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    Home » Kid-Friendly

    12 November 2023

    Homemade School Pizza

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    This post may contain affiliate links.
    Please read my disclosure policy.

    This rectangle school pizza takes me back to the nostalgic memories of my childhood! Remember the cafeteria ladies served up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza for lunch on pizza days? Now, you can recreate this old school pizza at home in less than 30 minutes, or customize it with your favorite toppings!

    If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than Old School Cafeteria Pizza. Remember when Friday was Pizza Day and the cafeteria ladies would serve up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza? Now, you can recreate this classic School Pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza.

    For me, this rectangle school pizza is a heartwarming way to remember my childhood. Nothing feels quite as good as recreating one of my favorite childhood meals as an adult. The first time I made it, I found my husband standing at the table, devouring it as a late afternoon snack. I guess this cafeteria lunch pizza brings a nostalgic feel to most of us!

    What is an Old-Fashioned School Pizza?

    In many schools, massive pizzas are prepared on sheet pans, then cut into rectangular slices and fed to many hungry children at lunchtime. 

    The plain cheese variety is most popular, but protein and vegetable toppings are sometimes added. This pizza has a thin, crispy crust and is quite often made with mozzarella cheese. Here are some traditional varieties:

    • Cheese pizza: The basic option
    • Sausage pizza: My favorite
    • Pepperoni and cheese
    • Hawaiian pizza
    School Pizza ingredients on the counter.

    School pizza ingredients

    This school pizza is made with just a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

    • Pizza dough: I made my own with this SUPER easy pizza dough recipe. It requires only 6 ingredients: yeast, flour, sugar, salt, warm water, and olive oil. It yields the most soft and fluffy pizza crust. You can substitute a store-bought pizza dough too.
    • Ground sausage: I like ground sausage more than using ground beef. As the sausage has been nicely seasoned, it adds a perfect savory flavor to the pizza.
    • Tomato sauce: It gives that classic rich and tangy base for the pizza. Store-bought tomato sauce is good enough!
    • Onions: Don’t skip sliced onions as it adds a nice subtle sweetness and texture contrast to your pizza.
    • Fresh mozzarella cheese: It’s the perfect counterpart to the tangy tomato sauce with its creamy texture and mild taste. Shred it before topping the pizza.
    If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than Old School Cafeteria Pizza. Remember when Friday was Pizza Day and the cafeteria ladies would serve up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza? Now, you can recreate this classic School Pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza.

    Size of the Sheet Pan

    Of course, you’ll need a large sheet pan! Because it will give you that classic look of a true school pizza!

    I used a half sheet pan (18 x 13 inch) for this recipe. It gives me a perfect thickness, just like the ones I had when I was a kid. You can choose a slightly bigger or smaller sheet pan, and your crust will be thinner or thicker accordingly. 

    Tip: Make sure to line it with parchment paper to prevent your pizza from sticking to the sheet pan.

    Making school pizza is incredibly EASY and FUN!

    If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than Old School Cafeteria Pizza. Remember when Friday was Pizza Day and the cafeteria ladies would serve up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza? Now, you can recreate this classic School Pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza.

    The first step in this school pizza recipe is to bring your pizza dough to room temperature (assuming you already have one, otherwise, see how to make an easy pizza dough.)

    Next, cook the ground beef in a non-stick skillet. Break them into small pieces and cook the meat.

    If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than Old School Cafeteria Pizza. Remember when Friday was Pizza Day and the cafeteria ladies would serve up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza? Now, you can recreate this classic School Pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza.

    Then stretch the dough and add toppings. This is a really fun part and I love doing it with my kids! Instead of stretching it to a normal round shape, you’ll make it into a rectangular shape! 

    • Place the dough onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Stretch the dough to a rectangular crust by gently flattening the dough ball.
    • Use a fork to poke holes across the surface of the dough. Brush with olive oil. Spread tomato sauce evenly, leaving about ¼-inch border on all sides.
    • Add Mozzarella cheese, distributing it evenly over the surface.
    • Add cooked ground sausage and onions on top of the cheese.

    And bake! Bake at 450°F for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted, and the crust is golden brown.

    Cut it into RECTANGULAR slices and serve! That’s it!

    If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than Old School Cafeteria Pizza. Remember when Friday was Pizza Day and the cafeteria ladies would serve up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza? Now, you can recreate this classic School Pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza.

    To go the extra mile…

    • For a more crispy crust, roll the dough out thin: Use a larger sheet pan and stretch the pizza until it’s very thin. For a fluffier, doughy crust, you can roll it out smaller and keep the dough a bit thicker.
    • Freeze the pizza for a quick meal later: This pizza can be easily frozen and reheated for a quick and tasty meal. Wrap the pizza in plastic wrap for freezing and reheat it in the oven when you’re ready to eat.
    If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than Old School Cafeteria Pizza. Remember when Friday was Pizza Day and the cafeteria ladies would serve up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza? Now, you can recreate this classic School Pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza.

    If you’ve made extra pizza dough, try these delicious pizza recipes:

    • Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
    • Neapolitan Pizza
    • Anchovy Pizza
    • Sardine Pizza
    • Dill Pickle Pizza
    • Pizza Cubana

    Watch How to Make Pizza Dough at Home

    Watch School Pizza Recipe Video

    If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than Old School Cafeteria Pizza. Remember when Friday was Pizza Day and the cafeteria ladies would serve up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza? Now, you can recreate this classic School Pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza.

    Best School Pizza Recipe

    Watch school pizza recipe video above! If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than Old School Cafeteria Pizza. This easy recipe is made with a few ingredients and ready in 25 minutes!
    Now, you can recreate this classic School Pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza. Make sure to use half sheet pan size 18 X 13 inch for the perfect thickness!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Author: Izzy
    Calories: 410kcal

    Equipment

    • Baking Sheet
    • Non-stick Skillet

    Ingredients 

    • 1 pound pizza dough
    • 1 pound ground sausage (other toppings such as cooked ground beef, pepperoni, ham, and bell pepper)
    • 2 teaspoons olive oil
    • 1/3 cup tomato sauce (or pizza sauce)
    • 2 cups Mozzarella shredded
    • 1/2 onion

    Instructions 

    Prepare pizza dough

    • Bring pizza dough to room temperature. You can use homemade or store-bought pizza dough for this recipe.
    • (If you are making your pizza dough from scratch, check out my simple pizza dough recipe)

    Cook the Sausage

    • Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausages, breaking them into small pieces using a wooden spoon. Cook for about 7-8 minutes or until no pink remains.

    Bake the Pizza

    • Preheat oven to 450°F. Prepare a half sheet pan (18 x 13 inch) lined with parchment paper.
    • Place the dough onto the parchment paper. Stretch the dough by gently flattening the dough ball. (You can spread it out thinner if you prefer a crispy crust.)
    • Use a fork to poke holes across the surface of the dough.
    • Brush the dough with olive oil. Spread tomato sauce evenly, leaving about ¼-inch border on all sides.
    • Add Mozzarella cheese, distributing it evenly over the surface.
    • Add cooked ground sausage on top of the cheese. Spread onion slices on top.
    • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted, and the crust is golden brown.
    • Remove the pizza from the oven, and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into rectangular slices and serve immediately.

    Notes

    • You can make the pizza dough ahead of time. Let it rise first, and then wrap with plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw in the refrigerator and then bring it to room temperature before using.
    • How to store leftovers: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’ll last for 2-3 days. To reheat, heat your oven to 375°F, and bake your pizza for 5-8 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Net Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 995mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 276IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 2mg
    Author: Izzy
    Course: Breakfast, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: School Breakfast Pizza, School Lunch Pizza, School Pizza
    Tried this recipe?Follow or tag us on Pinterest @izzycooking

    12 November 2023, by Izzy 4 Comments Filed Under: 30-Minute Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Recipes

    About Izzy

    I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pamela Crawford says

      January 19, 2022 at 1:41 pm

      5 stars
      This pizza was delicious! I made it for my ladies life group at church and every piece of it was ate! The Pastor’s wife said it was amazing!

      Reply
    2. Samantha says

      April 23, 2022 at 6:43 am

      A large baking pan? Size?

      Reply
    3. Renee says

      March 26, 2023 at 10:29 am

      Can bread flour be used in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Mert says

        October 26, 2023 at 6:51 pm

        5 stars
        The last school house recipe I tried called for powdered milk in the crust, I assume for additional protein, but my grown children said it was the pizza they remembered. I think the recipe has changed at schools with each generation. My grade school pizza likely had the pourable crust. All Pizza is delicious to me. Bread, meat, cheese, with a tangy sauce is hard to beat!

        Reply

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