Description
This classic Pepperoni Pizza recipe offers a perfect blend of crispy crust, tangy pizza sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and spicy pepperoni. Ideal for a quick and satisfying homemade pizza night, it combines simple ingredients with easy baking techniques for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pound pizza dough (homemade or store bought)
- Cornmeal or flour for dusting
Toppings
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 ounces sliced pepperoni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat. This step ensures a hot surface for an evenly cooked, crispy crust.
- Prepare the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch round. This helps create the base of your pizza with the right size and thickness.
- Transfer Dough: Carefully move the dough to a piece of parchment paper or a floured pizza peel. This makes it easier to transfer the pizza into the oven later.
- Add Olive Oil: Lightly brush the edges of the dough with olive oil to help the crust develop a golden, crispy edge.
- Spread Sauce: Evenly spread the pizza sauce over the dough surface, leaving a small border around the edges to prevent sogginess and maintain a crust edge.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top of the sauce for that classic melty and gooey texture.
- Arrange Pepperoni: Place the sliced pepperoni evenly across the cheese. For crispier pepperoni, slightly overlap the slices.
- Season: Sprinkle with dried oregano and crushed red pepper flakes, if desired, to add extra flavor and a little heat.
- Bake: Transfer the pizza along with the parchment paper onto the preheated stone or baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven, let the pizza cool for a few minutes to allow the cheese to set, then slice and serve.
Notes
- For extra crispy pepperoni, slightly overlap the pepperoni slices when arranging.
- You can customize your pizza by adding toppings like mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers.
- Allow the pizza to rest for a few minutes after baking to let the cheese set before slicing, which helps keep the toppings in place.
