You can easily prepare a stovetop version of pizza in just over half an hour and without even turning on the oven. Although the recipe went viral on social media a few years ago, it actually dates back decades to Italian immigrants in Michigan who, lacking ovens, created what they called “skillet pizza.”
What you need to make a no-bake pizza
The ingredients are pretty much the same as for a traditional oven-baked pizza: For the dough, you'll need flour, water, baking powder, and salt. For the toppings, go classic with cheese and tomato sauce, or add whatever you love, cold cuts, tuna, veggies, ground meat, you name it.
© Lew RobertsonHow to make stovetop pizza dough
- Start by preparing the dough just as you would for a traditional oven-baked pizza — the only difference is that this one uses baking powder instead of yeast, so it only needs about 5 minutes to rest.
- Once rested, roll the dough out on a floured surface using a rolling pin, then transfer it to a hot non-stick skillet lightly greased with oil.
- Let the base cook for around 2 minutes, then spread the tomato sauce, sprinkle the cheese, and add your favorite toppings.
- Finally, cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for about 15 minutes over medium heat—that's it! Crispy base, gooey cheese, and homemade flavor—no oven needed.
Why you'll love this pizza
We know it’s not the traditional way, but here’s why no-bake pizza might become your new go-to:
- The bottom turns golden and crispy, while the edges stay fluffy.
- It's much quicker than baking it in the oven.
- Baking powder does the job because you don't need tricky ingredients like baker's yeast.
- No preheating is required: just pan, dough, and go.
Ingredients
For the dough
150 g (1 cup + 2 tbsp) all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 100 ml (just under ½ cup) water
- 3.5 g (1 tsp) baking powder
- 3 g (½ tsp) salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the topping
- 100 g (about 1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 tbsp tomato sauce
- Fresh basil (optional, but highly recommended!)
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Mix water and olive oil until you get a sticky, even dough.
- Transfer to a floured surface and knead, adding more flour as needed until it becomes soft and manageable.
- Shape into a ball, cover with a cloth, and rest for 5 minutes.
- Roll out the dough and fit it into a large, lightly oiled skillet.
- Cook over high heat for 2 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella, cover with a lid, and cook over medium heat for 10–15 minutes.
- Finish with fresh basil — and enjoy your irresistible stovetop pizza!
