How To Make A Pepperoni Pizza

Pepperoni pizza is a timeless favorite and is so simple to make at home. This straightforward recipe calls for homemade dough, an uncomplicated sauce, plenty of cheese, and pepperoni on top – the classic combination!

It makes an excellent family recipe! And the best part? Everyone will love it – plus, the recipe can easily be customized to everyone’s preferences.

The Crust

Pepperoni Pizzas are made with a dough shaped and baked with tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. The crust is crisp on the outside while soft inside.

Traditionally, pizza crust is baked on a skillet or pizza stone; however, you can also bake the dough directly on a baking sheet.

To make a Pepperoni Pizza at home, preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the outer edges of the dough with olive oil and Italian seasoning.

Spread a quarter cup of sauce over the crust and top with cheese, leaving a half-inch border around the crust.

Add pepperoni slices to the pizza and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted.

To make a pizza crust at home, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in very warm water and oil, then mix until you form a dough. Transfer this to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes on medium speed if your dough seems sticky; add more flour if needed until your crust is smooth and springy.

The Sauce

Pizza sauce comes in various varieties, such as tomato or spaghetti. Generally speaking, spaghetti sauces tend to be thinner, resulting in a soggy crust, whereas pizza sauce tends to be thicker and non-soggy.

Make your own pizza sauce at home if you have the time, or opt for store-bought options if not. Homemade sauce is much tastier, though, so why not treat yourself? Homemade is better!

Making homemade salsa begins by blanching the tomatoes. Do this by placing slitted tomatoes in a pan of water and boiling them until soft.

Meanwhile, prepare your dough. If you have one, place it on a floured peel, or prepare it for baking on a baking sheet.

Spread the sauce onto the dough and gently spread it around with a spoon or rubber spatula until it covers all surfaces, leaving 1/2 an inch border at the edge. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over sauce before topping off with pepperoni slices.

Bake in a preheated oven until the crust is browned and the cheese is bubbly for 18-20 minutes. For thinner crusts, try using a pizza stone or leaving the dough on a baking sheet before transferring it to the oven when done.

The Cheese

Cheese is an incredible food, whether sliced, melted or shredded. Even better is that it’s easy to make at home using top-notch milk, rennet, salt, and cultures.

Making homemade cheese requires the use of high-quality tools, such as a slotted spoon that’s comfortable to hold while stirring. This will make the experience much more enjoyable and result in better cheese quality in the end result.

Quality pizza sauce can make a big difference. Ensure your sauce is flavorful and not too sweet; this will affect how your pizza tastes.

The ideal sauces contain fresh garlic and basil for an added layer of flavor. You can even add dried herbs like oregano or rosemary. This homemade tomato sauce recipe is easy to make and keeps for one week in the fridge! Top it off with various toppings on pizza or stir it into pasta – it’s sure to become everyone’s go-to dish! Your family will be pleased with this satisfying meal with just three simple ingredients.

The Pepperoni

Pepperoni is one of America’s favorite pizza toppings. Its robust, smoky flavor and crunchy texture makes it easy to dip into your favorite sauce.

Slice meat thinly or thickly according to your preference. Thinner pieces offer a crunchier, bite-size experience, while thicker chunks allow you to really taste the meat and spices used in its preparation.

Pepperoni’s unique taste is determined by how much paprika powder is used during curing. Paprika, which comes in bright red with an orange tint, lends the pepperoni its characteristic tart, slightly sweet taste.

Chipotle powder is another essential ingredient, adding a fiery kick to the pepperoni. It also helps to balance out the flavors of paprika.

Make this homemade pizza by rolling the dough into a large circular shape on a floured surface. Spread a layer of sauce over the crust, followed by grated cheese.

Place pepperoni slices on top of the pizza, starting from its outer edge. Try to arrange them as closely as possible but leave some room between each piece for air.

Add Some Herbs

Pepperoni is the go-to pizza topping for more than 35% of all pizza orders in the United States and a common snack food (Hormel pepperoni pouches are popular at many grocery stores).

Though a recent addition to American palates, Pepperoni originates in Italy. Its curing process, which involves sodium nitrate and nitrite, gives it a unique flavor that pairs well with other salty Italian meats on a charcuterie board.

Home cooking with pepperoni offers several possibilities: chopped and sprinkled over sauce, on top of cheese or in sandwiches. You can even add herbs to make it extra fresh and flavorful!

Once you’ve made your pizza dough, roll it out on a lightly floured surface and fit it onto either a floured peel or a large baking sheet. Bake it according to the time recommended in your recipe for the best results.

Once the pizza has been baked, remove it from the oven and top it with freshly grated parmesan and some basil leaves for garnish. Enjoy!

Pizza Stone vs. Pizza Pan

When making pizza at home, knowing the difference between a pizza pan and a stone is essential. Doing so will maximize your time and effort while yielding an irresistibly delicious pie.

A pizza stone’s primary advantage is that it distributes heat evenly, creating a crispy crust all around. This is because its porous nature absorbs and disperses heat more evenly than metal pans do, leading to better overall crispiness.

Another advantage of pizza stones is their ease of cleaning. Unlike pans, which collect liquids, stones don’t need to be washed with soap – making them much simpler for anyone to maintain.

Pizza stones take longer to heat up than pans, so you don’t have to worry about your crust being undercooked because there’s no time for it to cook through. This is essential since soggy bottoms can ruin the taste of your pizza and a crispy crust keeps the toppings from burning.

Preheating and Oven Temperature

When making Pepperoni Pizza, the temperature of the oven is key. Ensure it’s heated to a high setting so the crust cooks thoroughly.

For baking pizza, the ideal oven temperature is between 450 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit (250 and 260 degrees Celsius). This temperature will give your crust a crispy bottom.

Preheat your oven before adding dough and toppings to achieve the ideal baking result. Do this by placing a pizza stone on a rack in the lower part of your oven and leaving it there for at least 30 minutes, ideally an hour.

After that, bake the pizza for approximately 10 to 12 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges are golden brown. Be sure to keep an eye on it, so it doesn’t burn too quickly. Finally, let the pizza cool before eating it.

Homemade Classic Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Here’s a simple and classic recipe for homemade pepperoni pizza:

Ingredients:

Dough:

2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup warm water (not hot, around 110°F)
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

Toppings:

1 cup pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup pepperoni slices
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)

Instructions:

Prepare the Dough:

Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the water and let it sit for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is frothy.
Mix the Dough: Add flour, olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until a dough forms.
Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for about 5-7 minutes, until it’s smooth and elastic.
Let it Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

Prepare the Pizza:

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to preheat as well.
Shape the Dough: Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll it out into a 12-14 inch circle.
Add Toppings:
- Spread pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving about an inch from the edges.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
- Add pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan, oregano, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes (if using).
Bake the Pizza: Transfer the pizza (on a pizza peel or a baking sheet) to the preheated oven (and onto the pizza stone, if using). Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven, let it cool for a couple of minutes, then slice and serve.

Enjoy your homemade classic pepperoni pizza! Feel free to adjust the toppings according to your taste.

Make Your Own: Pepperoni Pizza