Pan-Baked Spicy Italian Sausage and Pepper Pizza

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-12 · Updated 2026-06-12

A thick-crust pan pizza topped with spicy Italian sausage, sautéed bell peppers, and melted mozzarella cheese for a hearty meal. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 115 minutes, pairs bread flour, active dry yeast, warm water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 700 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 350 g bread flour
• 3 g active dry yeast
• 200 ml warm water
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 150 g spicy Italian sausage
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper
• 180 g shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 130 g tomato sauce

The pizza stone or steel we’d bake this on → Best Pizza Stones and Steels for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, dissolve 3 g active dry yeast in 200 ml warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, mix 350 g bread flour with 1.5 tsp salt. Add the yeast mixture and 2 tbsp olive oil, stirring to form a dough.
3. Step 3: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
4. Step 4: While the dough rises, slice 1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper into thin strips and sauté them with 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes until tender and slightly caramelized. Remove from heat.
5. Step 5: Remove sausage casing from 150 g spicy Italian sausage and crumble it. Cook in a skillet over medium heat for 6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
6. Step 6: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly oil a 10-inch cast iron pan or deep baking dish.
7. Step 7: Press the risen dough evenly into the pan forming a 1-1.5 cm thick base.
8. Step 8: Spread 130 g tomato sauce evenly over the dough. Scatter cooked sausage and sautéed peppers on top.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle 180 g shredded mozzarella cheese evenly and dust with 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes.
10. Step 10: Bake for 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbly.
11. Step 11: Remove from oven, let rest 5 minutes, slice, and serve warm.