Basic Cheese Pizza Recipes

HOW TO MAKE A CLASSIC CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• After you've made the dough, divide it in half and let come to room temperature, uncovered, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, place a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet on the oven floor and preheat to 500˚.
• On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out 1 piece of dough into a 12-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Dust a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet with cornmeal and lay the dough on top.
• Spread half of the sauce on the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Top with half of the provolone, then with half each of the mozzarella and parmesan.
• Slide the pizza onto the hot stone or baking sheet and bake until the crust is browned and the cheese is melted, 10 to 12 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough and toppings. Makes 2 12-inch pizzas.

CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone in the center rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F for 1 to 2 hours before you're ready to bake the pizza to get the stone nice and hot.
• Generously sprinkle a flat work surface with flour. Use a rolling pin to stretch the dough into an 11-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured pizza peel or unrimmed baking sheet so it can slide right onto the pizza stone in the oven. (I use the bottom of a baking sheet.)
• Top with the mozzarella, sprinkle with the oregano, then gently spread the marinara sauce on top, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges for the crust (my favorite part!).
• Turn off the oven and turn on the broiler. Use the peel or baking sheet to slide the pizza onto the pizza stone. The heat from the stone will cook the bottom of the pizza and the boiler will char and cook the top, mimicking a Neapolitan pizza oven. Bake until the cheese is melted and the crust is evenly crisped, 5 to 6 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan if desired. Slice the hot pizza and serve immediately.

CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine biscuit mix and water; mix well. Press into a greased 12-in. pizza pan. Spread with pizza sauce; sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 450° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

EASY CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Set one oven rack to lowest position and another oven rack to the middle position.
• Place a rimless baking sheet onto the bottom rack, then set oven to 500 degrees.
• Meanwhile roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch circle then brush with olive oil.
• Carefully remove baking sheet from oven (leaving oven temperature to 500 degrees) then slide the dough onto the preheated baking sheet using a spatula as a guide).
• Bake crust on BOTTOM RACK for 8 minutes.
• After the 8 minutes remove from oven and spread the pizza sauce into an even layer over the crust leaving about a 1/4-inch border.
• Top with mozzarella cheese and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top.
• Bake MIDDLE OVEN RACK for an additional 10-12 minutes or until crust is golden brown and the cheese melts.
• Using a pizza cutter slice into 12 wedges.

SHEET-PAN CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet coated with 3 tablespoons olive oil, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Make the pizza sauce: Combine the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, sugar and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl; season with more salt and sugar if needed. (Makes about 1 1/2 cups.)
• Make the pizza: Preheat the oven to 450˚ F (use the convection setting, if available) with a pizza stone, baking steel or inverted large baking sheet in the lower third of the oven. Gently stretch and press the dough to cover the pan as much as possible. Let stand 30 minutes, then gently press and stretch the dough again, if needed, to cover the pan. Top the dough with the pizza sauce, Parmesan, grated mozzarella and torn mozzarella.
• Place the baking sheet on the hot stone and bake the pizza until the crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then remove to a cutting board.

EASY CHEESEBURGER PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray; unroll pizza dough over the baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain.
• Mix mayonnaise and mustard together in a small bowl. Spread over the parbaked crust. Layer beef-onion mixture, Cheddar cheese, and pickles on top.
• Return to the oven and bake until crust is dark golden brown, 6 to 10 minutes.

CHEESE CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast and salt. In a saucepan, heat water and oil to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Let rest for 5 minutes. , On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 14-in. circle. Transfer to a greased 12-in. pizza pan, letting dough drape 2 in. over the edge. , Place string cheese around edge of pan; fold dough over cheese and pinch to seal. Prick dough thoroughly with a fork. Bake at 425° for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. In a small bowl, combine the tomato sauce, oregano, pepper and garlic powder; spread over crust. Sprinkle with meat mixture, mushrooms and mozzarella., Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

TRUE CHEESEBURGER PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef, salt, and pepper in the hot skillet until meat is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease.
• Mix ketchup and mustard in a bowl; spread mixture over pizza crust. Spread mozzarella cheese and Cheddar cheese over ketchup mixture and top with beef and onions. Transfer pizza to a large baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Top with pickles and allow pizza to cool for 5 minutes. Top with shredded lettuce and tomatoes before slicing and serving.