How to make a great pan pizza at home! It’s got a thick, chewy crust and tastes just like your favorite pizza place…but even better.
![pizza pan](https://thekitchencurry.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pan-Pizza-020.jpg)
hey her Calling all lovers of thick and chewy pizza crust! This epic homemade pancake pizza tastes just like your favorite pizza place’s thick crust pizza. The smell from the oven is enough to make you visibly drool (we did!). Cooking in a cast-iron skillet means the crust is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside: and the cheese goes to the edges. These premium sticky cheese and garlic tomato sauce toppings…well, that’s true perfection. Side benefit: It’s also easy to do. How to bake the best pan pizza!
How to make a pan pizza: an overview
Alex and I have spent years perfecting the art of artisan Neapolitan-style pizza recipes and the perfect margherita. But we had never mastered American-style skillet pizza: until now! Although this style takes a little longer, it’s actually easier! You don’t have to shape the dough or worry about transferring it to a pizza stone. Toss it in a cast iron skillet and let the oven do its magic! Here’s a basic rundown of what you’re getting into with pan pizza:
Make the dough | 15 minutes activity |
Let the dough rise in the pan | 45 minutes to 1 hour idle |
Let the dough rise again (and preparing the toppings) | 45 minutes, idle (use time to prepare toppings) |
Garnish and bake the pizza | 15 minutes idle |
![How to make pan pizza](https://thekitchencurry.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pan-Pizza-006-1.jpg)
You will need a 10 inch cast iron skillet
The only equipment you need to make skillet pizza is a cast iron skillet! You need one 10 inch pan for this recipe because the batter size is specifically designed for this pan. (What else can you cook in cast iron? Head over to 15 Great Cast Iron Skillet Recipes.)
If you’ve ever baked bread, you’re familiar with the concept of proof. Leavening consists of letting the bread dough rest after adding yeast so that it rises. The trick to getting the extra thick crust in this recipe is to proof the dough twice. The downside is that you don’t have to wait 45 minutes just once twice. The benefit is that you get a super thick and chewy crust.
Another benefit of pan pizza: you don’t have to worry about shaping the dough! No need to throw pizza dough in the air or be frustrated when it tears. Just let it rise in the pan and then push it into the batter. It is so easy!
![Cast iron skillet](https://thekitchencurry.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pan-Pizza-003.jpg)
This pizza sauce is a must
When you think of pan pizza toppings, you can use whatever you want. Just make sure you make our best pizza sauce! It’s full of unbelievable taste and makes every pizza taste like a pizzeria. Best of all, it only takes 5 minutes to prepare. Please. We request. Prepare this sauce! Go to Best Pizza Sauce for the recipe.
Top your pizza pan with these epic toppings!
OK, so here’s the deal. If you like, you can top this pan pizza with cheese and pepperoni. But could we suggest adding these? epos toppings? In general, we encourage creativity (and we do!). But you have to try these toppings at least once. They make your home smell like you just walked into a pizzeria. And they taste, well… epic. Here’s the breakdown:
- Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan (a lot!)
- Sautéed mushrooms with fennel seeds = sausage taste!
- pepper
- Red onion
- Dried oregano
![Best pan pizza](https://thekitchencurry.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pan-Pizza-010.jpg)
Skillet Pizza Cooking Technique: On the stovetop, then in the oven!
A final note on the technique for a skillet pizza. The first thing you do after topping your pizza is take it out of the oven. No, you first put it on a stove top and cook it for 2 minutes. This ensures the base heats up just enough before going into the oven, resulting in a perfect crispy crust base. Trust us in this case!
Warning: you can only make one (unless you have 2 pans!)
This pan pizza recipe is prepared directly in the cast iron pan: you let the dough rise for 1h30 and then slide it in. Because of this, you can only bake one pizza at a time. Unless you have two 10 inch cast iron skillets! (If so, can we be friends?)
That might not seem like enough. But guess what? The crust of a pan pizza is very thick, making it much heartier than a thin-crust pizza. Alex and I usually have at least 2 pizzas for our family (2 adults plus a 3 year old) but with a pan pizza we can do with just one. Just make sure to garnish with a salad or side dish. Speaking of…
Would you like to prepare a whole plate at once? Try our pizza focaccia!
![pizza pan](https://thekitchencurry.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pan-Pizza-012.jpg)
Ways to serve this pizza pan
Since you can only make one pizza pan at a time, that’s an excuse to get creative with side dishes! It’s easy for Alex and I to stock up on pizza, so we like the added challenge of this pizza pan. We are happy to serve this with:
- Perfect Italian Salad This salad will amaze everyone at the table! Homemade Italian dressing, crunchy vegetables and parmesan combine to create an extraordinary salad.
- Easy Arugula Salad The easiest salad you will ever make! This easy arugula salad is foolproof: you don’t even have to make any dressing. It can be assembled in minutes!
- Spinach and Apple Salad So easy and so good, this will be your new favorite dish! No one will believe it took minutes to set it up.
- Easy Citrus Salad This easy and refreshing citrus salad is made with grapefruits and oranges, topped with a tangy dressing and fresh mint.
![Best pan pizza](https://thekitchencurry.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pan-Pizza-019.jpg)
This perfect pan pizza recipe is…
Vegetarian.
The description
How to make a great pan pizza at home! It’s got a thick, chewy crust and tastes just like your favorite pizza place…but even better.
For the pizza dough
- 188 grams (1 ½ cups) Tipo 00 or all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Instant or active dry yeast
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 118 grams (½ cup) Hot water
- ½ tbsp olive oil
For garnish
- 4 mini bella mushrooms A portabella mushroom
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/2 peppers (or 1/4 green and 1/4 Red)
- 1 a handful of chopped red onion
- ½ cup Easy pizza sauce
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Dried oregano
- Prepare the dough (15 minutes): In a bowl or the bowl of your food processor, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, oregano, and garlic powder. Stir to combine. Add water and olive oil and stir until a soft dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface.
- Knead the dough by pressing it with the base of your palm, then shape it into a ball. Continue kneading for 8 minutes, until dough is fluffy and has a smooth, stretchy surface. If the dough is very sticky, add a little flour while kneading. Alternatively: Attach the dough hook to a stand mixer and start the mixer on medium-low speed, then knead for 8 minutes.
- Let the dough rise (45 minutes to 1 hour): Generously oil the bottom and sides of a 10-inch cast iron skillet with olive oil. When kneading is complete, using your floured hands, gently form the dough into a ball (spherical shape) by folding the dough onto itself. Place the batter in the center of the pan and brush the batter with a little olive oil to keep it moist. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in size and spread, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Squeeze and Continue (45 minutes): Remove the towel and drizzle with some olive oil. Using your fingers, press the dough in a circular motion to the edges of the pan. Cover and leave to stand for 45 minutes.
- Preheat: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 475F.
- Preparation of the toppings: Slice the mini bella mushrooms. Heat the olive oil in a small pan. Sauté mushrooms and fennel seeds until golden and beginning to release moisture, about 3-5 minutes. Add 2 pinches of kosher salt and cook for another minute, then remove from heat.
- Finely chop the green pepper. Cut the red peppers into thin slices. Finely chop the red onion.
- Garnish and bake pizza (20 minutes): When the dough is ready, spread the pizza sauce over the dough with the back of a spoon to form a thin layer up to the edges of the dough. Add mozzarella and parmesan. Garnish with mushrooms, peppers and red onions. Sprinkle with dried oregano and a few pinches of kosher salt. Sprinkle with another light pinch of mozzarella.
- Place the pan on a stovetop burner over high heat for two minutes. Then place in the oven and bake for 13 to 17 minutes until the cheese is golden brown. Run a butter knife around the edge of the dish to prevent the cheese from sticking, then allow to cool slightly. After about a minute, place the pizza on a cutting board and cut into pieces. Serve immediately.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cooked
- Kitchen: Italian-American
- Diet: vegetarian
Keywords: Breaded pizza, plain breaded pizza