Sheet Pan Pizza with Sausage and Mozzarella Recipe
This Sheet Pan Pizza recipe offers a quick and easy way to enjoy homemade pizza in just 35 minutes. Featuring a delicious combination of Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, and pizza sauce atop a crispy crust, it’s perfect for feeding a family with minimal effort. Using store-bought dough and sauce simplifies the process, making it a convenient weeknight meal everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Meat
- 3/4 pounds ground sweet or mild Italian sausage
Dough & Base
- 16 ounces pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal for the pan
Sauce & Cheese
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Oils
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) to prepare for baking the pizza to a crispy, golden finish.
- Cook the Sausage: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and break it into small pieces, cooking until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain excess fat and set cooked sausage aside.
- Prepare the Sheet Pan: Grease a 13×9-inch sheet pan with the remaining olive oil. Sprinkle an even layer of cornmeal across the pan to prevent the dough from sticking during baking.
- Roll Out the Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough and gently stretch it to fit the sheet pan. If the dough resists stretching, let it rest for 5 minutes and then stretch again to the pan’s edges.
- Assemble the Pizza: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Evenly layer the cooked sausage on top of the cheese, then finish by adding the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden, and the crust is thoroughly cooked and crisp.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes before slicing. Serve warm and enjoy your homemade sheet pan pizza!
Notes
- Store leftover sheet pan pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Allowing the dough to rest if it resists stretching helps achieve an even crust.
- Use mild or sweet Italian sausage according to your flavor preference.
- You can add extra toppings like vegetables or different cheeses if desired.
