It seems my years of begging and pleading for pizza chains to get pork alternative options is paying off! They are tired of my whining and complaining, and have finally added some toppings that are deliciously reminiscent of the tried and true traditional pork toppings we all know and love. No turning back now, y’all!
I’m kidding, of course. My mouth had nothing to do with Pizza Hut’s newest addition, but I do like to think that a bunch of collective mouths did. Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that farms are producing more pork products than people are eating, which can cause a whole bunch of issues for the farming industry and the economy as a whole. Restaurants and grocers alike are coming out with new protein options for traditional pork items – chicken sausage, plant based sausage, turkey bacon, and if you’re from Cincy, even turkey goetta. Yum.
I’ve been off pork for a little over 4 years – now, the smell of bacon makes me queasy, the thought of honey baked ham turns my stomach, but there’s one thing I will forever mourn… pepperoni.
Enter: Pizza Hut Chicken Sausage
While I’m still desperately waiting for a pork-alternative pepperoni in restaurants, I was beyond ecstatic to see the next best thing on Pizza Hut’s menu: chicken sausage. Sausage on pizza was another love of my life, besides pepperoni, that is. Pizza Hut added chicken sausage to their menu back in June of 2024, along with a bunch of other killer toppings and customizable options. Since my partner and I both don’t eat pork, this seemed like a win-win for the entire family, but sausage has that very distinctive taste – loaded with spices and cooked just right. Would Pizza Hut’s chicken sausage pack the same punch?
The Taste Test
My guy and I keep our pizza order pretty standard wherever we go, although I would argue I’m far more spontaneous with my toppings. The pan crust from PH will forever be my favorite – there’s something about that crunchy, buttery bread that makes me weak in the knees, and the arteries. I added extra cheese, banana peppers (and chicken sausage, of course) to my large pan pizza, and took that baby home for tastin’.
Like I mentioned before – there’s something about sausage that is pretty difficult to replicate. Pork, whether I like it or not, is truly the most delicious protein for sausage. The fatty crispy bits blend so well with the fennel, sage, and thyme, so while I was excited for a chicken option, I had a feeling it still wouldn’t be quite the same.
And my suspicions were largely correct. But… as usual, I have some thoughts.
First and foremost, it was delicious. The spices were not lost in translation – they were still sagey and packed with that fennel punch that I love so much. But the main thing that didn’t transfer over from pork to chicken was the crispiness – that little fatty bite wasn’t there, which, frankly, is the point. Chicken sausage is arguably healthier than pork, with a much lower fat content. It only makes sense that the final product wouldn’t cook up the same given how different these two proteins are.
But, it’s a start. I’ll take it.
Pizza Hut Chicken Sausage – The Verdict
Taste: 8/10 – Nothing will ever replace pork sausage in terms of taste, but this is a damn good start. There’s a depth of flavor that is missing, which I’m chalking up to the difference in fat content between these two proteins. Pork will always have the edge here, I think.
Value: 10/10 – Because chicken sausage is a permanent menu option at Pizza Hut, it means there’s no weirdo “special edition” price tag attached. It’s not considered a premium topping, so add this baby to your pie with zero added fees!
Availability: 10/10 – Like I mentioned above, this is a permanent addition. You go, Pizza Hut! I tried their plant-based sausage (also good) a few years back when it was a promotional item, and was so sad when they took it from the menu. At least now, all of us non-pork eaters can rest easy knowing chicken sausage is here to stay.
Overall: 9.3/10
Have Y’all Tried This?
*Sigh*
Finally, y’all. I’m very excited that a big pizza chain is offering pork-alternative options for their key toppings. If you’ve tried Pizza Hut’s chicken sausage, let me know what you think! If you’ve tried another chain’s pork alternative options, let me know that as well!
Now, Pizza Hut… how ’bout that pepperoni alternative?
Until next time,
Megan
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