Pizza like a pro: ultimate guide to making homemade pizza

Pizza is a dish that originated in Italy and has become one of the most popular foods worldwide. It is a flatbread topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients, such as meats, vegetables, and herbs. Pizza is baked in an oven and served sliced into individual portions.

You can usually find a pizza restaurant in every town, it’s hugely popular, and it’s not hard to understand why. Quick and easy to make and mouthwateringly delicious, it’s a go-to meal for many people.

It’s a straightforward dish with a pizza crust, usually topped with a tomato-based sauce, different varieties of cheese, and then toppings including (traditionally) meat, vegetables, and herbs. 

But you can make delicious pizza at home, in an outdoor or kitchen oven.

Making the pizza dough

See this pizza dough recipe for a complete guide, including measurements.

This pizza dough recipe is made from 5-store cupboard ingredients;

• Flour – 00 pizza flour, bread flour, or all-purpose flour
• Water
• Active dry yeast
• Salt
• Extra virgin olive oil

Step-by-step instructions on how to make pizza dough

Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or a mixing bowl and a rubber spatula, add yeast to a bowl of warm water and whisk.

Then add olive oil, flour, and salt and beat slowly for approximately 2 minutes.

Tip your pizza dough onto a lightly floured work surface, lightly flour your hands, and knead the dough for 4 minutes.

To knead the pizza dough, press the heel of your hand away from you and then fold the dough back over itself.

Rotate the dough 90 degrees and repeat the process. This will help to stretch the gluten strands in the dough, making it more elastic and easier to work with.

Continue kneading the dough for about 5 – 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough feels too sticky, add a little more flour. If it feels too dry, add a little more water.

Use a pizza dough scraper to divide your dough and clean up your work surface.

Once your dough is kneaded, form it into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl.

Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for at least an hour or until it has doubled.

After the dough has risen, it is ready to be rolled out and topped with your favorite ingredients, then into a pizza oven to make a delicious pizza!

How to store pizza dough

You can store your homemade pizza dough in the fridge for up to three days, we recommend wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap as it can burst out and the dough becomes stale.

You can also freeze the dough for up to three months. We recommend storing it in portion size so you can grab the right amount of pizza dough whenever you need it without having to use it all.

How to make pizza sauce

The best homemade pizza has a great pizza sauce, and these are amongst the most popular sauces;

• Tomato-based sauce
• White sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Pesto sauce

How to make a tomato-based pizza sauce

See our delicious homemade pizza sauce recipe for ingredient measurements.

You’ll need these ingredients to make the sauce:

• Crushed tomatoes – San Marzano Italian tomatoes are best, as they are sweeter
• Chopped onion
• Fresh garlic
• Italian seasoning
• Red pepper flakes
• Salt & pepper

Add olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to a pan over medium heat, bring to a simmer, and then simmer for 45 minutes.

Remove the tomato mixture from the heat and let it cool. Once cool, add to a food processor or blender and blitz until the sauce is smooth.

Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Pizza Toppings Ideas

There are many popular pizza toppings, to choose from. If you’re feeding a group of people, set up a pizza bar and let each person top their own personal pizza. Here are a few topping ideas to get you started;

• Cheese
• Pepperoni – veggie pepperoni is a great option for vegetarians
• Mushrooms
• Peppers
• Onions
• Olives

Choose your favorite pizza toppings, the foods you love.

Tips for creating your own pizza toppings

Tips on choosing ingredients that complement each other.

For example, in a Margherita pizza, the tomatoes’ sweetness complements the cheese’s creaminess, and the basil adds a fresh herbal note.

Layering pizza toppings

Start with the sauce: Begin by spreading a thin layer of pizza sauce on the crust, this will help the toppings stick to the pizza and keep them from sliding off.

Use cheese as a base: Add a layer of cheese on top of the pizza sauce. This will help hold the other toppings in place; it creates a gooey, melty layer as it bakes.

Layer the vegetables: Add your vegetables on top of the cheese layer, and this prevents them from burning and allows them to cook evenly.

Add (veggie) meats or proteins: If you’re using (veggie) meat or protein, add it to the vegetables. This will help prevent the meat from burning and allow it to cook evenly.

Add more cheese: Add another layer of cheese on top of the toppings, and this will help to hold the toppings in place and create a delicious, gooey, cheesy layer.

Use small pieces: Chop toppings into small pieces to ensure they cook quickly and evenly and stay in place.

Spread toppings evenly: Be sure to spread them out evenly to ensure they cook evenly and don’t burn in one spot. It’ll also be much tastier when it’s sliced up.

Don’t overload: Avoid overloading the pizza with too many toppings. Your pizza will be challenging to cook and may have a soggy crust.

Top with fresh herbs: After your pizza is cooked, add a sprinkle of fresh herbs, like fresh basil or oregano, on top. This will give an extra burst of flavor and freshness to your pizza.

The best pizza cheese

• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan
• Provolone – not suitable for vegetarians
• Cheddar
• Gouda – be careful to buy the vegetarian version if needed
• Ricotta
• Fontina
• Pecorino Romano – choose a vegetarian Italian hard cheese alternative

The best cheese to use for different pizza styles

Thin crust pizza: Thin crust pizzas need a cheese that melts quickly and evenly. Some of the best cheeses for thin-crust pizza include fresh mozzarella, grated Parmesan cheese, fontina, and provolone.

Deep dish pizza: Deep dish pizzas need a cheese that can withstand a long cooking time without burning or becoming too oily. Some of the best cheeses for deep-dish pizza include shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan cheese, and provolone.

Neapolitan pizza: Neapolitan pizza needs a cheese that is creamy and slightly tangy. The traditional cheese used in Neapolitan pizza is buffalo mozzarella, which is rich and creamy with a tangy flavor. Other good options include provolone, Asiago and Pecorino Romano.

Sicilian pizza: Sicilian pizza needs a cheese that can withstand the thick crust and hearty toppings. Some of the best cheeses for Sicilian pizza include grated Parmesan cheese, shredded mozzarella, provolone, and Pecorino Romano.

Overall, the best type of cheese for any pizza complements the other ingredients and will add to the overall flavor profile of your homemade pizza.

We suggest experimenting with different cheeses to find the perfect combination for your favorite pizza recipe.

Baking your homemade pizza

You can cook your pizza in an outside pizza oven or a kitchen oven.

A pizza oven will cook the pizza quickly and give you that beautifully charred crust you see at pizzerias.

How to Bake Pizza in a Pizza Oven

Pizza ovens can reach very high temperatures; timings may vary for different brands.

Timings also vary depending on the type of toppings.

If you are baking a pizza Margherita, Neapolitan pizza, or marinara pizza, you only need to bake it in the pizza oven for 2 to 3 minutes at 850°F/450°C.

Pizzas such as veggie pizza, tomato pizza, or spinach pizza will take slightly longer.

Use a peel to turn your pizza every 20 seconds to ensure a perfectly even cook.

When the pizza is cooked, the crust will be charred, the cheese melted, and the toppings perfectly cooked.

How to Bake Homemade Pizza in an Oven

Preheat your oven to 500°F/260°C, and if using, place your pizza stone in the oven.

If baking a pesto pizza, cheese pizza, or white pizza, you’ll only need to cook it for 8 to 10 minutes.

It may take longer if you’re cooking an olive pizza, vegan pizza or mushroom pizza.

Watch your pizza closely; we recommend turning it halfway through to ensure an even cook.

When the pizza is done, the crust will be golden brown, the cheese melted, and the toppings perfectly cooked.

And if you have leftovers, you can reheat pizza in an air fryer.

So we’ve shown you how easy pizza making is. The more you practice, the better your pizzas will become.

Try our pizza recipes or experiment with flavors, and you’ll soon enjoy the perfect pizza in your home.

Mandy is the enthusiastic creator of the vegetarian website Splash of Taste; she makes meat-free cooking fun and easy. When Mandy’s not cooking and writing, you’ll find her travelling, exploring countries and cuisines, and spending time with her chihuahua. Download her free 5 x Easy Vegetarian Meals eBook.