Description
This School Cafeteria-Style Pizza recipe recreates the nostalgic flavors of classic school lunch pizzas with a homemade dough, flavorful tomato sauce, and melty cheese topping. Perfectly balanced with simple seasonings and customizable toppings, this recipe yields a delicious, crowd-pleasing pizza that captures the comforting taste of childhood.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup powdered milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 cup warm water (110°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Pepperoni, diced green peppers, or other favorite toppings
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a small bowl, combine the warm water (110°F), sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, powdered milk, and salt.
- Combine and Knead: Add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes on a floured surface until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Let Dough Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the Sauce: While the dough is rising, simmer tomato sauce in a small saucepan with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it is hot enough for baking the pizza.
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the risen dough to fit a rectangular pan or pizza pan as desired.
- Assemble Pizza: Spread the prepared sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a border around the edges. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese on top, and add any optional toppings like pepperoni or diced green peppers.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, slice, and serve warm for the best nostalgic cafeteria-style pizza experience.
Notes
- Powdered milk adds richness to the dough, but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Feel free to customize toppings with your favorite vegetables or meats.
- Ensure the water is not too hot when activating yeast to prevent killing the yeast.
- Letting the dough rise adequately is key for a light and chewy crust.
- Using a pizza stone can improve crust texture if available.
- Leftover pizza can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated.
