Homemade Pizza From Scratch
Knowing how to make pizza from scratch isn’t rocket science! So, why do so many people dish out a lot of dough for pizza delivery? Of course, it’s all about convenience. With these instructions, you can make your own pizzas from scratch with just a few ingredients. Have a family pizza night or make crusts to freeze and bake when you need an easy meal!
This post contains affiliate links and advertisements.
Try Dutch Oven Cooking – French Bread Pizzas
Pizza Even Has Its Own Day!
When surveyed, 15% of Americans listed pizza as their favorite comfort food (higher than any other comfort food). It’s also considered the ‘most addictive’ food and the world’s ‘most-Instagrammed’ food. * There’s an entire business based on delivering its cheesy goodness to homes around the country. We love pizza so much, we even gave it its own day…February 9th is National Pizza Day… So why not celebrate with your own home-baked pizzas?
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Pizza From Scratch Delivers Great Taste
Not only does homemade pizza taste wonderful, but you also have control over the ingredients. You can make a veggie pizza with less cheese if you’d like to go a little light on the fat and calories. Replace the pizza sauce with pesto, or skip the sauce altogether. You can use minced garlic in olive oil in place of the sauce…top your pizza just the way you like it!
This recipe makes two large ‘pies’ but you can double it for a large family. Use ingredients according to your family’s likes and you’ll satisfy everyone. 🙂
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
In Case You Need More Reasons To Make Your Own…
Some of us don’t live close enough to a pizza delivery place to take advantage of this convenience. And even if you have a pizza shop right down the road, it gets pretty pricey to order out. One pizza can run $12 and up, so making your own really saves a lot of money.
Grow your own tomatoes, garlic, peppers, onions, and other toppings in the garden for extra savings. Maybe you have your own dairy animals to make mozzerella…homesteaders can save a lot of dough if they raise and grind their own wheat for the flour for the pizza crust!
Even If You Don’t Live On A Homestead…
You can learn to make more of your food from whole ingredients from a local farmers’ market. Making your pizza from scratch gives the whole family a chance to pitch in and learn cooking skills!
Use a pizza stone in place of the cookie sheets for an extra crispy crust. If you like a thick crust, don’t roll the dough out as thin. A cast iron pizza pan with olive oil makes a deliciously crispy crust that tastes like a famous chain pizzeria pie.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Pizza From Scratch Recipe
Here’s the easy recipe for homemade pizza crusts that you top with your favorite ingredients according to taste…
Pizza from Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
- 3 1/2 cups unbleached flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups warm water 120 F
- 3 – 4 tbsps cornmeal
Toppings of Choice
- pizza sauce, pesto, or minced garlic in olive oil
- shredded mozzarella or other cheese
- chopped vegetables, pepperoni, sausage, or other toppings
- Pizza seasoning or Italian seasoning to taste
Instructions
- Mix 1 cup flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in mixing bowl.
- Heat water to 120 degrees F in microwave or saucepan.
- Add water and vegetable oil to flour mixture and stir until combined.
- Add the rest of the flour, a little at a time, stirring to combine, until it is difficult to stir.
- Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead to incorporate the remainder of the flour. Dough should not be sticky, add a little more flour if necessary.
- Knead dough until smooth and elastic. Cover and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle cornmeal on greased cookie sheets or pizza pans and set aside.
- Prepare toppings. Preheat oven to 400 F
- Divide dough in half and form into balls. Using hands or a rolling pin, roll the dough out on floured surface until about 1 – 2" thick. Place on pan. Repeat with the second ball.
- Spread pizza sauce, minced garlic in olive oil, or pesto on crusts. Sprinkle with pizza seasoning and top with your choice of toppings and shredded cheese.
- Bake pizzas for 20 – 30 minutes or until crust is browned and cheese is melted. Test center to make sure dough is cooked through.
- Allow pizzas to cool for 5 to 10 minutes and slice.
Notes
Make Extra & Freeze Your Crust
Do you like the convenience of frozen pizza crusts? It’s easy to freeze these and thaw later…you just need some extra space in the freezer for the odd size. Roll the dough out, place on floured pan, place the pan in the freezer until crust is solid. Place frozen crust in large plastic freezer bag and store in freezer. Use in 3 to 4 months for the best results.
To use your frozen crust, remove from the freezer, place on a greased cookie sheet with a sprinkle of cornmeal or flour to prevent sticking. Cover and set in a warm spot while you prepare your toppings. You do not need to thaw completely before adding the toppings and placing them in the oven. Bake at 400 F for 25 to 40 minutes, or until crust is browned and pizza is done in the center.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Tips for Making Pizza from Scratch
- Not much room in the freezer? Divide the dough into 4 or 6 balls and make small pizzas
- Make up your pizzas with toppings ahead of time and freeze for an easy meal…use in 2 to 3 months for best results
- Try a whole wheat crust or a gluten-free crust to suit your taste or diet
- Go grain-free and make a cauliflower crust
- Try canning your own spaghetti sauce and thicken it with tomato paste for your own pizza sauce
- Grow your own basil, oregano, and other herbs for seasoning your pizzas
Enjoy your pie!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
EVERY Friday night when my kids were all home was pizza night…
Good memories!