Papa Johns first introduced the Shaq-a-Roni pizza as an LTO in summer 2020, and the menu item quickly became a smash hit. According to Papa Johns, fans clamored for its annual return. Those fans will be happy to hear that the Shaq-a-Roni is now a permanent menu item.
The Shaq-a-Roni—named after basketball Hall of Famer and Papa Johns franchisee Shaquille O’Neal—is a “larger-than-life pizza crafted in partnership with [O’Neal],” Papa Johns said via press release. The menu item is an extra-large pizza cut into eight foldable, shareable slices.
“The Shaq-a-Roni isn’t just a pizza—it’s a slam dunk,” O’Neal said. “I’m pumped that it’s now here to stay. It’s big, it’s delicious, and it brings people together—just like pizza should.”
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To welcome the Shaq-a-Roni to Papa Johns’ core menu, O’Neal is sending Shaq-a-Ronis to organizations supporting important causes. Those causes include organizations that support youth entrepreneurship and leadership in the communities nearest and dearest to O’Neal, including:
- Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles and Baton Rouge (cities where fans cheered him on during his legendary basketball career)
- Las Vegas (the current home of the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation)
- Atlanta (where O’Neal and his team serve Papa Johns’ pizza to thousands of people each week in the restaurants owned and operated by O’Neal)
“At Papa Johns, we’re elevating the classics that have set us apart to deliver even more value to our customers,” said Jenna Bromberg, chief marketing officer at Papa Johns. “Since it was first introduced five years ago, the Shaq-a-Roni has offered the craveable flavors pizza fans can find only at Papa Johns. Now, it’s here to deliver XL-sized value every day.”
