Description
This homemade pizza recipe features a chewy golden crust topped with savory tomato sauce, gooey melted cheese, and your favorite toppings. It’s simple, customizable, and perfect for pizza night at home.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
- 3 1/2 – 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Your choice of toppings (pepperoni, vegetables, mushrooms, olives, etc.)
Instructions
- In a bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Add olive oil, salt, and flour (1 cup at a time), mixing until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–1.5 hours until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C). Place a pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven to heat.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 2 portions. Roll out into pizza rounds.
- Place dough on parchment paper, spread pizza sauce evenly, sprinkle cheese, and add toppings of choice.
- Transfer pizza to the preheated stone or baking sheet and bake for 12–15 minutes, until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from oven, let cool slightly, then slice and serve.
Notes
- For a crispier crust, pre-bake the dough for 5 minutes before adding toppings.
- You can freeze extra dough for later use.
- Experiment with sauces such as pesto or Alfredo for variety.
- Prep Time: 20 mins (plus 1 hr rise time)
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian