Description
This easy-to-make Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pizza features a gooey cheese-filled crust loaded with savory pepperoni and melted mozzarella cheese on a crispy pizza base. Perfect for a quick homemade pizza night, this recipe uses refrigerated pizza dough and simple ingredients to deliver maximum flavor in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Stuffed Crust
- 6 pieces Sargento® String Cheese
Pizza Toppings
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 20 slices pepperoni
- 1 cup (4 oz.) Sargento® Shredded Mozzarella
Pizza Dough
- 1 can (10 oz.) refrigerated pizza crust
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure a hot environment for crisping the crust and melting the cheese.
- Prepare Pizza Crust: Unroll the refrigerated pizza crust and press it firmly into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a greased 13×9-inch baking pan to form the pizza base and edges.
- Add String Cheese: Arrange the 6 pieces of string cheese along the inside edges of the crust evenly to create the stuffed crust filling.
- Seal Crust Edges: Fold the dough edges over the string cheese strips and press down to seal tightly, forming a stuffed crust border that traps the cheese inside.
- Spread Sauce: Evenly spread 1/2 cup of pizza sauce over the pizza base inside the stuffed crust, creating the flavor foundation.
- Top with Pepperoni and Mozzarella: Place 20 slices of pepperoni evenly over the sauce and sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top to cover the pepperoni.
- Bake Pizza: Bake the assembled pizza in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven, allow it to cool slightly for easier handling, then slice and serve hot for the best cheesy, flavorful experience.
Notes
- Press the sides of the crust firmly to prevent cheese from leaking out while baking.
- If you prefer a crispier crust, bake an additional 2-3 minutes, watching to prevent burning.
- You can substitute string cheese with mozzarella sticks if preferred.
- Feel free to add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms for extra toppings.
- Use a pizza stone or baking steel if available for a crisper crust.
