Here is an Easy Homemade Pizza Recipe you can make, even if you are new to making pizza at home. The crust is crisp on the outside and hollow in the middle. The roasted tomato pizza sauce you'll spread on top is fragrant and, next-level delicious. And, of course, there is gooey cheese. Skip ordering and make this for your next pizza night!
1tablespoonextra virgin olive oilplus more for oiling bowl
1/2teaspoonsalt
¾cuproasted tomato pizza sauce
2cupsfreshly shredded mozzarella
Instructions
Proof the yeast: Whisk the warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer with the dough hook or paddle attachment fitted. Or, to make the dough by hand, whisk the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Let it rest for 5 minutes. Bubbles may form, proofing that the yeast is active.
Make the dough and knead: Add the flour, olive oil and salt and mix on low speed for about 2 minutes to form a dough. Knead the dough for 3 minutes. With the stand mixer, the dough will be light and stretchy. By hand, the dough might feel heavy. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil and knead until the dough is elastic.
Let the dough rise: Lightly grease the same bowl you mixed the dough in with oil or cooking spray. Turn the dough around so all the sides are coated with the oil. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for about one to two hours. An oven is a great place for the dough to rise. Make sure the oven is turned off.
Preheat oven to 475℉ while you shape the pizza.
Deflate the dough and roll it out: After the dough has risen, punch it down to remove the air bubbles. Then lightly flour a clean working surface. Shape the dough into a ball and place on the floured surface. Using a rolling pin and working from the middle of the ball to its corners, roll the dough into a 13-inch circle. Place the dough on a round pizza pan. Using your fingers, lift and tuck in or fold in about the edges of the dough. After tucking in the edges, you should have a 12-inch circle.
Spread on the sauce: Spoon the sauce onto the dough and spread it evenly, avoiding the tucked in corners.
Sprinkle on the shredded cheese evenly, avoiding the tucked-in corners. Add your favorite toppings at this stage. Some of our favorite toppings are pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, and olives.
Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
Slice and serve the pizza while still warm.
Notes
Cheese: For the best outcome, buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is not a great choice as it contains additives that prevent it from melting properly.Storage: Cover pizza slices in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze pizza for up to 3 months.Scaling: This recipe makes one large pizza. Double the recipe if you want more than one pizza. We double the recipe to feed my family of 7.Make Ahead: Make the pizza dough and let it rise in the refrigerator for 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before shaping.