27 Pizza Recipes to Perfect (2024)

If you haven't taken the leap and made pizza at home yet, consider this your road map. We have step-by-step instructions for classics like Margherita, Grandma Pie, and plain cheese pizza that delivers "perfection on a plate." Cacio e pepe pizza is a fun riff on the signature Roman pasta, while breakfast pizza proves that you can absolutely eat pizza for every single meal. (And since dessert pizza exists too, why wouldn't you?) Once you're a pizza-making pro, put these go-to pizza recipes in rotation.

The 7 Best Pizza Ovens for Restaurant-Quality Pizza at Home

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Classic Cheese Pizza

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Sometimes all you want at the end of the day is a simple cheese pizza. This recipe turns simple into sublime with the addition of an exceptional pizza dough, low-moisture mozzarella cheese, and an easy to make tomato sauce that hits all of the right sweet and savory notes to marry all of the flavors in this pie. Add a simple garnish of fresh herbs, and you've got perfection on a plate.

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02of 27

Soppressata Pizza with Calabrian Chilies and Hot Honey

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Take a little soppressata, some chopped calabrian chiles, and a drizzle of hot honey, and you'll end up with the pizza of the moment. Calabrian chiles, fiery chiles from Italy, add heat and a distinctly fruity flavor to this pie. The hot honey mirrors the flavors of the chiles, and adds a touch of sweetness.

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03of 27

Grandma Pie Pizza

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Unlike a thin-crust Neapolitan-style pie, the thick, deliciously chewy crust of a classic grandma pie is easy to pull off at home. All you need is a sturdy, standard "half-sheet" rimmed baking sheet. Don't stint on the oil for the pan — it helps create a gloriously crispy, golden crust.

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04of 27

Margherita Pizza

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This classic pizza is easy to pull off at home with fresh ingredients. Miriam Weiskind's flavorful dough comes together through careful kneading before slowly rising in the refrigerator for one — and up to five — days, making it the perfect, make-ahead pizza base. Paired with creamy mozzarella, the freshly snipped basil and uncooked sauce deliver big flavor.

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05of 27

Wild Mushroom Pizza with Homemade Ranch

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It's important not to weigh your pizza down with too many toppings, which can make for a soggy pie, so this pizza only requires a small amount of wild mushrooms. Choose whatever looks best at the market. We love this pizza with a drizzle of Fancy Ranch dressing (which almost makes it a salad, right?)

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06of 27

Tavern-Style Sausage and Giardiniera Pizza

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This square-cut, cracker-thin pie is the Chicago style that originated when tavern owners and bartenders would leave out free pizza for customers to entice them to stay for another round of beers. The small pieces can fit on a bar napkin and shouldn't spoil one's dinner.

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Potato Pizza with Crème Fraîche and Bacon

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This pizza starts with the flavors of the classic Alsatian pizza, made with crème fraîche, caramelized onion, and bacon, and adds soft confit garlic cloves and thin slices of potatoes. Add a little greenery from kale and chives, and you've got an exceptional pizza to both look at and eat.

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08of 27

Smoky Breakfast Pizzas

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Chef Justin Bazdarich makes his Kind Brother pizza at Speedy Romeo in Brooklyn extra decadent with a combination of béchamel and smoked mozzarella. This easy version also gets a kick from smoked mozzarella, plus a drizzle of fresh basil oil for a pop of freshness.

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09of 27

Jerk Chicken Pizza

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Whether you choose to make your own dough or buy it from the store, this pizza, called "Kiss Mi Converse!" at Last Dragon, is destined for greatness. A homemade jerk marinade inspired by Russell's Jamaican family takes center stage, giving rich flavor to the chicken topping, while the black olives, yellow peppers, and crossed scallion greens aren't just delicious — they're a salute to the Jamaican flag.

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10of 27

Hawaiian Pizza with Pineapple and Salami

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Pork and pineapple are a dream combination in this homemade salty-sweet pizza. Pizza pro Miriam Weiskind's twist on pineapple-topped pie uses Genoa salami in place of ham — paired with creamy mozzarella and an oregano-scented uncooked tomato sauce, it is sure to convert any pineapple pizza skeptics.

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11of 27

Sausage and Ricotta Pizza with Castelvetrano Olives

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The combination of the meaty, briny, vegetal flavors in this pizza hits so many satisfying notes that it is sure to be a hit at your table. The olives, peppers, sausage, and ricotta combine to bring sweet, savory, salty, and creamy notes to this pretty pizza.

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12of 27

Grilled Pizza with Prosciutto

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Turn out pizza oven-quality pizzas with this technique from Johanne Killeen and George Germon, who pioneered grilled pizzas at Al Forno in Providence, Rhode Island.

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13of 27

Spring Onion and Salami Sheet-Pan Pizza

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When making sheet-pan pizza, bring the dough to room temperature before shaping. This ensures the gluten is relaxed and the dough doesn't shrink from the pan edges.

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14of 27

Choucroute Pizzas

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Dijon mustard and tangy fermented sauerkraut cut through the creamy richness of melted Fontina and mozzarella, while salty pistachios add a pleasant crunch to this Alsatian choucroute garnie–inspired pizza.

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15of 27

Roman Pizza

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This rectangular pie uses focaccia as the base for a simple topping of tomato sauce, melty stracciatella cheese, and basil leaves. It's unusually crisp, because it's drizzled with olive oil before baking.

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16of 27

Cacio e Pepe Pizza

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At Sbanco restaurant in Rome, chef Stefano Callegari takes his time making this perfect pizza dough, topping it with the flavors of cacio e pepe pasta. He's also devised a clever trick: putting a bit of crushed ice on the dough as it goes into the hot oven to keep the center moist and tender while the bottom and edge become crisp and crackling.

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17of 27

Summer Squash Pizza with Goat Cheese and Walnuts

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Zucchini and yellow squash can both be mild in flavor, but nothing about this tangy, herby pizza is bland. The summer squash is sliced into slender coins, then roasted in a hot oven until it's lightly caramelized, bringing out its sweetness.

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18of 27

Breakfast Pizza

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Pizza is always a solid choice at breakfast time, and this particular pie, topped with sausage, eggs, and cheddar cheese, is always a hit. If you wish, you could add or substitute leftover cooked greens or roasted vegetables, sliced ham, or crisp bacon.

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19of 27

Grilled Asparagus Pizzas with Gremolata

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The heat of the grill can wilt the freshest toppings, so chef Daniele Uditi spoons something bright — a blend of fresh herbs, crushed red pepper, and garlic — over the pizza once it comes off the grate.

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20of 27

Vegan Wild Mushroom Pizza

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"The garlic crema balances the mushrooms' earthy flavor, while thinly sliced brussels sprouts add an awesome crunch," says chef Mary Dumont who shared this recipe from PlantPub in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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21of 27

Fennel and Sweet Onion Pizza with Green Olives

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Miami chef Michael Schwartz makes this pizza with Pernod-braised fennel, caramelized onions, and Trugole, a semisoft Italian cheese that melts beautifully.

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22of 27

Mushroom and Goat Cheese Béchamel Pizzas

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To give these individual pizzas an extra-luxe topping, chef Andres Barrera makes a velvety béchamel sauce with goat cheese and freshly grated nutmeg, then adds dollops of sautéed mushrooms.

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23of 27

Nancy Silverton's Tomato-Oregano Pizza

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Chef Nancy Silverton's outstanding Neapolitan-style pizza is topped with only tomato sauce and oregano. The recipe yields nine eight-inch pizzas.

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24of 27

Portobello Mushroom and Red Pepper Pizza

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This substantial pizza features meaty portobello mushrooms and bright red bell peppers, simply paired with fresh salted mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and fresh basil. If you don't have fresh basil, stir some pesto into the peppers and mushrooms before putting them on the pizza.

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Scallop and Bacon Pizza

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A quick, garlicky béchamel stands in for crème fraîche and cheese in this luxurious white pizza.

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26of 27

Roasted Chicken and Leek Pizza

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Store-bought rotisserie chicken, with its juicy meat, makes a great topping for fast homemade pizza. Here, former Food & Wine editor Grace Parisi adds it to pizza with leeks, Fontina cheese, and spicy oil-cured olives. The finished pizza pairs perfectly with a crisp California Sauvignon Blanc.

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Pizza with Charred Cherry Tomatoes and Pesto

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Chef Shea Gallante tops these crisp-crusted individual pies with sweet tomatoes, aged Gouda, and a little pesto. The cherry tomato topping can be made one day in advance and refrigerated overnight — just bring it to room temperature before using.

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27 Pizza Recipes to Perfect (2024)

FAQs

What order do pizza ingredients go in? ›

Cheese always goes belowthe toppings

You've got your dough as the foundation. Then your sauce. The cheese is the next solid layer. Then your toppings (after all, they're called top-pings and not bottom-ings), and then finally your garnishes like basil, pepper, fresh mozzarella, etc, after the pizza is cooked.

Do pizza toppings go over or under cheese? ›

It's also a good idea to keep cheese, sauce, and other “melty” ingredients below the uppermost layer of toppings since they might otherwise prevent other ingredients from cooking through completely.

Should you cook pepperoni before putting on pizza? ›

Because pizza cooks at such high temperatures, it's tempting to just allow your toppings to cook directly on the crust. This is fine for most veggies, but never take the chance with meat. Make sure to cook all meats and even tougher veggies like broccoli ahead of time.

What is the trick to good pizza dough? ›

There are many tricks to achieving a tasty, homemade pizza dough that rises into a beautiful pizza crust, such as making sure your ingredients are at right temperature, using half bread flour for a stronger dough and half all-purpose flour for a nice rise, substituting honey for sugar to help caramelize the crust and ...

Should you oil the bottom of pizza dough? ›

Although oil in pizza dough is not required, it may be helpful. The oil improves the dough's stretchability while also keeping it hydrated. When you bake the dough, you can see how this process works, and the oil keeps the dough supple even after cooking.

Should pizza dough be covered or uncovered when proofing? ›

It should be covered with something so that the outer layer of the dough does not dry out. If it does, it keeps the dough from expanding and developing properly. I put my dough in an oiled bowl, roll the dough around so that it has a light coating of oil, then cover it with plastic wrap.

What cheese do NY pizzerias use? ›

Grande Cheese is a well-regarded cheese supplier used by many pizzerias throughout the U.S. They offer an excellent pre-shredded mix they call East Coast Blend. It's simply half-and-half whole-milk low-moisture mozzarella and part-skim low-moisture mozzarella.

What cheese do Italians use for pizza? ›

The Champion: Mozzarella

When comes to pizza, nothing beats mozzarella. A delicious stretched-curd Italian cheese made from buffalo milk, it ticks off all the right boxes, with its bubbly, stretchy texture, and smooth, creamy taste.

What cheese does Papa John's use? ›

Cheese. Part-skim mozzarella cheese (pasteurized milk, cultures, salt, enzymes), modified food starch, sugarcane fiber, whey protein concentrate, sodium citrate.

What is the #1 pizza in America? ›

Pequod's Pizzeria in Chicago, known for its deep-dish pies, earned the top spot. The rivalry continues — New York and California both had 10 pizza restaurants land in the top 100.

What is America's favorite pizza? ›

1. Pepperoni. This may not come as a surprise, but pepperoni is by far the most popular pizza topping in the United States.

What is the rule for ordering pizza? ›

Figuring Out How Much Pizza to Order

When serving adults at a regular mealtime, go by what is known as the 3/8 pizza rule. This rule assumes that a large pizza is cut into 8 slices, and to figure out how much pizza for 20 people you simply multiply 20 x (3/8).

What is the process of ordering a pizza? ›

Once you decide on a pizza place, decide which pizza you want to get. Decide if you want to pick up the order or have it delivered. Call the pizza place and say "I'd like to place an order for [pick up/delivery]." Let them know your order. Give your address and phone number if necessary, and confirm the price.

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