a few elevated ways to make a stuffed crust sing. 

1. Higher-quality cheese: Forego the inexpensive lunch box string cheese for a better, meltier whole milk mozzarella.
2. Nuggets instead of sticks: A cheese stick will give you an even tube of cheese through your crust, but piles of rough-cut mozzarella nuggets provide a more interesting stuffed crust texture. 
3. Fermented, unfrozen and properly rested dough: Just because the crust is stuffed with flavor-enhancing cheese doesn’t mean it shouldn’t taste good on its own. A long ferment and proper resting to relax gluten networks are the keys to a chewy, flavorful crust that stands up to all of that delicious cheese. 

Why Stuffed Crust Pizza Is a Phenomenon

Since stuffed crust made its debut, people have never stopped ordering it. Why? Stuffed crust instantly enhances the value of your pizza purchase. The cheese-stuffed crust is like a cheesy breadstick that comes baked into the pizza, itself.

Stuffed crust pizza also appeals to all of the people who don’t like chewing through plain crust after eating most of their pizza slice. Ever gone to a pizza party only to see a pile of uneaten crusts? That wastage won’t be a problem with stuffed crust pizza. 

Finally, a stuffed crust is a fun and extravagant upgrade to any pie. The whole point of ordering a pizza for dinner is to treat yourself, and bread full of melty cheese is the ultimate indulgence.  

New Frontiers in Stuffed Crust Pizza

Today, pizza crusts are more innovative than ever before. What’s better than a cheese-stuffed crust? Cheese and pepperoni! New stuffed crust options pack this flavorful favorite into the crust as well for an even more delicious pizza. 

If the talk about the history and evolution of pizza with melty cheese-and-pepperoni-stuffed crust is making you hungry, you can order pizza ahead of time. That way, you can have this fun treat ready on your schedule.