Pizza is one of the world’s most perfect foods. You can make up a pizza in a cast iron skillet with little effort. And the flavor punch from a homemade pizza crust is out of this world.
Chock full of grains, veggies and cheese, right? Or covered in cream and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar or piled high with fresh berries. Yeah, I know. That’s not traditional. But if you’re inspired, make up the yeasty crust and pile on the toppings for your own unique creation. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or camp site.
This pizza dough recipe is for 2 crusts. It’s a Now and Later, make one now, save one for later kinda dough. Chewy, yeasty and crispy around the edges. It is really yummy.
Fill the pie with your favorite toppings and cheese. I made mine with lots of fresh veggies, mozzarella, parmesan and gouda. Whatever you’ve got hanging out in your fridge will do.
Pour yourself a cold beer and get to it. This is an easy, one pan Monday Game Night meal. And that second ball of dough can chill in the fridge and make a comeback later in the week.
Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients (For 2 Pizza Crusts)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour Tip: All-purpose flour will give you a chewier crust. Bread flour will give you a much crisper crust.
- 1 cup slightly warm water (110°-112°) not too hot or yeast will die and the dough will not rise
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast equal to 1 packet of yeast
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, plus a little extra for sides of bowl and dough.
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp Kosher salt
Pizza Sauce Ingredients (If homemade sauce isn't your thing, just grab a jar of pre-made from the grocery store)
- 1 14 oz can whole or diced tomatoes San Marzanos are the best for pzza sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1½ tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp salt
- fresh ground black pepper
Pizza Toppings
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated use more or less to your own liking
- 2 ounces gouda, grated
- 2 ounces parmesan cheese, grated
- Veggie and herbs and stuff you like Use your favorite veggies and toppings. You know what to do here.
Instructions
Basic Pizza Dough Recipe
- Pour slightly warm, 110° water into the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook and sprinkle with yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Be sure the water is not too hot or your yeast will die and the dough will not rise.
- Add the sugar, oil, and salt into yeast mixture.
- With the mixer on low, add the flour, in cupfuls, and mix until dough forms a ball. Transfer dough ball to oiled bowl and brush top with more olive oil. Cover bowl with a clean towel and set aside in a warm spot for about an hour. When you take a peek in an hour, the dough should have doubled in size.
Basic Pizza Sauce Recipe (if using)
- Prep the toppings and make the pizza sauce while dough is rising.
- Blend tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper together in a blender or food processor till blended.
- Sauce can be used immediately and remainder saved in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Sauce can be frozen for 3 months.
Making the Pizza
- Pre-heat oven to 450°
- Sprinkle bottom of cast iron skillet with a pinch of fine ground corn meal or rice flour.
- Place the dough on a floured work surface and cut it in half. If you are making 2 crusts, place both pieces on a floured work surface, cover with a tea towel and let rest for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, keep one dough covered (if using) and gently knead the other dough for about 4 minutes until smooth. If making 2 crusts, repeat with second ball of dough.(NOTE: If you are making only one crust, wrap the other piece in plastic and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.)
- After kneading, roll out dough ball to the size of your skillet. Approximately a 12-inch round.
- In one decisive action, lift dough like a boss and lay it into the skillet. Gently press it to the bottom of the skillet and push just a little way up the sides of skillet.
- Brush the dough with olive oil.
- Spread homemade pizza sauce (if using) or store bought sauce onto the dough in the skillet.
- Sprinkle the cheese on top of the sauce.
- Add toppings.
- Drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil around the edge of the pizza so that it seeps in between the dough and the sides of the skillet. This gives crust a crispy golden crunch and helps it come out of the pan easier.
- Bake pizza in the oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.