Upside-Down Pizza

We know there can be a lot of ire caused by pizza definitions. Some people swear that only New York pizza is the real stuff, while some people say the best pizza style is Chicago deep-dish or Detroit pan pizza.

We don’t want to wade into the semantics on this one, we just want you to give this unique upside-down pizza a try, because it is a true treat. Easy to make from scratch and even easier to enjoy, this upside-down pizza recipe will be a unifier, not a divider.

Upside-Down Pizza Ingredients

• Italian sausage: You’ll be using an entire pound of bulk Italian sausage for this recipe. If you buy links instead, just remove the casings before cooking.
• Onion: You can use a yellow onion or a white onion, both would work well.
• Green pepper: Learning how to cut a bell pepper the right way will result in evenly shaped pieces that cook at the same rate.
• All-purpose flour: The all-purpose flour is used in different steps, so make sure to keep it divided.
• Basil: Dried basil adds a wonderful herb flavor profile to this dish.
• Fennel seed: The fennel seed, which should be crushed, is quite potent, so don’t add more than the recommended amount.
• Tomato sauce: This recipe calls for a can of tomato sauce. If you don’t have any on hand, you can use 16 ounces of marinara sauce in a pinch.
• Mozzarella cheese: We recommend a part-skim mozzarella cheese for this upside-down pizza.
• Eggs: The eggs need to be at room temperature when you use them, so make sure to get them out of the fridge at least a half hour before you start cooking.
• Milk: While 2% milk works best for this upside down pizza casserole, whole milk is fine too if that’s what you have in the fridge.
• Canola oil: We recommend canola oil because it has a neutral flavor profile.
• Parmesan cheese: The grated Parmesan cheese is optional, but it is highly recommended—because who can say no to more cheese?

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the sauce

Danielle Moore for Taste of Home

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Then, in a saucepan, cook the sausage, onion and green pepper over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, breaking the sausage into crumbles as you go. Drain the excess grease and stir in 2 tablespoons flour, basil and fennel. Next, add the tomato sauce and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook and stir the meat sauce for two minutes.

Step 2: Assemble the upside-down pizza

Danielle Moore for Taste of Home

Transfer the sauce blend to an ungreased 13×9-inch baking dish and sprinkle it with mozzarella cheese. Then place the remaining 1 cup of flour in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, oil, salt and, if desired, Parmesan cheese. Stir this into the flour, mixing until blended, then pour the dough over the casserole filling.

Step 3: Bake the upside-down pizza

Bake the dish, uncovered, until it has browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Let the upside-down pizza casserole rest for a few minutes before digging in.

Danielle Moore for Taste of Home

Upside-Down Pizza Variations

Danielle Moore for Taste of Home

• Add some heat: Adding a generous teaspoon of red pepper flakes as the sauce simmers is a great way to bring some spice to this upside-down pizza.
• Use veggie sausage: Make this dish vegetarian by using plant-based meat instead of the sausage.
• Mix in some Swiss: Swapping out half of the mozzarella cheese for shredded Swiss cheese introduces a unique and complex flavor profile.

How to Store Upside-Down Pizza

You can store leftovers of this upside-down pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

How do I reheat servings of upside-down pizza?

Reheat any leftovers in a baking pan or a baking dish in a 350° oven until warmed through.

Upside-Down Pizza Tips

Danielle Moore for Taste of Home

What should I serve with this upside down pizza?

It has you covered in terms of most food groups, so we recommend a green side salad as the perfect accompaniment. Though we won’t judge you if you go with a delectable loaf of garlic bread instead.

Can I skip the fennel?

Absolutely. If you prefer to skip the fennel, just add a bit more basil.

What other ingredients can I add to this dish?

This is akin to a pizza, after all, so go with all your favorite pizza toppings. You can add black olives, tomato chunks, mushrooms and so much more.