A familiar takeout favorite is undergoing its first major reboot since it debuted 40 years ago.

Perhaps it's because of America's changing tastes, or it's to help boost lagging sales. But either way, Pizza Hut announced Tuesday it has changed the recipe for its signature Original Pan Pizza.

In a news release, officials said the decision to tweak the recipe came after a "lengthy innovation journey" that "focused on combining art, science and culinary expertise."

The result? A pizza that will be baked in a "newly engineered pan" that will create a crispier crust, as well as a new cheese blend and revamped sauce.

"Pizza Hut has a rich history of things we're known for, and creator of the Original Pan Pizza is certainly at the top of the list," Marianne Radley, Pizza Hut's chief brand officer, said in the releasle. "Reinventing our most iconic Pizza Hut menu item is just another way we're showing our customers that as a company we're about the pizza first and will never become complacent when it comes to taste."

The move comes following news that Pizza Hut's sales were flat in 2018, while competitors Domino's and Papa John's showed gains.

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Contact Carl Lisciandrello at clisciandrello@tampabay.com. Follow @carlmarks_Times