➤ story by SOFIA MARTÍNEZ • photos by RENE STRGAR
If you need dinner on the table stat, technically you could order a pizza. “Thirty minutes or less,” as they say, right? Realistically, however, you could also just make a delicious pizza at home in about 10 minutes — as long as you have a cast iron skillet (or any cookware that can go from the stove to the oven) and the right ingredients: pizza dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and your favorite toppings.
Related: My Thrifted Pan Makes the Crispiest Stovetop Pizza (And Now You Can Get It On Amazon)
This method works with both store-bought pizza dough and homemade dough! If you’re making your own dough from scratch, just keep in mind that the dough needs about 1 hour to rise before you can cook your pizza. Once the dough is ready, the actual pizza comes together in just minutes.
The Method
Start on the Stove: Oil up a cast iron skillet or oven-safe pan. Press your pizza dough into the pan, then add your sauce, cheese, and any toppings. Place the pan on the stove over medium heat and let the pizza cook until the oil begins bubbling around the edges and the bottom of the crust starts to crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes. Starting the pizza on the stovetop is what gives this cast iron pizza its crispy crust, so definitely don’t skip or rush this step.
Finish in the oven: Set your oven to the broiler setting, or crank up the heat to the highest temperature. Transfer the whole cast iron pan with the pizza in it to the oven. Let the pizza finish cooking for 1½ to 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted to your liking.
Lodge 10.5″ Shallow Cast Iron Skillet for Thin Crust (from $25)
Utopia 12″ Standard Cast Iron Skillet (from $27)
The Dough
The stovetop/oven method described above works perfectly with both store-bought or premade pizza dough as well as homemade pizza dough. Below we included a recipe for homemade pizza dough if you choose to make it from scratch. Keep in mind that the dough takes 1 hour to rise.
Toppings
Just like any pizza, you can use whatever toppings you desire!
However, because this pizza spends a shorter amount of time in the oven compared to traditional pizza, some toppings may need a little extra preparation. If you’re using raw vegetables (like mushrooms, peppers, or onions) or raw meats (like sausage), we recommend quickly sautéing or cooking them beforehand so they have enough time to fully cook.
For fresh toppings like basil, arugula, or burrata, add them after the pizza comes out of the oven to keep them fresh.
Cast Iron Pizza on the Stove and Oven
Ingredients
- For the Dough (if making from scratch)
Makes one 12-inch pizza (or two thinner crust pizzas)
You can also use store-bought pizza dough if you don’t have time for the dough to rise.
1 tsp (3.5g) active dry or instant yeast
1½ tsp (6.5g) sugar
¾ cup (170g) warm water
2¼ cups (270g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (2.5g) kosher salt
1 tbsp (12.5g) olive oil - For the Pizza
¼–⅓ cup (60–80g) pizza sauce
¾–1 cup (85–115g) shredded mozzarella cheese
1–2 tbsp olive oil, for greasing the cast iron pan
Favorite pizza toppings, as desired
Directions
- Make the dough (if using homemade): Combine the yeast, sugar, warm water, flour, salt, and olive oil. Knead until a smooth and elastic dough ball forms, about 10 minutes on medium speed in a stand mixer. Cover the dough and let it rest for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Build the pizza: Lightly oil a cast iron skillet. Press the dough into the pan, then add pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings.
- Cook on the stove: Place the cast iron pan over medium heat. Cook until the oil starts bubbling around the edges and the bottom of the crust becomes crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Finish in the oven: Transfer the pan to the oven on the broiler setting. Cook for 1½ to 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the pizza is cooked to your liking.
Leave a Reply