Pizza Hut announced the brand has partnered Grammy nominated–artist Blake Shelton to launch a new line of BBQ Pizzas in three distinct flavors: Blake’s Smokehouse BBQ, Hawaiian BBQ, and Honey BBQ Chicken.
“Growing up in Ada, Oklahoma, Pizza Hut was a big deal in my community,” Shelton says. “As a fan of BBQ and pizza, it has been a blast to partner with Pizza Hut to bring two of my favorite foods together.”
A pizza and BBQ enthusiast, Shelton played a key role in inspiring the new menu items from Pizza Hut. The Smokehouse BBQ recipe is named in his honor. Blake’s Smokehouse BBQ and the other two BBQ recipes will be available beginning May 12 as a summer staple for $11 and consumers can enjoy a two-liter Pepsi product for $1 more. Also, from May 18–26, a medium BBQ recipe pizza is $5 with the purchase of any large pizza online.
“The authenticity that Blake brings as a performer, personality, and backyard BBQ enthusiastic made him the ultimate fit for this launch and our brand,” says Jared Drinkwater, senior director of marketing for Pizza Hut. “We’re so thrilled to have him as a partner and truly excited to bring our real backyard BBQ flavors to pizza.”
The three BBQ pizza recipes from Pizza Hut feature a savory toasted cheddar edge on the brand’s new Hand-Tossed crust and are topped with a Honey BBQ sauce.
The Hawaiian BBQ features a tropical island favorite with a barbecue-infused taste, smoked ham flavored with a hint of sugar, pieces of pineapple, and green peppers.
The Honey BBQ Chicken is topped with all-white meat chicken, hardwood-smoked bacon, and red onions.
“The new line of Pizza Hut BBQ Pizzas combines the bold flavors of our cheddar crust, sweet honey BBQ sauce and hand-picked ingredients to deliver recipes that satisfy with every single bite,” says Wiley Bates III, executive chef at Pizza Hut. “We drew inspiration from Blake Shelton in forming recipes that are distinctive yet appealing to a variety of tastes and we think the results are really going to wow those consumers looking for adventurous flavors in their food.”
Pizza Hut and Blake Shelton fans from around the country will have their own chance to snap a portrait with the star and the BBQ pie. In select Pizza Hut restaurants and high traffic areas around the country, life-size cutouts of Blake holding his Smokehouse BBQ Pizza will be affixed for fans to capture a “Shelfie,” a Shelton inspired take on the selfie. Fans are encouraged to share their “Shelfie” with Pizza Hut socially for potential surprise and delight giveaways, including free pizzas. More information will be available through the Pizza Hut twitter account.
