Description
This easy Cast Iron Skillet Pizza recipe delivers a crispy, caramelized crust topped with gooey mozzarella cheese and your favorite toppings. Ready in about 30 minutes, it offers a delicious homemade alternative to takeout pizza with a perfectly browned bottom crust and melted cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pizza
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces pizza dough (store bought or homemade, at room temperature)
- 2 cups shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (store bought or homemade)
- Desired pizza toppings (e.g., pepperoni, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, olives)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Move one oven rack to the very bottom and another to the top of your oven. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C) to prepare for baking the pizza.
- Prepare Skillet: Evenly spread 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the bottom and sides of a cast iron pan to prevent sticking and enhance crust crispiness. Gently stretch the pizza dough to fill the bottom of the pan, using your fingers to create dimples in the dough.
- Add Cheese and Sauce: Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese evenly over the entire surface of the dough, extending to the edges. Dot 1/2 cup of pizza sauce over the cheese, covering it evenly to the edges.
- Add Toppings and Bake: Add your favorite toppings on top of the sauce and cheese. Place the pan on the bottom oven rack and bake for 18-20 minutes, until the bottom crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted and begun to brown. Use a spatula to lift the crust side and check browning. Continue baking if needed. For a more browned top, move pan to the top rack for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove and Serve: Carefully place the hot pan on a wire rack to cool briefly. Run a sharp knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the crust. Use a spatula to transfer the pizza to a cutting board to avoid soggy crust. Slice and serve hot.
Notes
- Allow pizza dough to come to room temperature before stretching for easier handling and a better rise.
- Use low moisture mozzarella cheese instead of fresh for a crispier crust and less moisture.
- To achieve an even crispier crust, preheat the cast iron skillet in the oven prior to adding dough (optional).
- Customize with your favorite toppings, but avoid overloading to prevent sogginess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 pizza
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: cast iron skillet pizza, homemade pizza, easy pizza recipe, crispy crust pizza, pizza in skillet, quick pizza
