Pizza is one of those meal options that always seems to be an ordering situation. Need something fast, easy, cheap, and delicious? All you have to do is just pick up the phone and pick up a pie. (Or, you know, order it from the couch in your pajamas and wait for it to be delivered.) And this is exactly why when faced with the idea of making your own at home, many 'za-lovers might immediately dash for the hills (or to their nearest slice shop). But before you start sprinting, we're here to drop a cheesy revelation on that sentiment: Homemade pizza is actually pretty damn easy to make — even on a weeknight. If you're wondering how this could be possible (what about all that kneading of the dough, rise time, and sauce stewing?!), well it's as simple as a trip to the grocery store.
Let already prepped ingredients do the dirty work for you with pre-made dough options, pre-packaged sauces, toppings, a variety of cheeses. Throw these things together, pop them on a sheet pan in your oven, and find yourself in homemade pizza heaven. Seriously, imagine the pizza of your wildest dreams (a cookie butter and marshmallow dessert pie?) and make it a reality. Looking for something savory? How about creating a chicken kale Caesar pizza? The creative combinations know no bounds once you've perfected your dough, sauce, cheese, and topping ratio game.
But in case you've still got your foot out the door towards delivery, we've done that extra bit of recipe work for you (so now it really is easy as pie). Ahead, check out ten delectably different and easy homemade pizzas that will take you under an hour to throw together from start to finish.
Homemade Pizza Assembly Checklist
1. Dough
2. Sauce
3. Cheese
4. Toppings (go wild)
5. Oven
6. Slice & Eat
Classic Pepperoni Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 plain pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 16-oz. TJ's Mozzarella cheese log, shredded/sliced
25 oz jar of tomato basil marinara
2/3 cup Parmesan, grated
1 package pepperoni
1/2 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F
2. Let dough reach room temperature and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch in sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
3. Dot dough with spoonfuls/dollops of jarred marinara sauce (enough to spot-cover the majority of the pie, but not drench). Then top with shredded/sliced mozzarella and 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese. On top of the cheese, layer evenly with desired amount of pepperoni and remaining 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and a few cracks of fresh pepper.
4. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, top with roughly chopped basil and any additional salt and pepper to taste. Let cool, slice, serve, and enjoy!
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Blue Cheese, Honey, & Pear Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 plain pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1/2 16-oz. Mozzarella cheese log, shredded/sliced
1 wedge blue cheese, crumbled
Honey
1-2 Bosc pears, thinly sliced
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-in. sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
3. Drizzle lightly with honey, then top with shredded/sliced mozzarella cheese and crumbled blue cheese, and finish off with even coating of sliced pears.
4. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, drizzle with additional honey, let cool, slice, serve, and enjoy.
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Brie, Fig Butter, Arugula, & Prosciutto Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 whole wheat pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 wedge triple creme brie, roughly chopped/sliced
1 jar fig butter (we used Trader Joe's)
1 package sliced prosciutto
1 cup arugula
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
3. Evenly coat dough with fig butter spread and then top with roughly chopped/sliced brie. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, top with prosciutto and arugula, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Let cool, then slice, serve, and enjoy.
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Gorgonzola, Roasted Butternut Squash, Sage, & Balsamic Glaze Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 plain pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 16-oz. Mozzarella cheese log, shredded/sliced
2/3 cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
1 bag pre-cubed butternut squash
1/3 cup sage, roughly chopped
1 (8.5-oz.) bottle balsamic glaze, drizzled (we used Trader Joes)
3 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Coat TJ's pre-cubed butternut squash in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, place on sheet pan and place in oven for 20-30 minutes until softened.
3. Meanwhile, let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
4. Evenly top dough with shredded/sliced mozzarella and 1/3 cup of gorgonzola cheese, and then sprinkle with chopped sage and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Finish by topping evenly with roasted butternut squash and remaining crumbles of gorgonzola.
5. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, let cool, slice and enjoy. (Add an extra drizzle of balsamic oil and salt and pepper to taste, if desired.)
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onion, Bacon & Rosemary Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 plain pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 (5-oz.) log honey chèvre goat cheese (we used Trader Joe's), crumbled
1 large yellow onion, sliced into thin rings
2 tbsp rosemary, roughly chopped
1 package bacon bits
3-4 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
3. Sauté sliced onion in olive oil over medium-low heat until thoroughly softened, browned, and caramelized. Remove from heat.
4. Evenly top dough with crumbled goat cheese followed by the caramelized onions, any remaining oil, an even sprinkling of the bacon pieces, and finally the chopped rosemary with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, let cool, slice, serve, and enjoy.
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Truffle Mushroom Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 plain pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 (16-oz.) Mozzarella cheese log, shredded/sliced
1 cup shitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/3 cup Italian truffle cheese (we used Trader Joe's), grated
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Truffle oil
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
3. Evenly top dough with shredded/sliced mozzarella and 1/3 cup of truffle cheese, then evenly top with shitake mushroom slices. Finish by topping with 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and sprinkle of salt and pepper.
4. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, drizzle with truffle oil (to taste), let cool, slice and enjoy.
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Broccoli Cheddar Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 plain pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 (16-oz.) Mozzarella cheese log, shredded/sliced
2/3 cup sharp white cheddar, grated
5 tbsp olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small package pre-cut broccoli florets
Salt and red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Coat broccoli florets in 3 tbsp olive oil and salt and red pepper flakes, place on sheet pan and roast in oven for 20-30 minutes or until just beginning to brown. Remove and let cool.
3. Meanwhile let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
4. Heat remaining 2 tbsp olive oil and chopped garlic gloves in small sauce pan until just warm. Remove from heat and drizzle over top of pizza dough.
5. Top with shredded/sliced mozzarella and 1/3 cup of grated white cheddar. Finish off with broccoli florets, remaining cheddar and place in oven for 8-10 minutes (or until crust has risen and browned).
6. Remove from oven and sprinkle with additional salt and red pepper flakes, to taste. Let cool, slice, serve, and enjoy.
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Sausage Pesto Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 whole wheat pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 bottle pesto spread (we used Trader Joe's)
1 (16-oz.) Mozzarella cheese log, shredded/sliced
2/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
2-3 medium tomatoes, sliced
2/3 16-oz. package uncooked ground pork, crumbled
3 tbsp olive oil
Salt and red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
3. Heat olive oil in sauté pan over medium-high heat and add in ground pork, cooking until just browned. Season with salt and red pepper flakes and set aside on paper towel lined plate.
4. Evenly spread a layer of pesto over surface of dough (to your desired sauciness), top with shredded/sliced mozzarella and 1/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano, and then cover with tomato slices.
5. Finish by topping with the sautéed and crumbled ground pork, remaining Pecorino Romano. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, let cool, slice and enjoy.
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Kale Chicken Caesar Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 plain pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 (16-oz.) Mozzarella cheese log, shredded/sliced
2/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
1 package of cheese and garlic croutons, crushed
1 bottle of Caesar dressing
1 cup de-veined and roughly chopped kale
3 tbsp olive oil
Pre-cooked chicken strips, roughly chopped (we used Trader Joe's)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
3. Thoroughly massage de-veined and roughly chopped kale with olive oil and salt and pepper, let sit.
4. Spread a thin but even layer of caesar dressing to coat the top of the dough and then evenly top with shredded/sliced mozzarella and 1/3 cup of Pecorino Romano cheese and then top with kale, chopped chicken strips, and the final 1/3 cup of Pecorino Romano.
5. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, and top with a sprinkling of crushed croutons and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool, slice, serve, and enjoy.
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
Cookie Butter Dessert Pie
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
1 whole wheat pizza dough (we used Trader Joe's)
1 jar Cocoa Swirl Cookie Butter (we used Trader Joe's
1 cup marshmallows, chopped
2 large bananas, thinly sliced
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, thinly sliced
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Let dough reach room temp. and prep rolling surface with ample dusting of flour. Roll dough out and mold into greased 18x13-inch sheet pan or similar-sized circular pan.
3. Spread even coating of cookie butter on top of dough and then sprinkle chopped marshmallows overtop to cover.
4. Place in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crust has risen and browned. Remove, top with sliced fruit, let cool, slice and serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream (*optional).
Photographed by Sam Kaplan; Food Styling by Brett Kurzweil.
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