Cheese Pizza is the ultimate easy comfort food! Just grab some pizza dough, tomato sauce, and plenty of melty mozzarella. In no time, you’ve got a delicious, gooey meal that’s always a hit. Perfect for a quick dinner or a fun family night!
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Homemade cheese pizza is super easy and so much fun to make! With just a few ingredients like fresh dough and gooey mozzarella, you can whip up a delicious pizza right in your kitchen. Customize it just how you like—extra cheese, crispy crust, you name it!
The taste of this pizza is unbeatable—think melty, stretchy cheese, a perfectly golden crust, and a rich tomato sauce bursting with flavor. It’s comforting, satisfying, and so much better than takeout.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You can tailor your pizza exactly to your liking from the crust to the toppings.
- Homemade pizza can be a healthier alternative to takeout or frozen options.
- Making pizza at home can be a fun activity, whether you’re cooking solo, with friends, or with family
- With just a few ingredients and easy steps, homemade pizza is quick to make, perfect for a weeknight meal.
- Adding a side of cheesy garlic bread really makes this meal. Give it a try!
Recipe Ingredients
- Warm Water—To bloom the yeast.
- Active Dry Yeast—Gives the dough its chewy texture.
- Honey—Adds a little bit of sweetness to the crust and helps feed the yeast.
- Olive Oil—Locks in the moisture of your pizza crust.
- Flour—All-purpose.
- Cheese—A combination of parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
- Marinara Sauce—Feel free to use your favorite kind of red sauce.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Popular Substitutions and Variations
- Swap mozzarella for cheddar, fontina, gouda, or a mix of different cheeses for unique flavors.
- Replace traditional tomato sauce with pesto, Alfredo sauce, BBQ sauce, or even olive oil and garlic.
- Add fresh basil leaves and sliced tomatoes for a classic Margherita style.
- Add jalapeños, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce for a spicy kick.
How To Make Cheese Pizza
Step #1. Preheat your oven. Stir together the yeast and water in a large bowl using a whisk or wooden spoon. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow it to sit until the yeast is foamy.
Step #2. Stir in the olive oil and honey until just combined. Add the flour and continue whisking until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Step #3. Dump your dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead it by hand. Divide the dough into two equally sized balls and roll them out into flat discs.
Step #4. Top your pizza with marinara sauce and cheese and then cook your pizzas until the cheese is bubbly. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Dust your hands and work surface with flour or cornmeal to prevent sticking. You can also lightly coat your dough with olive oil.
Absolutely! Pre-made dough from the store or your local bakery can save time and still make delicious homemade pizza.
Store leftover pizza in an airtight container or wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat pizza in the oven or on a skillet to keep the crust crisp. Avoid the microwave, as it can make the crust chewy or soggy.
Expert Tips
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients in your pizza.
- Preheat a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet in the oven to 475°F (245°C) for at least 30 minutes. This ensures a crispy, evenly cooked crust.
- Stretch the dough gently from the center outwards using your hands, not a rolling pin. This creates a light and airy crust.
- Allow the pizza to rest for a couple of minutes after it comes out of the oven before slicing. This helps the cheese set slightly and prevents it from sliding off the crust.
More Dinner Recipes To Consider
It you’re looking for a smaller version of this tasty pizza, you should check out my favorite pizza rolls, or this cute and easy mini pizza recipe!
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Cheese Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- ½ tablespoon honey
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F.
- Quickly stir together the dry yeast and water in a large mixing bowl using a whisk or wooden spoon. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow it to sit for 5 minutes, or until the yeast begins to get foamy.
- Add the olive oil and honey. Give the mixture another quick stir.
- Gently whisk in the flour until a shaggy dough forms and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- Transfer your dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it by hand for a few minutes. Divide your dough into two balls and roll them each out into flat discs.
- Transfer your pizza dough to lightly oiled pizza pans and top them with the marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake your pizza for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Using a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese gives your pizza a balance of mild and sharp flavors.
- The pizza dough recipe listed above makes enough for two 12-inch pizzas.
- Freshly grated mozzarella cheese will melt better than pre shredded cheese, but feel free to use what you have on hand. As far as Parmesan goes, it doesn’t really matter if you use freshly grated or bottled cheese.
- For some extra flavor on your crust, brush it with butter and then sprinkle it with
- Italian seasoning before adding your sauce and cheese.
- You can store your pizza in the fridge for 4 days and reheat a slice or two in the microwave for 45 seconds, or until the cheese is gooey.
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