Homemade Pepperoni Pizza

Name: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 ball (16oz) pizza dough; 1/4 cup pizza sauce; 2 cups whole milk mozzarella cheese, or as much as you see fit; 1/3 cup sliced pepperonis, or as much as you like; 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning

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Pepperoni pizza is on weekly rotation at our house, but ordering delivery gets expensive fast these days. This easy pepperoni pizza at home saves money, tastes better than takeout, and honestly turns pizza night into something special.

I have a homemade pizza dough recipe if you want extra credit, but store-bought dough works beautifully too if you're grabbing dinner on the way home from work.

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Why this Recipe Works

Uses simple grocery store ingredients
Family-friendly and customizable
Cheaper than delivery

Ingredients You'll Need

Pizza Dough - You can use homemade pizza dough (here's the best pizza dough recipe) or store-bought dough to keep things easy. Let it come to room temperature before stretching so it doesn't fight you the whole time.

Pizza Sauce - A simple pizza sauce works perfectly here. Use your favorite jarred sauce or homemade if you have some in the freezer.

Mozzarella Cheese - Whole milk mozzarella melts best and has so much more flavor than the usual pre-shredded cheese if you're going for that classic pizzeria-style pizza. Fresh mozzarella works too if you want a more authentic flavor.

At our house, I usually do a mix of mozzarella and Italian blend. Nolan sometimes throws a little cheddar on there too, which honestly works surprisingly well.

Pepperoni - Classic pepperoni slices crisp up beautifully in the oven and give the pizza that salty, nostalgic flavor.

If you're chasing those perfectly cupped crispy pepperonis, buy a whole pepperoni log and slice it as thin as your knife will allow. The natural casing shrinks as it bakes, creating those classic little pepperoni cups.

Dried Oregano or Italian Seasoning - A sprinkle over the top gives the whole pizza that pizzeria smell while it bakes.

Parmesan Cheese - Optional, but highly recommended for extra flavor.

How to Make

Preheat the oven to 475°F. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats.

Stretch the pizza dough onto a floured surface until it reaches your desired size and place it on your pizza pan.

Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about an inch around the edges for the crust.

Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, then layer on the pepperoni slices. Finish with parmesan and Italian seasoning if using.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pizza crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Every oven behaves a little differently, but in our old electric oven I put the pizza on the bottom rack for exactly 13 minutes. Let the pizza cool for a couple minutes before slicing.

Tips for the Best Homemade Pepperoni Pizza

Let dough come to room temperature before stretching
Don't overload the sauce or the crust can get soggy
Bake at a high temperature for better texture
Put some pepperoni under the cheese and some on top for maximum flavor

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Author: The Hungry Waitress
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Easy homemade pepperoni pizza with crispy crust, melty cheese, and classic pepperoni for the perfect family pizza night.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 ball (16oz) pizza dough
1/4 cup pizza sauce
2 cups whole milk mozzarella cheese, or as much as you see fit
1/3 cup sliced pepperonis, or as much as you like
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 475°F. If using a pizza stone or cast iron pan, place it in the oven while it preheats.
Stretch the pizza dough onto a floured surface until it reaches your desired size.
Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about an inch around the edges for the crust.
Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, then layer on the pepperoni slices. Finish with parmesan and Italian seasoning if using.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Let the pizza cool for a couple minutes before slicing.

Equipment

Notes

Let dough come to room temperature before stretching.

Don't overload the sauce or the crust can get soggy.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian

Pizza Gear

We are very into homemade pizza around here and have tested a lot of pizza tools over the years trying to recreate pizzeria-style pizza at home.

Our favorite pizza pan gets the bottom of the crust beautifully golden and crispy. We also love using a pizza blade cutter because it slices through homemade pizza so much easier than a regular pizza cutter.

Variations and Swaps

Use Store-Bought Dough Perfect for busy weeknights and still tastes homemade.
Add Extra Toppings like cooked sausage, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers, or black olives.
Make it Spicy by adding red pepper flakes or hot honey after baking.
Use a Cast Iron Pan for a buttery crust an extra crispy bottom that tastes like pan pizza. Here's my Skillet pizza Recipe!

Storage & Freezing

Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

For the best texture, reheat slices in a skillet, toaster oven or air fryer instead of the microwave. The crust crisps right back up and tastes almost better the next day.

What to Serve With It

Caesar salad
Garlic bread
Antipasto salad
Ranch dressing for dipping

Frequently Asked Questions

What cheese is best for pepperoni pizza?

Low moisture mozzarella is the classic choice because it melts smoothly without making the pizza watery.

Can I make pepperoni pizza with store-bought dough?

Absolutely. Store-bought dough makes homemade pizza night much easier and still tastes great.

How do you get crispy pepperoni?

Bake the pizza at a high temperature and place some pepperoni directly on top of the cheese for the best results.

What oven temperature is best for homemade pizza?

A hot oven, around 475°F to 500°F, helps create a crisp crust and bubbly cheese.

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You can rate this pepperoni pizza recipe and leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @hungrywaitress!