Description
This Cast Iron Skillet Pizza recipe offers a delicious homemade pizza experience with a perfectly crisp crust and melty cheese, cooked using a combination of stovetop and oven methods for optimal texture and flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough
- 1 pound homemade pizza dough (454 g)
For Cooking
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Toppings
- ¼ cup pizza sauce of choice
- 1 cup loosely packed shredded mozzarella cheese (100 g)
- Pepperoni slices, as needed
- Grated parmesan cheese, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 500℉ to prepare for baking your pizza later.
- Rest dough: Let the homemade pizza dough sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to make it easier to stretch and shape.
- Prepare skillet and dough: Spread olive oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Place the room temperature dough in the oiled skillet and gently push and pull the dough to fit the skillet. If the dough is sticky, grease your fingers or palms with olive oil to handle it better. Be patient as cold dough can be elastic and spring back.
- Add sauce and toppings: Spread pizza sauce evenly on the dough, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle about three-quarters of the shredded mozzarella over the sauce. Arrange pepperoni slices on top, then cover with the remaining mozzarella. Optionally season with black or crushed red pepper for added flavor.
- Sprinkle parmesan: Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the exposed pizza crust to add extra flavor to the edges.
- Cook on stovetop: Place the skillet over medium heat on your stovetop. Warm the cast iron skillet and cook the pizza for about 3-5 minutes until the bottom crust is set and the olive oil bubbles along the rim.
- Bake in oven: Transfer the hot skillet carefully to the preheated oven, placing it on the center rack. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Rest and serve: Remove the skillet from the oven and allow the pizza to rest for 3-5 minutes before unmolding. Transfer the pizza to a cutting board and slice with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Garnish with additional parmesan cheese if desired, then serve.
Notes
- Allowing the dough to rest at room temperature makes it easier to stretch without snapping back.
- Greasing your hands with olive oil prevents sticking and helps shape the dough smoothly.
- Cooking the pizza briefly on the stovetop before baking helps achieve a crispy bottom crust.
- Use a very hot oven (500℉) for optimal melting and a nicely browned crust.
- Letting the pizza rest after baking helps the cheese set slightly for cleaner slices.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pizza
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: cast iron skillet pizza, homemade pizza, stovetop pizza, easy pizza recipe, pepperoni pizza
