Homemade pizza is one of the best things you can cook. The dough takes 10 minutes of active work, and a homemade pizza costs $3-5 to make vs. $15-25 for delivery. Once you nail this recipe, you'll wonder why you ever ordered out.

The Dough (Makes 2 Pizzas)

  • 2ΒΌ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 1 cup warm water (105-110Β°F β€” warm to the touch, not hot)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2Β½ cups all-purpose flour + more for dusting
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy (this proves the yeast is alive).
  2. Add flour, olive oil, and salt. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
  3. Knead on a floured surface for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. (Or use a stand mixer with dough hook for 4 minutes.)
  4. Place in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
  5. Punch down, divide in half. Each half makes one 12-14 inch pizza.

Making the Pizza

  1. Preheat oven to 500Β°F (as hot as it goes) with a baking sheet or pizza stone inside for 30 minutes.
  2. Stretch dough by hand on a floured surface. Don't use a rolling pin β€” hand-stretching creates better texture with air pockets.
  3. Transfer to parchment paper. Add sauce (Β½ cup per pizza), cheese (1.5-2 cups mozzarella), and toppings.
  4. Slide pizza (on parchment) onto the hot baking sheet or stone.
  5. Bake 8-12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly with brown spots.

Favorite Topping Combinations

  • Classic Margherita: San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, olive oil drizzle
  • Pepperoni: Red sauce, shredded mozzarella, pepperoni (cup-and-char style if you can find it)
  • BBQ Chicken: BBQ sauce (instead of red sauce), shredded chicken, red onion, cilantro, mozzarella
  • White Pizza: Olive oil and garlic (no red sauce), ricotta dollops, mozzarella, spinach, red pepper flakes
  • Meat Lovers: Red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham

Tips for Better Pizza

  • Hotter oven = better pizza. 500Β°F is minimum. If you have a pizza steel ($40-60), it gets even hotter and crispier.
  • Less is more with toppings. Overloading makes soggy pizza. 3-4 toppings max.
  • Make dough ahead: Dough can rise in the fridge for 24-72 hours. Cold-fermented dough has better flavor and texture.
  • Freeze extra dough: After the first rise, freeze dough balls in plastic wrap. Thaw in fridge overnight when you want pizza.
🎯 Key Takeaway: Homemade pizza dough needs 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of work β€” the rest is waiting for it to rise. Preheat your oven as hot as it goes (500Β°F+), stretch the dough by hand, and don't overload toppings. A homemade pizza costs $3-5 and beats delivery in taste. Make a double batch of dough and freeze half for instant pizza night anytime.

Sources & Food Safety Note

Cooking times, ingredient brands, appliance power, and food sizes vary. Use a food thermometer for safety-critical recipes and follow official food safety guidance for storage, reheating, and minimum internal temperatures.