A grandma pizza is typically rectangular, with the cheese placed before the tomato sauce, baked in a sheet pan in a home oven, and cut into small squares.

[2] The origins of grandma pizza can be traced back to the early 20th century when immigrants from southern Italy developed a pizza that would be made at home with simple ingredients with standard American cooking equipment (including a standard kitchen oven and sheet pan).

[3] The pie's humble roots left it dubbed "grandma pizza", since it was mainly made by first-generation immigrants in their own kitchens.

[4] Within a few years, "Grandma pizza" began being advertised by other Long Island restaurants.

[6][7][8][9] Rather than being derogatory, the name indicates both respect for tradition and the simple rustic pizza eaten at home growing up.