Pizza is one of the most universally loved foods. With so many different types of crusts and such a large variety of topping, you can find a pizza combination to suit pretty much any taste. However, many methods of making pizza are not exactly friendly for the home cook. Some styles require an oven that can exceed 900 degrees Fahrenheit, while others have a tough learning curve when it comes to sliding the raw dough on and off of the peel.
Fortunately, for pizza lovers and home cooks who don’t have the time to become certified pizzaiolos, there’s a simple and satisfying option – skillet pizza. You don’t need some sort of fancy oven or specialized pizza pan – a cast-iron skillet will work just fine. With the right ingredients, you’ll be biting into a crunchy, chewy, restaurant-quality pizza in no time!
Here are our favorite skillet pizza recipes…
1. Adam Ragusea’s Skillet Pizza Recipe in a Cast Iron Skillet
If you’ve ever tried an Adam Ragusea recipe, you know that he has a penchant for making easy, delicious meals using his cooking skills and scientific knowledge. This is a simple recipe that can be customized any way you want it, serving as the perfect pizza base for any pizza night with the family. A basic dough recipe is accompanied by a simple tomato sauce that includes basil for a nice aromatic touch.
By adding cornmeal to the pan before cooking, you get a crispy, textured crust that is less “boring” than some more straightforward crusts. The extra virgin olive oil helps the browning process and creates even more flavor throughout the pie. You start this one on the burner and finish it under the broiler, allowing you to experience a crust that is uniformly crispy and a top that is melty, gooey, and hot.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
2. Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza
This delightful pizza utilizes a method that has become more and more popular – spreading the cheese to the edges of the pie to create a crunchy, caramelized crust. It might look a little burnt, but the flavor and textures are irresistible. The simple no-knead dough makes for an airy, light crust that won’t weigh you down. This is helped by the additional cold fermentation time in the refrigerator – so make sure you get the dough ready at least one day before you want pizza. A 2 or 3-day fermentation will actually help develop more flavor, so go for it if you have the patience!
The layering technique is unique as well. You’ll put a small layer of cheese straight on the crust before topping with the sauce and one more layer of cheese. This helps creates a textural contrast and also keeps the crust from becoming soggy. So, even if you can’t finish this pizza in one sitting (unheard of!), you’ll still get plenty of crunches when you come back for more.
Get the full recipe and directions from King Arthur Baking.
3. Foolproof Pan Pizza
If you have fond memories of your days eating chain pizza as a kid, this is the recipe for you! This will give you a rush of nostalgia while being light-years ahead of the quality of actual chain restaurants. The style may be similar enough to evoke memories of childhood sleepovers, but the ingredients are far superior. Plus, it’s fun to make!
Again, you can use an overnight fermentation, but this will be ready to go in 8 hours if needed, so you can make the dough in the morning and have pizza for dinner! This recipe is a simple cheese pizza, but feel free to add whatever toppings you like best. We find that thick-cut pepperoni works great here, especially if you get a high-quality cup-and-char variety.
Get the full recipe and directions from Serious Eats.
4. Cheesy Pan Pizza
Like many of the other recipes, the beauty of this pizza lies in its simplicity and adaptability. This may be a recipe for a cheese pizza, but you can customize it with any toppings that you like. We also like to use the dough as a base for a white pizza. You’ll get a focaccia-like mouthfeel from this, and toppings such as mushrooms, goat cheese, and balsamic reduction play nicely together here.
You’ll use a stretch and fold technique to bring the dough together before letting it ferment in the fridge overnight or for up to 3 days. The longer the better in this case, as you want maximum airiness and crispiness for this one. If you are going to go with a traditional red pie, keep the crust crunchy by putting a layer of cheese down first, then adding sauce and a final layer of cheese to finish it off.
Get the full recipe and directions from NY Times Cooking.
5. Easy Skillet Pan Combination Pizza
If you have a big appetite, you’ll love this pizza! The crust includes olive oil, butter, and sugar for a sweeter, heavier taste. Topped with Mozzarella, sausage, pepperoni, olives, and green peppers, this is certainly a supreme pizza. The good news is that the crust provides plenty of strength for all those ingredients, and you won’t have to worry about them sliding off or the crust collapsing under their weight.
Get the full recipe and directions from Butter Your Biscuit.
6. Ree Drummond’s Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
If you’re low on time, this is a great option for cast iron pizza. It uses store-bought dough, so you don’t have to worry about fermentation time or mixing. You’ll preheat your cast iron pan, which allows the dough to crisp up quickly as you put it in the pan. Sauce, pepperoni, and cheese go on next, and everything goes back in the oven to cook for 12-14 minutes until the crust reaches your desired level of doneness. That’s all it takes to enjoy this super-fast but incredibly delicious pizza!
Get the full recipe and directions from Food Network.
7. Simple Skillet Deep Dish Pizza
Here’s a recipe that has a nice, flaky crust, similar to a Chicago-style deep dish. The toppings include mixed vegetables like cherry tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers, and mushrooms. With mozzarella and parmesan cheese, you add some richness that works nicely with the sweetness of the tomato sauce. This may be a thick pizza, but it is still refreshing and light, making it perfect for any time of year! We really like sprinkling some fresh basil on at the end to tie everything together.
Get the full recipe and directions from Minimalist Baker.
With such easy-to-make restaurant-quality pizzas, you’ll be making these skillet pizzas all the time. Which one are you excited to try first?
If you like this post, we think you’ll really like our Skillet Pizza Recipe post.
