🍕 Old-School Cafeteria-Style Pizza
🍽️ Makes: 12 square slices (9″x13″ pan)
⏱️ Total Time: ~1 hour
✅ Dough Ingredients:
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2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
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1 cup warm water (110°F / 43°C)
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1 tablespoon sugar
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2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
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1 tsp salt
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2 tbsp olive oil (plus more for greasing)
💡 Shortcut: You can use 1 lb of store-bought pizza dough if you want to skip homemade.
✅ Topping Ingredients:
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1 cup pizza sauce (or use thick marinara)
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2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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½ cup shredded cheddar (optional but authentic)
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½ tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp Italian seasoning
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Optional toppings: pepperoni slices, sausage crumbles, green peppers, onions
👨🍳 Instructions:
1. Make the dough:
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In a bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
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Stir in flour, salt, and olive oil. Mix until a dough forms.
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Knead on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
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Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 30–45 minutes (until doubled in size).
🧢 Short on time? Skip the rise and press dough straight into the pan — just know it’ll be denser (like some school pizzas were).
2. Preheat & prep:
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Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C).
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Lightly grease a 9×13″ baking sheet or pan.
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Punch down the dough and press it evenly into the pan, pushing it into corners.
3. Assemble the pizza:
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Spread sauce evenly over the dough.
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Sprinkle garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
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Cover with mozzarella and cheddar. Add toppings if using.
4. Bake:
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Bake for 13–16 minutes, or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
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Let rest a few minutes before slicing into rectangles or squares — just like school.
🍽️ Tips for Full School-Lunch Nostalgia:
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Serve with canned corn, chocolate pudding, and a small carton of milk.
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Use cafeteria-style aluminum trays for the full throwback.
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Want the crust a bit more “bready”? Let the dough rise again in the pan before baking for 15–20 minutes.
🔄 Variations:
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Breakfast pizza: Use sausage gravy instead of sauce, top with scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese.
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Beef crumble version: Brown ground beef with salt, pepper, and onion powder — scatter over the sauce before cheese.
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Super nostalgic style: Mix mozzarella with American cheese for that extra gooey cafeteria flavor.
Want a sheet pan version for a crowd, or a whole wheat crust option like some schools serve now? I’ve got that too!
