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Homemade Pepperoni Pizza is always a crowd-pleaser, and more delicious than delivery! Make your very own anytime your cravings hit with an easy homemade dough and pizza sauce.
Pepperoni Pizza is a classic favorite that almost everyone loves, and making it from scratch makes it even more special!
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What is in a Homemade Pepperoni Pizza?
Pizza Dough, Pizza Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese, Pepperoni, Parmesan Cheese, and Italian Seasoning are the basic ingredients.
Do not let the word "homemade" scare you away!! You can make your own Italian Pizza Dough using Tipo "00" Flour, Homemade Pizza Dough using all-purpose flour, or you can purchase ready-made dough from your local pizza parlor.{that's an affiliate link}
If you have the time, you can make your very own Homemade Pizza Sauce, or you can purchase one of the many delicious sauces in a jar from your local grocery store. I used DELALLO Pizza Sauce on my Pepperoni Pizza. 😉 {that is an affiliate link too}
Mozzarella Cheese is can be tricky. The fresh packed in water version is delicious, but has a bit too much moisture. The pre-shredded in a package cheese is coated with flour or cornstarch which affects the final flavor of your pizza. I really like the Galbani ball of part-skim mozzarella for pizza. It is firm enough to grate, but it also melts really well.
Pepperoni, the star of the show. I use Applegate Naturals Un-cured pepperoni. It comes in big slices, not the little rounds that you are used to seeing. I sometimes cut them into wedges to make them easier to eat.
Parmigiano-Reggiano is my favorite Parmesan cheese! Asiago is more widely available and still quite delicious. Please, please do not use that stuff in the green can!!
Italian Seasoning is the finishing touch on your pizza. It adds another layer of flavor and can be left off it you prefer...but it's really delicious.
How do you make a Homemade Pepperoni Pizza?
If using homemade dough, it is best to make it a day or two in advance and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use. This allows the gluten to rest and the flavors to develop.
Place baking stone in the center of the oven and preheat to 500 degrees.
Place dough on a floured work surface and roll or stretch into a 11 to 12-inch circle. Place dough circle on a sheet of parchment paper.
Spread the pizza sauce on top of the dough with a large spoon leaving a clean edge around the perimeter.
Sprinkle 3/4th's the grated mozzarella over the sauce, again leaving a clean edge.
Place your pepperoni rounds on top of the cheese. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella, the finely grated Parmesan and the Italian seasoning.
Carefully slide the pizza and the parchment paper onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, 6 to 8 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to rest for five minutes before slicing.
Sprinkle chopped, fresh Italian parsley over the pizza before serving...for added color.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- All ovens are different, your cooking time may vary.
- If you are not using a Baking/Pizza Stone, substitute a pizza pan or a large Un-rimmed Baking Sheet. You can also turn the un-rimmed baking sheet upside down and use it as a Pizza Peel.
- For added flavor, use a mixture of grated cheeses...such as Fontina, Gouda, Romano, etc.
- I place the pepperoni on top of the cheese to give the pepperoni a chance to get a bit crispy on the edges. Feel free to put the pepperoni on the bottom if you prefer.
- If you look at the two "old" images that I used above, you will notice that the pizza dough is flatter than the newest images. I used the same recipe, the difference is refrigerating the dough which makes it puffier and the finished pizza has a chewier texture.
- Do not cut your pizza on the pizza peel!! Doing so will damage the surface and make it harder to slide into the oven.
This Homemade Pepperoni Pizza was better tasting that most pizzas that I have ordered in restaurants, and definitely better than any pizza that comes out of the freezer!
More delicious Pizza recipes:
- Eggs Benedict Pizza - breakfast, brunch, even dinner!
- Grilled Peach & Arugula Pizza
- Steakhouse Pizza - with white pizza sauce, sliced steak, crispy onion rings, and Gorgonzola butter!
- Shrimp Scampi Pizza - one of the most popular recipes on Cooking with Curls!
- Deep Dish Hawaiian Pizza - no rolling required.
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Enjoy!!
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough
- .33 cup pizza sauce (or more)
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 6 large slices un-cured pepperoni (or more / 20 small slices)
- .25 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh Italian parsley (to garnish - optional)
Instructions
- Place baking stone in the center of the oven and preheat to 500 degrees.
- Place dough on a floured work surface and roll or stretch into a 11 to 12-inch circle. Place dough circle on a sheet of parchment paper.
- Spread the pizza sauce on top of the dough with a large spoon leaving a clean edge around the perimeter.
- Sprinkle 3/4th’s the grated mozzarella over the sauce, again leaving a clean edge.
- Place your pepperoni slices on top of the cheese. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella, the finely grated Parmesan and the Italian seasoning.
- Carefully slide the pizza and the parchment paper onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for five minutes before slicing. Sprinkle chopped, fresh Italian parsley over the pizza before serving...for added color.
Notes
- All ovens are different, your cooking time may vary.
- If you are not using a Baking/Pizza Stone, substitute a pizza pan or a large Un-rimmed Baking Sheet. You can also turn the un-rimmed baking sheet upside down and use it as a Pizza Peel.
- For added flavor, use a mixture of grated cheeses…such as Fontina, Gouda, Romano, etc.
- I place the pepperoni on top of the cheese to give the pepperoni a chance to get a bit crispy on the edges. Feel free to put the pepperoni on the bottom if you prefer.
- If you look at the two “old” images that I used above, you will notice that the pizza dough is flatter than the newest images. I used the same recipe, the difference is refrigerating the dough which makes it puffier and the finished pizza has a chewier texture.
- Do not cut your pizza on the pizza peel!! Doing so will damage the surface and make it harder to slide into the oven.
- If using homemade dough, it is best to make it a day or two in advance and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use. This allows the gluten to rest and the flavors to develop.
- Homemade Pizza Sauce
- Homemade Pizza Dough - with bread machine instructions
- Italian Pizza Dough - using Tipo "00" flour
Tarah says
That looks amazing, my mouth is watering. Def going to try this out!
Seana Turner says
I'm going to check out the Delallo sauce. To me, this is the hardest part to get "right." I think making pizza at home is fun. Put out the toppings and let everyone make their own. Yours looks like it came right out of a top-rate pizza parlor:)
Nicole says
I want a slice of this pizza! Pinned your recipe. Thanks for linking up with us a the #HomeMattersParty this week!