Best 20 Basic Pizza Recipes

BASIC PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• Empty the contents of the tomato can in a mixing bowl and coarsely crush the tomatoes with a fork or your hands, leaving them just a little chunky. In a heavy bottom 2-quart saucepot, add the olive oil, over a medium high flame and heat a little. Add the onions and saute until slightly translucent. Add the garlic and saute about a minute until golden. Quickly add the crushed tomatoes to the mix. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and add the fresh basil and oregano. You can add a touch of sugar if desired or if tomatoes are tart. Simmer on a low flame, stirring often for at least 15 minutes. If not using right away, cool down and store in airtight container in the refrigerator, up to 1 week.

QUICK BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Pour 1 1/2 cups warm water into a large bowl; sprinkle with yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk sugar, oil, and salt into yeast mixture. Add flour and stir until a sticky dough forms. Transfer dough to an oiled bowl and brush top with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draft-free place until dough has doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead 1 or 2 times before using.
• Dough can be stored in an oiled bowl, covered with plastic, in refrigerator up to 2 hours. To freeze, wrap dough in plastic and freeze in a resealable freezer bag up to 3 months. If you plan to use it in a recipe that calls for half a batch, divide it before freezing.

BASIC PEPPERONI PIZZA AND FOUR CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• For the pizza dough: Sprinkle the active dry yeast over 1 1/2 cups of warm--not lukewarm--water.
• In a mixer with a paddle attachment, combine the flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, drizzle in the olive oil and mix until combined. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix until combined.
• Coat a separate mixing bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil and tip the dough in. Form a ball and toss to coat the dough ball in the olive oil. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 or 4 days refrigerated.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• To prepare the dough for the pizza assembly: Divide the dough into two equal parts. Roll out one part as thinly as possible and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the second piece of dough.
• For the basic pepperoni pizza: Spread the sauce over the pizza base. Top with the sliced mozzarella and pepperoni.
• For the four cheese pizza: Drizzle on the olive oil and sprinkle on some salt and pepper. Pour the jar of pesto onto the dough and spread evenly. Add the mozzarella, fontina, goat cheese and Pecorino Romano.
• Bake both pizzas until the crusts are golden and the cheese is bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes.
• For the tomato basil salad: While the pizzas are baking, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a small skillet. Add the garlic and stir, lightly frying for about a minute and removing it from the heat before the garlic gets too brown (it can be golden). Pour it into a mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly. Add the tomatoes, balsamic, basil and some salt and pepper to the bowl. Toss to combine, and then taste and add more basil if needed, and more salt if needed. Set aside.
• Top the four cheese pizza with the tomato basil salad. Cut the pizzas into slices and serve.
• Add a tablespoon or so of olive oil into a hot pan over medium-high heat. Throw in the garlic and chopped onions and give them a stir. Cook until the onions are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, whisking to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Cook until the liquid reduces by half. Add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste and a pinch of sugar. Add the dried oregano and basil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water about 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) in a bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk together all-purpose flour, bread flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Pour in canola oil, olive oil, and warm yeast mixture. Mix on low speed using the dough hook until dough comes together and pulls away from the bowl. Increase mixing speed to medium-high; let knead for 10 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and form into a ball. Place dough ball into a bowl that's been brushed or sprayed with oil; cover with plastic wrap. Let dough rise for 1 hour.
• Place dough onto a lightly floured work surface and punch down. Divide dough in 1/2 and form into 2 balls. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for an additional 45 minutes.
• Place each dough ball on a lightly floured work surface and form into a 12-inch round pizza crust.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Top pizzas as desired.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 18 to 24 minutes.

PANAGO'S BASIC HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the warm water (not too hot or you'll kill the yeast), honey and yeast until dissolved.
• Leave for 5 - 10 minutes unti lthe yeast activates and the mixture develops a layer of froth on the surface.
• In a large bowl, mix the sea salt and flour and make a well in the center.
• Add the yeast and olive oil.
• Mix together , then use your hands until the dough comes together.(I did this step in my kitchenaid.).
• Tip the dough onoto a lightly floured surface and knead until th edoor is smooth, shiny and elastic (about 5 - 10 minutes) or allow the kitchenaid to do this.
• If the dough is too sticky or soft, add a little extra flour or if it's too dry and crumbly, add a little water.
• Shape the dough into a round ball and place in a large, oiled bowl.
• Cover with a damp cloth for roughly 45 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.
• Punch down the dough to remove the air and place it on a lightly floured work surface.
• Divide in 2 and shape each piece into round disks.
• Place the dough balls on a sheet of parchment.
• Cover with a light coating of oil and let them rise again, for about 20 minutes.
• Dough is now ready to add whatever toppings you like and cook.
• Bake in a 400 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes. Keeping an eye on it until the cheese browns and the crust looks done.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH - PROCESSOR METHOD

Steps:

• Add the yeast and water to a bowl and stir with a wooden spoon. Allow the yeast to dissolve until it is incorporated into the water, about 5 minutes. Add the olive oil, salt and 1 1/2 cups of the flour. Stir the mixture with a spoon until until the dough forms a ball, or place all the ingredients in a food processor until the dough forms a ball. After a few seconds of mixing or processing, add the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour. The dough should be soft but not sticky. If it is too sticky, add a bit more flour and process for another minute.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead dough for 2 to 3 minutes, adding enough additional flour if necessary to form a smooth and elastic dough. Dough should not be sticky. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled 2 or 3 quart bowl and turn to coat dough with oil. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, usually at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F and if you have one, place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven.
• Divide dough into 2 portions (for 2 (12-inch) pizzas) and form into balls. (See note below for calzones.) Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and cover with a damp towel. Let rest for 15 minutes, then transfer to a lightly floured surface, shape as desired and roll out to a thickness of 1/2-inch. Transfer dough to a pizza peel and top with toppings of choice. Transfer to the preheated pizza stone and bake until crispy and golden brown, usually 12 to 18 minutes (depending on the toppings). Remove from the oven with a metal peel or spatula and serve immediately.
• Note: For calzones, divide the dough into 4 equal portions and form into 4 balls. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and cover with a damp towel. Let rest for 15 minutes, then transfer to a lightly floured surface and roll out into 4 6-inch circles. Place filling of choice in the center of one side of each circle, then fold dough over filling to meet edges of filled side. Crimp edges with a fork or your fingers, then cut a small slit in the top of the calzone to allow steam to escape while cooking. Cook on a preheated pizza stone in a preheated 475 degree oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until well-browned. Remove from the oven with a metal peel or spatula and serve immediately.

BASIC BEEF PIZZA

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add salt, celery salt and pepper; set aside. On a floured surface, roll dough into a 13-in. circle. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 12-in. pizza pan. Spread sauce over crust to within 1/2 in. of edge. Top with cheese and beef mixture. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is melted.

MARK BITTMAN'S BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Put the 3 cups flour, yeast, 2 teaspoons salt and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a food processor. Turn the machine on and add 1 cup water through the feed tube. Process until the mixture forms a slightly sticky ball, about 30 seconds. If the mixture is too dry, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time and process for 5 to 10 seconds after each addition. If the mixture refuses to come together, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time and process until it does.
• Rub a little olive oil or sprinkle a little flour onto your hands and shape the dough into a ball; wrap in plastic. Let rest at room temperature until the dough doubles in size, 1 to 2 hours. Or, if time is tight, let it rest at least 20 minutes before proceeding. Or refrigerate for several hours, deflating if necessary if it threatens to burst the plastic. (Or divide in half, wrap each ball in plastic, slip into a plastic bag and freeze.) Let it return to room temperature before proceeding.
• Reshape the dough into a ball and cut in half, forming 2 balls. (From here on, use olive oil if you're cooking on baking sheets, flour if on a pizza stone.) Put them on a lightly floured surface (a pizza peel is ideal), sprinkle with flour and cover with plastic wrap; or brush then with a bit of oil and place on a lightly oiled sheet. Let rest for about 20 minutes, while you heat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Press a dough ball into a 1/2-inch-thick flat round, adding flour or oil to the work surface as necessary. Press or roll the dough until it's as thin as you can make it; let it rest a bit if it becomes too elastic. (Patience is your friend here.) You can do two baking sheets at once, or one after another, as you'll have to if using a peel. If doing the latter, slide the dough from the peel onto the stone.
• Sprinkle the pizzas with olive oil (just a little), salt and rosemary. Bake for at least 10 minutes, perhaps rotating once, until the crust is crisp. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

BASIC PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the oil, sugar, salt and 1-1/2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a floured surface; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. , Roll into a 13-in. circle. Grease a 12-in. pizza pan and sprinkle with cornmeal. Transfer dough to prepared pan, building up edges slightly. Do not let rise. Bake at 425° until browned, 12-15 minutes. Add toppings; bake 10-15 minutes longer.

CHUNKY TOMATO SAUCE FOR BASIC PIZZA

Steps:

• In medium saucepan, heat oil over medium. Cook onion and garlic until translucent, stirring, 3 minutes.
• Add whole, peeled tomatoes (lightly crushed with hands), crushed tomatoes, oregano, and a pinch of sugar (optional).
• Simmer, stirring until thickened, 10 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Freeze any leftover sauce for up to 3 months.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine sugar, water and yeast in a measuring cup or small bowl.
• Combine flour and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center.
• Pour yeast mixture and oil in well and stir into dry ingredients until you have a soft dough.
• If dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour.
• Knead until smooth on a lightly floured surface.
• Place in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel and let rise until doubled.
• IF YOU HAVE A BREAD MACHINE skip the above steps and just put the ingredients in according to the machine's instructions and use the "dough" setting.
• Punch down and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Makes 1- deep dish or 2- 12-inch pizza crusts.
• To bake, top with your favorite sauce, cheese, etc., and bake at 450°F for about 15 minutes or until crispy and cheese is bubbling.

BREAD MACHINE BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Put machine on the dough cycle.
• Whatever you decide to make- bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

MARK BITTMAN'S BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Put the 3 cups flour, yeast, 2 teaspoons salt and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a food processor. Turn the machine on and add 1 cup water through the feed tube. Process until the mixture forms a slightly sticky ball, about 30 seconds. If the mixture is too dry, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time and process for 5 to 10 seconds after each addition. If the mixture refuses to come together, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time and process until it does.
• Rub a little olive oil or sprinkle a little flour onto your hands and shape the dough into a ball; wrap in plastic. Let rest at room temperature until the dough doubles in size, 1 to 2 hours. Or, if time is tight, let it rest at least 20 minutes before proceeding. Or refrigerate for several hours, deflating if necessary if it threatens to burst the plastic. (Or divide in half, wrap each ball in plastic, slip into a plastic bag and freeze.) Let it return to room temperature before proceeding.
• Reshape the dough into a ball and cut in half, forming 2 balls. (From here on, use olive oil if you're cooking on baking sheets, flour if on a pizza stone.) Put them on a lightly floured surface (a pizza peel is ideal), sprinkle with flour and cover with plastic wrap; or brush then with a bit of oil and place on a lightly oiled sheet. Let rest for about 20 minutes, while you heat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Press a dough ball into a 1/2-inch-thick flat round, adding flour or oil to the work surface as necessary. Press or roll the dough until it's as thin as you can make it; let it rest a bit if it becomes too elastic. (Patience is your friend here.) You can do two baking sheets at once, or one after another, as you'll have to if using a peel. If doing the latter, slide the dough from the peel onto the stone.
• Sprinkle the pizzas with olive oil (just a little), salt and rosemary. Bake for at least 10 minutes, perhaps rotating once, until the crust is crisp. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

BASIC HAWAIIAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450.
• coat pizza crust with pizza sauce (to the edges of the crust).
• add layer of mozzarella cheese.
• add canadian bacon symetrically across the pizza.
• sprinkle a little cheese.
• add olives and pineapple,.
• add cheese to taste.
• evaluate the pizza. you don't want too much cheese piled up next to the crust. it can melt and drip through your oven.
• bake 8-10 minutes.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together yeast, warm water, sugar and olive oil. Let sit for about 3 minutes to fully dissolve and activate the yeast.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
• With a rubber spatula, gradually mix the yeast mixture into the flour until just combined and dough barely holds together. Turn the dough out onto a clean counter surface dusted with flour.
• Knead the dough with flour-dusted hands until the dough has become smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. The surface should be tight and silky and bounce back slightly when pressed. Lightly grease a large mixing bowl with olive oil and place the dough in it.
• Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
• Once doubled, punch the dough down and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Knead each 1 slightly to form a uniform ball. Set aside and cover them with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap to rest for 30 minutes.

BASIC ST. LOUIS STYLE PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• Sweat onions & garlic in preheated saucepan w/ olive oil. Add all other ingredients and bring to a simmer for one hour. Season to taste. Add water as needed to keep from reducing too far. Simmer until diced tomatoes break down into a paste. Can optionally add browned hot italian sausage in with onion & garlic.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH (ITALIAN)

Steps:

• Place the yeast into a small bowl and sprinkle with the sugar. Add 125 mL of lukewarm water, then stir to dissolve the yeast and sugar. Cover with a clean tea towel and prove in a warm spot for 30 minutes.
• Sift the flour into a large bowl. Make a hollow in the centre and pour the yeast mixture, salt, olive oil and 5-7 tbsp of water into it.
• .
• Knead everything into a smooth silky dough, shape into a ball.
• Dust the ball with a little flour, cover and set for an hour or until the dough doubles in volume.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the water. Let stand 1 minute, or until the yeast is creamy. Stir until the yeast dissolves.
• In a large bowl, combine the 2 cups flour and the salt. Add the yeast mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding more flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Lightly coat a large bowl with oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to oil the top. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm, draft-free place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Flatten the dough with your fist. Cut the dough into 2 pieces and shape the pieces into balls. Flatten the dough slightly. Dust the tops with flour. Place the balls of dough on a floured surface and cover each with plastic wrap, allowing room for the dough to expand. Let rise 60 minutes, or until doubled.

BASIC PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse together flour, cornmeal, yeast, and salt. With processor running, add oil and then 2 cups cold water in a steady stream; process until dough just forms a ball.
• Turn out dough onto a floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, 3 to 4 times. Place in a resealable bag; let rise until doubled in bulk, 2 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator (let come to room temperature before proceeding, about 40 minutes).
• Divide dough into four equal portions; roll into balls, and cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap until puffed, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Place each dough ball on a baking sheet; using your hands, gently flatten, and pull into 8-by-10-inch ovals. Top as desired.
• Bake until crust is gold brown and toppings are hot, rotating sheets halfway through, 10 to 12 minutes.

BASIC CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Dough:.
• In a glass or plastic bowl, combine yeast, water, and sugar (the water can just be water from the tap, make sure it's below 100°F).
• Stir to dissolve the yeast and let the yeast "bloom" for 15 minutes.
• Stir in 1 cup flour, add salt, and then stir in another cup of flour (the remaining cup of flour will be your "bench" flour and added flour).
• Dump mixture onto kneading board and work in last cup of flour, kneading until dough is soft and elastic, but not sticky. Form dough into a ball.
• In another bowl, pour in the 1 tbsp olive oil and spread around.
• Coat ball of dough with oil and cover bowl with a damp towel and let dough rise for 40 minutes.
• Punch down dough and knead on board about 2 minutes. Dough is now ready to spread in the pan.
• To avoid sticking of crust, lightly spray pizza pan with olive oil or vegetable oil spray and then work dough to pan (or use free form pan) - this dough is enough for 1 14-in pizza with a thin bottom crust and enough dough around the edge to munch.
• Sauce:.
• Combine pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, minced garlic, and basil.
• Spread onto prepared pizza dough.
• Top with sliced mozzarella cheese and bake at 500°F for 11-13 minutes.