By Brooke McLay
Crock-Pot cooking is a wintertime classic. After a long day of work (or, for the kids, school) it’s nice to come home to a warm, comforting meal. One of the biggest complaints I hear about Crock-Pot recipes, however, is that they all end up looking and tasting the same. Just the other day, my sister was lamenting her need for more recipes “…but none of those Crock-Pot ones. Everything just turns brown and tastes like gravy and carrots!”
I get that. Most Crock-Pot recipes tend to get a little monotonous after eight hours of simmering. But there are much more inventive options than just your standard pot roast or beef stew. Believe it or not, you can actually cook a pizza in your Crock-Pot. It’s so easy, you won’t believe it. And the end result? Outta this world delicious. My kids were in heaven and so was I. Homemade pizza ready at 5 o’clock and all I have to do is slice? Sign me up, baby!
No one would ever guess this creation came from a Crock-Pot. It’s not weird. It’s not brown. It’s just a big, glorious hunk of pizza. Absolutely delicious.
Crock-Pot Pepperoni Pizza
Makes: 4 servings (1 13″ pizza)
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups pre-made pizza dough
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 ounces pepperoni
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Directions:
1. Spray an 8.5-quart Crock-Pot with baking spray. (Make sure it’s baking spray and not just nonstick spray, since it has flour and keeps the cooked pizza from sticking to the inside of your Crock-Pot.)
2. Press pre-made pizza dough into the bottom of the Crock-Pot. (You can also make your own dough, but with $1.50 bags of refrigerated pizza dough available at Trader Joe’s and Whole Food, why not shortcut your prep time and keep life easy?) Press the edges of the dough up the sides of the Crock-Pot to form a crust.
3. Spoon marinara sauce on top of the dough. Top with cheese and pepperoni.
4. Cover and set Crock-Pot to low. Cook for 3-4 hours, just until the crust turns golden brown around the edges and the cheese begins to bubble. *Crock-Pot cook times may vary.
5. Remove the cover. Allow pizza to cool slightly. With a metal spatula, gently remove pizza from the Crock-Pot. Garnish with basil. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Food , Recipes
