How to Bake Pizza on a Cast Iron Skillet

Making delicious homemade pizza does not require investing in a pizza stone. A simple, effective way to create pizza parlor quality pies is to use the bottom of a hot cast iron skillet in place of a pizza stone. The cast iron skillet and a pizza stone work the same way-they encourage the development of crisp crusts by evenly distributing heat across the entire bottom of the crust. The only difference between the two is you can use the cast iron skillet for tons of other recipes. The following steps should get you on your way to pizzeria-style pizza in no time.

Things You'll Need

- Cast iron skillet

- Cornmeal

- Pizza dough and your favorite toppings

Step 1 Start by moving a rack in your oven to the middle position and preheating the oven to 450 degrees F. Then, preheat a 10- to 12-inch cast iron skillet by placing it over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes. You'll know it's ready when a drop of water dances and sizzles as soon as it hits the pan.

Step 2 Meanwhile, place a ½-lb. ball of pizza dough onto a floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a circle that is the same diameter as the bottom of the cast iron skillet.

Step 3 When the skillet is hot, take it off the burner and place it upside down on a wooden or bamboo cutting board. You will be baking the pizza on the flat bottom of the upside down skillet (not on the inside of the skillet).

Step 4 Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of cornmeal evenly over the bottom of the skillet. Place the circle of pizza dough onto the bottom of the upside-down skillet, making sure the dough does not hang down the sides of the skillet. Brush the entire crust with olive oil.

Step 5 At this point you can dress up the crust however you like. Some simple but delicious combinations to consider include pesto sauce with dollops of goat cheese and roasted garlic cloves or marinara sauce topped with slices of fresh mozzarella and basil. The only rule with toppings is to leave a 1-inch border of crust.

Step 6 Place the skillet on the middle oven rack and bake until the crust rises and turns golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the oven. When the pizza is ready, take the skillet out of the oven and slide the pizza onto a cutting board. Slice the pizza and serve immediately.

CB Blogger