Thick and chewy pan pizza

A thick and chewy pan pizza made in a cast iron skillet is a delicious way to change-up your regular pizza nights.

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Pizza has always been a favorite meal of mine, like many people I'm sure. I love a traditional thin crust style pizza. But, sometimes, I like to change it up and have this thick pan pizza style crust that is cooked in a cast iron skillet.

This pan pizza reminds me of Pizza Hut pizza, which is something I always enjoyed as a kid (unfortunately there are none in our area anymore right now). Anyone else look forward to getting a free personal pizza for reading books in school??

You can top your pan pizza with whatever toppings you please. Aside from sauce and mozzarella cheese, I sometimes like pepperoni, mushrooms, cooked crumbled Italian sausage, bell peppers, onions, and more.

I use mozzarella cheese on this pizza that I grate myself using a hand grater. This helps to ensure the cheese melts better than when you use pre-shredded cheese. I like the cheese to have that great "pull" and to be golden and thoroughly melted.

If I have some provolone I made add some of that as well or some grated Parmesan (either before cooking, or when serving for topping).

I use a 12-inch cast iron skillet for cooking my pan pizza. The cast iron skillet is deep enough for the crust and gets super hot to help brown and thoroughly cook the thick crust. I love how thick and chewy, but yet still light and airy, the pan pizza crust cooks.

Serve this pizza with a big green salad or with a vegetable platter and some dip for a complete dinner that's sure to be a hit. Sometimes I also make this Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower with Blue Cheese Dressing to go with our pizza dinners.

We love pizza nights they are always a hit with the whole family. Give this thick and chewy pan pizza recipe a try on your next pizza night! 

Yield: 4 servings

Author: Amy (Savory Moments)

Thick and Chewy Pan Pizza

A thick and chewy pan pizza made in a cast iron skillet is a delicious way to change-up your regular pizza nights.

Ingredients

for the crust

• 14 oz. bread flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons lukewarm water
• 2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for coating the pan

for the toppings

• 1/2-3/4 cup pizza sauce
• about 1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (I like to mix in some provolone too if I have it)
• other toppings of your choice such as pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, etc.

Instructions

1. Mix all of the crust ingredients together in a large bowl until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place for 3-4 hours. It will more than double in size during this time.
2. Coat a 12-inch cast iron skillet with oil. Lightly flour your hands and the top of the pizza dough. Gather the dough into a ball (it will be sticky) and transfer it to the skillet.
3. Gently push and spread the dough until it covers the pan. Try to remove any noticeable air bubbles. Push the dough up slightly around the edge to form a crust. Cover with plastic wrap again and let sit for one hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
5. Check the dough again for any air bubbles and push it up along the edges again as needed. Cover with sauce, toppings, and cheese, leaving the crust edges clean.
6. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 15-18 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
7. Remove from the oven and let rest for about 5 minutes in the pan. Gently place the pizza on a cutting board and slice.

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I hope you give this pan pizza recipe a try! Let me know in the comments below.

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This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated in 2023 with a recipe card, new text, and more to improve reader experience. 

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