The ever-so-simple Grandma Pizza is perfection with it’s thin crispy crust, mozzarella cheese, and drizzle of tangy tomato sauce.

Grandma pie in pan with pinch bowl of chili flakes.

Why You’ll Love Grandma Pizza

This pizza has everything going for it: it’s simple, quick, and incredibly tasty. Not to mention, it’s a little unconventional.

Grandma pizza does things differently by putting the cheese down first, then the sauce. If you’ve never had grandma pizza, this probably sounds ridiculous. But once you have it, you’ll see why this pizza stands out.

What Is Traditional Grandma Pizza?

A proper grandma-style pizza is made in a square pan with a thin and crispy crust. It’s then brushed with olive oil, topped with cheese first (yes, you read that right), followed by a drizzle of tomato sauce.

I like to top it with some chopped fresh oregano before putting it in the oven. People often compare this style of pizza to Sicilian pizza, but there are some notable differences, like the crust.

This style of pizza has been turning up on menus quite a bit over the last few years, so keep an eye out for it! But what’s even better: it’s incredibly easy to make at home. Easy as pie.

Side shot up close of grandma pie in pan.

What to Serve With This Pizza

Quick Tips

  1. To flavor your crust, brush a bit of olive oil over the edges of your dough and season with a bit of garlic salt and Italian herbs before putting it into the oven.
  2. A dark pan works best because it creates a nicer golden crisp on your crust which is exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to thin crust pizzas. If you don’t have a dark pan, you can snag one here or use a lighter pan, but you may end up with different results.
  3. When you drizzle the sauce over the pizza, don’t worry about it looking sloppy and uneven. It may feel strange at first because a typical pizza calls for even sauce coverage, but an uneven drizzle on this style of pizza is what you want.

Ingredients

  • Pizza dough. I always use my homemade dough recipe. You could also grab fresh dough from a local market.
  • Extra virgin olive oil. This will help your crust get a nice golden crust.
  • Mozzarella cheese. Any good quality mozzarella is great. If using a fresh Buffalo mozzarella, grate it beforehand. You could also opt for a pizza blend with mozzarella, provolone, asiago, etc.
  • Tomato sauce. Simple is the name of the game with the sauce. We swear by our basic homemade sauce. But jarred is totally fine if it’s easier for you!
  • Fresh oregano. This is optional, but I love added chopped fresh oregano before baking. It adds a nice Italian herbal flare, or something to that degree.

Here’s How to Make Grandma Pie Pizza.

  1. Preheat the oven to 450º F.
  2. Lightly oil the pizza pan and work your dough into it to form your base and crust.
  3. Sprinkle the cheese over the center of the dough, leaving room for the crust.
  4. With a ladle, drizzle the tomato sauce over the cheese in streaks or zig zags; don’t cover the entire pizza.
  5. Evenly sprinkle chopped fresh oregano over the top.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden and crisp, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  7. Let the pizza sit for about five minutes before cutting into it. When ready, cut into square pieces and serve. For a kick, sprinkle some chili flakes on top.
Left: pan getting a drizzle of olive oil; right: pizza in pan getting a drizzle of sauce.
Uncooked grandma pie in pan with hand sprinkling chopped oregano over it.
Cooked pan of grandma pie.

Storage, Freezing, & Reheating

  • This pizza will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag.
  • To freeze leftovers, simply store the slices in an airtight freezer-friendly bag; it will keep for about 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
  • To reheat, you can pop it into a toaster oven or air fryer to maintain a crisp crust. The microwave is another option, but the crust won’t keep it’s crisp texture.

Have You Made This Recipe?

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More Awesome Pizza Recipes

Grandma Pie Pizza

The ever-so-simple Grandma Pie Pizza is perfection with it's thin crispy crust, mozzarella cheese, and drizzle of tangy tomato sauce.
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 slices

Equipment

  • Square or rectangular pizza pan

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450º F.
  • Lightly oil the pizza pan and work your dough into it to form your base and crust.
  • Sprinkle the cheese over the center of the dough, leaving room for the crust. With a ladle, drizzle the tomato sauce over the cheese in streaks or zig zags; don't cover the entire pizza.
  • Evenly sprinkle chopped fresh oregano over the top.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden and crisp, and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let the pizza sit for about five minutes before cutting into it. When ready, cut into square pieces and serve. For a kick, sprinkle some chili flakes on top.