Description
This Cast Iron Skillet Pizza recipe delivers a perfectly crispy crust with melty cheese and savory toppings, all cooked conveniently in a hot cast-iron skillet. Using frozen bread dough as the base makes this homemade pizza both quick and flavorful, with a golden crust achieved through preheating the skillet in a 500°F oven. Customize it with your favorite sauces and toppings for a delicious, hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough
- 1 loaf Frozen Bread Dough
- 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour (for dusting)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (for greasing the pan)
Toppings
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil (for garnish)
Instructions
- Thaw the dough and prepare toppings: Begin by thawing the frozen bread dough according to the package directions, ideally overnight in the fridge for best results. While the dough thaws, prep your toppings such as slicing olives or veggies and grating cheese, so everything is ready to go.
- Preheat the oven and skillet: Place your cast-iron skillet in the oven and preheat it to 500°F. Allow the pan to heat for about 20 minutes to ensure it’s very hot. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and place it on a cooling rack or hot pad. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil into the pan and spread it evenly using a paper towel or basting brush. Be cautious—the pan will be extremely hot.
- Roll out and transfer the dough: On a floured surface, roll the dough out to be a couple of inches wider than your skillet’s diameter using a rolling pin or your fingers. Transfer the dough to the greased skillet, pressing it snugly against the sides. If you plan to add more than three toppings, prick the dough several times with a fork and prebake the crust for about 7 minutes before adding toppings; otherwise, proceed to the next step.
- Add the sauce and seasonings: Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the pizza crust. At this stage, you can sprinkle on Italian seasoning, garlic powder, or your preferred herbs to enhance the flavor.
- Add cheeses: Generously sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce layer, ensuring an even coverage for melty goodness.
- Add toppings: Arrange your chosen toppings on the cheese layer—pepperoni slices are a classic and favorite addition.
- Bake the pizza: Place the skillet back in the oven and bake for 14-17 minutes until the crust is golden and crispy and the cheese is bubbly and browned.
- Rest and serve: Remove the skillet from the oven and allow the pizza to cool for a minute. Use a pancake turner to carefully lift the pizza out onto a cutting board. Garnish with fresh basil, slice, and enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe yields two 9-inch pizzas from one loaf of frozen bread dough. You can cut the dough in half and freeze or bake the other half as a loaf if you prefer making only one pizza at a time.
- Preheating the cast-iron skillet is key to achieving a crispy bottom crust similar to a pizzeria.
- Feel free to customize with your preferred herbs and toppings to suit your taste.
- If using more than three toppings, prebaking the crust prevents sogginess.
- Always handle the hot skillet carefully to avoid burns.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of one 9-inch pizza)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
