Pizza News

Plano-based Pizza Hut tosses new personal craft pizzas around the world

Pizza Hut Crafted Flatzz

Pizza Hut

Plano-based pizza chain Pizza Hut has an ambitious new line of pizzas that are extra crafty: Called Crafted Flatzz, it's a limited-edition lineup of personal-size pizzas with upscale toppings designed for that solo pizza moment, and it's being introduced internationally. Soon pizza aficionados in more than 20 countries around the world will be able to chow down on these Crafted Flatzz.

Different flavors are being introduced in different countries, which means that, if you want to try them all, you'll need to get on a plane. They're calling it the largest simultaneous global menu launch in Pizza Hut History, from the U.K. to Taiwan to Egypt through fall 2025 and beyond.

Each market has their own flavor twist: In the U.S., it's Nashville Hot Chicken. The U.K. has Pesto Veggie with Balsamic Drizzle. Taiwan has Korean BBQ. India has Tandoori Chicken.

Back to the U.S.
In the U.S., there'll be five Crafted Flatzz recipes featuring abundant toppings on a lighter, hand-stretched crust:

Nashville Hot Chicken – Spicy, crispy and drizzled in pickle ranch, this recipe brings the heat with fiery Nashville Hot seasoning, fresh onions, melty mozzarella and a punchy pickle-flavored ranch sauce
Chicken Bacon Ranch – crispy chicken, bacon, ultimate ranch sauce mozzarella, and parmesan oregano seasoning
The Ultimate – Pepperoni, Italian sausage, caramelized onions, roasted peppers and tomatoes on sweet marinara and mozzarella
Three Cheese – A gooey, grown-up take on a classic with sweet marinara, mozzarella, parmesan, Romano and oregano
Pepperoni Duo – Classic and cup n' crisp pepperoni come together over mozzarella and sweet marinara, topped with a savory cheese blend seasoning.

In the U.S., Crafted Flatzz will be $5 until 5 pm; prices may vary after 5 pm.

Pizza Hut has earned a reputation as a trailblazer thanks to prior creations such as Stuffed Crust pizzas.

"Crafted Flatzz represent an unprecedented moment for Pizza Hut as we bring our largest simultaneous global menu innovation to pizza fans around the world," says Pizza Hut CEO Aaron Powell. "No matter where you live, everyone deserves big flavor at a great price and sometimes, a moment to enjoy it all to yourself. As a pizza icon and innovator, we're proud to launch Crafted Flatzz globally as an unapologetic celebration of 'me time' as well as good times."

pizza openings

Yes, cheese

Nashville gourmet grilled cheese shop melts into Texas with Plano debut

Photo courtesy of Cheese Lab

Pimento Mac 'n' Cheese Melty at Cheese Lab.

A Nashville restaurant that puts gourmet twists on grilled cheese sandwiches has made its Texas debut in Plano. Called Cheese Lab, the shop has opened inside Legacy Hall, the three-story food hall at the Legacy West complex at 7800 Windrose Ave.

Plano is just the second location for Cheese Lab, and its first outside of Tennessee.

Founded by restaurateur Youssef Koutout, Cheese Lab serves elevated comfort food built around artisan cheeses, premium ingredients, and inventive flavor combinations, a release says. The concept debuted at Assembly Food Hall in downtown Nashville before expanding to North Texas.

Rather than sticking to the standard grilled cheese, the menu features a lineup of "melty" sandwiches with creative fillings.

The Cheese Lab offers creative twists on grilled cheese sandwiches. Photo courtesy of Cheese Lab

Signature options include the Nashville Smokehouse Melty with slow-smoked brisket; the Pimento Mac 'n' Cheese Melty; the Pulled Pork Meltstorm; the Southern Heritage Grilled Ham Duo; and the Brie & Fig Grilled Melty.

Sure to be a Texas favorite: The Birria on Broadway Melty, featuring slow-cooked chuck roll beef braised in-house for six hours, Monterey Jack cheese, onions, cilantro, and consommé dipping soup.

The menu also includes loaded mac and cheese, house-made soups, crispy Cheetos Balls, and breakfast items such as buttermilk biscuits, breakfast burritos, and bagel sandwiches.

BBQ Brisket Mac n Cheese Melty.Photo courtesy of Cheese Lab

"At Cheese Lab, we took one of America's most recognizable comfort foods and completely reimagined it," Koutout says in the release. "Every sandwich starts with quality ingredients and is built to bring unexpected flavors to a classic sandwich. We're excited to bring our second location to Legacy Hall and become part of the Plano community."

Amanda McFarland, executive vice president of FB Society, which operates Legacy Hall, says the concept fits the venue's focus on chef-driven dining.

Cheetos Ball.Photo courtesy of Cheese Lab

"Cheese Lab brings exactly the kind of creativity we look for at Legacy Hall," McFarland says. "Their menu takes something everyone knows and loves and turns it into a new culinary experience. We think guests are going to have a lot of fun working their way through the menu."

Cheese Lab is open 10 am-9 pm Monday-Wednesday, 10 am-10 pm Thursday, 10 am-1 am Friday-Saturday, and 10 am-9 pm Sunday.

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