Altoona Style Pizza

Quick Bite

A unique Pennsylvania pizza topped with American cheese slices and green peppers.

History

Altoona Style Pizza is a regional pizza from Altoona, Pennsylvania. It stands out because it uses square Sicilian-style crust, tomato sauce, sliced green peppers, and instead of mozzarella, topped with yellow American processed cheese slices.

Created by the Altoona Hotel in the 50s or 60s, many local pizzerias now have their own versions to carry on the legacy. The Altoona Hotel burned down in 2013.

Fun Facts

• Served by the cut, not by the slice.

• Served hot or cold.

• In a promotional move, Altoona’s minor league baseball team, the Altoona Curve, temporarily rebranded as the “Altoona Pizzas” in 2023.

Where to Try

Altoona, Pennsylvania pizzerias

Also Known As

Altoona Hotel Pizza
Altoona Sicilian Pizza

Ingredients

For the dough

• 1 tsp yeast

• 3/4 C bread flour

• 3/4 C self-rising flour

• 3/4 C warm water

• 1/2 tsp olive oil

• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp sea salt

• Pinch of sugar

• 1/2 tsp honey

For the toppings

• 1 1/2 green peppers sliced into rings

• 1/2 lb cooked salami, sliced

• 1 lb Velveeta, sliced or any yellow cheese

• Pizza dough

• Tomato sauce (For an authentic taste, use Delgrosso’s Tomato Sauce which is native to Altoona)

Preparation & Cooking Instructions

• Pre-heat oven to 550

• Dissolve yeast, a pinch of sugar in a ¼ C of warm water.

• Once proofed, add remaining ingredients (only ½ C water additional) and mix with the end of a wooden spoon

• Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in warm place for a few hours. Over night is best. (Allow at least 8 hours or this step)

• Turn out onto floured board, knead and form into round ball. Oil bowl it came out of and place ball into bowl and cover to coat.

• Allow to raise in warm place for another one or two hours.

• Pour some olive oil into 10” cast iron skillet or cake pan and tilt to cover bottom and sides.

• Place dough ball in center and press down to spread it out a little bit then cover and let sit in warm place until it fills the pan.

• Dock with finger tips, and gently lift edges of the dough to release trapped bubbles from the bottom.

• Parbake your dough in the oven, about 10 minutes

• Flip the crust over in the pan and top with tomato sauce, salami, and green peppers on each square-slice-to-be.

• Add your choice of American cheese on top.

• Return to the oven about 5 minutes to finish baking the crust and melt the cheese.