Easy Cast Iron Skillet Pizza Recipe
This Easy Cast Iron Skillet Pizza recipe delivers a crispy, golden crust with melty mozzarella cheese and your favorite toppings. Prepared in a cast iron skillet and baked in the oven, it’s a simple way to enjoy delicious homemade pizza with a perfectly browned crust.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 large 12-inch pizza (4-6 servings) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough & Oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces pizza dough (store bought or homemade), room temperature
Cheese & Sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (low moisture block mozzarella recommended)
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (store bought or homemade)
Toppings
- Desired pizza toppings
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare racks: Move one oven rack to the very bottom and one to the top of your oven, then preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). This setup ensures even cooking and browning of the pizza crust and toppings.
- Oil the skillet and shape dough: Evenly spread the olive oil in the bottom and sides of the cast iron skillet. Gently stretch the pizza dough to fill the bottom of the pan, dimple it lightly with your fingers to shape it evenly and fit the skillet.
- Add cheese and sauce: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the entire top surface of the dough, reaching all the way to the edges. Then dot the pizza sauce over the cheese in an even layer, again going to the edges, to create a flavorful base.
- Add toppings and bake: Add your favorite pizza toppings evenly over the sauce. Place the skillet on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the bottom crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and browning. Check the crust by lifting the side with a spatula; if needed, continue baking until crisp.
- Finish browning (optional): For a more browned top, move the skillet to the top rack of the oven and bake an additional 2-3 minutes until the cheese bubbles and browns to your preference.
- Remove and serve: Carefully place the hot skillet on a wire rack to cool briefly. Run a sharp knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the crust, then use a spatula to transfer the pizza to a cutting board to avoid sogginess. Slice and serve hot.
Notes
- This recipe is designed for a large 12-inch cast iron pan. If using a smaller 9-inch skillet, reduce ingredients to 2 teaspoons olive oil and 10 ounces pizza dough.
- Using low moisture block mozzarella instead of fresh mozzarella results in a crispier crust.
- Room temperature dough is easier to stretch and prevents shrinking during baking.
- To avoid sticking, ensure the skillet is well oiled before adding dough.
- Checking the crust for browning by lifting the pizza helps prevent burning or undercooked dough.
Keywords: cast iron skillet pizza, homemade pizza, easy pizza, crispy crust pizza, mozzarella pizza, stove oven pizza
