How To Make Little Caesars Pretzel Crust Pizza: Plus, Why This Recipe Is More Convenient Than Ordering

If you’re craving a Little Caesars pizza, good luck finding one because it tends to randomly float on and off their menu. (The joys of being a highly-coveted menu item.) On other hand, if you’re willing to put in some elbow grease, you can make a homemade version of this pizza anytime you wish. This involves making a pizza dough that gets brushed with a special coating and sprinkling of salt before it’s baked. The result is evenly browned, salty crust that’s delicious alongside the sauce and toppings. Read on for more on recreating a pretzel crust pizza to enjoy whenever your carb cravings strike! 

What’s the deal with Little Caesars pretzel pizza?

In 2014, Little Caesars unveiled a special offering: a pretzel crust pizza with cheddar sauce, shredded cheese and pepperoni. What was meant to be a limited-time promotion turned into a phenomenon that’s made sporadic returns on the menu over the years.

“When the pretzel pizza promotion ended in 2015, we were inundated on social media and with phone calls, emails and even online petitions by pretzel-loving customers,” Ed Gleich, senior vice president of global marketing for Little Caesars, said in a 2019 press release. “Four years later we’re still getting those requests and have a very passionate fan base. In fact, it’s still our most common product request.” Rather than waiting for a chance to try it from the pizza chain, try it right away by whipping it up yourself.

Easy trick to creating a browned pretzel crust

Nailing a rich tanned color on the pretzel crust is possible using two ingredients: baking soda and water. Combining these ingredients produces a liquid you can brush over the crust. The baking soda changes the dough’s pH and congeals the starch on the crust’s surface. What you end up with is a shiny and crackling crust that looks and tastes like a pretzel. 

A copycat Little Caesars pretzel crust pizza recipe

Here, you’ll find a recipe for this pizza from the Homestead Patch YouTube Channel. For extra crunch, the outer crust is adorned with pretzel salt–but kosher salt works fine in a pinch. Gone are the days of hoping that Little Caesars brings back this favorite so you can enjoy it!

Pretzel Pizza

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 4 cups all-purpose or bread flour, plus more for kneading 
• 1½ cups warm water (somewhere around 105° and 115°F)
• 2 Tbs. sugar
• 1 Tbs. active dry yeast
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ cup hot water
• 2 Tbs. baking soda
• ¼ tsp. pretzel salt or kosher salt

Toppings: 

• ½ cup salsa con queso dip, slightly warmed
• 2 cups shredded mexican cheese blend
• ½ cup sliced pepperoni
• Melted butter, for brushing on top of the pizza

Directions:

• Yield: 8 servings 

1. In measuring cup with 1½ cups warm water, sprinkle in yeast and sugar. Mix and let sit around 5 minutes or until yeast is bubbly and active.
2. In clean bowl, mix together flour and 1 tsp. salt. Pour in yeast mixture and combine until shaggy dough forms. Tip dough onto floured surface and knead at least 10 minutes. Dough is ready once it’s smooth and springs back once poked. (Note: You can form the dough in a bread maker using the manufacturer’s instructions.)
3. Place dough in greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or tea towel. Rest at room temperature 1 to 3 hours or until dough has doubled in size.
4. Remove dough from bowl and transfer to floured surface. Roll into large circle around ¼ to ½ inches in thickness. Place crust onto pizza pan or parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Preheat oven to 425°F. In small bowl, whisk baking soda and ½ hot cup water until fully dissolved. 
6. Brush mixture over rim of crust and let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle pretzel salt or kosher salt onto outer crust. Spread salsa con queso dip onto crust in an even layer. Add Mexican cheese blend and pepperoni on top.
7. Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Remove pizza from oven and brush with melted butter while it’s still hot. Cool slightly before slicing into 8 even-sized slices. Enjoy!