The Crispy Cast Iron Pizza We’re Loving Right Now

We love an at-home pizza night that’s easy and budget friendly, and this caprese pizza recipe certainly fits the bill. By using inexpensive store-bought ingredients like refrigerated pizza dough, this Italian-inspired pizza comes together in hardly any time at all. You can cut into four big wedges, or serve in squares for a grab-and-go appetizer.

This pizza requires just a few simple ingredients, but you can easily make it your own with additional toppings. We think it’s a great option as a vegetarian main, and can even be a satisfying appetizer when cut into squares for a smaller get together with family and friends. Fire up the oven and preheat your cast iron before adding your pizza dough base, and you’ll be amazed at how crispy the crust turns out.

Cast Iron Caprese Pizza Ingredients

We kept this pizza simple with refrigerated pizza dough, mozzarella, jarred pesto, tomato slices and olives—all budget-friendly grocery cart items, but you can easily swap for other favorite pizza toppings. If you prefer a red sauce pizza, add a dollop of marinara instead of the pesto and gently smooth it with the back of a spoon across the dough before adding the cheese and baking.

For a more elevated take, add some capers, roasted garlic, or chopped jarred artichokes. Just remember that any wet ingredients will add moisture to the dish. Adding pre-roasted veggies or patting any wet ingredients dry (like jarred artichokes) will help the pizza maintain that pleasant melty and crispy combination the makes it so delicious.

Kids of all ages will love this pizza but if you have any picky eaters, you can swap out the olives for other veggies or a favorite meat topping. Cook up sausage or add pepperoni for a meat-lovers take on this cast iron pizza dish, and use shredded mozzarella instead of torn fresh mozzarella.