What is a traditional school cafeteria pizza made of?

A classic school cafeteria pizza recipe features a soft crust made from flour, yeast, dry milk, and a bit of oil, topped with seasoned ground beef, tomato sauce, and shredded mozzarella. The magic is in its rectangular shape and no-frills ingredients—comforting, simple, and loved by generations.

How do you make school breakfast pizza from scratch?

Start by mixing a pourable dough, let it rest, and partially bake the crust. Then add a thin layer of sauce, sprinkle with cheese, and finish with cooked beef or breakfast sausage. This school cafeteria pizza recipe keeps it classic but lets you make it from real ingredients in your own kitchen.

What kind of cheese is used on school cafeteria pizza?

Most schools used processed mozzarella, but at home, you can upgrade the flavor with a blend of mozzarella and cheddar. That balance gives your school cafeteria pizza recipe the nostalgic taste you want with the rich melt your family will love.

Can you freeze leftover school breakfast pizza?

Absolutely! This recipe freezes beautifully. Wrap slices individually or store the whole pan. To reheat, pop them in the oven or toaster oven until hot and melty. You’ll be glad you made extra.

School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe – 1 Easy Homemade Classic

Name: School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 Tbsp Crisco shortening; 1½ Tbsp cornmeal; 1 (0.25-oz) packet of instant yeast; 1⅔ cup warm water; 2½ cups all-purpose flour; ¾ cup non-fat dry milk powder; 2 Tbsp sugar; ¼ tsp salt; 1½ tsp oil; 1⅓ cups pizza sauce; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; Optional: cooked ground beef, breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs

Description

This school cafeteria pizza recipe brings back the golden days of rectangle breakfast pizza with a homemade crust, savory toppings, and melty cheese—made from scratch in your own oven.

Ingredients

Scale

1 Tbsp Crisco shortening

1½ Tbsp cornmeal

1 (0.25-oz) packet of instant yeast

1⅔ cup warm water

2½ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup non-fat dry milk powder

2 Tbsp sugar

¼ tsp salt

1½ tsp oil

1⅓ cups pizza sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Optional: cooked ground beef, breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 475°F and grease a half sheet pan with shortening. Sprinkle cornmeal evenly over the pan.

2. In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let sit 5 minutes.

3. Add flour, dry milk, sugar, salt, and oil. Mix until smooth batter forms.

4. Pour batter into pan and spread evenly. Let rest for 20 minutes.

5. Bake the crust for 10 minutes.

6. Remove from oven, add pizza sauce, toppings, and cheese.

7. Bake another 10–15 minutes until golden and bubbly.

8. Slice into rectangles and serve.

Notes

You can freeze unbaked or baked pizza slices for easy reheating.

Swap toppings to suit breakfast or lunch.

Mix cheddar with mozzarella for extra flavor.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 320
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 480mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 15g
Cholesterol: 40mg