Cast Iron Skillet Pizza (Ultimate Cheese & Toppings Bake)

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

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C)
2. Heat your cast iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes
3. Brush skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil
4. Stretch dough to slightly larger than skillet size
5. Carefully place dough in hot skillet (it may sizzle – that’s good!)
6. Par-bake for 3 minutes on stovetop until bottom starts bubbling
7. Remove from heat, spread sauce evenly
8. Layer half the cheese mixture
9. Add your chosen toppings
10. Top with remaining cheese
11. Drizzle with remaining oil and sprinkle seasonings
12. 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!