Description
This nostalgic school lunch pizza brings back memories of cafeteria days, but with a fresher, homemade twist. Featuring a flavorful tomato sauce, a chewy crust, and a hearty meat topping layered under gooey melted mozzarella, it’s the ultimate comfort food pizza you can easily make at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- Sauce:
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- Crust:
- 1 pound commercial pizza dough
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons cornmeal
- Toppings:
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 pound ground chuck
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium saucepan, whisk together tomato paste, water, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, onion powder, sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, and cook for 10–12 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook the toppings: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage, ground chuck, and onion until the meat is browned and onion softened. Season with salt and pepper, then drain excess grease. Set aside.
- Prepare the crust: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet with 2 tablespoons olive oil, then sprinkle with cornmeal. Stretch or roll pizza dough into a rectangle and place on prepared sheet. Brush with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Assemble pizza: Spread an even layer of sauce over dough. Sprinkle half the cheese, then add cooked meat mixture. Top with remaining cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Slice into squares or rectangles for that classic school pizza feel. Serve warm.
Notes
- For extra nostalgia, slice the pizza into square cafeteria-style pieces instead of triangles.
- You can make the sauce ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Swap ground chuck with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- Add veggies like green peppers or mushrooms for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: school lunch pizza, cafeteria style pizza, homemade pizza, nostalgic pizza recipe, sausage and beef pizza