Omaha Style Pizza

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Quick Bite

Omaha style pizza usually means La Casa-style pizza: a thin, flaky, biscuit-like crust topped with tomato sauce, Romano cheese, and finely crumbled hamburger. It is crisp, savory, old-school, and very much its own Nebraska thing.

History

Omaha style pizza is most closely associated with La Casa Pizzaria, which opened in Omaha in 1953. Founder Joe Patane and his family created a pizza that looked familiar at first glance but had a crust and topping style all its own. La Casa’s own site says it opened in June 1953 and remains part of Omaha restaurant heritage.

The crust is the signature. Unlike a chewy yeast pizza dough, La Casa-style crust is thin, flaky, and sometimes described as biscuit-like or bakery-style. It is made without yeast and baked in a special oven that helps give the bottom its crisp texture.

The toppings are also distinct. The classic Omaha-style version often uses Romano cheese instead of mozzarella and a finely ground, slow-cooked hamburger topping. The sauce is not especially sweet, and the whole pizza lands somewhere between Italian-American pizza, cracker crust, and Midwest comfort.

Omaha does have plenty of other pizza styles, but when people talk about “Omaha style,” La Casa is usually the reference point. It is a love-it-or-crave-it pizza: crisp, salty, crumbly, and deeply nostalgic for generations of Omaha diners.

Fun Facts

• La Casa opened in Omaha in 1953.
• The crust is often described as thin, flaky, and biscuit-like.
• The classic topping combination is Romano cheese and finely crumbled hamburger.

Where to Try

La Casa Pizzaria Leavenworth Street, Omaha, Nebraska
The original and essential stop for Omaha-style pizza, with a history going back to 1953.

La Casa Pizzaria West Omaha, Nebraska
A west Omaha location serving the same distinctive La Casa-style pizza.

La Casa Pizzaria Food Truck / Events Omaha area, Nebraska
A useful way to catch the same Omaha-style flavor at local events, when operating.

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 Omaha Style Pizza Makes: 2 thin pizzas Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 10–14 minutes Difficulty: Easy Style: Omaha / Nebraska Thin-Crust Pizza

Ingredients

For the crust

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup shortening or cold butter
• ½ cup cold water, plus more as needed

For the toppings

• ½ pound ground beef
• ¼ cup finely chopped onion
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup tomato pizza sauce
• 1 ½ cups grated Romano cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella, optional

Instructions

1. Heat the oven: Heat the oven to 475°F. Place a pizza stone or heavy baking sheet in the oven.
2. Mix the dry ingredients: Mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cut in the fat: Cut in shortening or butter until the mixture looks crumbly.
4. Make the dough: Add cold water gradually and mix just until a dough forms.
5. Roll thin: Divide the dough in half and roll each half very thin.
6. Cook the beef: Cook the ground beef and onion in a skillet, breaking the beef into very fine crumbles. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Sauce: Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over each crust.
8. Add Romano: Sprinkle with Romano cheese.
9. Add beef: Add the finely crumbled beef.
10. Add optional mozzarella: Add a little mozzarella if desired.
11. Bake: Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, until the crust is crisp and browned at the edges.
12. Cut and serve: Cut into squares or thin wedges and serve hot.

Traditional note: To make it more traditional, use a thin no-yeast crust, Romano cheese, not-too-sweet sauce, and finely crumbled hamburger. The crust should be crisp and flaky, not chewy.

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