In picking a pairing for “Abbott Elementary,” pizza was an easy choice because it’s a debated topic in one of the episodes.

I opted to go for my own take on the rectangular sheet pan pizza that was popular in school cafeterias when I was a kid, complete with the little chunks of pepperoni.

This vegan recipe makes 9 slices. If you use gluten-free pepperoni and pizza crust, it can also be gluten-free.

Ingredients
1 recipe gluten-free pizza dough (should be enough for 2 crusts)
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
3 tablespoons Italian seasoning (or some combination of basil, parsley and/or oregano)
6 ounces vegan pepperoni jerky
8 ounces vegan mozzarella

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450°F and grease a large rectangular baking sheet.

Flatten out your dough ball and press it into the baking sheet.

Bake the crust on its own for five minutes.

Spread the tomato paste over the top of the crust. You can use tomato sauce instead, but I like to use the paste on pizza for its richness.

Shake a little basil, parsley, oregano and/or Italian seasoning over the top of the paste to add some flavor.

Chop your pepperoni jerky into small cubes. (If you can’t find pepperoni jerky, you can use regular vegan pepperoni, but it won’t be true to the classic cafeteria pizza.)

Put the pepperoni on the pizza and top with cheese.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese starts to melt.

Slice into nine squares and serve with an episode or a season of “Abbott Elementary!”

The Easy Route
You can use premade pizza crust dough to make this easier.

Of course, a vegan pepperoni pizza might also be one of the easier options to find in the freezer section of your grocery store or at a restaurant. Have a favorite? Share the details in the comments.

The Pairing
My husband and I binge watched the first three seasons of “Abbott Elementary” in just a couple months.

Shot in the documentary style of “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” this fictional sitcom follows the misadventures of the employees and students at an elementary school.

Quinta Brunson created and stars in the show as Janine Teagues, a plucky second grade teacher known for her tenacious optimism.

The show follows her journey alongside six other key characters: inspirational kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), realist second grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), selfish principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James), neurotic history teacher Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti), scene-stealing janitor Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) and career-focused substitute teacher Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams).

One of the things that keeps me and other fans coming back episode after episode is the will-they-or-won’t-they relationship between Janine and Gregory.

Much like Jim in “The Office,” Williams is absolutely brilliant in the wide-eyed staring-at-the-camera moments, letting the audience be reassured that whatever is going on is indeed super wild.

Both in front of and behind the camera, Brunson is the heart of the show, and her journey as Janine is just so captivating to watch.

The other five actors all get their moments to shine, too. Ralph has gotten a lot of attention for her outstanding performance, but Walter, Davis, James and Perfetti also bring their formidable talents to one of the best sitcoms on TV right now.

I am very much looking forward to season four, which premieres next month.

If you decide to make pepperoni sheet pan pizza and/or watch “Abbott Elementary,” let us know! Tag us in your Instagram posts & stories, threads, tweets or TikTok videos: @veg_out_recipes