Description
Enjoy a delicious homemade cast iron skillet pizza with a crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese. This easy recipe uses 12 oz of pizza dough baked in a hot cast iron skillet, layered with marinara sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and veggies, then finished with a buttery crust for extra flavor and crispiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough and Base
- 12 oz. pizza dough (at room temp.)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese (grated)
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
Toppings
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 ¾ cups mozzarella cheese (whole milk/low moisture)
- 14 slices pepperoni
- ¼ cup sliced onions and peppers
Finishing
- 1 tablespoon butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) and allow it to heat for about 30 minutes to ensure the cast iron skillet gets really hot for the best crust.
- Prepare Dough: If you have a larger amount of dough, reduce it to 12 ounces. Roll the dough into a 14-inch circle on a lightly floured surface.
- Prepare Skillet and Dough Placement: Spray a 12-inch cast iron skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer the rolled dough to the skillet, pushing the dough about halfway up the sides, then roll the edges downward to form a defined crust.
- Oil and Season the Dough: Use a pastry brush to spread 1 tablespoon of olive oil evenly over the dough’s surface. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese and dried oregano on top. Use a fork to poke holes in the dough to vent air and avoid bubbles during baking.
- Initial Bake: Place the skillet on the lower oven rack and bake the crust for 5 minutes. After baking, remove the skillet and use a paper towel to dab excess oil off the crust and press it down firmly onto the skillet.
- Add Sauce and Toppings: Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the crust, then top with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, and sliced onions and peppers.
- Second Bake: Return the skillet to the lower rack and bake for an additional 10 minutes to melt the cheese and cook the toppings.
- Finish Crust and Broil: Remove the skillet from the oven, brush the crust with melted butter, then transfer it to the upper rack. Bake for another 3 minutes, then broil at 425°F for 1 minute—watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and Serve: Let the pizza rest in the skillet for 3-5 minutes. Tilt the skillet and use a spatula to slide the pizza onto a cutting board. Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
- Allow ample preheating time for the oven and skillet to ensure a crispy crust.
- Venting the dough with a fork prevents unwanted bubbles during baking.
- If using more dough, adjust toppings accordingly or reserve some dough as noted.
- Broiling at the end adds a beautiful golden finish to the cheese and crust but watch closely to avoid burning.
- Resting the pizza before removing helps the cheese set slightly for cleaner slices.
