What is Sodium Citrate?

Papa John's Cheese Pizza Original Crust Nutrition

The cheese pizza may be one of the most popular menu items at Papa John’s. It’s made with the restaurant’s special sauce and topped with real mozzarella.

A single serving, measured as one slice from a large pizza, contains 290 calories, 10 grams fat, 38 grams carbohydrates, and 11 grams protein.

Read this guide for an in-depth overview of the nutrition facts, calories, and ingredients in Papa John’s Cheese Pizza.

Cheese Pizza Nutritional Information

Unless otherwise noted, nutrition facts are based on one slice of Original Crust Cheese Pizza from a Large Pizza that is cut into 8 slices.

Daily Value

Serving size: 1 Large Slice

% DAILY VALUE

Use %DV to determine if the level of nutrients in a food is low (5% or less) or high (20% or more).

	%DV	Level
Saturated Fat	23%	HIGH
Sodium	31%	HIGH
Cholesterol	8%	MED

%DV based on 2,000 calories

Calories

A large slice of Papa John’s Cheese pizza has 290 calories.

Here is a summary of the amount of calories in one piece of cheese pizza derived from fat, carbs, and protein.

90 calories from fat
155 calories from total carbs
45 calories from protein

More than half of the calories are from carbohydrates. Dietary fat makes up 31% of the total calories and the remaining 16% is from protein.

Papa John’s Cheese Pizza

% calories from fat, carbs and protein

calories from fat

31%

calories from carbS

53%

calories from Protein

16%

The summary of calories by nutrient is a rounded estimate based on the nutrition facts provided by Papa John’s restaurant. Calories may vary by location or as a result of how the pizza is prepared.

Papa John’s large pizzas are cut into eight slices. At 290 calories per slice, the entire large cheese pizza contains 2,320 calories.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per 1 Large Slice

Red indicates %DV is high.

Calories

290

		%DV
Total Fat	10g	13%
Saturated Fat	4.5g	23%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	25mg	8%
Sodium	710mg	31%
Carbohydrates	38g	14%
Dietary Fiber	2g	7%
Total Sugars	5g
Protein	2g

%DV based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your %DV may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.

Dietary Fats

One serving contains 10 grams of total fat, including 4.5 grams of saturated fat. As a reminder, that is per slice.

A whole large cheese pizza contains 80 grams of total fat. That means the entire pie has 720 calories from fat.

SUMMARY OF FAT PER SERVING

90 calories from dietary fats
31% of total calories
40 calories from saturated fat
Zero trans fat

Sodium

Each slice from a large pizza contains 710 milligrams of sodium. With a daily value of 31%, that amount of sodium per serving is considered high.

Here is a summary of the nutrition facts for Papa John’s Original Crust Cheese pizza.

Check Papa John’s menu with prices and nutrition

Cheese pizza with text listing ingredients. — Select ingredients in cheese pizza.

Compare nutrition facts in a slice of Southwestern Pizza from Barro’s Pizzeria and Papa John’s The Meats pizza.

Cheese Pizza Ingredients and Allergens

This pizza is topped with real cheese made from mozzarella and a signature sauce. Here is a complete list of the ingredients for Papa John’s crust, pizza sauce, and cheese.

Ingredients

Original Crust

Unbleached Enriched Wheat Flour, Water, Sugar, Soybean Oil, Salt, Yeast.

Cheese

Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Modified Food Starch, Sugarcane Fiber, Whey Protein Concentrate, Sodium Citrate

Pizza Sauce

Fresh Vine-Ripened Tomatoes (packed from vine to can in same day), Sunflower Oil, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Spices, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Citric Acid (for freshness)

Sodium citrate, a mild alkali, is the trisodium salt of citric acid that is often used as an emulsifier and to regulate acidity during the production of certain foods.

The reason it works is because the sodium acts as a substitute for the calcium that would otherwise help the cheese proteins bind. When cheese is heated, proteins separate.

As an emulsifier, sodium citrate holds the fat and water together. That results in a smooth melted cheese without lumps or holes. You can also think of it as an anticoagulant.

Sodium citrate is commonly used in cheese sauces, fondues, jam, ice cream, and other food.

Allergens

The cheese pizza at Papa John’s is made with milk and wheat. Other allergens will vary depending on the type crust ordered.

Remember that Papa John’s restaurants do serve many different menu items. Any time a pizza or other meal is made, it may come into contact with other ingredients such as wheat or soy.

Original crust contains Wheat.
Thin crust contains Wheat and Soy.
Gluten free crust contains Milk, Egg, and Soy.
Crispy Parm Crust contains Milk, Soy, and Wheat.

Check allergen guide for Papa John’s menu

Nutrition facts, prices, and ingredients are based on available information as of the date of publication. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change recipes or formulations without notice. Check package labels and ask the product manufacturer or restaurant for the most up-to-date information. Unless otherwise stated, %DV is based on a 2,000 calorie diet. All reports and reviews published on this site are for informational purposes only. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide healthcare advice or dietary recommendations. Always consult your licensed physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.

Nutrition facts, allergens, and ingredients source: Papa John’s

Papa John’s Cheese Pizza Original Crust