Italian Pizza Rustica Recipe (Easter Pie)

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A traditional Italian Pizza Rustica is like a pastry, pie, and pizza all baked into one flaky, flavorful, tender dish. And it’s amazing! Stuffed with cheese, eggs, meats, and vegetables. A traditional Italian Easter pie.

This savory Italian pie popped up in Napoli hundreds of years ago. Since then, Pizza Rustica has traditionally been enjoyed by Italians on Easter Sunday as an end of Lent celebration. Many families will make it on Good Friday and then eat it on Easter Saturday or Sunday.

Love all things pizza? Then please try my Chicago Deep Dish Pizza (not difficult), 10 Minute Pizza Dough and my rich and robust Pizza Sauce.

Why is it called Pizza Rustica?

A rustic, country style stuffed pizza. Honestly, it goes by many names, including Easter Pie and Pizza Gain or Pizza Gaina, and Pizza Ripiena literally translated to stuffed pizza. Kind of like these dreamy calzones.

In Neapolitan dialect it’s called Pizza Chiena, in Italian Pizza Piena which quite literally means – stuffed pizza or full pizza. No matter what you call this rustic pizza, think savory pie, filled with rich meats and cheeses wrapped well in an egg based pizza dough. Kitchenaid stand mixer.

What’s in an Italian Easter Pie aka Rustica Pizza?

Well, a whole bunch of whatever you want! I use a hand-picked selection of Mediterranean cheeses, meats, and veggies.

But, you can completely customize your Rustica pizza with any veggies and meats that you like, I provide lots of ideas in the variations section below. Bottom line, this is like a double crusted, meaty, cheesy quiche that will serve a crowd and keep them full.

Check out my favorite holiday recipes for Easter Brunch:

• Mock Eggs Benedict and Biscuits and Gravy Casserole for breakfast
• Sweet Maple Apple Pecan Salad and Creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes on the side
• Ever popular Cheesy Funeral Potatoes, along with my no Jiffy Corn Pudding and you cannot forget the Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin.
• And do not forget the ham! My Coca-Cola Ham recipe is easy and delish!

Simple Ingredients

The full recipe, tips and measurements are in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

Pie Crust Recipe (may be made a day or two ahead of time)

• All-Purpose Flour | I used organic unbleached all-purpose flour
• Butter | Use real butter, really cold. I cut mine into cubes, then pop in the freezer while prepping the rest of the ingredients.
• Eggs | Eggs are what makes this pizza dough crust sturdy enough to hold the filling

Rustica Filling Ingredients

• Italian Sausage | Hot or mild, this is the bones of the pizza dish
• Garlic & Spinach are added to the Italian sausage near the end, then everything is cooled
• Eggs | I use large eggs, Happy Eggs are my favorite!
• Ricotta Cheese | I used whole milk ricotta, which I recommend, not the time for watery!
• Parmesan & Mozzarella Cheese | Fresh shredded is best as it doesn’t contain fillers, also try Pecorino Romano cheese
• Prosciutto | Diced and crisped up in the oven quickly
• Pepperoni | diced, I used uncured

Optional Additions

Replace any of the meats above one for one with salami, soppressata, ham or any other meat you’d like to add. I also love adding provolone cheese when I have it!

And if you can find it, authentic pizza rustica recipe includes Basket cheese. Typically found at Italian Deli’s near Easter, the soft cheese is very mild in flavor and gets its name as it is made and formed inside of a plastic basket.

How to Make Pizza Rustica

Step 1 | Make the Crust Dough

Combine the flour and salt with a whisk. Add in the cold chunks of butter and then cut in with a pastry cutter — if you don’t have a pastry cutter, use two knives or just your hands. This recipe doesn’t lend itself as much to using a food processor, but if yours is big enough, give it a try. Continue until the mixture appears crumbly, with coarse crumbs throughout.

Lightly beat the eggs and add them to the flour. Gently stir into the mixture and knead with your hands until it all comes together, sprinkling in a tablespoon of iced water at a time to help the dough form, it is important that it is cold water.

Split the dough into two pieces, one ⅔ and the other ⅓ of the dough. Flatten each into a disc, wrap with plastic wrap separately, and refrigerate for at least an hour or up to 2 days, may also be frozen.

Step 2 | Make the Filling 

Coat your skillet with a little olive oil and heat on medium-high. Add Italian sausage and break apart while cooking until browned. Throw in the garlic and spinach and stir. When the spinach wilts, remove from the heat and allow to cool, I put mine in a bowl and place in the fridge for about an hour.

Step 3 | Roll out the pizza dough crust

Take out the larger piece of dough and lay at room temperature for 5-15 minutes. Using a rolling pin, roll into a 16” circle on a floured surface.

Lay in the pan forming the bottom crust, pressing against the sides of the pan and allowing a portion to hang over the edges. I place my dough in the freezer while I prepare the ricotta pie ingredients.

Step 4 | Finish the filling and pour into pie

Beat the eggs in a large bowl and add all of the cheeses. Add the meats, cooled sausage and veggies, and mix everything together. Sprinkle in salt and pepper.

While your oven preheats to 375 degrees, prep your 8” springform pan (or any deep pie or baking dish) with a generous coating of cooking spray.

Roll the remaining dough disc into a smaller 12” circle. Cover with a damp paper towel while you pour the filling into the pan. Lay the smaller dough circle over top of the filling, again allowing some of the dough to hang over the sides.

Trim the excess dough using a sharp knife to 1” and pinch the two crusts together. Tuck the edges back into the pan.

Carefully cut a couple of slits into the top of the pie. Whisk together a beaten egg with a tablespoon of water for an egg wash and brush it over the top crust. Bake the Easter pie for 1 hour and 15-25 minutes, or until the top browns. If it browns too quickly, cover with a loose piece of aluminum foil.

When done, let sit on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before removing from the pan and serving.

Variations & Substitutions

• Meats: Salami or soppressata are two more great choices. Looking for ways to use leftover ham and leftover turkey? This is a great place for them!
• Cheeses: Go full Mediterranean and throw in feta or goat cheese for extra tang and flavor, try provolone and for sure try traditional Basket cheese, if you can find it!
• Vegetables: This is where you can really change things up. Red bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, asparagus, broccoli…you get the idea!

Frequently Asked Questions

Equipment Needed

• 8″ Springform Pan | this is smaller than you think, if you use larger, just roll the dough out a bit thinner and larger to easily fit the pan.
• Rolling Pin and Dough Scraper | I have an antique rolling pin that I love, but I have wanted to try these rolling pins with measured guides on them.

Storage

Cool completely before refrigerating. Refrigerate up to 7 days well wrapped in plastic wrap.

Freezing | Freeze Rustica pizza after cooling completely, wrap well in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil.

Reheating | From the fridge, place in 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes until warmed through. From frozen, thaw in fridge overnight, then reheat for 15-25 minutes.

More Easter Recipes

• Browse through my entire Easter Recipe index
• Southern-Style Green Beans, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Glaze, Glazed Tarragon Carrots (Instant Pot or Stove Top), Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
• Italian Braised Short Ribs are a great make-ahead, fancy feeling dinner
• The Best Key Lime Pie most popular!
• Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundtlets and Bundt Cake & Best White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake

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