Old Forge Style Pizza

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Quick Bite

Old Forge Style Pizza is a rectangular tray pizza from northeastern Pennsylvania with a soft, airy crust, oniony sauce, and a blend of cheeses that melts into a creamy layer. Locals order it by the tray or cut, because in Old Forge, pizza has its own language.

History

Old Forge, Pennsylvania, proudly calls itself the “Pizza Capital of the World,” and Old Forge Style Pizza is the reason. The town, near Scranton, developed a distinctive tray pizza tradition tied to Italian-American restaurants, family gatherings, and coal-region hospitality.

The style is usually baked in rectangular metal pans and sold by the tray or by the cut. A “tray” is a whole rectangular pizza, while a “cut” is a slice. That vocabulary alone tells you this pizza operates by local rules.

The crust is generally thicker and softer than New York pizza but not as heavy as some Sicilian styles. The sauce often has onion flavor, and the cheese blend may include mozzarella, cheddar, American, or other cheeses depending on the shop. Some versions are “red,” with sauce and cheese, while “white” trays may include cheese, oil, herbs, onions, or no tomato sauce.

Old Forge pizza is communal food. It is meant for tables full of people, family parties, after-work dinners, and loyal arguments over which shop does it best. A good tray should be chewy, cheesy, lightly sweet or oniony, and unmistakably northeastern Pennsylvania.

Fun Facts

• In Old Forge, a whole pizza is called a “tray” and a slice is called a “cut.”
• Old Forge calls itself the “Pizza Capital of the World.”
• There are red and white versions of Old Forge pizza.

Where to Try

Arcaro & Genell Old Forge, Pennsylvania
A classic Old Forge Italian restaurant serving Old Forge Style Pizza, seafood, and Italian specialties.

Revello’s Pizza Old Forge, Pennsylvania
A longtime Old Forge pizza name known for red and white trays.

Mary Lou’s Pizza Old Forge, Pennsylvania
A local Old Forge pizza stop where trays and cuts are part of the town’s everyday food culture.

About the Game

This recipe is part of Van Life Challenge, a travel-themed board game from Gray Dog Games where players explore the United States, discover regional foods, and collect memorable experiences along the way.

Each featured food celebrates a real place, a local flavor, and the kind of delicious roadside discovery that makes every trip feel like an adventure.

Recipe

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Home-Cook-Friendly Old Forge Style Pizza Makes: one tray Prep: 25 minutes, plus rising Cook: 28–32 minutes Difficulty: Medium Style: Northeastern Pennsylvania / Old Forge Tray Pizza

Ingredients

For the dough

• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the sauce

• 1 can crushed tomatoes, 15 ounces
• 1 small onion, finely minced or grated
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the cheese

• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup shredded white American cheese or mild cheddar
• ¼ cup grated Romano cheese

Instructions

1. Make the dough: Mix flour, yeast, sugar, salt, warm water, and olive oil until a soft dough forms.
2. Knead and rise: Knead for 6 to 8 minutes, then cover and let rise until doubled.
3. Prepare the pan: Oil a rectangular 9x13-inch pan.
4. Press the dough: Press the dough into the pan and let it rise again for 30 to 45 minutes.
5. Heat the oven: Heat the oven to 450°F.
6. Start the sauce: Make the sauce by cooking onion in olive oil until soft.
7. Simmer the sauce: Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
8. Sauce the dough: Spread sauce over the dough.
9. Add cheese: Sprinkle the cheese blend evenly over the top.
10. Bake: Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
11. Rest and cut: Let rest briefly, then cut into squares.

Traditional note: To make it more traditional, bake it in a rectangular tray, use an oniony sauce, and blend cheeses rather than relying only on mozzarella. Serve it by the tray or by the cut.

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