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+ servings
cast iron skillet pizza with cheese and pepperoni.
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4.93 from 27 votes

Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

Skip the take-out pizza and make cast iron skillet pizza instead! This easy skillet pizza has a thick crust with a crispy bottom and a soft and chewy center. You can make it in 30 minutes with your favorite toppings for your next Friday night pizza!

Equipment

  • 12" cast iron pan recipe is for 12", see notes below for a 9"

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Move one oven rack to the very bottom and one to the top of your oven, then preheat the oven to 450 F/230 C.
  • Evenly spread the oil in the bottom and sides of the cast iron pan. Gently stretch the pizza dough to fill the bottom of the pan, dimpling it with your fingers.
  • Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the entire top of the dough, all the way to the edges. Then dot the sauce over the cheese, all the way to the edges.
  • Add your favorite toppings, then bake it on the bottom rack for 18-20 minutes, or until the bottom of the crust is golden brown and the cheese is browning and melted. To check the crust browning, lift up the side with a spatula. If needed, continue baking it on the bottom rack until browned. If you desire a more browned top, move the pan to the top rack of the oven for 2-3 minutes.
  • Place the hot pan on a wire rack momentarily, then use a sharp knife to run around the edges of the pan to keep the crust from sticking to the pan. Use a spatula to carefully transfer the pizza to a cutting board to keep the crust from getting soggy. Serve hot and enjoy!

Video

Notes

This recipe is for a large 12" cast iron pan. If you prefer to use a smaller 9" one decrease the ingredient amounts to:
  • 2 teaspoon oil
  • 10 ounces pizza dough
  • ⅓ cup pizza sauce
  • 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese
Mozzarella: I don't recommend making this recipe with fresh mozzarella. The cheese doesn't keep the sauce from soaking into the dough and it doesn't melt as much so the crust doesn't get crispy.
​Use room-temperature dough. This is important to ensure everything bakes evenly and quickly!
Don't use extra toppings. You may be tempted to pile on the toppings but this can prevent the dough from cooking through. I recommend using just a few toppings and keeping it simple for the best results!
Check on it occasionally - you may notice bubbles in the middle of the pizza that expand while baking. If this happens, use a sharp knife to pop the bubble and release the air.