Description
This Crispy Tomato Herb Cheese Pan Pizza features a flavorful blend of dried herbs, melted provolone and mozzarella cheeses, a rich marinara sauce, and optional pepperoni, all baked to perfection in a cast iron skillet for a crispy crust and delicious homemade pizza experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough
- 1 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
Herb Mixture
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1-2 cloves garlic, chopped
Toppings
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 3 ounces pepperoni, sliced (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan or asiago cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven – Position the oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450° F. Allow the oven to heat for at least 30 minutes before baking to ensure a hot environment for a crispy crust.
- Prepare Dough – Lightly grease a 10-11 inch cast iron or oven-safe skillet. Place the pizza dough ball in the skillet, drizzle olive oil on top, and use your fingertips to gently push the dough outward to nearly the edges of the skillet. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours if time allows to let the dough relax and rise slightly.
- Mix Herbs – In a small bowl, combine the dried basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, crushed fennel seed, red pepper flakes, and chopped garlic. This aromatic herb blend will give the pizza a savory, fragrant flavor.
- Assemble Pizza – Drizzle the rested dough lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle a spoonful of the herb mixture evenly over the dough. Add a handful of shredded provolone and mozzarella cheeses. Drizzle the marinara sauce over the cheeses without spreading it to keep pockets of sauce. Add the remaining cheese on top, arrange pepperoni slices if using, and finish with a sprinkle of the herb mixture according to taste.
- Bake Pizza – Place the skillet on the upper oven rack and bake for 10 minutes. Then carefully rotate the pizza and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the crust edges are golden and crispy. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with grated parmesan or asiago cheese, and serve immediately. ENJOY!
Notes
- Allow the oven to preheat fully to 450° F for best crust crispness.
- If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, an oven-safe skillet or pizza pan can be used, but cast iron yields the crispiest crust.
- Letting the dough rest covered helps it relax and stretch easier and can improve texture.
- Use whole milk mozzarella for a richer flavor; skim versions lead to less melt and flavor.
- Adjust herbs and red pepper flakes to your preferred level of spice and aroma.
- Omit pepperoni to make it vegetarian, or add other toppings as desired.
- For easier cleanup, lightly oil the skillet before placing the dough to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 498 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
