Description
This classic School Pizza Recipe features a homemade dough with a savory Italian sausage and ground chuck topping, layered with a flavorful tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfectly baked on a sheet pan for a delicious, crowd-pleasing pizza that’s ideal for a family meal or gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2-2/3 cups flour
- 3/4 cup powdered milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 package quick rise yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1-2/3 cups warm water (110-115°F)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Meat Topping
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage
- 1/2 lb ground chuck
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Sauce
- 1 (6oz) 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
Cheese
- 1 (8oz) block mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 475°F. Spray an 18×13 inch sheet pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, powdered milk, sugar, quick rise yeast, and salt until well combined to form the base of your pizza dough.
- Create Dough: Add the vegetable oil to the warm water, then pour this mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms; it’s fine if the dough is a bit lumpy, just ensure there are no dry spots of flour.
- Spread the Dough: Using your fingertips, press the dough evenly onto the prepared sheet pan. If the dough resists stretching, let it rest for 5 minutes and then try again to make spreading easier.
- Partial Bake the Crust: Bake the dough in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the crust is set but not fully cooked. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Cook the Meat: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage and ground chuck together. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook until the meat is crumbly and browned, then drain any excess fat and set the meat aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a separate bowl, mix the tomato paste, water, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and rosemary until well combined to create a rich pizza sauce.
- Assemble the Pizza: Spread the prepared sauce evenly over the partially baked pizza crust in the sheet pan.
- Add Meat Topping: Sprinkle the browned sausage and ground chuck evenly over the sauce layer.
- Add Cheese: Top the pizza with the shredded mozzarella cheese, evenly distributing it over the meat.
- Bake the Pizza: Return the assembled pizza to the oven and bake at 475°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and begins to brown.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes to allow the cheese to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the water added to the dough is warm (110-115°F) to activate the yeast properly.
- Letting the dough rest if it resists stretching prevents it from shrinking back and makes it easier to handle.
- Drain excess fat after cooking the meat to avoid greasy pizza topping.
- You can customize the toppings by adding vegetables or different cheeses to suit your taste.
- Using parchment paper makes transferring and cleaning easier, but you can also lightly flour the pan if preferred.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
