Description
This easy and delicious Sheet Pan Pizza recipe combines a crispy, golden crust with savory Italian sausage, rich pizza sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese, all baked quickly on a single sheet pan for a perfect weeknight meal that serves 4 to 6 people.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 3/4 pounds ground sweet or mild Italian sausage
- 16 ounces pizza dough
- 1 Tablespoon cornmeal (for the pan)
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the pizza for a perfect crust texture.
- Cook Sausage: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the ground sausage and cook, breaking it into small pieces, until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain the excess fat and set the sausage aside.
- Prepare Sheet Pan: Grease a 13×9-inch sheet pan with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cornmeal evenly across the pan to help prevent the dough from sticking during baking.
- Shape Dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a floured work surface and gently stretch it to fit the prepared sheet pan. If the dough resists stretching, let it rest for 5 minutes before trying again to relax the gluten.
- Assemble Pizza: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the stretched dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust. Then, sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce.
- Add Sausage Layer: Evenly distribute the cooked sausage pieces over the cheese layer to ensure every bite has a savory note.
- Top with Cheese: Finish assembling by sprinkling the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the sausage layer.
- Bake: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden, and the crust is cooked through and crisp.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes before slicing. This resting time helps the cheese set slightly for cleaner slices. Serve warm and enjoy your homemade sheet pan pizza!
Notes
- Allowing the dough to rest if it resists stretching helps create a tender crust.
- Using cornmeal on the pan prevents sticking and adds a pleasant texture to the crust bottom.
- Drain the sausage fat well to avoid a greasy pizza.
- Customize toppings if desired, such as adding vegetables or different cheeses.
- Leftover pizza can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best results.
