Little Caesars uses a proprietary dough recipe that they make fresh in-store daily. The distinctive flavor comes from a combination of high-gluten flour, a longer fermentation time than most home recipes use, and a specific oil-to-flour ratio that keeps the crust soft on the inside while crispy on the outside.
The recipes below are tested copycat versions that replicate the key characteristics of Little Caesars pizza dough, Italian Cheese Bread, and garlic butter sauce. They will not be identical to the original — proprietary recipes never are — but they come closer than most versions you will find online.
Little Caesars Pizza Dough Recipe
Ingredients (makes 2 medium pizzas or 1 large)
- 3 cups (360g) bread flour or all-purpose flour — bread flour gives a chewier crust closer to the original
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast (or 1.25 tsp active dry yeast)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup (240ml) warm water (110°F — warm but not hot to touch)
Instructions
- Step 1: Combine flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. If using active dry yeast, dissolve it in the warm water with the sugar first and let it foam for 5-10 minutes before adding.
- Step 2: Add olive oil to the flour mixture. Pour in warm water gradually, mixing as you go. The dough should come together into a slightly sticky ball.
- Step 3: Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook for 6-7 minutes on medium speed.
- Step 4: Form into a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel.
- Step 5: Let rise for 1-2 hours at room temperature until doubled in size. For a closer approximation to Little Caesars flavor, refrigerate the dough overnight (cold fermentation develops more complex flavor).
- Step 6: Punch down, divide, and roll to about 1/4-inch thickness. For the pan pizza style, press into an oiled 9×13 pan and let rest 30 minutes before topping.
Key Tips for Getting It Right
- Use bread flour if possible: the higher protein content (12-14%) creates more gluten and a chewier texture
- Do not skip the oil: olive oil in the dough creates a slightly crispy exterior when baked in a hot pan
- Hot oven: Little Caesars bakes at very high temperatures (around 450-500°F). Use a preheated pizza stone or cast iron pan for best results
- Cold fermentation: refrigerating the dough overnight is the single biggest thing you can do to improve flavor
Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread Recipe
This is the closest home version of the Italian Cheese Bread (not to be confused with Crazy Bread, which is a different product — plain bread sticks with garlic butter and Parmesan rather than melted mozzarella on top).
Ingredients
- 1 batch pizza dough (from recipe above, or store-bought refrigerated pizza dough)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 cups (170g) shredded low-moisture mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 450°F. Lightly oil a 9×13 baking pan or line with parchment.
- Step 2: Press the pizza dough into the pan in an even layer about 1/2-inch thick.
- Step 3: Mix melted butter with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt. Brush generously over the entire surface of the dough.
- Step 4: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the dough, then top with Parmesan.
- Step 5: Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown and the edges of the bread are golden.
- Step 6: Remove from oven. Let rest 2-3 minutes, then cut into strips using a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Serve immediately.
Calories
Homemade Italian Cheese Bread made with this recipe contains approximately 140-160 calories per strip depending on strip size and how generously the cheese is applied — comparable to the approximately 130-150 calories per stick in the restaurant version.
Little Caesars Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe
Little Caesars’ garlic butter is a simple but effective blend used as a dipping sauce and spread. This 5-minute version closely approximates the original:
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan (optional — adds depth)
Instructions
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat or in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals.
- Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and salt.
- Add Parmesan if using and stir to combine.
- Serve immediately as a dipping sauce or brush onto breadsticks or pizza crust before baking.
Key note: do not use fresh garlic if replicating the Little Caesars version — the restaurant uses garlic powder, which gives a more consistent, milder garlic flavor than raw garlic. The butter should be fully melted but not browned.
Little Caesars Pizza Puffs (Crazy Puffs) Recipe
Pizza Puffs — dough balls filled with cheese, pepperoni, or other toppings — have become a popular Little Caesars menu item. This copycat version makes approximately 12-16 puffs:
Ingredients
- 1 batch pizza dough (from recipe above)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 24-32 mini pepperoni (or diced full-size pepperoni)
- 2 tablespoons garlic butter sauce (from recipe above)
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan, grated
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line with parchment squares.
- Step 2: Divide dough into 12-16 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a 3-inch circle.
- Step 3: Place a pinch of mozzarella and 2-3 mini pepperoni in the center of each circle.
- Step 4: Gather the edges of the dough up and over the filling, pinching firmly to seal.
- Step 5: Place seam-side down in the muffin tin or on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Step 6: Brush with garlic butter sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan.
- Step 7: Bake 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
What Is an 8-Corner Pizza?
Little Caesars offers a square pizza called the Detroit-style or 8-Corner pizza. Unlike a round pizza with 6 or 8 slices, this pizza is cut into a 4×2 grid of rectangles, resulting in 8 pieces — each with a corner edge. The Detroit style uses a thick, focaccia-like crust baked in a rectangular steel pan, resulting in crispy, caramelized cheese edges and a soft, airy interior. The toppings are placed under the cheese rather than on top in the traditional Detroit style, though Little Caesars uses a modified version.
For Little Caesars Arena seating, capacity, and concert information, see our Little Caesars Arena complete seating guide.
Little Caesars’ official nutrition calculator at littlecaesars.com/en-us/nutrition has complete calorie and ingredient information for all current menu items.
Bottom Line
| Pizza dough | Bread flour + yeast + olive oil + 1-2 hour rise (overnight is better) |
| Italian Cheese Bread key | Garlic butter brush + mozzarella + 450F oven |
| Garlic butter | Butter + garlic powder + Italian seasoning — no fresh garlic |
| Best tip | Cold fermentation overnight = most flavor |
| Pizza Puffs | Dough balls stuffed with mozzarella + pepperoni, baked in muffin tin |
| 8-corner pizza | Detroit-style thick crust baked in rectangular pan — cheese on edges |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Little Caesars pizza dough recipe?
Little Caesars’ exact proprietary recipe is not public. The closest home approximation uses bread flour (3 cups), instant yeast (1 tsp), sugar (1 tsp), salt (1 tsp), olive oil (2 tbsp), and warm water (1 cup). Mix, knead for 8-10 minutes, let rise 1-2 hours or refrigerate overnight, then bake at 450-500F for best results.
How do you make Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread?
Press pizza dough into an oiled pan, brush with garlic butter (melted butter + garlic powder + Italian seasoning), top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan, and bake at 450F for 12-15 minutes until golden. Let rest 2-3 minutes before cutting into strips and serving.
How do you make Little Caesars garlic butter sauce?
Melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine. Use garlic powder rather than fresh garlic to replicate the restaurant version’s milder, more consistent garlic flavor.
What is Little Caesars Crazy Bread?
Crazy Bread is Little Caesars’ original bread stick product — plain dough sticks brushed with garlic butter and dusted with Parmesan after baking. It is different from Italian Cheese Bread, which has mozzarella melted on top before baking. Crazy Bread is not vegan as it contains butter and Parmesan cheese.