Description
This Crispy Tomato Herb Cheese Pan Pizza features a golden, crispy crust baked in a cast iron skillet, topped with a flavorful blend of dried herbs, melted provolone and mozzarella cheeses, marinara sauce, and optional pepperoni, finished with a sprinkle of parmesan for a delicious, satisfying pizza experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough
- 1 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
Herb Mix
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1-2 cloves garlic, chopped
Toppings and Finish
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 3 ounces pepperoni, sliced (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan or asiago cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Position the oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450° F and allow it to heat for at least 30 minutes to ensure a hot baking environment.
- Prepare Dough in Skillet: Lightly grease a 10-11 inch cast iron or oven-safe skillet. Place the ball of pizza dough into the skillet, drizzle olive oil on top, and gently press the dough with your fingertips outwards to almost the edge of the skillet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours if time permits.
- Mix Herbs: In a small bowl, combine the dried basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, crushed fennel seed, red pepper flakes, and chopped garlic to create the herb seasoning blend.
- Assemble Pizza: Drizzle a little olive oil over the rested dough. Sprinkle a spoonful of the herb mixture evenly over the dough. Add a handful of shredded provolone and mozzarella cheese, then drizzle the marinara sauce lightly over the cheese — do not spread the sauce. Add the remaining cheese on top, then arrange pepperoni slices if using, and finish by sprinkling more herb mix to taste.
- Bake Pizza: Place the skillet on the preheated oven rack in the upper third and bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pizza for even baking and continue to bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust edges are crispy and golden brown.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and sprinkle with grated parmesan or asiago cheese. Slice and serve immediately while hot. Enjoy your crispy and flavorful pan pizza!
Notes
- Use a well-seasoned cast iron skillet for the best crispy crust and even heat distribution.
- If you prefer a milder herb flavor, reduce the red pepper flakes amount or omit them.
- Homemade pizza dough or high-quality store-bought dough both work well for this recipe.
- To achieve extra crispy crust, ensure the oven and skillet are both very hot before baking.
- Feel free to customize toppings by adding vegetables or different meats according to preference.
- The herb blend can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container.
- If you don’t have parmesan, asiago or pecorino cheese works as a good alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 498 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
