Looking for the perfect homemade pepperoni pizza recipe? Look no more because this pepperoni pizza recipe is quick, easy, and oh so delicious! It will be your new pizza night recipe.
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe
Pizza night is our favorite weekly dinner night every week! We used to rotate ordering from different restaurants, but then I discovered how easy it was to make pizza at home. So that became our new tradition, gathering in the kitchen together and baking a pizza together. This delicious homemade pepperoni pizza recipe is so simple and delicious!
Sometimes we like to change things up by throwing new toppings on or making chicken pesto pizza.
Lots of times my kids don’t love putting veggies on pizza, so I always make sure I throw a simple salad together for a side so that we have something healthy to balance things out!
Trust me when I say that this will become your new weekly staple for family pizza night too!
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
Yield- One 12 inch pizza
Prep Time- 15 minutes
Cook Time- 12-15 minutes
Ingredients for Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
1-3/4 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 envelope Rapid Rising Yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup very warm water (120° to 130°F)*
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-2 cups pizza sauce
1 to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni
How to Make Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
Start by preheating your oven to 425°F. Prepare a pizza pan with cooking spray and set aside. If you are using a pizza stone you do not need to grease it. Be sure to place the pizza stone in the oven to preheat as well.
Next, in a large bowl or stand mixer, whisk together 1 cup of flour, undissolved yeast, sugar, and salt. Whisk until everything is fully combined.
Now you need to measure and test the temperature of your water to be sure it’s warm. Be sure it’s not too hot! When you get the temperature just right, add the water to the dry ingredients along with the oil. Mix for one minute or until fully mixed together.
The dough should start to form a ball and will be slightly sticky. If it is too sticky to handle, just add flour 1 Tablespoon at a time until you can handle it without it sticking too much to your fingers.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 4 minutes.
Then you will need to cover the dough and let it rise for about 10 minutes.
Spread the dough evenly to fill the prepared, greased pizza pan, baking sheet, or pizza stone. Make sure it reaches the edges of the pan!
Finally, top with sauce, cheese, and lots of pepperonis!
Bake on the lowest oven rack for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crust starts to brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let the pizza cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks for Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
- Be sure to not add too much flour to your dough. Only add enough so you can handle it. Too much flour will cause the crust to be tough and hard to chew.
- Be sure to spread or toss your dough all the way to the edge of your 12-inch pan. Pizza dough has the tendency to shrink when cooking if you don’t spread it out all the way.
- If you are using a pizza stone, you do not need to grease the bottom. Be sure to let your pizza stone preheat for even cooking temperatures.
- Don’t be afraid to use lots of pepperonis. I used to work at a local pizza shop and when we made the pepperoni pizza we would lay the pepperoni on so that they were all touching each other. This is because pepperoni also tends to shrink while cooking.
- Make pizza a family affair! Pepperoni pizza is super fun to make as a family. Don’t be afraid to get creative by cutting the pepperoni into hearts, making giant smiley faces, or any other design. This is a great way to get your family together and having fun!
Can we make personal pizzas with this recipe?
The beauty of homemade pizza is the versatility of the recipe. Yes, if you want to make personal pizzas you can totally do so! If there are 5 people in your family and you all want a different type of pizza, just separate the dough into 5 equal portions and assign everyone the opportunity to toss, stretch, and make their own pizza.
If your family is bigger, you may want to double or triple the recipe first.
What is the best pepperoni to use for a homemade pepperoni pizza?
When it comes to choosing the correct pepperoni, you can’t really go wrong. Chose what your family will like best. There are a lot of different types to choose from and if you can’t decide just go for multiple! Layering different pepperoni types and flavors is a great way to get a new yummy taste on your pizza!
Can I freeze my pizza dough from this homemade pepperoni pizza recipe?
Yes! While you shouldn’t really freeze your already cooked and ready-to-eat pizza, you can freeze the dough. Be sure to let your dough fully rise first, then you can either shape it into the shape you will cook it in or leave it in a ball. You can freeze your pizza dough for up to 3 months!
When you are ready to use your pizza dough, let it thaw out in the fridge overnight. Remember, if you are using a pizza stone don’t put the cold dough on a warm stone! This abrupt temperature change could cause the stone to crack.
How can I store my leftovers?
Leftover pizza is super yummy and super easy to store. You can throw it in a bag or an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for about a week or so. I like to put a slice or two in a Ziploc bag and keep it in the fridge to throw into school lunches. It makes packing lunches quick and easy.
Share with us in the comments how your Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe turns out! And tag us on Instagram with a picture of your recipe! We would love to see it!
For More Pizza Recipes, Check out these!
The Easiest Homemade Pizza Crust
Classic Cheese Pizza
Chicken Pesto Pizza
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
Ingredients
- 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 envelope Rapid Rising Yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup very warm water (120° to 130°F)*
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1-2 cups pizza sauce
- 1 to 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Pepperoni
Instructions
1. Start by preheating your oven to 425°F. Prepare a pizza pan with cooking spray and set aside. If you are using a pizza stone you do not need to grease it. Be sure to place the pizza stone in the oven to preheat as well.
2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, whisk together 1 cup of flour, undissolved yeast, sugar, and salt. Whisk until fully combined.
3. Measure and test the temperature of your water to be sure it’s warm, but not too hot. When the temperature is just right, add it to the dry ingredients along with the oil. Mix for one minute or until fully mixed together.
4. The dough should start to form a ball and will be slightly sticky. If it is too sticky to handle, just add flour 1 Tablespoon at a time until you can handle it. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 4 minutes.
5. Cover the dough and let rise for about 10 minutes.
6. Spread the dough evenly to fill the prepared, greased pizza pan, baking sheet, or pizza stone.
7. Top with sauce, cheese, and lots of pepperonis!
8. Bake on the lowest oven rack for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crust starts to brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Let the pizza cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting and enjoy!
Notes
- Be sure to not add too much flour to your dough. Only add enough so you can handle it. Too much flour will cause the crust to be tough and hard to chew.
- Be sure to spread or toss your dough all the way to the edge of your 12-inch pan. Pizza dough has the tendency to shrink when cooking if you don’t spread it out all the way.
- If you are using a pizza stone, you do not need to grease the bottom. Be sure to let your pizza stone preheat for even cooking temperatures.
- Don’t be afraid to use lots of pepperonis. I used to work at a local pizza shop and when we made the pepperoni pizza we would lay the pepperoni on so that they were all touching each other. This is because pepperoni also tends to shrink while cooking.
- Make pizza a family affair! Pepperoni pizza is super fun to make as a family. Don’t be afraid to get creative by cutting the pepperoni into hearts, making giant smiley faces, or any other design. This is a great way to get your family together and having fun!
Don’t forget to save this Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe on Pinterest so you can find it next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal your family will love!
This is so easy! My kids can help me do this for pizza Friday!
I hate waiting for dough to rise so this recipe is perfect! Also love the step by step photos.
Wow. This pizza looks so good! We always make a pizza each week, but we usually buy premade dough. We’ll have to try this sometime!
Ooooh we would love to have pizza night too! That looks like a fun activity with the family. Can’t wait to try your recipe cause Pepperoni pizza is the best!
This recipe is awesome! I made it and cooked the pizza on my pizza stone and it turned out great.
while i will skip the pepperoni, this pizza looks perfect