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We love pizza at our house, and I make it nearly every week with Friday’s being our usual Family Pizza Night. I only have a handful of recipes, but we love them all.
(Post modified with new photos on 3/22/23.)
Sometimes I crave a thick and chewy pizza, while other days I want thin and crispy. Then there are times when I hunger for a deep dish Chicago-style pizza. Or maybe something more crafty, like my Artisan Sourdough Pizza Dough.
No matter what type of pizza you enjoy, I’m sure there’s one here that will be perfect for you, even for dessert!
Tools for Making Pizza
When making pizza, there are a few kitchen tools that you will need or that will make your task easier. I’m listing everything here, but each recipe will give you specific items that are suggested.
- A Baking Stone. Be sure to purchase one that is big enough to hold your largest pizza. I also use my baking stone for baking sourdough and flatbreads.
- Pizza Peel. This is just a handy tool for lifting your pizza in and out of the oven. You may use it with or without parchment paper, but I recommend beginning users to try it with parchment paper. Once you get the hang of it, you can move on to direct placement.
- A Pizza Cutter. You’ll need some way to slice your pizza. A knife. A pizza roller. Or a Pizza Cutter, which is how I like to cut our pizza. I’ve tried them all and prefer this way best.
- A Pizza Serving Pan. Since you’ll be baking your pizza on a stone, you’ll need a pan to serve the pizza on. I like these simple and inexpensive aluminum pizza pans. You can buy them in several sizes, but I would recommend either 12-inch or 14-inch. Better for it to be too big, than not big enough.
- Lodge Cast Iron Skillet– This is for the deep dish pizza recipes. I use a 12″ skillet, which works well for our family.
1. Thin and Crispy Pizza
The secret to this very easy pizza dough is in the flour. To be specific, I buy Antimo Caputo 00 Pizzeria Flour in large quantities and store it in our freezer. It really turns out a fabulous dough to work with. And so flavorful. Our entire family agrees.
2. Skillet Pan Pizza
Skillet Pan Pizza is a recipe I love to bake in my Lodge Cast Iron Skillet. The dough bakes up into this thick, tender crust that is NOT greasy, like some you get at a pizzeria. It’s so soft and wonderful. And cheesy. We love lots of cheese on our pizzas, and I always suggest grating your own block cheese. Or even better, use slices of fresh mozzarella.
3. Chicago-Style Stuffed Pizza
This pizza takes a lot of ingredients and some effort, but the results are AMAZING! Plus, it makes two giant pizzas, plenty for a family gathering. Chicago-Style Stuffed Pizza is indeed stuffed! Packed with three types of meat, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms, and four types of cheeses, plus a delicious simple sauce. It’s so good! Trust me, your family will love you for making this pizza.
4. Artisan Sourdough Pizza Dough
This Sourdough Pizza Dough is one of the best recipes I’ve worked with to date, especially if you’re going for that charred crispy edge, puffy crust, and a simple topping. Flavored with a touch of onion and garlic, and a homemade chunky sauce, I think you’re going to love this one. If you enjoy working with sourdough, you’ll certainly want to give it a try! I like to make this dough the night before and then let it rest in the refrigerator until I’m ready to bake it. You can even make the dough up to 5 days before using. It’s loaded with sourdough flavor, which compliments pizza so well.
5. Classic Italian Stromboli
If you’re looking for something a little bit different, this Classic Italian Stromboli might be just the thing. I worked long and hard on this recipe to get it “just” right, and I’m happy to report that it pleased our family perfectly. It’s so delicious! Tender, sweet crust. Creamy herb and garlic sauce. Cheese. Pepperoni. Canadian Bacon. More Cheese. So Yummy! And really, it’s easier than you might think.
6. Rosemary-Garlic Sourdough Flatbread
Another pizza option is a simple flatbread, which is absolutely fabulous, and especially good for summer days! I could eat this stuff every day and then some. It’s the perfect companion to a light dinner salad or with Quiche, or just by itself. Make individual pizzas with it, by adding a light tomato sauce, fresh basil, and some fresh mozzarella cheese to it before its second rise. Oh my! It’s so good, people! Simply delicious!
7. Zesty Pizza Sauce
You’ll want to give this homemade pizza sauce a try. We’ve been enjoying this sauce at our house for years. It’s the perfect amount of tomato combined with herbs and seasonings that give your pizza just the right amount of zing that compliments the other toppings and of course, that glorious crust! You’ll notice in most of my recipes a version of this recipe. Sometimes, I use crushed tomatoes, while other times I crush whole tomatoes myself, for a more chunky sauce. This will make enough for two extra-large pizzas, or enough for your pizza and some for dipping.
8. Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is an amazing addition to my pizza recipes. Full of ranch flavor with tender bits of chicken and smoky bacon nestled in a homemade alfredo sauce. If you’re planning a pizza party at your house anytime soon, you’ll want to include this recipe for at least one of the selections!
9. Barbecue Beef Pizza
Barbecue Beef Pizza is something I crave on occasion. I love pizza. Our whole family does. And my daughters share my craving. This recipe rivals that from Pizza Hut, or at least one they used to offer, which was my goal when making it. It might be better, or at least a very close second.
10. Cherry Streusel Dessert Pizza
I’ll end this recipe roundup with this easy dessert pizza, which has a homemade dough topped with cherry pie filling and a streusel topping drizzled with vanilla icing. I recently made it again for my husband, and we loved it!
Well, there you have it folks. My favorite pizza recipes and a sauce. Check this link for More Pizza Recipes as I add them!
See more Entertaining Ideas Here.
