What Is Sourdough Pizza? And Why Papa Johns Does It Best

Sourdough has been on quite the ride over the last few years. It’s taken over bakery shelves, brunch menus and, for a while, seemingly every kitchen worktop in the country.

Now, it’s pizza’s turn. Sourdough brings flavour, texture, and plenty of personality to pizza before the toppings have even entered the conversation.

So, what actually makes a sourdough pizza different? And what happens when Papa Johns gives it our better ingredients, better pizza treatment? It's time to talk dough.

Unlike traditional pizza bases, sourdough relies on a natural fermentation process that completely transforms both its texture and flavor.

A unique texture

When eating a sourdough pizza, you’ll probably notice the texture difference first.

Once baked, sourdough offers a satisfying combination of crispness on the outside and a softer, chewier bite through the middle. You’ll also see those characteristic air pockets or ‘bubbles’ around the crust that give sourdough pizza its distinctive personality. 

A distinctive flavour profile 

Then there’s the flavour. Sourdough has a subtle tang and a little more depth than a traditional pizza base, so the dough contributes to the flavour of every bite rather than simply holding everything together.

Sourdough’s extra character also means it works brilliantly with a wide range of toppings, from rich cheese and smoky meats to punchier sauces and fresh vegetables.

It’s not a secret that we're devoted to our dough and have been honing our craft for decades. 

• Rigorous testing: Developing our sourdough range wasn’t a case of whipping up one batch, declaring victory, and heading straight for the pizza oven. We spent months perfecting the recipe, with plenty of testing, tweaking, and batches that didn’t quite make the cut along the way.
• A well-loved recipe: The aim was to take everything people love about traditional sourdough and turn it into a pizza that still feels unmistakably Papa Johns.
• A new take on an old classic: While sourdough sometimes comes with an artisan-bakery reputation, we don’t think enjoying it should require a special occasion. This sourdough is designed to feel at home at every pizza night.

Papa Johns sourdough pizzas come in one size, a large cut into eight slices, ready for sharing, swapping, or negotiating over who gets the final piece.

We put the time into the dough. You get to concentrate on the important bit: eating it.

Making sourdough yourself can be very satisfying. But it also involves a lot of time. You need to keep your starter alive, wait for the fermentation, prepare the dough, and display levels of patience that aren’t always available when you’re hungry.

Sometimes, you just want the pizza - and that’s ok.

That’s where our sourdough pizzas come in. Get pizza delivered straight to your door and cut out the fermentation faff (and the washing up). 

Prefer collecting yours on your way home? Grab your sourdough pizza as a takeaway from Papa Johns and get straight back to the important business of dinner.

Take a look at the Papa Johns sourdough range and find the pizza that takes your fancy. All the sourdough satisfaction, healthier mouthfuls, and considerably less waiting around.