Cast Iron Skillet Pizza: Quick and Easy Chicago Style Pizza Recipe

Like most, I was first introduced to deep dish pizza during a visit to Chicago. If you've never had the pleasure of tasting this style of pizza, you are in for a great treat. Unlike traditional pizza, the deep dish has a wonderful thick crust along with layers of toppings, loads of tomato sauce and lots of cheese. With the deep dish, most can only eat two or three slices. One might consider it more like a meat or veggie pie instead of a pizza.

Even though I make home made pizza often, I didn't think I could recreate the deep dish style. That is, until I thought about making a pizza using my cast iron skillet.

Next to my pizza stone, the cast iron skillet is one of my favorite kitchen tools. My grandmother used it all the time and so do I. Like the pizza stone, the cast iron skillet cooks evenly and holds in flavor. Additionally, it is deep allowing for one to roll the pizza dough similar to a pie crust, and fill the pizza with loads of toppings. The result is wonderful. Give it a try.

What You'll Need:

cast iron skillet
2 cups of tomato sauce
1 cup of shredded mozzarella
1 cup of another shredded cheese (some ideas include Monterey Jack or Colby)
1 can of refrigerated pizza crust (thick or regular, but not thin)
1 can of cooking spray
your favorite toppings (enough for two layers)

Preparation:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Spray cast iron skillet with cooking spray.

3. Unroll pizza dough on skillet. Tuck dough in crevices of skillet and drape around the edges like you would a pie crust.

4. Spray dough with cooking spray.

5. Spread 1 cup of tomato sauce evenly over crust.

6. Add one layer of toppings (including 1/2 cup of each type of cheese).

7. Spread another layer of tomato sauce over toppings.

8. Add another layer of toppings (finishing with the cheese).

9. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (checking often).