I am known for my homemade pizza. The kids, family and friends all request pizza when they come over. It’s a food that I have been trying to perfect for years and years. I’ve said to Hubby, “Why don’t we go out for pizza?” He’ll say, “Your pizza is better than any we can get at a restaurant so why bother.”
I typically don’t brag, but it’s true. I have mastered pizza. I love making it and everyone loves when I do.
I thought I would share the family secrets for making the best pizza.
First off- Good pizza needs a good crust. Here is a link to mine. It’s my ratio recipe. I use 1 1/2 cups of water for a thick crust pizza. I also use only bread flour. I don’t let the dough rise.
Next-when it’s time to press the dough out onto the pan I use a little bit of cooking spray on the dough to make it more elastic like. I will use a stone or my pizza pan with the holes in it. We like it either way.
Now you need awesome flavors. Here are some of our favorites.
BBQ Chicken: I cut chicken breasts into small bit size pieces and fry it up with some bacon and onions. Rather than pizza sauce use BBQ sauce. I then layer sliced cheese- pepper jack it wonderful- and then some mozzarella too.
Philly Cheese Steak: I start with about 3 ounces of softened cream cheese mixed with about a half cup of alfredo sauce. From there I fry up some peppers and onions that were cut into bite sized pieces. Then I add in left over roast beef. This gets mozzarella.
Breakfast: I start with Campbell’s Fiesta cheese soup. I put a 1/2 can on as the sauce. Then I cut bacon into bit sized pieces and fry it up. I drain most of the grease off then scramble a dozen eggs into the pan. I add the toppings to the crust and then top it with colby jack cheese.
Taco: I start with Campbell’s Fiesta cheese soup. I put a 1/2 can on as the sauce. I fry a pound of hamburger and add a packet of taco seasoning. I add colby jack to the top. Once it’s out of the oven I left people add their own taco toppings, lettuce, Doritos, onions, sour cream, olives, tomatoes and salsa.
Bacon Cheeseburger: I start by putting my favorite BBQ sauce on the crust. I fry bacon, hamburger and onion. I add those ingredients to the top. I top it with cheddar cheese.
Chicken Alfredo: I cut chicken breasts into small bit size pieces and fry it up with some bacon and onions. Rather than pizza sauce use Alfredo sauce along with 3 ounces of softened cream cheese. I then some mozzarella over the top.
Dessert Pizza: I cook the crust in the oven until it is about 3/4 of the way done. I soften about 6 ounces of cream cheese and spread that over the top. I spread out 1/2 can of cherry pie filling over the top then put it back in the oven. Once it’s out I make a little drizzle of cream cheese frosting.
Rarely do I make any pizza that needs pizza sauce anymore. Everyone requests one of the specialty pizza so that’s what I make.
Another HUGE tip is to butter the pizza when it comes out of the oven. Butter the crust AND butter over the top of the cheese. I know it sounds crazy but it makes your pizza look so much better and more like restaurant pizza.
One of the reasons I want a second stove when we move to town is so I can still make pizza when everyone comes home. Pizza is a huge treat for my kids. I have yet to master a gluten free crust for Kelli but it’s something I’ll keep working on.
There were only four of us for supper tonight but I made two. I always purposely make extra. The leftovers get snapped up FAST. The leftovers are going in Hubby’s lunch tomorrow. He was a happy guy. He’s tired of sandwiches and eating in the combing.
In the picture we had Philly Cream Cheese and Bacon Cheeseburger….YUM. Does anyone have any topping suggestions?? I love trying something new!
I have been making pizza, too, Jo since my husband and I were poor newlyweds. I make the BBQ one and add thin slices of red onion. I make sausage pizza with sweet Italian sausage from our local meat market. Taco pizza with the taco meat and cheese baked on the pizza and tomatoes/lettuce/crushed tortilla chips sprinkled on top when it comes out of the oven. And my family also likes Canadian bacon/pineapple and good old pepperoni. Thanks for the suggestions; your pizzas look delicious.
Oh Jo, you’ve made me hungry for pizza…..and it’s almost bedtime! Your recipes sound so yummy.
Oh we like to make our own pizza too! I am a Veggie lover.
But my family are meat lovers. But I make this version
And it makes everyone happy.
Mix dry ranch seasoning with half a block of cream cheese
And half a cup of sour cream.
Spread it over crust. Add cooked chicken & bacon pieces.
I add slices of red onion artichoke hearts and diced tomato.
Top that with cheddar & mozzarella cheese. We love it!
Your recipes sound good. I make a Chicken Cordon Bleu pizza by spreading herbed cream cheese on the crust, then adding cooked chicken and ham, shredded or chunked, topped with mozzarella. I also make a veggie pizza by roasting either fresh veggies or a bag of broccoli, cauliflower and baby carrots, spreading herbed cream cheese on the dough, adding the roasted veggies and topping with mozzarella.
Wow, I feel like I’ve stolen something. What great pizza ideas. Thank you so much for sharing. My family loves homemade pizza, We usually do the regular ground beef, pepperoni, mushroom, olives. It takes it up a notch when I add Feta cheese.
We’re a pizza loving family too! I’ll definitely be trying your crust and some of your variations. I make pizza sauce from scratch and we’ve got to have either jalapenos or fresh green chile on our pizza around here. The other must is baking it on cast iron. Now I’m craving pizza! :)