Description
This Homemade Pizza recipe guides you through making a classic, delicious pizza from scratch with a soft, chewy crust, flavorful pizza sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and your choice of toppings. Perfect for a family meal or entertaining guests, this easy-to-follow recipe ensures a crispy, golden crust baked in a hot oven for the best results.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Toppings
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Toppings of your choice (pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, sausage, etc.)
Instructions
- Activate yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active and ready to use.
- Form dough: Add flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a dough begins to form, bringing all ingredients together.
- Knead dough: On a floured surface, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. This develops gluten for a chewy texture.
- Let dough rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). For best results, place a pizza stone in the oven while preheating to get a crispier crust.
- Shape dough: Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface to your desired thickness for the crust.
- Add toppings: Transfer the dough to a baking sheet or pizza peel. Spread pizza sauce evenly over the surface, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese, and add your preferred toppings.
- Bake pizza: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Serve: Allow the pizza to cool for a few minutes to set the toppings, then slice and serve hot.
Notes
- Make sure water is warm but not hot to prevent killing the yeast.
- Kneading the dough well is essential for texture.
- You can customize the toppings to suit your preference.
- Using a pizza stone helps achieve a crispier crust but is optional.
- Letting the dough rise properly makes the pizza light and airy.
- If you don’t have a pizza peel, use a baking sheet or flatten the dough directly on greased parchment paper.
