Description
School pizza brings back nostalgic lunchtime memories with its crispy crust and melty cheese. Simple ingredients and quick preparation make this classic comfort dish a perfect weeknight meal you’ll enjoy recreating from childhood.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 pound ground chuck
- 1 (8 ounces) block mozzarella cheese, grated
Dry Ingredients for Crust:
- 2 2/3 cups flour
- 3/4 cup powdered milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 package quick-rise yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
Liquid and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 2/3 cups warm water (110-115°F)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (6 ounces) can tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
Instructions
- Craft the foundation by mixing flour, powdered milk, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Combine warm water with vegetable oil, then pour into the dry mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until a cohesive batter forms, accepting some lumps.
- Preheat oven to 475F. Prepare an 18×13 sheet pan by spraying with cooking spray and lining with parchment paper.
- Spread the dough across the sheet pan using fingertips, ensuring uniform thickness. Allow brief resting if dough resists stretching.
- Partially bake the crust for 8-10 minutes, then remove and set aside for subsequent layering.
- In a skillet, thoroughly brown Italian sausage and ground chuck. Season with salt and pepper, then drain excess fat.
- Create sauce by combining tomato paste, water, olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a saucepan. Simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring periodically.
- Cool sauce completely and refrigerate overnight for enhanced flavor development.
- Distribute sauce evenly across the pre-baked crust, maintaining consistent coverage.
- Layer cooked meat mixture over the sauce, ensuring balanced distribution.
- Generously sprinkle mozzarella cheese across the pizza surface.
- Return pizza to 475F oven, baking for 8-10 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Allow pizza to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven to set toppings.
- Slice and serve hot, enjoying the layered flavors and crisp crust.
Notes
- Customize the dough by substituting half the flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrition and a nutty flavor.
- Reduce the salt content by using low-sodium sausage and ground chuck to make the dish more heart-friendly.
- Experiment with alternative protein options like ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, more diet-flexible version of the pizza.
- Enhance the sauce’s depth by adding a splash of red wine or a pinch of smoked paprika during simmering for a more complex flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 312 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 453 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg