Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Few meals are as satisfying as pulling a hot, golden pepperoni pizza out of your own oven. This homemade pepperoni pizza features a soft yet crispy crust, a rich tomato sauce, gooey melted mozzarella, and perfectly crisp pepperoni. The dough is simple to prepare, the sauce comes together in minutes, and the finished pizza delivers the kind of flavor you’d expect from your favorite neighborhood pizzeria.Whether you’re making pizza for a family dinner, movie night, or weekend gathering, this recipe is reliable, customizable, and easy enough for home cooks of all experience levels.

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe | Crispy Crust & Flavorful Pizza Sauce

Make the best homemade pepperoni pizza from scratch with an easy pizza dough, rich homemade sauce, mozzarella cheese, and crispy pepperoni. Ready in about 1 hour 30 minutes.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Calories: 290

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Pizza Dough

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ¾ cup warm water about 110°F
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

For the Pizza Sauce

• 6 ounces tomato paste
• ¾ cup water
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese

For the Pizza

• About 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• Prepared pizza dough
• Half of the prepared pizza sauce
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni slices

Method

 

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar and warm water, stirring briefly until the sugar begins to dissolve.
2. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the water without stirring. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes foamy.
3. Add the salt, olive oil, and flour.
4. Using a dough hook, mix until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and forms a smooth ball. Knead for about 1 minute.
5. Shape the dough into a ball by hand.
6. Lightly coat the mixing bowl with nonstick spray, return the dough to the bowl, and coat the top lightly as well.
7. Cover with a damp towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.

Step 2: Make the Pizza Sauce

1. In a saucepan, whisk together:
2. Tomato paste
3. Water
4. Basil
5. Onion powder
6. Salt
7. Oregano
8. Garlic powder
9. Heat over medium heat while stirring frequently.
10. Once the sauce becomes bubbly, remove it from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted.
11. Allow the sauce to cool completely before using.

Step 3: Prepare the Pizza

1. Preheat the oven to 500°F.
2. Lightly dust a 16-inch pizza pan with cornmeal.
3. Transfer the risen dough directly onto the pan and gently press it outward with your fingertips, starting from the center. Leave a slightly raised edge for the crust.
4. Spread half of the prepared pizza sauce evenly across the dough, stopping about ¾ inch from the edge.
5. Cover the sauce with an even layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
6. Arrange the pepperoni slices closely together, beginning around the outside edge and slightly overlapping toward the center.

Step 4: Bake

1. Bake for about 7 minutes, or until:
2. The crust is golden brown
3. The cheese is fully melted
4. The pepperoni is lightly crisp around the edges
5. Remove from the oven.
6. Run a pizza cutter or spatula around the edge to loosen the pizza from the pan.
7. Slice into 8 pieces and serve hot.

Notes

Making homemade pepperoni pizza from scratch is easier than it looks, and the results are well worth the effort. With a simple homemade dough, a rich tomato sauce, plenty of mozzarella, and crisp pepperoni, this recipe delivers classic pizzeria flavor right from your own kitchen. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can easily customize it with your favorite cheeses, meats, or vegetables to create a pizza that’s perfect for every occasion.