slightly sweet, tangy sauce, a layer of seasoned meat topping, and a blanket of
melted cheese that pulled into strings when you lifted a slice. That’s exactly what
The School Pizza Recipe is all about—recreating that nostalgic, no-fuss sheet-pan pizza that somehow
tasted like the best lunch of the week.
School pizza wasn’t thin and fancy. It was sturdy, warm, and designed to feed a crowd. The crust was thick enough to
hold everything, the sauce had that cafeteria-style flavor (not too spicy, not too complex), and the topping was often
a simple meat mixture instead of pepperoni slices. The good news? It’s surprisingly easy to make at home, and it’s
even better fresh from your oven.
This recipe is built for a standard sheet pan and gives you the authentic texture: tender inside, lightly crisp on the
edges, and loaded with cheese. You can keep it classic or customize it, but the method stays the same—and once you
make it, you’ll understand why “pizza day” was legendary.
Ingredients:
For the Thick School Pizza Crust (Sheet Pan)
- 480 g (4 cups) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp powdered milk (optional but helps the classic cafeteria texture)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) instant yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 360 ml (1 1/2 cups) warm water (about 40–43°C / 105–110°F)
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- Extra oil for greasing the pan
For the School-Style Pizza Sauce
- 1 can (425–450 g / 15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (170 g / 6 oz) tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1–2 tsp sugar (cafeteria-style slightly sweet)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
For the Classic Meat Topping (Optional but Authentic)
- 450 g (1 lb) ground beef
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Optional: 1/2 tsp paprika
Cheese Topping
- 450–500 g (4–5 cups) shredded mozzarella
- 60–80 g (1/2–3/4 cup) grated Parmesan (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Pepperoni slices
- Cooked sausage crumbles
- Bell peppers, onions, mushrooms (pre-cooked lightly to remove moisture)
