We do Pizza Friday almost every week in our house! It’s such a fun way to say goodbye to the week, and hello to the weekend. Although, you can enjoy these anytime! I swear if IÂ even utter the word “pizza” my kids start bouncing off the walls in excitement. I like to switch it up sometimes and make all different kinds of of pizza incarnations. From pizza muffins to pizza lollipops or even bagels – there’s a pizza style for everyone. These 18 homemade pizza recipes are sure to hit the spot!
Why Make Pizza at Home?
- You can customize it: One of the best things about making pizza at home is that you can customize it to your liking. You can experiment with different toppings, cheeses, and sauces until you find the perfect combination. Plus, if you have any dietary restrictions, you can make a pizza that fits your needs.
- It’s cost-effective: Making pizza at home is a more affordable way to enjoy this delicious food. A store-bought or restaurant pizza can be expensive, especially if you want to add extra toppings. By making pizza at home, you can save money and still enjoy a delicious meal!
- It’s a fun activity to do with friends and family: Making pizza at home is a super fun activity – especially for kids. It’s a great way to bond over a shared love of food and get creative in the kitchen. You can even turn it into a pizza-making competition to see who can create the best pizza!
- You can control the quality of the ingredients: When you make pizza at home, you have control over the quality of the ingredients you use. You have the option to choose high-quality ingredients like fresh vegetables, locally sourced meats, and artisanal cheeses to make a truly delicious pizza.
- It’s a great way to learn a new skill: Making pizza at home can be a great way to learn a new skill in the kitchen. From making your own pizza dough to perfecting your sauce recipe, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and improve your cooking skills.
Check out these 18 homemade pizza recipes and tell me in the comments below what your favorite pizza toppings are!
What pizza are you making this week? Let me know in the comments and tag me on social media if you make any of these!
Pizzeria Pizza Dough
Ingredients
- 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
- 1 – 1 1/3 cups lukewarm water
- 3-4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for greasing bowl and brushing on pizza crust
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine the yeast and water in a bowl and allow to stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (Make sure to check the expiration date on the yeast. If it doesn’t foam, your yeast may be old and you will need to buy fresh yeast.)
- Stir 3 cups of the flour and salt into a bowl (or the bowl of a standing mixer, using a dough hook attachment).
- Add the olive oil and honey to the yeast mixture and stir to combine.
- Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredient mixture on the low setting for 3 minutes or until smooth and elastic (you can also combine the liquid with the flours in a bowl and knead the dough by hand on a clean surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic). You want the dough to be smooth and bounce back when you press it. If your dough is too wet and sticky, add more flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until you reach a soft and elastic consistency.
- Transfer ball of dough to an oiled bowl, cover the top of the bowl with a dish towel and let rise for 1 hour. The dough will double in size.
- Preheat oven to 500° F.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 15 seconds. Cut into 4 equal balls, form each into rounds and flatten with your hands into a disk. Let the disks rest for 5 minutes.
- Take a disk and, holding the dough at the edges, pinch and pull the dough to 9 inches across. Periodically switch from pulling and pinching the dough to stretching it out using your knuckles. If you’re feeling adventurous, form your hands into fists, rest the dough on top of them and stretch outwards. Don’t be scared to throw the dough up in the air! It actually helps form an even circle. (This last bit was recommended to me by my friend who used to work in a famous pizza kitchen!)
- Spread sauce on your dough and top with desired toppings. Bake 10-15 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.
- To Freeze: After step 7, place one round disk on a parchment lined plate or cookie sheet and layer the rest of the disks on top, laying parchment in between each disk. Freeze for one hour and then transfer the stack of frozen pizza disks to a freezer bag. Disks can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use: remove the disk(s) from the freezer and let them defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Then, let them come to room temperature and continue following steps 8 and 9.