Crispy Crust Pan Pizza aka Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

Are you looking for a crispy crust pizza that is still doughy and delicious? Move over soggy pan pizza, you are not on our tables anymore! Grab that cast iron skillet and let’s turn your kitchen into the best pizzeria in town!

Take It To The Tailgate Tips for the BEST Crispy Crust Pan Pizza aka Cast Iron Skillet Pizza!

• The magic is in the method, not the type of dough you use!
• Heating the pizza on an oven eye BEFORE placing it in the oven is essential. It helps jump start heating the oil from the bottom of the pan, thus crisping the crust!
• Placing 1 cup of cheese on top of the dough before adding the sauce is essential in this recipe! This keeps your dough from getting soggy.

See? You can actually pick up the slice of pizza! No sloppy fork/spoon needed. This is essential when you have a crowd over to watch the big game!

The Playbook

For Crispy Crust Pan Pizza aka Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

• Use store bought dough or dough from scratch.
• I used Publix pre-made dough – it is in their bakery section.
• The secret ingredient for the crispy crust is the cornmeal/olive oil coating on your cast iron pan!
• PRO TIP: Sprinkle a teensy bit of cornmeal on the top rim of the crust. You can see how I did this in the picture below.

CLICK HERE TO TAILGATE WITH HEATHER ON PINTEREST!

Oh, and you’ve heard me say that my pizza wheel cutter is ANCIENT and it is the only one I will ever use! I love it because it has a wide stainless steel thumb rest so you can really put your weight on it to make clean slices. I bought it at a Pampered Chef party in the mid-1990’s….luckily Amazon has them now! (affiliate)

More Game Day Recipes You Will Love!

• Hot Taco Dip
• Bourbon Meatball Appetizers
• Simple Sangria

Heather Cabaniss shares tailgating recipes, college tips for parents and sorority recruitment advice right here at Totally Tailgates. Tailgate together! Join her on Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Crispy Crust Pan Pizza

Pizza crust that is crispy on the bottom and soft on the top - just like at your favorite pizzeria!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Main Dish

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

• 1 1/2 cup cooked ground beef I use pre-cooked frozen
• 2 tbs red wine optional
• 1 tbs fresh minced garlic
• 1 tbs onion, chopped fine
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 jar or can good quality pizza sauce
• 1 ball pizza dough enough to fit a 10 inch pan or pizza stone
• 1 tbs cornmeal
• pepperoni or other toppings
• 2-3 tbs vegetable oil olive oil works too, just not extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

 

• Heat over to 500 degrees.
• Brown hamburger meat until almost done. Drain. Return to stove and add the onion, garlic and red wine. Continue to brown the meat until the juices are clear and the onions are soft and tender. OR....if you are using frozen ground round, add frozen meat to a small pot and add onion, garlic and red wine. Heat until meat is warmed and onions and garlic are soft. Set aside browned meat.
• Pour 2 tablespoons oil in the bottom of a 10 inch cast iron skillet. Take a paper towel and rub the oil halfway up the sides. Liberally sprinkle cornmeal on top of the oil, making sure it covers the bottom of the skillet.
• Take ball of dough, and rub a little oil around the whole exterior. Press into the bottom of the pan and about 1/2 inch up the sides.
• Top dough with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Cover cheese and dough with sauce. Add hamburger, pepperoni and any other toppings you want. Cover the toppings with remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Place the cast iron skillet with the pizza on your stove. Turn the stove eye onto high heat. Let the skillet stay on the hot oven eye for 1-2 minutes or until you hear the oil sizzle. Immediately place skillet into the oven. Cook until cheese is melted and bubbly.