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Remember those classic rectangular pizza slices from school lunches? Soft, doughy crust, slightly crispy edges, and that nostalgic cheese and sauce combo? This homemade version brings back all those memoriesโ€”but even better! Made with simple ingredients and a no-fuss method, this school cafeteria-style pizza is perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or just reliving those childhood lunches.

Classic Cafeteria-Style Homemade Pizza: Nostalgic and Delicious

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  • Author: Lily Carter
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
  • Yield: 10 slices (normal servings: 6) 1x
  • Category: Main Dish, Comfort Food
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Homemade School Cafeteria Pizza brings back all the nostalgic flavors of your favorite school lunch! With a simple crust, savory tomato sauce, melty cheese, and a satisfying crispy edge, this pizza is just like the ones served in the cafeteria, but made right at home. Perfect for kids and adults alike!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
  • 2 TBSP cornmeal
  • 1 recipe of homemade pizza dough or 1 lb of refrigerated pizza dough from your local grocery’s deli department
  • 1/21 cup pizza sauce, to taste
  • 23 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Additional toppings of choice, if desired: pepperoni, cooked sausage or ground beef, diced peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, ham, pineapple, fresh basil, etc.
  • Optional: Garlic powder, dried oregano

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 475F. Add olive oil to a 10×15″ jellyroll pan and usea brush to spread it over the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with cornmeal.
  2. Press dough into the pan, stretching it to fit the entire pan as much as possible.
  3. Spread sauce over the entire surface of the pizza dough, all the way to the edges. Use more or less sauce depending on your preference.
  4. Sprinkle cheese over the sauce, extending to the edges. Use more or less, depending on your preferences. For a pizza this size, I usually use 3 cups of cheese, but you can use 2 cups if you’re planning to add more toppings or don’t like a lot of cheese.
  5. Add any other toppings you’d like. If desired, sprinkle with garlic powder and dried oregano.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before cutting into rectangles. You can use a standard pizza cutter, or I like to use a bench scraper for straighter cuts.

Notes

  • You can find refrigerated pizza dough at your local grocery store’s deli counter, typically in 1-lb bags. It’s usually very inexpensive, and can be a great shortcut. Keep in mind if you are using refrigerated pizza dough, be sure to let your dough come to room temperature before working with it. This will make it much more manageable and easier to stretch.
  • Feel free to adjust quantities of sauce, cheese, and toppings based on your family’s preferences–the sky’s the limit!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: : 1 slice
  • Calories: 263
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 474mg
  • Fat: 13g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 24g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 13g
  • Cholesterol: 28mg