When it comes to versatility, it's hard to top pizza. This fantastic food can go with any topping, from cheese and pepperoni to pineapple and seafood. The combinations are truly endless.

Of course, we all have our favorites, and some pizza types are more prevalent than others.

Besides the ingredients, the pie's preparation method makes a difference. Today, we present to you the famous pan pizza!

As the name suggests, this kind of pie is made in a pan. This can be a deep dish pan or a sheet pan.

Sheet pans are typically flat and rectangular. They are put in the oven to bake different foods including pizza and bread rolls.

There are several pizza styles that can be described as pan pies:

• Italian tomato pie - This one features a thick and spongy dough similar to the flat Italian bread called focaccia. It is also topped with tomato sauce and sometimes cheese or oregano.
• Sicilian pizza - It has a rectangular shape and comes with a thick crust. Standard toppings include onions, cheese, tomatoes, anchovies, and herbs.
• Detroit-style - Another rectangular pizza with a thick and crisp crust. The cheese spreads to the edges of the pie. This allows it to caramelize which gives it that extra flavor. Typical ingredients are Wisconsin brick cheese and tomato sauce, as well as pepperoni.
• Chicago deep-dish - Made in a deep pan, this pie features a thick yet soft crust, tomato sauce, and lots of cheese. What's interesting is that the cheese goes first and then the tomato sauce on top. Oh, and you better grab a knife and fork to handle this deliciousness.

Who Invented Pan Pizza?

As we all know, pizza is an Italian invention. Thus, even the first pan pies were made there.

To be more specific, we're talking about the so-called Pizza al Padellino. This type of pie comes from Turian, Italy, and it is baked in smaller round pans.

In America, pizza became a thing when many Italians immigrated here at the turn of the 20th century.

The first pizzeria was opened in New York in 1905. But, of course, it didn't take long for this new dish to spread to other parts of the country.

That said, let's take a quick look at the history of the aforementioned pan-pizza styles.

The (Italian) tomato pie became the signature pizza in Philadelphia. It was first introduced in pizzerias such as Iannelli's Bakery which opened in 1910 and Sarcone’s Bakery in 1918.

Trenton, New Jersey is also famous for its tomato pizza. Two notable pizzerias there are Papa's and De Lorenzo's. They opened in 1910 and 1936 respectively.

The Detroit-style pizza has become widely popular in recent years. However, it was first made in 1946 at Buddy's Pizza. What's interesting is that this kind of pie was initially baked in blue steel pans. That's because they were the only pans to fit.

Pizza and Chicago go hand in hand. The world-famous deep-dish pizza comes from there, but its origin isn't clearly defined.

Some say that it was invented by Pizzeria Uno in 1946. Others suggest that it was available as early as 1926. Whatever the case, places like Gino's East and many others contributed to the rise in popularity of deep-dish pizza in Chicago and beyond.

How Many Calories Are in a Pan Pizza?

A slice of pan pizza (154g) contains around 329 calories. This includes 18g of total fat, 30g of total carbohydrates, and 13g of protein.

Where Can I Find Pan Pizza Near Me?

You can find this kind of pie pretty much anywhere. Still, we're here to offer some specific suggestions.

For those of you in Brooklyn, we recommend heading to Pronto Pizza on Court St. They're open every day of the week and also offer takeout and delivery via Slice.

And if you're in Philly, then Mario's Pizza is the right place for you. You can find them on Crittenden St or order pickup or delivery through the Slice app.