Stuffed Crust Pizza
on Oct 26, 2023, Updated Apr 10, 2024
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Every slice of this delicious pizza is full of savory pepperoni, sweet marinara sauce, and crust stuffed with gooey cheese. If you are looking for a fun way to switch up family pizza night then this Stuffed Crust Pizza recipe is for you!
Stuffed crust pizza is such an iconic American dish and it couldn’t be easier to make! We use cheese sticks to give the crust of this pizza that classic gooey, stringy, cheesy look. The mozzarella sticks melt perfectly as the pizza bakes in the oven.
Our easy-to-make pizza crust recipe is soft, chewy, and has the perfect amount of rise to help support whatever toppings you and your family are looking to add. By using this recipe as a base, you can truly customize your stuffed crust pizza in any way you would like. My kids love breadsticks anytime we have pizza and these 20 minute breadsticks with cheese are always a favorite.
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
- Dry Active Yeast—To give the pizza dough its rise.
- Olive Oil—Helps prevent the sauce from making the pizza dough soggy.
- Granulated Sugar—Feeds the yeast to assist in the dough rising.
- All-Purpose Flour—Can be replaced with gluten free or whole wheat flour.
- Cheese Sticks—For the filling of the crust.
- Marinara Sauce—Your favorite store bought brand.
- Mozzarella Cheese—Freshly sliced or freshly grated works best.
- Pepperoni—Or any other pizza toppings you would like to use.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Popular Substitutions and Variations
One of the reasons we love this recipe so much is because it is so easy to customize! Adding different toppings is an easy way to make this recipe your own. In addition to pepperoni and cheese, other toppings you can add include mushrooms, bell peppers, sausage, and olives. For a meat lovers pizza, try adding ground sausage and oven cooked bacon to your pizza. I like to serve pizza with a fresh green salad or a side of garlic knots too.
How to Make Stuffed Crust Pizza
Step #1. Preheat your oven and cut each cheese stick into several small pieces. Set the cheese sticks aside. Whisk together the water and yeast gently. Let the mixture sit until foamy. Once the yeast is foamy, stir in the sugar and olive oil.
Step #2. Gently mix in the flour until the dough comes together and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl.Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface before rolling it out into a large disc. Transfer your dough to a pizza pan.
Step #3. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface before rolling it out into a large disc. Transfer your dough to a pizza pan. Line the sliced cheese sticks around the edge of the pan and fold the crust over to cover them.
Step #4.Top the surface of the pizza dough with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni. Bake your pizza until the cheese is bubbly. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Mozzarella cheese works best to get that classic gooey stuffed crust look. However, fresh mozzarella has a little too much moisture and melts down quite a bit as a result. We like to use cheese sticks since they hold their shape but still get nice and gooey when they melt.
If you are noticing that your dough is on the stiff side while you knead it then your yeast may have died. Make sure you are using warm to hot water and giving your yeast a chance to bloom. A foamy yeast will make your dough much easier to knead and give it a nice rise.
Make sure to seal the edges properly by pinching the dough over the cheese. Also, avoid overstuffing the crust.
Expert Tips
- You can use any flavor of marinara or red sauce! You can never go wrong with a classic garlic basil sauce or switch things up with a more creative flavor. Changing the sauce in this recipe is a quick and easy way to customize the flavor of your pizza.
- For some extra flavor, brush your crust with oil and granulated garlic salt before adding any toppings.
- Giving your yeast time to foam helps ensure it is not dead. If your yeast doesn’t foam up at all then you will want to dump it out and try again.
How to Store and Reheat Your Leftover Pizza
Your stuffed crust pizza will be best and most gooey when served fresh; however, you can store your leftover pizza in the fridge for up to 4 days. Simply transfer your pizza slices to an airtight container or wrap them in tin foil to prevent the slices from sticking together. The easiest way to reheat your leftovers is by popping a slice or two in the microwave for about a minute.
How to Reheat Your Pizza On the Stovetop
Looking for an easy way to revive your leftover pizza? Heat a drizzle of oil in a pan and then add a slice of pizza. Cook your pizza for a few minutes and then add a tablespoon or two of water. Quickly cover the pan with a lid to capture the steam and let the pizza cook for a few more minutes. Once the water has completely evaporated you will be left with a delicious slice of pizza that tastes as good as the day you made it!
More Pizza Recipes To Consider
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100% Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
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Cheesy Sausage and Pepper Stromboli
Pizza & Sandwiches
30 Minute Meaty Margherita Pizza
Pizza Dough
Amazing No-Knead Refrigerator Pizza Dough
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Stuffed Crust Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water, about 105 degrees
- 1 tablespoon dry active yeast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, or bread flour
- 3-4 mozzarella cheese sticks
- 1 ¼ cups marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, about 8 ounces
- ½ cup pepperoni
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together the water and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with a towel and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy.
- Once the yeast is foamy, stir in the olive oil and sugar. Use a large wooden spoon to fold in the flour until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it by hand for 5 minutes.
- Return to the bowl and allow the dough to rise for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Cut your cheese sticks into 4 pieces each and set them aside.
- Roll the dough out into a large 18-inch circle and place it on a 16-inch pizza pan, leaving about an inch of overhang on the pan.
- Place the cheese sticks around the edge of the pan and fold the excess dough over the cheese to ensure they are fully covered. This is making the stuffed crust around the edge of the pizza.
- Spread the sauce, the cheese, and then pepperoni over the top of the pizza and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden brown.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- This pizza is best served fresh; however you can store it in the fridge in an airtight container or wrapped in tin foil for up to 4 days. You can reheat your pizza in the microwave.
- Another great way to reheat your pizza is on the stovetop. Heat some oil in a pan and then add a slice of pizza. Cook the pizza for a few minutes and then add a tablespoon or two of water and cover the pan with a lid. Allow all of the water to evaporate and your pizza is ready!
- For some extra flavor, brush your crust with oil and granulated garlic salt before adding any toppings.
- Giving your yeast time to foam helps ensure the yeast is not dead. If your yeast doesn’t foam up at all, you will want to dump it out and start again.
- Other toppings you can add to your pizza include mushrooms, bell peppers, sausage, and olives.
