When you think of a restaurant that would provide good options for bodybuilders when bulking, Pizza Hut doesn’t usually come to mind. However, Pizza Hut has plenty of high protein options that are a great fit.
One important note though: I wouldn’t recommend Pizza Hut for either your pre or post-workout meal. I’ll provide more details on why below, but so long as your meal timing isn’t right around your workout, there are still many great bulking meals at Pizza Hut to enjoy.
So what should you eat at Pizza Hut when bulking? If you are looking for a bulking meal between 700 – 850 calories at Pizza Hut, I recommend half a medium-thin crust pizza with chicken as an additional topping. For a meal higher than 1,000 calories, five slices of a medium pizza with chicken are best.
In this article, I will provide:
- 6 meal options for what to eat at Pizza Hut when bulking
- My top 3 tips for eating at Pizza Hut both before and after your workout
Check Out Our Complete Guide on Fast Food For Bodybuilding
What To Eat at Pizza Hut If You’re A Bodybuilder: 6 Meal Options
Six meal options to order at Pizza Hut when bodybuilding or bulking are:
1. 700 Calorie Pizza Hut Bulking Meal Plan
- Order a medium (12 inches) fit and delicious chicken, red onion & green pepper pizza
- Eat 4 of the 8 slices as your meal
This meal has 706 calories, 44g protein (25%), 92g carbohydrates (52%) and 18g fat (23%).
Ordering a pizza that has chicken as a topping provides a high protein meal option. When bulking, getting enough protein throughout your day is important to ensure your body can repair and stimulate muscle growth after your workout. The best way to do this is to focus on meals that have 25% or more of their calories from protein.
The cheese on the pizza also provides some fat to the meal. Fat is helpful to include when you are bulking since it’s low in volume. This means the food will take up less physical space in your stomach. Think of peanut butter where a spoonful can be hundreds of calories. This reduces the feeling of being constantly full that comes with eating high calories.
Customizations for increased calories
- Adding a dipping sauce for your pizza adds up to 230 additional calories. The dipping sauces that have the most calories per serving are blue cheese (230 calories) and ranch (220 calories).
Options For Pre & Post Workout
This meal is an adequate option to eat pre or post-workout, however, since all pizzas at Pizza Hut have cheese which makes it higher in fat, it’s not the most optimal option.
In a pinch though, it is a reasonable option since it is high in carbs and protein. This will help to keep you energized throughout your workout and provide enough protein to recover and build muscle post-workout.
I recommend ordering the pizza without any additional dipping sauces to keep the fat low.
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2. 800 Calorie Pizza Hut Bulking Meal Plan
- Order a triple meat Italiano personal pan pizza
- Add grilled chicken as an additional topping
This meal has 800 calories, 51g protein (26%), 68g carbohydrates (34%) and 36g fat (41%).
The triple meat Italiano pizza provides a high protein and high-fat meal option. Eating a higher fat meal is beneficial when bulking as fat is low in volume, meaning it takes up very little physical space in your stomach. This can keep you from feeling as physically full and make it more comfortable to eat higher calories throughout your day.
Eating enough protein is also important as it assists your body in recovering after your workout and building muscle. Adding chicken will boost the protein by an additional 20g.
The pizza dough provides plenty of carbs which will keep you full of energy throughout your day. Carbs are often higher in volume compared to fat, which can present a challenge when bulking.
Given the meal is a moderate 800 calories, this isn’t likely to be an issue. If you are finding that you are filling up during the meal, simply save the remainder of the pizza for when you are hungry again. Carbs are quicker to digest than fat and protein so you are likely to find you are hungry again within 2 – 3 hours.
Customizations for increased calories
- Ordering a dipping sauce for your pizza can add up to 230 calories to your meal, primarily from fat. I suggest opting for the sauces with the most calories which are blue cheese at 230 calories per serving and ranch at 220 calories.
Options For Pre & Post Workout
This meal is not recommended for pre or post-workout as it is too high in fat from both the Italian meats and cheese. I recommended opting for the 700 calorie meal plan for pre-workout and the 950 calorie meal plan for post-workout.
3. 950 Calorie Pizza Hut Bulking Meal Plan
- Order a medium (12 inches) thin and crispy pepperoni pizza
- Add grilled chicken as an additional topping
- Eat 4 of the 8 slices as your meal
This meal has 948 calories, 56g protein (24%), 100g carbohydrates (42%) and 36g fat (34%).
Opting for a thin and crispy crust reduces the carbs in your meal by 20g. These calories can instead be used towards the grilled chicken which will boost the protein in your meal by 20g. These customizations transform your pizza from a high carb, low protein meal option to a meal with an even balance of all three macronutrients.
When bulking, getting an even mix of macronutrients from a meal is the most ideal option as you can take advantage of the benefits each has to offer. You will ensure you’re getting sufficient protein to build muscle, feel energized throughout the day from the carbs and add lower volume calories from the fat so you don’t feel as physically full.
Customizations for increased calories
- Getting a dipping sauce with your pizza can add up to 230 calories. The dipping sauce with the most calories is blue cheese (230 calories) and ranch (220 calories). Add multiple servings of the dip to further increase the meal’s calories.
Options For Pre & Post Workout
This meal is not the best option before a workout as it’s relatively high in fat. A better pre-workout option would be the 700 calories meal plan.
This meal is a better option for after a workout but I recommend ordering it with light cheese to help to reduce the fat allowing your body to recover and repair your muscles post-workout.
4. 1,000 Calorie Pizza Hut Bulking Meal Plan
- Order a medium (12 inches) thin and crispy ham and pineapple pizza
- Add grilled chicken as an additional topping
- Eat 5 out of 8 slices as your meal
This meal has 990 calories, 65g protein (26%), 115g carbohydrates (46%) and 30g fat (27%).
The ham on the ham and pineapple pizza provides protein to the meal and adding grilled chicken boosts it by another 25g. When increasing your calories, it’s always important to ensure you are also increasing protein. This will ensure you are consuming enough protein for your body to recover enough to increase your muscle mass and strength.
The thin and crispy crust provides a high carb meal option but reduces the carbs by 25g compared to a traditional crust. Carbs are higher in volume when compared to fat, which may give you more of a physically full feeling when bulking. Therefore, opting for the thin crust will help to keep you energized without feeling uncomfortably full.
Customizations for increased calories
- Opting for a dipping sauce with your pizza will boost your meal’s calories. I recommend adding either blue cheese or ranch as these will add 230 or 220 calories respectively.
Options For Pre & Post Workout
I do not recommend this meal before a workout as it’s relatively high in fat. A better pre-workout option would be the 700 calories meal plan.
This meal makes for a better post-workout option however, I recommend ordering with light cheese to reduce the fat a bit further. This will allow your body to begin the repair and recovery process post-workout which will result in muscle growth and increased strength.
5. 1,200 Calorie Pizza Hut Bulking Meal Plan
- Order a medium (12 inches) thin and crispy meat lovers pizza
- Add grilled chicken as an additional topping
- Eat 4 of the 8 slices as your meal
This meal has 1,216 calories, 72g protein (24%), 88g carbohydrates (29%) and 64g fat (47%).
Opting for the thin and crispy crust also helps to reduce carbs. Carbs are higher in volume which can lead to physical discomfort and difficulty finishing your whole meal. The thin and crispy crust is a good option to still provide enough carbs that you are energized but not too many so you feel physically full.
Instead, the meat lovers pizza gets a lot of its extra calories from fat with the meat and cheese, this is beneficial when bulking as it helps to add calories while still keeping the physical volume of the food low. You’ll find with this approach, you don’t feel as physically full when eating a high-calorie diet.
Customizations for increased calories
- Adding a dipping sauce to your meal can also help to boost the calories, also primarily from fat. The two highest calorie dipping sauces are blue cheese (230 calories) and ranch (220 calories).
Options For Pre & Post Workout
I do not recommend eating this meal before or after a workout as it is too high in both fat and calories. By eating a meal this high in calories you are likely to feel the sleepy ‘food coma’ many experiences after a large Thanksgiving dinner. A lower calories meal plan would make for a better option.
6. 1,400 Calorie Pizza Hut Bulking Meal Plan
- Order a medium (12 inches) hand tossed supreme pizza
- Add grilled chicken as an additional topping
- Eat 5 of the 8 slices as your meal
This meal has 1,400 calories, 85g protein (24%), 130g carbohydrates (37%) and 60g fat (39%).
The supreme pizza is a higher protein pizza option and adding the grilled chicken further boosts that by 25g. To get enough protein during your day for your body to build muscle post-workout, I recommend always getting a meal that is 25% or more of its calories from protein. This pizza fits that criteria so is a good high protein meal when bulking.
The pizza crust will provide plenty of carbs, keeping you energized throughout your day. Carbs are usually higher in volume compared to fat so you may find that this meal is quite physically large. If that’s the case and you’re getting full, I recommend splitting the pizza into two smaller meals. Carbs are quick digesting so you’ll likely be hungry within 2 – 3 hours.
Customizations for increased calories
- Adding a dipping sauce with your pizza is an easy, low volume way to add more calories to your meal. Blue cheese and ranch are the highest calorie options at 230 and 220 calories per serving respectively.
Options For Pre & Post Workout
I do not recommend eating this meal before or after a workout given how high in calories it is, choosing a lower-calorie meal plan is a better option. Eating a meal this high in calories will leave you lethargic and is likely to cause digestive discomfort. Neither of these will set you up for a successful workout.
This meal is a great option for meals not immediately before or after a workout or on your rest day.
Tips for Eating at Pizza Hut Before a Workout
Your pre-workout meal makes a huge difference in your ability to perform at your best during a workout. Opting for a meal that is high in carbs and low in fat will provide you with the energy you need to push through a heavy workout and perform at your best.
Should you eat at Pizza Hut before a workout? If you are looking for an optimal pre-workout meal, you shouldn’t eat at Pizza Hut before a workout as the fat is too high. If you are in a pinch, 4 pieces of a medium chicken fit and delicious pizza is the best option.
- Read more in my article Can You Eat Fried Food Before And After Workouts?
3 Tips for How to Eat at Pizza Hut Before a Workout
My top 3 tips for how to eat at Pizza Hut before a workout are:
1. Order a medium fit and delicious pizza
Before a workout, your goal is to provide your body with a fuel source that is quick to digest and absorb. A meal high in carbs is the best way to accomplish this and provide yourself with plenty of energy throughout your workout.
I recommend making sure your meal includes at least two servings of carbs, with a serving size being approximating the size of a closed fist. At Pizza Hut, the pizza crust on all medium pizzas will provide this. However, the fit and delicious pizza are the lowest in fat allowing your body to best use the carbs for energy.
Aim to consume this meal 1 – 2 hours before your workout.
2. Opt for a pizza will grilled chicken
In addition to getting lots of carbs in your pre-workout meal, it’s also important to limit the fat. Fat will slow down your digestion so your body will take much longer to break down and use the carbs for energy. You are likely to notice you overall feel less energized in your workout, especially when you are trying to perform an explosive movement.
At Pizza Hut, chicken is the leanest protein option and therefore my recommendation to consume before your workout.
3. Skip any dipping sauces
At Pizza Hut, the dipping sauces that can be added to your pizza are quite high in fat. Around our workout, we want to limit the fat we are eating, therefore it’s best to skip the high-fat sauces. Fat will reduce the energy your body has immediately available for your workout leaving you less energized.
If you are looking for a low-fat sauce option, marinara is your best bet.
Tips for Eating at Pizza Hut After a Workout
Your post-workout meal begins the process of repairing the muscle damaged during your workout, which is what results in increased strength and muscular growth. Therefore, this meal is also important to optimize when it comes to maximizing your gym performance when bulking.
Should you eat at Pizza Hut after a workout?.
I do not recommend eating at Pizza Hut post-workout because the fat content is much higher compared to the carbs and protein to make it a meal that promotes recovery. However, if you do not have another choice, the best post-workout meal at Pizza Hut is 4 slices of a medium fit and delicious chicken pizza.
3 Tips for How to Eat at Pizza Hut After a Workout
My top 3 tips for how to eat at Pizza Hut after a workout are:
1. Opt for a fit and delicious pizza
The fuel that your body will use as energy for your workout is what it has stored. Throughout your session, you will deplete these stores so it’s important to replenish them post-workout. This replenishment will also kick off the process of repairing and growing your muscles so it is important to prioritize after finishing a workout.
The best way to replenish these stores is through a high carb meal. A high carb meal is generally at least two servings of carbs, where a serving size is approximately the size of a closed fist. At Pizza Hut the fit and delicious pizza crust provide a high carb option. While traditional pizza does as well, it’s also high in fat, making it not the recommended choice.
I recommend eating this meal within 1 – 1.5 hours after finishing your workout.
2. Choose grilled chicken as a topping
Protein is what your body uses to repair your muscles so it’s also important to include it in your post-workout meal. The process of damaging muscles during a workout and repairing them post-workout is what results in the increased strength and muscle growth that is your primary goal when bulking.
For our body to quickly digest and absorb the carbs and protein we are consuming, it is also recommended to limit the fat you consume. When fat is included in a meal, it slows down the digestion process, also, in turn, delaying the muscle repair process.
At Pizza Hut, the leanest meat option that provides sufficient protein is grilled chicken, which can be added as an additional topping to any pizza.
3. Stick to low-fat dipping sauces
Post-workout, it is important to limit the fat in your meal so that your digestion can focus on breaking down and absorbing the carbs and protein it needs to repair and grow our muscles.
I like to think of it like carbs and protein are cars on a highway, heading towards their end destination of our muscles. Fat is the drivers on the road that are travelling below the speed limit, slowing down how quickly they can get to their destination.
At Pizza Hut, most dipping sauces are high in fat, however, low-fat sauce options are a great addition to your meal. Marinara sauce is the best option to add to your meal. Ensure you skip the high-fat sauces which include ranch and blue cheese.
- Related Article: 13 Best Low Sodium Store-Bought Pizza & Pizza Crusts
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions for eating at Pizza Hut if you workout.
Will Eating at Pizza Hut Ruin My Gains?
No, eating at Pizza Hut will not ruin your gains. To maintain muscle mass, the most important factor is eating sufficient protein during the day. At Pizza Hut, grilled chicken can be added to any pizza as an additional topping, creating a high protein meal that makes it possible to maintain your gains.
Can I Eat at Pizza Hut and Still Gain Muscle?
Yes, you can eat at Pizza Hut and still gain muscle. To gain muscle, you need to be eating enough protein after your workout so your muscles have what they need to repair and grow. Adding grilled chicken as an additional topping to your pizza creates a meal high in protein ensuring you have enough protein to make it possible to gain muscle.
What Meal at Pizza Hut has the Most Protein?
The meal at Pizza Hut with the most protein is the meat lovers hand tossed pizza. Half a medium pizza has 1,216 calories, 56g of protein, 104g of carbohydrates and 64g of fat.
What Meal at Pizza Hut has the Most Calories?
The meal at Pizza Hut with the most calories is the meat lovers pan pizza. Half a medium pizza has 1,304 calories, 56g of protein, 108g of carbohydrates and 72g of fat.
Which Meal at Pizza Hut has the Least Calories
The meal at Pizza Hut that has the least calories is the fit and delicious diced red tomato, mushroom and jalapeno pizza. Half a medium pizza has 608 calories, 24g of protein, 92g of carbohydrates and 16g of fat.
More Fast Food Meal Plans
Check out our other bulking and cutting meal plans from popular fast-food restaurants:
- Eating At Little Caesars When Bulking (6 bodybuilding Meals)
- Eating at Domino’s When Bulking (6 Bodybuilding Meals)
About The Author
Laura Semotiuk is a Precision Nutrition Level 1 certified nutrition coach. She works with athletes and active individuals looking to improve performance and develop healthy nutritional habits and behaviors. She has a passion for cooking, meal prepping, and creating simple and healthy recipes.
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