Meet your new favorite family dinner recipe: Grandma’s Pizza. Capturing the flavors of Sicilian heritage and the easy-breezy spirit of end-of-summer, this sheet-pan pizza is a delectable delight that is simple to make. The essentials include pizza dough that you can conveniently fetch from the store, jarred tomato sauce, lean slices of zucchini, some mouth-watering mozzarella, and a hearty sprinkle of Parmesan. It then takes a short while in a hot oven to bring your pizza to life.

The quintessential taste of any pizza, and our Grandma’s pizza is no exception, rests fundamentally in its fluffy core and crispy crust. The technique is simple, yet effective. We semi-bake the crust and salt the zucchini prior to the final baking to ensure that you don’t end up with a soggy crust.

Perhaps you’re curious where Grandma’s pizza gets its name? This style of pizza is a tribute to Sicilian grandmothers in Long Island, New York. The special aspect of this pizza is that it is typically cut into squares, unlike the conventional triangular slices. This thin, rectangular-shaped crust pizza baked in a sheet pan is a sight to look at and a joy to savor.

To get the best results in this pizza, we recommend low-moisture mozzarella thanks to its superior melting abilities. This cheese has a lower moisture content compared to fresh mozzarella, making it an ideal choice for pizzas and other dishes such as quesadillas or mac and cheese. Also, it's crucial to bring the pizza dough to room temperature for better handling and shaping. So, plan on taking out the dough about 40 to 60 minutes beforehand.

Worry not if you bake too much, the leftover pizza can be easily stored in an airtight container and enjoyed for up to five days later.

A few tips on the procedure: while preheating the oven for the actual pizza, slice the zucchinis and toss them in a mix of salt, pepper, and oil. Spread them on baking sheets and bake until tender-crisp. Then, partially bake the dough until it starts to turn a light golden brown. Layer tomato sauce, mozzarella, roasted zucchini slices, and finally, a sprinkle of Parmesan on top of our par-baked dough. Bake until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown. Let it cool briefly, garnish with fresh basil leaves and crushed red pepper, and it’s ready to serve.

In essence, Grandma’s pizza is a culinary blend of tradition, simplicity, and taste in a single sheet pan. Happy baking!