Crazy Crust Pizza

I’m one of those people who loves all styles of pizza. Deep-dish, thin-crust, Neapolitan, Detroit, New York-style—you name it, I’m a fan. I also love making from-scratch pizza with homemade pizza dough and baking it on the grill or in the oven. The problem is, unless you order delivery, those pizzas aren’t exactly weeknight friendly. They require planning and quite a bit of time.

This crazy crust pizza is the answer. It has everything you love about pizza—crisp edges, gooey cheese, tender veggies and savory meats—but in a quick and easy, weeknight-friendly format. And, hey, it’s pizza … Everyone will be lining up for a slice.

What is crazy crust?

Crazy crust pizza gets its name from the unique process of making the crust from a pourable batter instead of traditional dough. The truly crazy part? It actually works! The crust bakes up light and airy, with crisp edges and a firm bottom that can hold all your favorite toppings. While it’s not a classic pizzeria crust, it delivers great flavor and texture, and it comes together in less than an hour.

Crazy Crust Pizza Ingredients

• Ground beef
• All-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Eggs
• Whole milk
• Onion
• Mushrooms
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

Step 1: Brown the beef

Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a skillet, brown the ground beef, then drain it and set it aside.

Step 2: Make the crazy crust batter

In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, eggs and milk, and beat until they form a smooth batter. Pour the batter into a greased and floured 12- or 14-inch pizza pan. Spoon the cooked beef, onions and mushrooms over the batter, distributing them evenly.

Step 3: Bake, add cheese, then bake again

Bake the pizza for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove it from the oven, and top it with pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese. Return the pizza to the oven and bake it for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the cheese is melted and the edges are brown and crisp. Top the pizza with crushed red pepper flakes, as desired.

How to Store Crazy Crust Pizza

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. If your pizza is topping-heavy, wrap each slice in storage wrap before stacking them. Once you’re ready to enjoy the pizza again, follow our tips for how to reheat pizza so it tastes as good as it did on day one.

Crazy Crust Pizza Tips

Do I need a pizza pan to make crazy crust pizza?

Not at all. While pizza pans are designed to bake the crust evenly and provide a slightly crisp outer layer, you can make this crazy crust version in any rimmed baking pan or casserole dish. A good cast-iron skillet is also a great option.

What other toppings work on crazy crust pizza?

Whatever tickles your pizza fancy! Since the pizza bakes in two stages, we recommend adding meat and any toppings that require a longer cook time during the first stage. In addition, precooking raw meat, like beef and sausage, is important to ensure it’s fully cooked and produces less liquid to avoid watering down the batter. Create it with your go-to toppings, or check out our guide to the best pizza toppings for some inspiring flavor combinations.

Can this crazy crust pizza recipe be made gluten-free?

Yes, it definitely can. To create a gluten-free version of this recipe, simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a good gluten-free flour blend. Look for a brand that has a 1:1 conversion with regular flour, and follow the recipe as written.