The Best Sheet Pan Pizza Recipe

Introduction

This sheet pan pizza is a simple and flavorful way to enjoy homemade pizza without the fuss of shaping individual pies. Topped with savory fennel-spiced sausage, melty mozzarella, and classic herbs, it comes together quickly for a satisfying weeknight meal.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ teaspoons fennel seeds
• ½ pound ground pork
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound room temperature pizza dough
• ½ cup pizza sauce or to taste
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Grated parmesan cheese to serve

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
2. Step 2: Crush the fennel seeds using a mortar and pestle, a coffee grinder, or place them in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
3. Step 3: In a medium bowl, mix the ground pork, crushed fennel seeds, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper together by hand until well combined.
4. Step 4: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the sausage mixture. Break it up and cook, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains and the meat is lightly seared, about 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Step 5: Drain the cooked sausage on a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
6. Step 6: Brush a 9×13-inch rimmed baking sheet with olive oil all over.
7. Step 7: Stretch the pizza dough out to fill the entire pan evenly. If it resists stretching, let it rest for 5 minutes before trying again.
8. Step 8: Spread pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving about a ½-inch border around the edges.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella over the sauce, then evenly distribute the cooked sausage on top.
10. Step 10: Add the remaining mozzarella cheese on top of the sausage.
11. Step 11: Sprinkle dried oregano and garlic powder over the cheese.
12. Step 12: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
13. Step 13: Let the pizza cool for 5 minutes, slice, and serve with grated parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Tips & Variations

• If you don’t have fennel seeds, substitute with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
• Use store-bought pizza dough for convenience or make your own for a fresher taste.
• Add sliced bell peppers or mushrooms on top before baking for extra vegetables.
• For a crispier crust, pre-bake the stretched dough for 5 minutes before adding toppings.

Storage

Store leftover pizza tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat slices in a skillet over medium heat or in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes to maintain a crispy crust.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of sausage?

Yes, you can substitute ground pork with Italian sausage or turkey sausage depending on your preference. Adjust seasoning accordingly if your sausage is already flavored.

Can I freeze this sheet pan pizza?

Yes, you can freeze leftover cooked pizza. Wrap slices tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Reheat directly from frozen in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes.

The Best Sheet Pan Pizza Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 105 reviews

This sheet pan pizza recipe offers a delicious, easy-to-make homemade pizza featuring a savory fennel-spiced pork sausage topping, homemade dough stretched to fit a sheet pan, and a generous layer of melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a crowd or a family dinner, this pizza is baked to golden perfection with a crisp crust and flavorful toppings.

• Author: Cleo
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
• Total Time: 30-35 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Sausage

• 1 ½ teaspoons fennel seeds
• ½ pound ground pork
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Pizza Assembly

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound room temperature pizza dough
• ½ cup pizza sauce (or to taste)
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Grated parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking your pizza.
2. Crush Fennel Seeds: Use a mortar and pestle, coffee grinder, or a rolling pin to pulverize 1 ½ teaspoons of fennel seeds, releasing their aromatic flavor for the sausage.
3. Mix Sausage Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the ground pork, crushed fennel seeds, 2 cloves minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon dried basil, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Mix well by hand to evenly distribute spices.
4. Cook Sausage: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the sausage mixture. Break the meat into crumbles and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains and the edges are lightly seared.
5. Drain Sausage: Transfer the cooked sausage to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain excess fat until ready to assemble your pizza.
6. Prepare Pan and Dough: Brush a 9×13 rimmed baking sheet all over with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stretch the 1 pound of room temperature pizza dough to evenly fill the pan. If the dough is resistant, let it rest for 5 minutes before stretching again.
7. Add Sauce and Cheese: Spread ½ cup of pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese across the sauce layer.
8. Add Sausage and Top Cheese: Evenly distribute the crumbled cooked sausage on top of the cheese, then cover with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
9. Season and Bake: Sprinkle 1 teaspoon dried oregano and ½ teaspoon garlic powder evenly over the pizza. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, until the crust is golden brown at the edges and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
10. Cool and Serve: Allow the pizza to cool for 5 minutes after baking, then slice and serve with grated parmesan cheese sprinkled on top as desired.

Notes

• Letting the dough rest before stretching helps prevent shrinkage and makes it easier to spread in the pan.
• Cooking the sausage fully before adding to the pizza ensures it is safe to eat and flavorful.
• You can substitute other cheeses like provolone or cheddar for a different taste.
• Adjust the amount of pizza sauce and cheese to your preference for a lighter or richer pizza.
• Make sure the oven is fully preheated for the best crust texture.

Keywords: Sheet pan pizza, homemade pizza, sausage pizza, easy pizza recipe, baked pizza, fennel sausage pizza