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This savory gluten-free Italian skillet pie is thick, rustic, baked in a cast iron skillet, and customizable for a satisfying, crowd-pleasing dinner. Packed with classic toppings like pepperoni, crisp onions, fresh tomatoes, and jalapeños, it bakes in just 20 minutes with a deeply golden, cheesy crust.
As a bonus, the pizza recipe takes only 10 minutes to whip up and 20 minutes to bake. This means you can have a nutritious meal for your family with all the deliciousness you can find in a pizza in no time.
What is a pizza pie?
I don’t want to confuse you here. The term “pizza pie” is a thin crust pizza with various toppings in America commonly called a pie. This version of the pizza pie is a pie filled with all the delicious pizza toppings, topped with cheese, and baked in a skillet.
Pie crust for gluten free pizza pie
The crust for this pizza pie is a gluten free pancake-style batter baked in a cast iron skillet giving the pizza pie a crispy crust.
Why Use a Cast Iron Skillet for a Savory Pizza Pie?
To achieve an authentic, rustic texture for a savory Italian pie, baking in a cast iron skillet yields the best results.
Cast iron conducts heat evenly and consistently across the entire pan, ensuring the thick crust bakes uniformly through the center with no cold spots. Because the skillet retains heat so well, it also keeps the pie hot right at the table for serving.
The main advantage of cast iron here is the crisp, golden edge it creates. Generously oiling the skillet before pressing the dough into the pan allows the crust to develop a beautiful, rustic crunch that securely holds your favorite savory fillings and cheeses.
Creative Topping Ideas for Your Savory Pie
There are a lot of different toppings that people like to put on their pizza. Here are our favorite toppings for pizza pie:
1. Pepperoni – This is probably the most popular topping for pizza. It’s a classic topping that goes well with just about anything else you might put on your pizza and goes exceptionally well in a pizza pie.
2. Sausage – Another popular meat topping for pizza pie. Sausage goes great with a lot of different cheeses and other toppings.
3. Bacon – Bacon is another popular meat topping for pizza pie. It has a nice smoky flavor that goes well with cheese and veggies. Be sure to cook the bacon first before adding it to the pizza pie.
4. Ham – Ham is another classic topping. It has a salty flavor that pairs well with different cheeses and other toppings.
5. Vegetables – Vegetables are versatile and go well with just about anything else you might put on your pizza pie.
And plenty of cheese!
Our 4 Most Popular Gluten-Free Pizza Recipes for Inspiration
Enhance your savory pie by dusting the top with a traditional Italian blend or your own mix of dried oregano, basil, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes before baking.
Why are fresh tomatoes better than pizza sauce?
Using fresh tomatoes instead of a heavy pizza sauce adds a vibrant, clean flavor and a rustic texture without making the pie soggy. Unlike canned sauces, which are often overly acidic or sweetened, fresh tomatoes let you naturally control the flavor while pairing perfectly with rich cheeses, meats, and veggies.
By pressing raw, halved cherry tomatoes directly into the toppings before baking, they warm through and release a juicy burst of flavor. This method protects the crust from trapped moisture, keeping the center of your savory pie structurally sound and beautifully crisp.
Best Vegetable Fillings for a Savory Italian Pie
Keeping this savory pie vegetarian is an excellent choice, but because the crust is thick and rustic, slicing your vegetables thinly is essential to ensure they cook evenly.
A blend of crisp bell peppers, earthy mushrooms, red onions, and briny olives creates a perfect flavor balance. Adding fresh spinach leaves and sliced jalapeños can also bring a beautiful pop of color and a touch of heat.
Instead of a heavy sauce, layering these thinly sliced vegetables with fresh, halved cherry tomatoes allows everything to roast beautifully inside the cast iron skillet. They pair perfectly with a rich blend of cheeses, keeping the center of your pie light, vibrant, and full of classic Italian flavor.
Best cheeses for making gluten free pizza pie
1. Mozzarella cheese – This is the classic cheese for making pizza pie. The cheese is creamy, melts well and gives your pie that classic flavor and texture.
2. Cheddar cheese – Cheddar has a strong flavor that goes well with all the other toppings on a pizza. Plus, it melts nicely too.
3. Parmesan cheese – This is a great cheese to use to add extra flavor to your gluten free pizza pie. Parmesan is a strong flavored cheese that can make your pizza taste even better. Plus, it adds a nice crunchy texture as well.
The best temperature for baking a gluten free pizza pie and why.
To make the perfect gluten free pizza pie, you need to pay attention to the temperature. The ideal temperature for baking is between 400 and 425 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the crust to cook evenly without burning and the cheese to melt perfectly.
What to Serve with a Savory Italian Pie
Because this savory pie is hearty and flavorful, it easily stands alone as a complete meal. However, if you are serving it for a weekend brunch or a gathering, a crisp green salad tossed with a simple vinaigrette is the perfect light accompaniment to balance the rich cheeses.
Storing and Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat while preserving the rustic texture, place individual slices in a skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes until the crust crisps back up and the cheese melts, or use a conventional oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5 to 7 minutes.
FOR THE CRUST; place eggs, milk, flour, 1 teaspoon of herbs, salt and baking powder into a large bowl. Using a whisk, mix to combine. Set aside for 15 minutes. (this is an important step)
2.
Preheat the oven to 425 F, and while the oven is heating, place an 8-inch cast iron skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the oven
3.
Once the oven is at 425 F, carefully take the skillet out and swirl
the oil around to coat the sides
4.
MAKE THE PIZZA PIE; immediately pour the batter into the hot skillet and start layering with the toppings. First, sprinkle 3/4 cup of mozzarella evenly over the batter, then layer with tomatoes, onions, remaining 1 teaspoon of herbs, mushrooms, pepperoni, jalapeno (if using), remaining mozzarella cheese and finish with parmesan cheese
5.
Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the sides are dark golden brown and crispy
6.
Allow the pizza pie to cool for 10 minutes before slicing
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