Skip the delivery tonight and make this easy Cast Iron Pan Pizza right at home!
With a golden, crispy crust, gooey melted cheese, and your favorite toppings, this homemade recipe is everything you love about takeout—made even better in your own kitchen.
Whether it’s a fun Friday night dinner, this Family Dinner Idea delivers that irresistible pizzeria flavor with minimal effort.
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I’ve been cooking just for myself—my husband’s been away training cadets again this summer. The other night, I was craving pizza but wanted to try something a little different from family's favorite pizza dough recipe.
So I made an individual sized using my favorite 8-inch cast iron skillet. On a whim, I snapped a few photos while it baked—just in case it turned out well. And I’m so glad I did!
Not only was this meal incredibly delicious, but it also came together in no time. I have a feeling you’re going to love this easy recipe as much as I did!
Table of Contents
- Cast Iron Pizza Dough
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Pan Pizza Toppings
- How Long to Bake Cast Iron Pan Pizza
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- Recipe Tips for Deep Dish Skillet Pizza
- How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- Recipe FAQ's
- More Pizza Recipes to LOVE
- 🗒️Shopping List
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Cast Iron Pizza Dough
- You can use store-bought pizza dough, a 1-pound loaf from your favorite local pizzeria, or make your own homemade dough—whatever works best for you!
- Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces; you’ll only need one for this recipe.
- To store the extras, place the remaining 3 pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet and flash freeze for about 20 minutes.
- Once firm, transfer the frozen dough portions to a labeled freezer-safe plastic bag. They’ll be ready to pull out for your next pizza night!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Lodge Wildlife Series-6.5
KEOUKE Rotary Cheese Grater with Handle Vegetable Cheese Shredder Slicer Grater for Kitchen 3 Changeable Blades for Cheese Potato Zucchini Nuts Chocolate - GreyBlueCast Iron Handle Cover, 10 Packs Silicone Pot Holders, Cast Iron Handle Covers Heat Resistant, Non-Slip Pot Handle Covers, for Frying Cast Iron Skillet Metal Pan2PCS Pizza Wheel Cutter and Pie Server - Non-Slip Handle, Sharp Stainless Steel Pizza Slicer
Main Ingredients Needed
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use store-bought pizza dough, homemade dough, or even biscuit dough for a shortcut version.
- Swap marinara or pizza sauce with pesto, Alfredo sauce, BBQ sauce, or even a light brush of olive oil and garlic for a white pizza.
- Mozzarella is classic, but you can mix in provolone, cheddar, fontina, Monterey Jack, or even a little goat cheese for extra flavor.
- Don’t have pepperoni? Use cooked sausage, shredded rotisserie chicken, bacon, or keep it vegetarian with mushrooms, bell peppers, or spinach.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: Place the pizza dough on a piece of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, gently roll it out to fit your cast iron skillet, being careful not to make it too thin. Alternatively, use your hands to stretch and shape the dough into a circle for a more rustic look.
Step 2: Make sure you preheat the cast iron pan for at least 15 to 20 minutes. You want a hot pan to put the pizza dough in. Add the olive oil to the bottom of the pan using a pastry brush.
Step 3: Carefully place the shaped dough into the preheated cast iron skillet—the pan will be very hot, so use caution. The dough will begin to cook immediately on contact, but you’ll still have a few seconds to gently adjust and press it into place if needed.
Pan Pizza Toppings
Step 4: Now comes the fun part—topping your pizza! Spread a layer of marinara or pizza sauce over the dough (homemade or store-bought both work great). Then quickly add your shredded cheese and pepperoni, keeping in mind the dough is already starting to cook in the hot pan.
How Long to Bake Cast Iron Pan Pizza
Step 5: Carefully return the skillet to the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and melted. When removing the pan, use oven mitts and take caution—the cast iron will be extremely hot. Be sure to place it on a trivet or heat-safe surface to avoid damaging your countertops.
Let the pizza cool in the cast iron pan for a few minutes. Then, use a large spatula to carefully lift it out and transfer it to a cutting board. Top with fresh basil, slice it up, and enjoy every cheesy bite!
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Recipe Tips for Deep Dish Skillet Pizza
Pizza Dough: Make sure to roll or stretch your pizza dough to match the size of your cast iron skillet. If it’s too thick, it may not cook evenly; too thin, and it could burn before the toppings are fully melted.
Preheat with Care: Always preheat your cast iron skillet in the oven before adding the dough. This helps create a crispy, golden crust—but remember, the pan will be very hot!
Use Heat-Safe Tools: I love using my Silicone Hot Skillet Cover Holder for extra grip and safety. Just be sure to remove it before placing the pan in the oven—it’s not oven-safe!
Protect Your Surfaces: When removing the pan from the oven, use thick oven mitts and set the pan on a trivet, wooden cutting board, or heat-safe mat. Cast iron stays hot for a long time and can scorch countertops.
Rotate if Needed: If your oven has hot spots, give the pan a quick turn halfway through baking to help the crust cook evenly.
Clean-Up Help: Don’t forget to check out my post on Easy Tips on Cleaning Cast Iron Pans to keep your skillet in great shape for your next pizza night!
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also wrap individual slices in foil or plastic wrap.
Freezer: Allow the pizza to cool completely. Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw and Reheat: Thaw slices in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes or in an air fryer for 3–5 minutes until hot and crispy.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
To prevent sticking, preheat the skillet and coat it generously with olive oil or cooking spray. You can also sprinkle a little cornmeal or flour in the pan before adding the dough for extra protection and texture.
For a 12-inch cast iron skillet pizza, you'll need about 12 to 14 ounces of pizza dough (roughly ¾ to 1 pound). This amount gives you a nice thick, pan-style crust that fills the skillet without overflowing.
More Pizza Recipes to LOVE
You might enjoy this Chicken Pesto Pizza and I know you'll love my Pizza Dipping Sauces.
🗒️Shopping List
Click the button below to instantly create a shopping list for this recipe.
📖 Recipe Card
Cast Iron Pan Pizza
Video
Ingredients
- 4 ounces store-bought pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup pizza or marinara sauce
- 6 slices pepperoni
- ⅓ cup shredded whole milk mozzarella
- fresh basil for garnish
Method
- Place an 8-inch cast iron skillet in the oven and preheat to 450°F.
- While the skillet is preheating, using a rolling pin, carefully roll out the pizza dough into an 8 to 10 inch circle.
- Remove the skillet from the oven.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the olive oil all over the cast iron pan.
- Gently fit the pizza dough inside the cast iron pan making sure it goes all the way to the edges
- Spread the pizza or marinara sauce over the dough.
- Top with the shredded mozzarella cheese followed by the sliced pepperoni.
- Return the pan back to the oven and continue baking for an additional 10 to 12 minutes or until the pizza is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2019.
Fuji says
Looks so good … … Happy day🙂
Lois says
Thank you!
Michelle says
Looks delicious! I’ve been craving pizza. Pinning!
Lois says
Thank you! It's my new favorite way to make pizza!
Mother of 3 says
That looks delicious and I bet that nice hot cast iron makes for a perfectly crunchy crust too.
Jolina says
We love making our own pizza. We usually use naan bread (does that count as pizza? LOL!) but I'm really excited to try baking one in a cast iron skillet. Those things are versatile!
Marisa F. Stewart says
Fantastic idea! Sometimes, if we're by ourselves we just settle for leftovers or nothing special. I believe we should treat ourselves with something we really enjoy. And who doesn't love pizza??
Veena Azmanov says
Perfect, delicious, yummy and mouth melting. Give me a bite please.
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy says
This is such a great idea. I love pizza and cooking in cast iron. I can see me making a larger version of this recipe!!