With this recipe, I can now make myself a deep dish pizza the easy way – in a casserole dish! When I would come home hungry, tired and in the mood for pizza, but I just really didn’t have the energy to fuss with actually making one, and then cleaning up the mess in my kitchen….well, that’s how the pizza delivery guy and I got to be friends.

But now that I have this recipe, I have discovered an easier, healthier and far less messy way to have a pizza any time I want one. Bye! Bye! Pizza guy! It was fun while it lasted!

 

INGREDIENTS

1 can (13 oz.) Pillsbury™ refrigerated pizza crust

1½ cups pizza sauce

2½ cups shredded cheese (such as mozzarella, provolone or mozzarella)

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

12 whole pepperoni (optional)

½ lb. cooked ground spicy Italian sausage (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.

Unroll the pizza dough, and press it into the bottom and halfway up sides of prepared baking dish.

Spread the dough with some pizza sauce and, if using, sprinkle the cooked spicy Italian sausage over the top. Cover the pizza with cheese and then top with pepperoni (if using). Sprinkle the Parmesan over top.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with more Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.

USE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW

NEXT

Quick Tip:  I don’t think the ingredients are really calling for “12 whole pepperoni,” as “one whole pepperoni” describes a type of very large, long sausage. What I believe they mean is 12 whole SLICES of pepperoni, as opposed to cut pieces, which makes much more sense in the recipe. After all, what would you do with all of those whole pepperoni? Inquiring minds want to know!

Recipe and image courtesy of Tablespoon