I’m making Claire’s Cast Iron Skillet Pizza two ways from the Bon Appetit YouTube channel. This method makes a crisp crust and all-around delicious pizza.
One of the things that I’ve missed the most during our time in Germany is the Food Network and the Cooking Channel. I would always have it on during the day and it kept me company while I was working. Watching people cook relaxes me and I often get really good ideas from cooking shows.
To fill the void, I’ve turned to YouTube. I watch a lot of cooking videos and get my fill watching old episodes of Nigella and Jamie Oliver.
My 13 year-old-daughter actually turned me on to the Bon Appetit YouTube channel. Claire makes a homemade version of things like Cheetos and Skittles and it’s absolutely riveting. She’s a delight and truly one of the reasons why I’ve decided to embrace my gray hair.
There are others that contribute to the channel that I also find endearing. Brad’s accent comforts me when I’m homesick. He’s from New Jersey too and he sounds like all of my cousins. Gaby is hilarious. Priya and her dads appearance via FaceTime every episode. Molly. Carla. Adam. Chris. All great at what they do.
They’ve also inspired me to get in the kitchen and try new things. Everyone – no matter how often you cook – gets in a rut. I feel like I make the same things over and over again every night for dinner. I’ve made quite a few things or tried a new technique after watching a video and have been re-inspired.
In one episode, Claire makes a cast iron skillet pizza. I really like a crisp, thin-crusted pizza, and thought that this would be a good way to get one. I was right, this method is the best I’ve found if you want a really good piece of pizza and don’t have a pizza oven or stone.
I’ve made cast iron skillet pizza quite a few times since I shot these images. Each time, it made super crisp crust and a really delicious pizza.
A cast iron skillet is a tool that I think that every kitchen should have. They are so cheap, an excellent conductor of heat and you will have it forever and ever.
You obviously can top these pizzas any way that you like. I made a vegetarian pizza and a white pizza with caramelized onions, apples, and rosemary.
Tips for making cast iron skillet pizza
- I like to make my own pizza crust, but you can make this with store-bought pizza dough. I like to buy fresh dough from my favorite pizza shop.
- I have a family of 5, so I make two pizzas at a time. I have two cast iron pans and have an assembly line to get them in the oven.
- I like to use a no-cook tomato sauce for pizza, but on a weeknight, I’ll use whatever jar I have in my cabinet.
Cast Iron Skillet Pizza Two Ways
Ingredients
Veggie Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
- 1 pizza dough I use this recipe or buy a 12 oz. ball of dough
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup marinara sauce
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 ball fresh mozzarella
- Yellow pepper sliced
- Red pepper sliced
- Mushrooms slices
- Basil leaves
- Red pepper flakes
Caramelized Onion, Apple, and Ricotta Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
- 1 pizza dough I use this recipe or buy a 12 oz. ball of dough
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup caramelized onions homemade or store bought
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 ball fresh mozzarella
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- Fresh rosemary
Instructions
- For the veggie pizza – Preheat the oven to 475°. Put the rack in the highest position. Stretch the dough into a 10” round on a lightly oiled surface. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
- Brush a tablespoon oil in the pan. Lay the dough in the cast iron skillet, making sure the dough stretches to the edges. Season with a little salt. Spread the marinara to the edges, top with cheese and thinly sliced vegetables. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Cook on stove over medium-low heat. Cook until the bottom crust is golden brown, about three minutes. You can lift up the pizza to check. Put the pan in the oven and finish cooking, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Top with torn basil leaves and red pepper flakes.
- To make the Onion, Apple, and Ricotta Pizza – Preheat the oven to 475°. Put the rack in the highest position. Stretch the dough into a 10” round on a lightly oiled surface. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together ricotta, garlic, and season with salt and pepper.
- Brush a tablespoon oil in the pan. Lay the dough in the cast iron skillet, making sure the dough stretches to the edges. Season with a little salt.
- Spread caramelized onion over the crust. Top with mozzarella, spoonfuls of ricotta, and apple slices. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Cook on stove over medium-low heat. Cook until the bottom crust is golden brown, about three minutes. You can lift up the pizza to check. Put the pan in the oven and finish cooking, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Top with rosemary.
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