If you’re looking for a quick, easy, delicious pizza option, cast-iron pizza should be your new go-to. While the perfect homemade pizza can be created in many ways, from cooking it at a high temperature in an outdoor pizza oven to using an air fryer, making pizza in a cast-iron skillet creates a thick chewy crust with a crispy exterior. This crust becomes a perfect pillow for plenty of melty cheese and oodles of your favorite pizza toppings.
The best part: Cast-iron pizza eliminates the need for stretching the dough precisely. You simply press the dough right into the skillet and let the excellent heat retention from the cast iron do all the work. No fancy pizza tools are required, either! Keep toppings classic with pepperoni and cheese, or experiment with new combinations for your next pizza party.
Ingredients for Cast-Iron Pizza
- Pizza dough: Use your favorite homemade pizza dough recipe or store-bought dough. If choosing the latter, make sure the dough comes to room temperature before using it.
- Butter: While you don’t need much, melted butter is crucial in this recipe to help keep the pizza dough from sticking to the cast-iron skillet while your pizza cooks. Or, you can olive oil instead.
- Pizza sauce: Red pizza sauce creates the ideal base of flavor for your pizza. Choose from tasty store-bought pizza sauce options or your own homemade pizza sauce. If all you have is marinara, that works too!
- Mozzarella cheese: Mozzarella is the star of the show for a melty, cheesy pizza. You can use shredded mozzarella or slices of fresh mozzarella.
- Pepperoni: Classic pepperoni adds wonderful flavor and more protein. Small pepperoni cups are classic, but you can also chop up larger slices of deli pepperoni—or use them whole for more coverage!
- Optional ingredients: A few shakes of Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes are classic, optional toppings for the finished pizza.
Directions
Step 1: Prep the cast iron
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush the bottom and sides of a 12-inch cast-iron skillet with the melted butter.
Evenly press the pizza dough into the skillet.
Editor’s Tip: The dough doesn’t need to be pressed up the sides of the skillet, since the edges will rise in the oven. A good swish of melted butter along the sides and bottom is essential so the pizza doesn’t stick.
Step 2: Add the toppings
Top the pizza dough in the skillet with pizza sauce.
Add the mozzarella, pepperoni and additional toppings as desired.
Step 3: Bake the pizza
Bake the pizza on a lower oven rack for 30 to 35 minutes until the cheese and crust are golden brown. Remove the pizza from the oven, and top with grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if desired.
Slice and serve.
Editor’s Tip: If you want a crunchier pizza, bake it at a higher temperature, like 450° to 500°, for 12 to 15 minutes.
Recipe Variations
- Bake with other pizza crusts: Store-bought pizza dough sometimes comes spiked with garlic and herbs. You can make your own flavored crust by adding garlic powder, oregano, basil or marjoram to the dough before you press it into the pan.
- Create a deep-dish pizza: Make a deep-dish sausage pizza with extra layers of sauce, meat and cheese.
- Make it gluten-free: Use a gluten-free pizza dough recipe to make the ideal dough for pressing into your cast-iron skillet.
- Try a different sauce: Red pizza sauce is a classic for most pizza recipes, but there are so many other flavor options. Try swapping in pesto or Alfredo sauce, or combining one of these with red. Another great option? Pair barbecue sauce with toppings such as shredded chicken and red onions, as on this barbecue chicken pizza.
How to Store Cast-Iron Pizza
Have a few leftover slices? Remove the pizza slices from the cast-iron pan. Store them in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge for up to four days. You can choose to reheat the slices either in the microwave or in the oven until warmed thoroughly.
Can you freeze cast-iron pizza?
Yes, you can keep extra slices of cast-iron pizza on hand in the freezer. Either wrap the pizza slices in a layer of storage wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil, or store them in a freezer bag. Keep the frozen pizza slices in the freezer for up to two months. Once you’re ready to enjoy another slice, leave it in the fridge to thaw before reheating it in the oven or microwave.
Cast-Iron Pizza Tips
What size cast-iron skillet is good for making pizza?
This cast-iron pizza recipe works in a 12-inch round cast-iron skillet. A larger skillet will create a thinner crust, and a smaller skillet will result in a thicker crust. You can also split the dough between two mini cast-iron skillets for personal pizzas.
How do you keep pizza from sticking in a cast-iron skillet?
While cast-iron skillets develop a natural nonstick coating after proper seasoning, adding another layer of protection is important to ensure your pizza doesn’t stick while baking. Brushing the skillet with a bit of melted butter or oil will help prevent sticking.
What other pizzas can you make in a cast-iron?
This cast-iron pizza recipe keeps things simple with a topping combination of mozzarella cheese and sliced pepperoni, but you can make many other types of pizza in a cast-iron pan. Try a pizza margherita with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, or a classic Hawaiian with ham and pineapple. You could even use the cast-iron pan to make other unique flavor combos such as a Reuben pizza with corned beef and sauerkraut on top.
What can you serve with cast-iron pizza?
Just as with any other type of pizza, pizza in a cast-iron skillet pairs well with a variety of dishes. Toss together a classic Caesar salad or a three-green salad packed with veggies. A tomato and zucchini salad or artichoke caprese platter would pair nicely too.
