Best Homemade Pizza Recipe

Pizza Stone Instructions

While you can make this recipe without a pizza stone and in pizza pans, below is my preferred method for cooking it on a pizza stone. Scroll below this block to see my instructions for using round pizza pans.

1. Start by preparing the pizza dough according to the Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe. Follow the dough recipe through rising the dough until it’s doubled.
2. Move the oven rack to the second-highest position and place a pizza stone on the rack. Preheat the oven to 500°F for at least 30 minutes.
   
   
3. Punch the dough down to deflate it. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured countertop and divide it into two pieces.
4. Cover the dough with a damp paper towel and let it relax for 15-30 minutes.
5. Place parchment paper on a pizza peel and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of cornmeal. Take one of your dough balls, gently press, and stretch it into a 13 to 14-inch circle. If the dough keeps snapping back, rest it under a damp paper towel for 5-10 minutes before continuing.
   
6. Once stretched, brush ½ tablespoon of olive oil around the outer edge of the dough to create a beautiful golden crust when baked.
7. To reduce excess grease, lay 20 pepperoni slices on a microwave-safe plate between two paper towels. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then press down with the top towel to absorb any extra grease.
8. Spread ¾ cup of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a ¼-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the sauce.
   
9. Then, add 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Finally, arrange 20 pepperoni slices evenly across the pizza.
10. Carefully transfer the pizza (on the parchment paper) onto the preheated pizza stone using the pizza peel. Bake at 500°F for 8-12 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
11. Remove the pizza from the oven with the pizza peel. Let it cool slightly for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
    

Pizza Dough: In this pizza dough post, I explain my methods, ingredients, and pizza tools in detail. You’ll also find tips and key-freezing instructions! You can use store-bought pizza dough if you need to. You’ll need about 1 pound of dough per pizza.

Pizza Sauce: My homemade pizza sauce is SO much better than store-bought. It’s an easy, no-cook recipe that you make in the blender. And to top it all off, it’s freezer-friendly, too! You can use store-bought pizza sauce. You’ll need a 14-ounce jar.

Pizza Cheese: To make the ultimate Pepperoni Pizza, you need a combination of 2 kinds of cheese: Parmesan and whole milk mozzarella.

• Parmesan Cheese: This adds some extra flavor to the pizza, and I add it underneath the mozzarella so it doesn’t brown and become crisp.
• Whole Milk Mozzarella: This cheese is a MUST for this recipe because it melts so much better than part-skim mozzarella (I find part-skim mozzarella cooks up a little rubbery)! Whole milk mozzarella can be tricky to find in your grocery store. If it’s not in the dairy aisle’s brick cheese section, I usually have luck finding it at the deli counter. I ask the folks at the deli counter to cut off a ½ pound chunk for me, and I shred it myself at home.