Having a pizza night? You’ve come to the right place. Here are all our resources on how to make the best homemade pizza ever (really!). As expert home cooks and cookbook authors, pizza is our forte. We’ve done years of research to perfect the best way to make it at home. You’ll learn how to make a pizza crust that revivals your favorite pizzeria, and a pizza sauce that is pure tangy, garlicky goodness. You’ll never need another recipe again.
Homemade pizza: basic methods
There are several ways to make homemade pizza. The basic idea: pick your dough, pick your sauce and pick your toppings! There are several different types of pizza making methods, each of which require different equipment and techniques. Review the summary below to help you choose your pizza dough. Then open the dough recipe in a separate browser or tab.
The best homemade pizza sauce
The next element for a great pizza? Our fan-favorite Homemade Pizza Sauce. This recipe is one of the most loved on our website, and one taste and you’ll see why. The sweet, bright flavor of the tomatoes and garlicky, savory finish will make you immediately exclaim your praises. Here’s what to know about the pizza sauce:
Find canned fire roasted tomatoes. Fire roasted tomatoes have a sweet and subtly smoky flavor right out of the can. Compare that to standard canned tomatoes, which can be bitter. This type of tomatoes is available at most grocery stores. Can’t find them? Use the best quality canned tomatoes you can find. It takes just 5 minutes in a blender! Blend up the tomatoes with garlic, olive oil, oregano and salt, and it tastes like a dream: no cooking required.
Pizza making equipment: stones, peels, and more
Homemade pizza requires a few special tools, depending on which type of dough you choose above. Here’s what you’ll need:
Pizza stone: A pizza stone makes the best pizza, because high temperatures make the crust crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. Here’s the pizza stone we recommend, and a bit more on how to care for it. Pizza peel: A peel is a paddle used to slide a pie onto the hot stone in the oven. We recommend this standard pizza peel or this conveyor pizza peel. The conveyor makes it incredibly easy to slide onto the stone (it’s worth the investment). OR, a cast iron skillet or sheet pan: You do not need a pizza stone for Cast Iron Pizza or Sheet Pan Pizza because the crust style is different. These types of pizza have a fluffy, tall crust instead of a round, artisan style crust. Stand mixer: You don’t need a stand mixer for pizza dough: you can knead it with your hands! But it does make the process easier and hands off.
Of course, you can also make pizza in a pizza oven! If you’ve got an outdoor pizza oven like the Ooni, ROCCBOX or another brand, go to Pizza Oven Dough.
How to make homemade pizza: basic steps
Once you’ve got your dough recipe and equipment, it’s time to cook! Here are a few notes on the basic steps for how to make homemade pizza, or jump to the recipe below:
Make the dough. Make the Pizza Dough Master Recipe or Thin Crust Dough. Preheat the oven and pizza stone to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Stretch the pizza dough. This is what requires the most technique! Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and dust the top with flour. Use your fingers to gently press the dough into an 8-inch circle, flipping several times and adding a pinch of flour if it is too sticky. Then pick up the dough and gently drape it over the knuckles on both of your hands. Slowly rotate it around, allowing gravity to stretch it into a circle about 11 inches in diameter. See How to Stretch Pizza Dough for step by step photos. Or, roll out the dough (thin crust dough). Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a circle about 11 inches in diameter, using just enough flour on each side to keep it from sticking. Top the pizza. Place the dough on a pizza peel. Quickly add the toppings. Bake 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to the preheated pizza stone and bake 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the crust is browned.
Pizza topping ideas
Our favorite homemade pizza toppings are included in the recipe below: and to us, simple is best! Add that tangy, garlicky sauce, gooey cheese, and add a few fresh basil leaves when you remove it from the oven. So simple, so good! Here are a few other topping ideas:
Margherita: Red sauce, fresh mozzarella, Parmesan, basil Veggie supreme: Red sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, green pepper, red onion Pesto: Pesto, mozzarella, fresh tomatoes White pizza: Ricotta, garlic, mozzarella, Parmesan Quattro formaggi: Mozzarella, Parmesan, Pecorino, gorgonzola Red pepper: Roasted red peppers, mozzarella, feta, oregano Olive: Green and black olives, mozzarella, red onion Greek pizza: Spinach, artichoke, tomato, red onion, olive, basil Mushroom: Mushrooms, thyme, oregano, goat cheese, mozzarella Broccoli: Broccoli, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan Goat cheese: Red sauce, mozzarella, goat cheese, basil Taco pizza: Refried beans, cheddar cheese, green onions, black olives, romaine, ranch Spinach artichoke: Spinach, garlic, artichokes, mozzarella, Parmesan
Want more ideas? Head to 25 Homemade Pizza Recipes.
This homemade pizza recipe is…
Vegetarian. For gluten-free, try our Gluten-Free Pizza Dough. No reviews
1 ball Best Pizza Dough or Thin Crust Dough (or go to Cast Iron Pizza, Sheet Pan Pizza, or Pizza Oven Dough*) Semolina flour or cornmeal, for dusting
For the pizza sauce (use ⅓ cup for topping)
1 small garlic clove (1/2 medium) 15 ounces crushed fire roasted tomatoes (or high quality organic canned tomatoes) 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon dried oregano Scant ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For the toppings — or use topping ideas from 25 Top Pizza Recipes
¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or ½ cup shredded mozzarella and 2 to 3 ounces goat cheese, in dollops) Parmesan cheese, for topping Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
