
As longtime followers of wood-fired pizza’s bubbly, skinny crust, we by no means thought we’d have room in our hearts to like hefty pies, too. However then we fell for Detroit-style pizza—and we fell onerous. Whereas historically it’s rectangular, we created a skillet model to convey this chewy, cheese-loaded, focaccia-like base inside simple attain for making at dwelling.
Once you’re assembling the pizza, you should definitely get the cheese cubes—sure, cubes; we didn’t change that custom—dotted proper to the perimeters of the pan. Because it bakes, the fats oozes out of the cheese and flows down the edges of the dough to make the crust darkish, crispy, and ultra-buttery. Whereas we name for 550°F, we all know some ovens high out at 500°F, so simply crank yours all the way in which up.
We wish to knead the dough by hand, however in case you favor, be happy to do it in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.–Holly Erickson | Natalie Mortimer
Skillet Pepperoni Pizza FAQs
Something, actually. Pizza is usually a meal in itself, and that’s sufficient. However, there are nights once we crave a easy aspect salad or plate of various roasted veggies (onions, jalapenos, extra tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, you title it) that we are able to nibble together with bites of pizza. (Or you may put these ON the pizzas.) Then there are nights when there should not sufficient carbs on the earth, and in these cases, we love recent garlic bread or on the aspect.
In the event you’re taking a look at your microwave, please contemplate different choices. The primary is the oven: For a thick crust pizza like this one, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Put a sheet of aluminum foil a little bit bigger than your pizza immediately in your oven rack, then put the pizza on the foil. Bake till your cheese is melty and begins to brown once more. An alternative choice is the stovetop. Actually. Reheating pizza in a skillet on the stovetop helps to retain the crispy crust whereas melting the cheese and heating the toppings completely. The trick is so as to add a little bit water to the pan, then cowl it, making a steamy sauna that may make sure the toppings aren’t chilly and gross. Warmth your skillet over medium warmth. Add your pizza and cook dinner it with out the lid for a few minutes. Then, add a little bit of water to the aspect of the pan (not on high of the pizza, don’t be a monster) and pop your lid onto the skillet, cooking till your cheese is melted. Take pleasure in!
For the burned tomatoes
Make the crust
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In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the nice and cozy water. Stir briefly, then put aside to proof for five to 10 minutes. You’ll know the yeast is proofed when it’s creamy in colour and tiny bubbles have fashioned.
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In a big bowl, whisk collectively the flour and salt. Pour within the yeast combination and, utilizing your arms, combine till a shaggy dough kinds. Let relaxation for 10 minutes.
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Slick a big bowl with olive oil. Flip the dough out onto a floured floor. Knead the dough with floured arms till clean, about 10 minutes. Alternatively, knead the dough in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook till clean, about 10 minutes. If the dough could be very moist, work in additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time till the dough is manageable.
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Kind the dough right into a ball, place it within the oiled bowl, cowl with a kitchen towel, and put aside till doubled in measurement, about 2 hours.
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Preheat the oven to 550°F (288°C) with a rack positioned within the decrease third.
Make the sauce
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In a medium skillet over medium warmth, stir collectively the crushed tomatoes, olive oil, basil, and salt. Convey to a simmer, then scale back the warmth to low and cook dinner, stirring usually, till the sauce thickens, about quarter-hour. Take away from the warmth.
Stretch the crust
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Brush a 12-inch (30-cm) cast-iron skillet with the two tablespoons olive oil, coating properly. Flip the dough out into the skillet and use your arms to stretch the dough to the edges of the pan, being cautious to not tear it. Cowl the dough with a kitchen towel and put aside to relaxation for 20 minutes. Uncover the dough and once more stretch it to the edges of the pan.
Make the burned tomatoes
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In a medium nonstick skillet over medium warmth, mix the cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and salt. Prepare dinner, undisturbed, till the tomatoes are blistered, 3 to five minutes. Add the garlic and cook dinner till aromatic, about 1 minute extra. Switch the tomatoes and garlic to a plate.
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Unfold about 1 cup of the pizza sauce to the perimeters of the pizza dough. Dot the sauce evenly with the mozzarella, all the way in which to the perimeters to make sure a lacy, crispy, tacky crust. Prime with the pepperoni, blistered tomatoes, and garlic, dispersing the toppings evenly.
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Bake the pizza till the perimeters are darkish brown and bubbly, 15 to twenty minutes. Run a knife across the rim of the pizza to loosen the crust from the skillet. Fastidiously switch the pizza to a chopping board.
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Sprinkle the pizza with Parmesan and purple pepper flakes. Lower into 9 squares or 8 slices and serve with any remaining sauce alongside for dipping.
Serving: 1 portionEnergy: 847 kcalCarbohydrates: 88 gProtein: 31 gFats: 42 gSaturated Fats: 14 gMonounsaturated Fats: 22 gTrans Fats: 1 gLdl cholesterol: 63 mgSodium: 3176 mgFiber: 7 gSugar: 8 g
Vitamin data is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
Recipe © 2022 Holly Erickson | Natalie Mortimer. Photograph © 2022 Eva Kolenko. All rights reserved.
Recipe Testers’ Opinions
As a Chicagoan, I take my pizza very severely. Right here, the tavern pizza reigns supreme and the one level of debate that arises is pie reduce or squares (the reply is squares, after all).


Having stated all this, I beloved this Detroit-style skillet pepperoni pizza! The crust was pillowy, extra like a focaccia with toppings than a real pizza and the tacky, crispy edges have been fabulous! The burned tomatoes and garlic have been a flavorful addition.
As for the dough, I used a stand mixer fairly than kneading by hand and I’m glad I did as a result of the dough was very moist (I had so as to add 2 further tablespoons of flour); the dough cleared the edges of the bowl however caught to the underside. It might have been difficult to knead by hand with out including an excessive amount of flour.
As soon as I had the dough within the pan, I pressed it gently fairly than stretching and located that the dough was completely prepared to fill out the skillet with out snapping again. I served this with a easy salad and glass (or two) of Chianti. Scrumptious!
Deeelicious! This skillet pepperoni pizza is scrumptious and the recipe is uncomplicated. The dough consistency could be very very similar to a selfmade pizza, not solely as a result of it’s no-frills and easy to make, however in its chewy, air-like texture. Any first-time pizza maker can and will make this. I doubled the recipe and made one in my 10-inch cast-iron with out pepperoni and one in a cookie sheet that had veggies on it.


The pizza in my 10-inch cast-iron regarded loads like Barese focaccia or Sicilian pizza. Because the pan is a little bit smaller than what was known as for, my dough was thicker, and I had no issues with that as a result of its texture jogs my memory of dwelling. The dough within the cookie sheet cooked fantastically as properly, it was a lot thinner however nonetheless chewy. Each cooked completely and in quarter-hour, as specified. That’s why this pizza is a real selfmade pizza to me, it’s very forgiving and adaptable.
I didn’t have pepperoni available however I didn’t really feel the necessity to put them on the pizza as a result of the burned tomatoes, which have been fantastically jammy and charred, have been such a beautiful topping on their very own. I blended Calabrian chili and honey collectively and drizzled that throughout my pizza after I took it out. The candy and spicy mixture of that went so properly with the sauce and blistered tomatoes. This can be a nice pizza recipe to maintain available, I’ll you should definitely make this once more.
This pizza was superb, a pleasant thick pizza with plenty of toppings. We particularly preferred the burned tomatoes, they added one other degree of taste. I feel the burned tomatoes on pizza with out sauce can be a pleasant variation.
We often make a a lot thinner crust pizza on a stone or the barbeque so this was totally different. My solely concern was the dough was not fairly accomplished within the center, it was flippantly browned, would have preferred it a little bit extra crisp like the perimeters. The sides have been excellent and the cheese additionally however the heart wanted extra time. My oven was at 500 levels, perhaps a barely decrease temp and longer cooking time. Additionally may transfer the oven rack to the bottom degree. Total a pleasant pizza recipe with the burned tomatoes and garlic.
I really like the contrasting textures of the toasty cheese edges, the crunchy backside crust, and tender, bready, tacky center. I’m a texture particular person, so this hits all of the notes I’m in search of in a great pizza. It was simple to organize and I really feel like there’s a number of bang in your buck by way of quantity and high quality of the meals relative to the trouble spent. I may see prepping every little thing prematurely and letting the dough ferment within the fridge in a single day for a comparatively fast weeknight dinner. I’ll undoubtedly be attempting that sooner or later for a comfortable pizza evening in!