Kid-Friendly School Pizza Recipe: A Nostalgic Lunchtime Classic

Weeknight dinners call for something quick and delicious, and this homemade school pizza recipe delivers pure comfort on a plate.

The classic flavors will transport you back to cafeteria lunch lines and childhood memories.

Every bite captures the nostalgic essence of that beloved rectangular slice we all remember.

Crispy crust, tangy sauce, and melted cheese come together in a simple yet satisfying meal.

Kids and adults alike will devour this easy recreation of a beloved lunch staple.

The recipe takes just minutes to assemble and promises to become a regular rotation in your meal planning.

Let’s find out this crowd-pleasing dish that brings school lunch magic right to your kitchen.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 9

Ingredients in School Pizza Recipe

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy foundation for pizza crust, choose unbleached variety for best texture and flavor.
• Salt: Enhances dough's flavor and controls yeast activity, use fine-grain table salt for even distribution.
• Powdered Milk: Adds richness and helps create golden-brown crust, select fresh and well-sealed package.
• Sugar: Feeds yeast and promotes beautiful browning, opt for granulated white sugar.
• Vegetable Oil: Creates soft, tender texture in crust, use neutral-flavored oil like canola.
• Warm Water: Activates yeast and helps develop gluten, ensure precise temperature for perfect rise.
• Quick-Rise Yeast: Enables rapid dough development, check expiration date for maximum potency.

• Ground Beef: Provides hearty protein base, choose lean meat with 80/20 fat content for best flavor.
• Salt, Pepper: Season meat for depth and complexity, freshly ground black pepper recommended.

• Tomato Paste: Creates concentrated, rich sauce base, select high-quality, smooth paste.
• Water, Olive Oil: Balance sauce consistency and add luxurious flavor, use extra virgin olive oil.
• Garlic: Delivers aromatic punch, choose fresh cloves for most vibrant taste.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Enhance sauce's overall seasoning, use freshly ground for maximum impact.
• Dried Oregano, Dried Basil, Crushed Dried Rosemary: Build authentic Italian herb profile, ensure herbs are fresh and fragrant.

Equipment for Making School Pizza at Home

• Large Mixing Bowl: Essential for combining dry ingredients and mixing dough.
• 9×13-inch Baking Pan: Perfect for creating the pizza base and ensuring even cooking.
• Parchment Paper: Helps prevent sticking and makes removal easier.
• Skillet: Necessary for browning ground beef thoroughly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Critical for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Spatula or Wooden Spoon: Helpful for stirring dough and sauce.
• Pot: Used for simmering and preparing the pizza sauce.
• Cheese Grater: Ideal for shredding fresh mozzarella cheese.
• Sharp Knife: Needed for slicing the pizza into squares after baking.
• Oven Mitts: Crucial for safely handling hot pans and protecting hands.

How to Prepare Classic School Pizza

• Pizza Base Mix Blend dry ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl, creating a smooth, consistent powder mixture.
• Liquid Activation Gently warm water and oil, then pour into dry ingredients, stirring until a soft, pliable dough forms.
• Pan Preparation Spread dough evenly across baking pan, allowing it to relax and stretch naturally.
• Initial Baking Partially cook crust until edges turn slightly golden and surface firms up.
• Meat Layer Brown ground beef in skillet, seasoning with traditional herbs and spices.
• Sauce Creation Simmer tomato blend with aromatic herbs, developing rich, deep flavors slowly.
• Pizza Assembly Generously spread sauce across partially baked crust, then layer with seasoned meat.
• Cheese Blanket Cover entire surface with melty mozzarella, ensuring complete pizza coverage.
• Final Baking Return pizza to hot oven, cooking until cheese bubbles and turns beautiful golden brown.
• Resting Period Allow pizza to settle for several minutes before slicing into perfect squares.

Tips for School Pizza Recipe

• Let the dough relax for a few minutes if it's difficult to stretch, allowing gluten to soften and making it easier to spread evenly across the pan.
• Brown ground beef thoroughly and drain excess fat to prevent a soggy pizza base and ensure a crisp, delicious texture.
• Simmer the tomato sauce slowly to develop rich, concentrated flavors that will elevate the entire pizza's taste profile.
• Use freshly shredded mozzarella for the best melting quality and most appetizing golden-brown bubbles on top of your pizza.
• Allow the pizza to rest for five minutes after baking, which helps the cheese set and makes cutting into perfect squares much easier and neater.

Serving Suggestions for School Pizza

• Pizza Party Platter: Create a fun buffet-style setup with small square slices arranged on a large wooden board, perfect for sharing with friends or family gatherings.
• Lunch Box Delight: Pack cooled pizza squares in meal prep containers for easy school or work lunches, adding fresh cucumber slices or a small side salad for extra nutrition.
• Game Night Snack: Cut pizza into bite-sized pieces for casual game evenings, pairing perfectly with cold drinks and creating a crowd-pleasing finger food that everyone will enjoy.
• Dipping Companion: Serve with extra marinara sauce, ranch dressing, or garlic aioli on the side for those who love additional flavor and dipping options with their pizza squares.

How to Store School Pizza

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover pizza slices in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping them fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Freezer-Friendly Option: Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags to maintain quality for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Smart Reheating Technique: Revive cold pizza by using a skillet with lid on low heat, which restores crispy crust and melty cheese better than microwave methods. Alternatively, warm in oven at 375°F for 10 minutes to bring back original texture.
• Portion Planning Hack: Cut pizza into uniform squares before storing, making it easier to grab single servings and reduce potential food waste. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking during refrigeration or freezing.

Cheesy School Pizza Recipe

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4.9 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

School pizza brings nostalgic memories of cafeteria comfort for many people. Classic ingredients and simple preparation make this childhood favorite easy to recreate at home.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ lb (227 g) ground beef
• 8 oz (226 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 ⅔ cups (637 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups (355 ml) warm water
• 2 ¼ tsp (7 g) quick-rise yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• ¾ cup (90 g) powdered milk
• 2 tbsps sugar
• 2 tbsps vegetable oil
• 6 oz (170 g) tomato paste
• 1 cup (237 ml) water
• ⅓ cup (79 ml) olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• ½ tbsp dried oregano
• ½ tbsp dried basil
• ½ tsp crushed dried rosemary
• ½ tsp salt (for ground beef)
• ½ tsp pepper (for ground beef)

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Instructions

1. Dough Preparation: Whisk flour, powdered milk, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl, ensuring uniform ingredient distribution.
2. Liquid Integration: Warm water and vegetable oil, then swiftly incorporate into dry ingredients, creating a smooth pizza dough.
3. Pan Setup: Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C); spray 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
4. Crust Formation: Press and stretch dough evenly across pan, allowing brief resting if needed; partially bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden and firming.
5. Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in skillet over medium heat, draining excess fat and seasoning with salt and black pepper.
6. Sauce Creation: Simmer tomato paste with water, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and rosemary on low-medium heat for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop deep flavors.
7. Pizza Assembly: Generously spread sauce across partially baked crust, then evenly distribute cooked ground beef and sprinkle mozzarella cheese to cover entire surface.
8. Final Baking: Return pizza to oven, baking 8-10 minutes until cheese melts completely and turns golden brown.
9. Serving: Remove from oven, let rest 5 minutes, then slice into square servings.

Notes

• Dough Resting Technique: Let dough relax momentarily if stretching feels difficult to prevent tearing and ensure smooth, even coverage in the pan.
• Meat Preparation Tip: Drain beef thoroughly to prevent excess grease from making the pizza soggy and compromising the crispy crust.
• Sauce Flavor Development: Simmer sauce slowly to concentrate flavors and create a rich, depth of taste that elevates the entire pizza experience.
• Cheese Melting Hack: Ensure cheese reaches all edges for maximum coverage and that golden-brown bubbling for the perfect visual and taste appeal.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Baking, Sautéing, Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg