Pepperoni Pizza

Achieve the perfect slice of Pepperoni Pizza right at home – it’s wonderfully crispy and delicious every time!

Everybody’s Favorite!!

If you are anything like our family, you love a slice of pizza! Every Friday dinner is pizza night at the Merkley house. Most often we whip up this homemade pepperoni pizza recipe.

It’s made with our favorite Homemade Pizza Dough, Pizza Sauce, and Pizza Seasonings for a crowd-pleasing easy dinner idea every time!

Yes, ordering pizza may be easier, but nothing can beat the taste of homemade pizza!

Ingredients

PREP TIME: 50 minutes

COOK TIME: 15 minutes

Dough

• 3 cups warm water, 110–115°F
• 3 tablespoons rapid rise yeast – I have also effectively used active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil – canola oil or olive oil
• 6-6½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• olive oil, for brushing

Toppings

• 2 cups pizza sauce – store-bought or homemade Pizza Sauce
• 6-8 cups shredded mozzarella cheese – Shred your own cheese. The pre-shredded, packaged kind doesn’t melt as well. Replace the mozzarella with another cheese or mix them. Try cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, gouda cheese, or goat cheese.
• 2 teaspoons pizza seasoning, optional – store-bought or homemade Pizza Seasoning
• 2 cups pepperoni – Several types of pepperoni can be used. Buy mini or large pepperoni. There’s also thinly sliced pepperoni, which gets a nice char, or thicker slices, which can be a bit chewier. Use pepperoni made from beef, pork, chicken, or a plant-based pepperoni. 

Additional Toppings

• sausage crumbles, chopped peppers, chopped bacon, (optional)

How to Make Homemade Pizza

1. PREP. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven to preheat.
2. DOUGH. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups warm water, 3 tablespoons yeast, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes, or until bubbly.
   • Add 1 tablespoon salt and 6 tablespoons oil, then mix in 6-6½ cups flour 1 cup at a time with a wooden spoon until combined. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky. Knead for about 3 minutes (dough will be sticky and will stick to your hands).
   • Cover the dough with a tea towel and let rise at room temperature for 30–45 minutes.
   • This dough makes four 12-inch pizza crusts. Divide dough into four pieces and roll each onto a lightly floured surface to about ½ inch thick.
   • Sprinkle cornmeal onto a pizza peel and, working with one crust at a time, transfer the rolled dough to the peel. Brush with olive oil and poke with a fork a few times to eliminate bubbling while baking.

Bake the Pizza

Use one of these three methods to bake your pizza.

1. Use a pizza stone (our method). Place the oven rack at the lowest position, add the pizza stone, then heat the oven. Once preheated, use the peel to transfer the crust to the preheated pizza stone and blind bake for 6–8 minutes. Use a pizza peel to remove the crust from the oven, add sauce, cheese, pizza seasoning, pepperoni, and any other toppings, and bake for 8–10 more minutes.
2. A metal pizza pan or baking sheet. Place the oven rack in the lowest position and preheat the oven. Roll out the dough, place it on the metal pan, and blind bake for 6–8 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, add toppings, and bake for 8–10 more minutes.
3. To skip blind baking. Once the dough is rolled and shaped place it onto a peel or metal pan. Add the sauce, cheese, and desired toppings, and then bake for 12-15 minutes.
   • Repeat with the remaining crusts and toppings.

For More Pizza Recipes:

Pizza Casserole

30 mins

Heart Shaped Pizza

30 mins

Margherita Pizza

23 mins

BBQ Chicken Pizza

20 mins