Description
Italian-style Cafeteria Pizza Delight brings nostalgic school lunch memories with crispy crust, zesty sauce, and melted cheese. Quick and comforting, this familiar favorite delivers simple pleasure straight to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) homemade or refrigerated pizza dough
- ½–1 cup pizza sauce
- 2–3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Oils and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons (2 tbsp) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (2 tbsp) cornmeal
- Optional: garlic powder
- Optional: dried oregano
Toppings:
- Additional toppings of choice (e.g., pepperoni, sausage, beef, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to a scorching 475°F, creating the perfect environment for a crispy, golden pizza crust. Generously coat a 10×15 jellyroll pan with olive oil, using a pastry brush to ensure complete coverage, then dust the surface with cornmeal for a delightful textural base.
- Gently stretch the pizza dough across the prepared pan, pressing and manipulating it to create an even layer that reaches every corner of the pan, ensuring a uniform foundation for your culinary masterpiece.
- Ladle the robust pizza sauce across the dough, using the back of a spoon to spread it edge to edge, creating a vibrant, tangy canvas for the toppings to come.
- Liberally shower the surface with shredded mozzarella, allowing the cheese to cascade across the sauce, forming a molten blanket that promises a gooey, indulgent experience.
- Artfully arrange your selected toppings over the cheese, sprinkling a whisper of garlic powder and dried oregano to elevate the flavor profile and add an aromatic dimension.
- Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven, allowing the intense heat to transform the raw ingredients into a bubbling, golden-edged delicacy. Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for the telltale signs of perfectly cooked pizza.
- Carefully extract the sizzling pizza from the oven and permit it to rest momentarily. Slice into rectangular portions using a pizza cutter or bench scraper, revealing the layers of flavor and texture within.
Notes
- Preheat your oven to the right temperature to ensure a crispy, golden crust that’s perfectly cooked through.
- Let the dough rest at room temperature for easier stretching and a more relaxed, even surface to work with.
- Spread sauce evenly to prevent dry spots and guarantee a delicious flavor in every single bite.
- Layer cheese generously but strategically to create a melty, gooey top that doesn’t become soggy or overwhelming.
- Choose fresh toppings and distribute them evenly for a balanced taste and beautiful visual appeal.
- Allow the pizza to cool for a few minutes after baking to help the cheese set and make slicing easier.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (per batch)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 20mg