Wood-Fired Italian Sausage and Fennel Pizza

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-12 · Updated 2026-05-12

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A rustic Italian pizza featuring spicy sausage and caramelized fennel on a thin, crispy crust with melted mozzarella and fresh herbs. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs pizza dough, Italian sausage, casing removed, fennel bulb, thinly sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz pizza dough
6 oz Italian sausage, casing removed
1 cup fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

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

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 500°F with a pizza stone inside for at least 30 minutes to ensure a hot surface.
Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 6 oz Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for 5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Step 3: Add 1 cup thinly sliced fennel, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for 7 minutes until the fennel softens and caramelizes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Roll out 12 oz pizza dough on a floured surface to a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a pizza peel dusted with flour.
Step 5: Brush the dough with 1 tbsp olive oil and evenly spread the sausage and fennel mixture over the surface.
Step 6: Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top, then scatter 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves.
Step 7: Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone and bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
Step 8: Remove from oven and let rest for 3 minutes before slicing and serving.