Foolproof Cast Iron Pizza
Making pizza in a cast iron skillet at home can yield fantastic results, giving you a crispy crust and even cooking.
Homemade cast iron pizza is a culinary delight that captures the essence of traditional pizzeria-style pies right in your own kitchen. Imagine a golden-brown crust, perfectly crisp on the outside and tender within, topped with a flavorful tomato sauce, gooey melted cheese, and your favorite toppings, all infused with the savory essence of the cast iron skillet.
As you prepare to indulge in this homemade masterpiece, the aroma of freshly baked dough mingled with bubbling cheese fills the air, tantalizing your senses and building anticipation for the moment when you finally take that first, satisfying bite.
Serves: 5-8 people -
Prep Time: 10 minutes -
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
Ingredients:
Pizza dough; recipe here
Olive oil
Pizza sauce
Cheese (mozzarella is classic, but feel free to mix it up with other cheeses like cheddar, provolone, or parmesan)
Toppings of your choice (pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, etc.)
Cornmeal (optional, for sprinkling on the skillet)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven: Place your cast iron skillet in the oven and preheat it to the highest temperature your oven can go, usually around 500°F (260°C) or higher. Preheating the skillet ensures a crispy crust.
Prepare your dough: Roll out your pizza dough on a floured surface to fit the size of your skillet. If you like a thicker crust, you can make it slightly smaller than the skillet size.
Prepare the skillet: Once the oven is preheated, carefully remove the hot skillet. Drizzle some olive oil into the skillet and swirl it around to coat the bottom and sides. Sprinkle a little cornmeal on the bottom if desired for extra crispiness.
Assemble the pizza: Carefully transfer your rolled-out dough into the hot skillet. Press the dough into the skillet and up the sides to form a crust. Spread pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the sauce, then add your desired toppings.
Bake the pizza: Place the skillet back in the oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
Finish and serve: Carefully remove the skillet from the oven (remember, it's hot!) and let the pizza cool for a minute or two before slicing. You can slide the pizza out onto a cutting board for easier slicing.
Enjoy! Serve your delicious homemade cast iron skillet pizza hot and enjoy it with your favorite toppings.
