🍕 Homemade Pepperoni Pan Pizza
⏱ Time
- Prep: 20 minutes
- Rise: 1–1½ hours
- Bake: 15–18 minutes
- Total: ~2 hours
🍽 Makes
- 1 large pan pizza (10–12 inches) or 2 small pan pizzas
🧾 Ingredients
Pan Pizza Dough
- 2¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ¾ cup warm water (110°F / 43°C)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp olive oil (plus more for the pan)
Pizza Sauce
- ½ cup pizza sauce or marinara
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Pinch sugar (optional)
Toppings
- 1½–2 cups low-moisture mozzarella, shredded
- 20–30 slices pepperoni
- Optional:
- Parmesan cheese
- Crushed red pepper
- Dried oregano
🔥 Instructions
1. Make the dough
- In a bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast.
Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy. - Add flour, salt, and olive oil.
- Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead 5–7 minutes (by hand or mixer) until smooth and elastic.
👉 Dough should be soft and slightly tacky, not sticky.
2. First rise
- Lightly oil a bowl.
- Place dough inside, cover, and let rise in a warm spot 1–1½ hours, until doubled.
3. Prep the pan
- Pour 2–3 tbsp olive oil into a cast-iron skillet or cake pan.
- Add dough and gently press toward edges.
- If it resists, rest 10 minutes and press again.
- Cover and rest 15 minutes.
This step creates that crispy fried bottom.
4. Add toppings
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Spread sauce evenly over dough.
- Add mozzarella generously (go edge-to-edge).
- Top with pepperoni.
- Sprinkle Parmesan or oregano if using.
5. Bake
- Bake 15–18 minutes, until:
- Cheese is bubbly and lightly browned
- Edges are golden
- Bottom is crisp
For extra browning, broil 1–2 minutes at the end.
😋 Pizza Experience
- Crust: Thick, airy, golden, crispy underneath
- Cheese: Melted, stretchy, slightly caramelized edges
- Pepperoni: Curled, crispy, and savory
- Overall: Comfort food perfection
🌟 Pro Tips
- Use whole-milk low-moisture mozzarella for best melt
- Let pizza cool 5 minutes before slicing
- For extra crispy bottom, bake on the lowest oven rack
🔄 Variations
- Detroit-style: Use a rectangular pan, add cheese to edges
- Spicy: Hot honey drizzle after baking 🔥🍯
- Stuffed crust: Fold cheese into edges before baking
- Garlic butter crust: Brush edges after baking
