Cast Iron Skillet Pizza (Ultimate Cheese & Toppings Bake)
A crispy-crusted, cheese-loaded pizza baked casserole-style in a cast iron skillet. Perfect for customizing with your favorite toppings!
KEY INFO
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (45 with homemade dough)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35-65 minutes
- Servings: 4-6
- Difficulty: Medium
- Dietary: Vegetarian-friendly (adaptable)
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- 12-inch cast iron skillet (or oven-safe skillet)
- Large mixing bowl
- Spatula or pizza cutter
- Measuring cups/spoons
INGREDIENTS
Base:
- Pizza dough – 1 pound (450g) [store-bought or homemade]
- Olive oil – 2 tablespoons (30ml)
- Pizza sauce – 1 cup (240ml)
Cheese Layer:
- Mozzarella – 2 cups (200g), shredded
- Parmesan – ½ cup (50g), grated
- Optional: Ricotta – ½ cup (125g) for dolloping
Classic Toppings (Customize as desired):
- Pepperoni – 4 oz (115g), sliced
- Bell peppers – 1 medium, sliced
- Mushrooms – 8 oz (225g), sliced
- Red onion – 1 small, thinly sliced
Seasonings:
- Italian herbs – 1 tablespoon
- Garlic powder – 1 teaspoon
- Red pepper flakes – ½ teaspoon (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
METHOD
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C)
- Heat your cast iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes
- Brush skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Stretch dough to slightly larger than skillet size
- Carefully place dough in hot skillet (it may sizzle – that’s good!)
- Par-bake for 3 minutes on stovetop until bottom starts bubbling
- Remove from heat, spread sauce evenly
- Layer half the cheese mixture
- Add your chosen toppings
- Top with remaining cheese
- Drizzle with remaining oil and sprinkle seasonings
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until crust is golden and cheese bubbles with brown spots
CRUCIAL TIPS
- Don’t overload with wet toppings – they’ll make the crust soggy
- Pre-cook any raw meat toppings
- Let rest 5 minutes before cutting
- If using store-bought dough, let it come to room temperature
STORAGE & SCALING
- Keeps 3 days refrigerated
- Reheat in oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes
- Scale recipe up/down based on skillet size
- Double ingredients for deep-dish style
VARIATIONS
- Margherita: Fresh mozzarella, basil, cherry tomatoes
- Meat Lovers: Pepperoni, sausage, bacon
- Veggie Supreme: Mixed vegetables, extra cheese
- BBQ Chicken: BBQ sauce base, chicken, red onions
Never microwave leftovers – it ruins the crispy crust!
