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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Bakin' It Old School: Cafeteria Pizza Recipe

    September 20, 2018 • Updated: September 26, 2021 • by Renée • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    This Old School Cafeteria Pizza recipe captures the essence of all that was good in the school cafeterias of our youth. (Cafeteria ladies not included.) | The Good Hearted Woman

    This Old School Cafeteria Pizza recipe captures the essence of all that was good in the school cafeterias of our youth. (Cafeteria ladies not included.)

    Old School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman

    This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite.

    This fall marked a real Mama Milestone for me. After 28 years of recording the first day of school with a photo each year, and then sending my girls off to preschool, and kindergarten, and grade school, and middle school, and finally high school - times five! - I faced my baby's first day of Senior year - and my last "1st Day of School."

    Old School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman
    Our youngest on her first day of 1st Grade & first day of her Senior year. Time flies fast, my friends.

    All but the youngest have gone off to college now too, but as anyone who has ever done so will tell you, sending a child off to college is an entirely different experience from packing them off to first grade. Anyway, this rite of passage got me reminiscing, and as I got online to update Em's lunch account, I got to thinking about the cafeteria and the school lunches of my childhood.

    I grew up in Northeast Portland and attended the same elementary school from kindergarten through the eighth grade; and in that time, I figure I ate nearly 1500 meals in our basement cafeteria. More than two-thirds were "hot lunches."

    I was one of those kids who got hot lunch almost every day. Both my parents worked outside our home and mom wasn't the lunch-packing sort, so until I got old enough to where my mom would let me pack my own lunch, I was most often in the hot lunch line.

    Most days, the actual food served for hot lunch wasn't all that awesome, but ever so often, it was great. I mean, truly Good. My favorite was Chili & Maple Bar Day [I'll get to that here on the blog someday - you're gonna love it!], and my second favorite was Pizza Day.

    Old School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman

    In fact, school pizza was my first pizza. You see, back when I started grade school, we didn't go in for any of that fancy ethnic cooking like Pizza or Lasagna or Tacos at our house. We were a chili-mac, roast beef, chip-beef-on-rice kind of family. (Change comes slowly to Midwestern roots, especially when you replant them.)

    Oh sure, by the time I hit my tweens, my mom had finally decided that she'd give the pizza at Amalfi's a try, and from then on we had it at least once a month. But even though I have had countless amazing, hand-tossed, artisan-created, wood-fired, rustic pizzas since those long-ago days, a slice of old school cafeteria pizza now and again is a comfortable, reassuring memory.

    It's also a super easy, economical way to feed a ton of people!


    The Three Essential Elements of School Cafeteria Pizza

    To recreate the unique flavor blend that is School Cafeteria Pizza, you basically need three elements: (1) pourable pizza crust; (2) pizza topping sauce; and (3) grated cheese (but not just any cheese!).

    1 . The Pourable Crust

    The pourable crust is arguably the most critical piece of the puzzle because it gives school pizza its unique texture and bite. Every source I could find for school pizza crust made enough dough for at least eight full-size sheet pans; however, after some tinkering, I was able to adjust the recipe down so that it is just right for a single half-sheet pan.

    Old School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman

    2. The Pizza Topping Sauce

    The second element is the Pizza Topping, which is really just a thickened tomato-based meat sauce. Easy-peasy. (As usual, I offer this recipe as a jumping-off point. If you want to make your topping sauce vegetarian, or add a stew of other ingredients to it, go for it.)

    3. The Cheese

    Back in the day, school pizza was blanketed in a golden brick of mystery known as Government Cheese. Government cheese was ubiquitous in the cafeteria of my youth, in grilled cheese sandwiches, lasagna, mac-n-cheese, and of course, pizza.

    Old School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman

    If you have never experienced government cheese in all its glorious goldenness, you don't know what you are missing. Rumored to have been created from the tears of Midwest dairy farmers, this “pasteurized process American cheese product” wedges in on the dubious side of the cheese wheel, somewhere between Velveeta and Kraft Singles.

    I don't have access to government cheese these days; however, I've created a blend that comes pretty close and gives this cafeteria pizza recipe its authentic, old school flavor.

    PRO TIP: If you want to recreate old school Cheese Pizza, just leave out the meat and double the tomato sauce and spices to create the sauce. It really is as simple as that.

    Old School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman
    5 from 12 votes

    Old School Cafeteria Pizza

    This Old School Cafeteria Pizza recipe captures the essence of all that was good in the school cafeterias of our youth. (Cafeteria ladies not included.)
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time:45 minutes
    Cook Time:15 minutes
    Total Time:1 hour
    Servings: 20
    Calories: 282kcal
    Author: Renee

    Equipment

    • Heavy Baking Sheet
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    Pourable Pizza Crust
    • 1 packet quick rise yeast ¼ ounce, or 2 ¼ teaspoons
    • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup instant dry milk
    • 3 tablespoons sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • 2 ¼ cups hot water 110-115° F | 55° C
    • 2 tablespoons corn meal
    Pizza Topping
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • ½ pound mild Italian sausage
    • 1 large onion chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 cup water
    • 6-8 ounces tomato paste
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
    Cheese Blend
    • 4 ounces American cheese grated
    • 4 ounces Tillamook medium cheddar cheese grated
    • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese grated

    Instructions

    Pizza Crust

    • Preheat oven:
      • Conventional oven: 475° F [245° C]
      • Convection oven: 425° F [220° C]
    • Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper. [Half Sheet Pan = approx. 20" x 13.5".] Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle lightly with cornmeal. Tilt the pan back and forth to distribute corn meal evenly.
    • Combine yeast, flour, dry milk, sugar, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. 
    • Combine oil and warm water, and then pour into flour mixture and stir thoroughly for about 5 minutes. Mixture will be very sticky. 
    • Pour mixture from bowl onto prepared pan and spread evenly using a spatula. Set dough in pan aside to rest for 20-30 minutes. 
    • Put the pizza dough pan in the oven and pre-bake until crust is set:
      • Conventional oven: 475° F for 10 minutes
      • Convection oven: 425° F for 7 minutes
      Remove from oven and set aside until Pizza Topping has cooled slightly. 

    Pizza Topping

    • Prepare the pizza topping while the pizza crust is "resting." In large skillet, combine chopped onion, mild Italian sausage, and ground beef and cooked over medium-high heat until meat is thoroughly browned and onion is soft and translucent. 
    • Add tomato paste, water, brown sugar, and dried herbs. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes. The mixture is done when it is no longer runny. 
    • Allow topping to cool slightly before spreading it on pizza.

    Cheese Blend

    • Combine three grated cheeses in a medium bowl. 

    Assemble Pizza

    • Carefully spread the Pizza Topping over the pre-baked Pizza Crust. 
    • Top evenly with Cheese Blend.
    • Return pizza to hot oven and bake until cheese is melted and topping is heated through:
      • Conventional oven: 475° F for 10-15 minutes
      • Convection oven: 425° F for 5 minutes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 514mg | Potassium: 251mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 298IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 161mg | Iron: 2mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Have you tried our Shrimp & Grits Pizza? It's rich, unique, and totally tasty! (It's gluten-free, too.) 

    Old School Cafeteria Pizza Recipe | The Good Hearted Woman


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    of The Good Hearted Woman. •  Be sure to PIN this post!

        This Old School Cafeteria Pizza recipe captures the essence of all that was good in the school cafeterias of our youth. (Cafeteria ladies not included.) | The Good Hearted Woman

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!
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    About Renée

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jodi says

      December 14, 2019 at 12:22 pm

      I should have used the other old school lunch pizza recipe I've tried before , This one was a collassel waste of time and ingredients.. I prevailed the crust for ten minutes at 475 just as the recipe said, which was about eight minutes too long. Crust is already burnt and I haven't even gotten to add my toppings .

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        December 14, 2019 at 1:50 pm

        Thank you for your comment, Jodi. I've never had an issue with the temps for this recipe, but when I went back through my post notes, I found that a critical piece of information - regarding Conventional oven versus Convection oven temps - had been omitted from the final recipe card. So yes, if you were using a convection oven, then the oven oven temp was set too high. I've updated the recipe to reflect the additional information for convection oven users.

        Reply
    2. Jan says

      December 02, 2019 at 3:50 pm

      Hey Renee! I'll bet we were (sort of) neighbors but I'm sure I predate U -- me in the 60's) - I went to North Powellhurst school in David Douglas District - As I write, I've got this in the oven for the grand kids. Sounds like u hit the nail on the head! thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        December 02, 2019 at 4:59 pm

        Hello, Neighbor - Thanks for checking in! (and you don't predate me by much.) Hope the kiddos enjoy it! ?

        Reply
    3. Judith Perry says

      June 09, 2019 at 5:52 pm

      5 stars
      We were reminiscing the other day about pizza we used to eat at school back in the 70’s. I had to look for the recipes and found this one. Well we loved the pizza from back when, we definitely loved this recipe. The crust ( easy to make) had a touch of sweetness which added to the flavor overall. Mine came out a little more meatier than your picture, plus we added mushrooms. Thank you for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        June 09, 2019 at 5:58 pm

        Thank you so much for your feedback. I'm so glad the recipe worked for you!

        Reply
        • Mozelle Martin says

          June 25, 2019 at 7:33 pm

          5 stars
          Hi and thank you for sharing this. I just wanted to let you know that I shared this recipe of yours on my blog.

    4. Rosemary says

      May 01, 2019 at 9:13 pm

      I remember pizza in school and it was such a treat. I always looked forward to Friday lunch for a special treat. Even though I enjoyed it as a kid, I'm not sure I'd want to go back to eating it again...that cheese left me scarred 🙂

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        May 01, 2019 at 11:27 pm

        ? That cheese was an interesting science project, wasn't it?

        Reply
    5. Sheila says

      May 01, 2019 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for the trip down memory lane with Cafeteria Pizza! It is nostalgic for sure! I'm telling my age when I say I remember school lunch was .25 cents and milk was a nickel. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        May 01, 2019 at 9:49 am

        Right there with you, Sheila. ?

        Reply
    6. Dawn @ Our Food Fix says

      May 01, 2019 at 9:35 am

      I love this old school recipe, it really does remind me of my childhood. If only I could still eat gluten 🙂

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        May 01, 2019 at 9:48 am

        Have you ever tried long-rise sourdough bread? I make sourdough bread that has a 14-hour rise for a friend with Celiac. She can successfully eat it in moderation, because apparently the natural yeast consumes the gluten during that super-long rise before it bakes. You can read more about it and the science behind it here: https://thegoodheartedwoman.com/easy-sourdough-bread/. You could easily make pizza crust (like for *real* pizza) with it. Just an idea.

        Reply
    7. Marina says

      May 01, 2019 at 7:14 am

      Sure my husband would love these...

      Reply
    8. Katherine says

      May 01, 2019 at 6:28 am

      Ah, that must be such a strange feeling to send off your last "first day" of school! But I'm sure you're beyond proud too. 🙂 This post and the pizza brings all the nostalgia. I loved the cafeteria pizza, but this one looks and sounds way better than the one I ever had haha.

      Reply
    9. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

      September 21, 2018 at 9:12 am

      5 stars
      I love a retro inspired recipe! And who doesn't love pizza! This looks great Renee!

      Reply
    10. Annissa says

      September 20, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      5 stars
      Friday was always pizza day at my school. Even the hard core brown baggers would buy lunch on pizza day. It was everyones favorite cafeteria lunch. Then again, we didn't have a chili and maple bar day...

      Reply
    11. Sonal says

      September 20, 2018 at 6:01 pm

      5 stars
      What an amazing treat!! I am surely going to try it!

      Reply
    12. Tisha says

      September 20, 2018 at 5:07 pm

      5 stars
      Loved pizza day at school!!! This brings back some memories!

      Reply
    13. Jennifer | SavorwithJennifer.com says

      September 20, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh, I MISS this! Can't wait to try and I know my kids will be all over it.

      Reply
    14. Chris Collins says

      September 20, 2018 at 2:55 pm

      5 stars
      I used to love school pizza! What a tasty idea!

      Reply
    15. Jenni LeBaron says

      September 20, 2018 at 2:45 pm

      5 stars
      I totally remember school pizza! I loved pizza day too. This is a fantastic recipe to grab on to some of that comforting nostalgia!

      Reply
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