Hell, just heat up a big pot of fat and deep fry the whole thing.
I hadn’t thought about Pizza Hut in a long time, as the current product is so terrible, and life is too short to eat bad pizza. But the OP is correct that their pan pizza was actually pretty good back when (the 1980s? the 1990’s?).
The other thing is that going to Pizza Hut used to mean going to a sit-down restaurant with waitress service, a salad bar and soda in a pitcher (with plastic tumblers). The restaurants, of course, had the classic red roof architecture. Now Pizza Hut is mostly a delivery business. The ones near me have just a couple of small tables where you could eat in, but mostly are used by people like me waiting for a to-go order (because I’d rather go pick up the pizza than wait for a delivery driver, and also so I can avoid having to tip the delivery driver).
In fact that’s what we actually call it, “square”. Order a pizza at Jet’s or wherever and they’ll ask “round or square”.
It’s not really something I’d directly compare with Pizza Hut’s pan pizza, though. Good stuff, just different.
Mine had Toobin’ set up in the waiting area, too.
Last I checked, the building now houses a Starbucks. And I swear, every year, I feel more and more like Connor MacLeod. “1991 was a very good year…” 
Yeah, it’s definitely in its own category, but someone who likes pan pizzas in general would probably enjoy it.
Eh, I prefer 1783. 
I haven’t been there in years, but 30 years ago I used to work at Round Table Pizza…all freshly-made toppings and dough (except for the meats, of course). Their deep dish wasn’t bad, not deep-fried like some of you seem to prefer, but definitely tasty. I’m not even sure it’s a national chain anymore. It definitely seems to have lessened in popularity since. Fair-to-middling salad bar and toasted sandwiches well before there was such a thing as Quizno’s, too.
I had no idea that Happy Joe’s was still alive anywhere. They pulled out of my area almost 40 years ago. They did have good pizza… and ice cream as well.
Noble Roman’s was always my favorite Deep Dish Sicilian but it seems like they are mainly “take and bake” outlets now. Jets is good and we have a one off local place called Jimmy Stix that does a much better job.
Right after I posted a commercial for Papa John’s introducing their new deep dish pizza came on. Obviously I haven’t tried it.
I had a Papa Johns deep dish last weekend. It was pretty good. Thick, Chewy crust. A little bit greasy. my memories of Pizza Huts (1980s) pan style were thicker and better.
I plan on getting another Papa John’s in the next week or so. It’s a decent substitute.
Comments here have convinced me to give Little Caesars deep a try.
I managed a Pizza Hut in the early 80’s. Had to show up early every day to mix the dough and put it in the proofer. Do they even make their own dough at stores any more?
Pizza Hut is the one pizza place I will never go to. In an emergency, I’ll settle for Dominos, Papa John’s, or Little Caesar’s even, but never Pizza Hut. That stuff is nasty.
And I’d prefer a Pizza Hut pan pizza to any pizza from any of those other national chains. Maybe some of you people are just cursed with crappy Huts.