Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe (Crispy Deep Crust)

Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza slice on spatula.

5 from 7 votes

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe (Crispy Deep Crust)

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe is packed with flavor and will definitely satisfy your craving for something hearty and comforting.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Rest15

Total Time1

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 591kcal

Author: Kim Schob

Equipment

Ingredients

16 oz store bought pizza dough pre-rolled out, optional
1 ½ cup pizza sauce
6.5 oz stick of pepperoni chopped, divided
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella divided
4 oz fresh mozzarella sliced
3 garlic cloves crushed
Olive oil for brushing your pan and the crust
Fresh Basil about 5 leaves
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Flour for dusting the pan and the dough

Cups - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400℉ degrees. Brush cast-iron skillet with olive oil and dust with flour.
Olive oil for brushing your pan and the crust, Flour for dusting the pan and the dough
If your pizza dough is not pre-rolled, use a floured surface and roll the dough out to fit your cast iron skillet.
16 oz store bought pizza dough
Press the pizza dough into the bottom and up the sides of the skillet, approximately halfway up.
Brush the dough with olive oil and crushed garlic. Do not add any pizza toppings yet. Bake for 18-25 minutes or until the crust turns golden.
3 garlic cloves
While the crust bakes, chop the pepperoni into two small piles and set aside.
6.5 oz stick of pepperoni
Once the crust is golden brown, take it out of the oven.
Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the crust.
1 ½ cup pizza sauce
Add one half of the chopped pepperoni, then half of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
Add the remaining chopped pepperoni (optional: save some to sprinkle on top before the final bake).
Add the rest of the shredded mozzarella, then evenly place the fresh mozzarella slices around and add the fresh basil.
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella, 4 oz fresh mozzarella, Fresh Basil
Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the top of the cheese, adding the leftover chopped pepperoni if saved.
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Bake the pizza with toppings for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted.
For toasted spots on your cheese, broil the pizza for 1-2 minutes.
Remove the pizza from the oven and allow it to rest for 15 minutes before cutting pizza slices. This ensures toppings and cheese stay in place.

Notes

Pan: For this recipe, I used a 10” cast iron skillet pan; any deep dish pizza pan can be used.
Pizza Dough: I used pre-rolled-out dough from the bakery at my local grocery store; most have this option if you ask. As an alternative, Walmart bakery has an excellent pizza dough sold by the bag and you can roll it out yourself. Most pizza joints will allow you to purchase pre-made pizza dough as well
Rolling Dough: If your dough is too elastic and shrinks back when you try to roll it, allow it to rest for a few minutes. This relaxation time helps the gluten relax and makes the dough easier to shape.
Cheese Layering: To achieve a balance of flavors and ensure that every bite is cheesy, layer some of the cheese directly on the dough before adding other toppings. This creates a barrier that helps to keep the dough crisp.
Pre-baking Crust: For an extra crispy bottom and edges, consider pre-baking the pizza dough for 5-7 minutes before adding the toppings. This method helps to prevent soggy crust, especially when using moist toppings.
Baking Temperature and Time: Keep an eye on the pizza in the final minutes of baking. Ovens can vary, and you may need to adjust the baking time slightly to achieve the perfect level of doneness.
Fresh Basil: Add fresh basil after baking rather than before to preserve its vibrant color and fresh flavor, as high heat can cause it to wilt and lose some of its brightness.
Skillet Preheat: For a beautifully crispy crust, preheat your cast-iron skillet in the oven as it warms up. Carefully place the dough in the hot skillet to start cooking the bottom crust immediately.

Nutrition