Description
This easy homemade Pepperoni Pizza recipe features a deliciously crispy crust made from scratch with active dry yeast and bread flour. Topped generously with tangy pizza sauce, savory pepperoni slices, mozzarella, parmesan cheeses, and Italian seasoning, this pizza is perfect for a quick dinner or casual gathering. Making your own dough and assembling the toppings is straightforward, resulting in a flavorful, cost-effective alternative to takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 3 3/4 – 4 cups bread flour (all-purpose flour can also be used)
For the Topping
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups pepperoni slices
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine the active dry yeast and granulated sugar with the warm water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: Add olive oil, salt, and white vinegar to the yeast mixture. Gradually mix in 3 3/4 cups of bread flour, stirring until a dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour a little at a time until it is soft but not sticky.
- Knead Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) and if using, place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat.
- Shape Dough: Punch down the risen dough and divide it if making multiple pizzas. Roll out the dough on a floured surface into your desired pizza shape and thickness. Transfer the dough onto parchment paper or a pizza peel.
- Add Sauce and Toppings: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly, followed by the pepperoni slices. Top with grated parmesan cheese and sprinkle Italian seasoning over everything.
- Bake Pizza: Carefully transfer the pizza (with parchment if used) onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing. Serve hot and enjoy your homemade pepperoni pizza!
Notes
- Easy homemade Pepperoni Pizza made with homemade or store-bought pizza dough is so EASY and delicious, and way cheaper than eating out!
- You can substitute bread flour with all-purpose flour but bread flour provides a chewier crust.
- Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area for best results.
- To add extra flavor, consider brushing the crust with olive oil and garlic before adding toppings.
- Customize toppings with vegetables or additional cheeses if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 305 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 746 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 39 mg
