Here at Taste of Home, we love copycat versions of everyone’s favorite brand-name foods. This recipe is an at-home version of the Little Caesar’s pretzel crust pizza, and we think it’s pretty close to the real deal!
We’ll walk you through the steps of making a pizza crust and turning it into a pretzel version, then assembling the pizza with the sauce, shredded cheese and pepperoni topping trio that Little Caesar’s uses.
Love this pretzel crust pizza? Try more copycat pizzas with our Pizza Hut copycat recipes.
Ingredients for Pretzel Crust Pizza
- Yeast: Yeast is essential to a good pizza dough recipe, so get familiar with our guide on how to use yeast.
- Baking soda: A mixture of hot water and baking soda gives this pizza crust its pretzel-y taste and color.
- Salt: Every good pretzel is finished with coarse salt!
- Salsa con queso dip: Feel free to buy the Tostito’s brand (or one of our recommendations for the best queso you can buy at the store) to make things easier. You can also make your own chili con queso if you’re feeling up to it!
- Shredded Mexican cheese blend: We love how a Mexican cheese blend pairs with the salsa con queso. It also tastes the most like Little Caesar’s pretzel crust pizza cheese topping!
- Pepperoni: Slices of pepperoni are almost essential on a pizza, especially if you’re trying to make a copycat Little Caesar’s pretzel crust pizza. Use small or large slices, or omit them completely!
Directions
Step 1: Activate the yeast
In a stand mixer, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water (about 110° to 115°F). Let the mixture stand until it’s frothy and bubbling, about five minutes.
Editor’s Tip: When yeast activates, it will bubble up into a tan foam. If your yeast does not do that, it’s not activated properly. Do not use it, or your bread won’t rise! Discard the mixture, and make sure your yeast hasn’t expired.
Step 2: Mix the dough
Add the all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon table salt to the yeast mixture. Using a dough hook, knead everything together on low speed just until the dough comes together, one to two minutes. Increase the speed to medium, and knead for five more minutes.
Step 3: Proof the dough
Place the dough in a bowl that’s greased with olive oil, turning the dough once in the bowl to grease the top of the dough. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel, and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
Step 4: Shape the dough
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Punch down the dough, and press it into a 12-inch circle onto an ungreased 14-inch pizza pan. Let it stand 10 minutes.
Editor’s Tip: One of our favorite homemade pizza tips is not using a rolling pin to roll out the dough. The rolling pin will push out way too much air, resulting in a paper-thin crust.
Step 5: Turn the pizza crust into a pretzel one!
In a small bowl, carefully whisk together the hot water and baking soda until the baking soda is completely dissolved. Immediately brush the mixture over the outer 1 inch of the pizza dough (where the crust will be). Let the dough stand for five minutes, then repeat the process once. Sprinkle the coarse salt over outer edge.
Step 6: Build with your toppings
Spread the queso dip on top of the dough, staying inside the crust. Sprinkle with cheese, and arrange the pepperoni on top.
Editor’s Tip: Don’t use too much sauce or too many toppings. Too much can make your pizza soggy and wet. You should still be able to see some of the dough after spooning on the sauce. As for the cheese, only use at most 1 cup.
Step 7: Bake
Bake the pizza until the crust is dark golden brown (the color of a soft pretzel!) and the cheese is melted, 16 to 18 minutes. Gently brush the crust with melted butter before serving, being careful to not knock off any salt.
Recipe Variations
- Swap regular pizza sauce for the cheese sauce: This pretzel crust pizza will be delicious no matter how you top it, though the cheese sauce really does make it just like Little Caesar’s version! However, if you’d like to use your own homemade pizza sauce or your favorite store-bought sauce, go ahead. We won’t say a thing!
- Use a different shredded cheese: If you decide to go with a traditional pizza sauce recipe, feel free to mix up the shredded cheese, too. The best cheeses for pizza are a good mozzarella, provolone or ricotta.
- Add your favorite toppings: While we like to just add pepperoni to keep this as close to Little Caesar’s as possible, you can add any of your favorite pizza toppings here. (Although, since it’s a salsa con queso sauce, maybe skip out on a pineapple topping!)
How to Store Pretzel Crust Pizza
Allow the cooked pizza to cool to room temperature. Cut the pizza into slices, and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three or four days.
Pretzel Crust Pizza Tips
Does this recipe taste like Little Caesar’s pretzel crust pizza?
One of the mysteries of the corporate world is when a company discontinues a much-loved item. The Little Caesar’s pretzel crust pizza was one of those things. It has become a cult classic and is coveted by many. While Little Caesar’s doesn’t share the recipe, we feel this pretzel crust pizza recipe comes pretty close. We’re not sure if this is the same method they use to achieve that characteristically dark, salty exterior you look for in a delicious soft pretzel, but our Test Kitchen went gaga over it.
Can you make pretzel crust pizza with premade pizza dough?
We feel homemade pizza dough always tastes better than store-bought, but we completely understand not everyone has the time to mix, proof and shape their own dough every time they want pizza. If you’re short on time, go ahead and use premade pizza crust. Just follow the package directions. When ready, proceed with the pizza recipe as directed.
