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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Pizza Recipes ยป How to Make Pizza with Premade Dough

    How to Make Pizza with Premade Dough

    Published: Feb 10, 2025 ยท Modified: Apr 10, 2025 by Jenna Passaro ยท This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Making pizza at home with store-bought dough is easier than you thinkโ€”and way more delicious than delivery. All you need is premade dough, your favorite sauce, melty cheese, and about 20 minutes.

    Homemade pizza made in the oven on a cutting board topped with fresh basil and mozzarella

    Table of Contents

    Toggle
    • Why Youโ€™ll Love This
    • Tips & Tricks for the Perfect Pizza with Store-Bought Dough
    • How to get pizza dough to rise
    • How to thaw frozen pizza dough
    • How to shape pizza dough
    • Don’t add toppings yet! First, par-bake the premade dough
    • After the dough bakes “naked”, add the toppings and bake the pizza
    • Where to buy premade store bought pizza dough
    • How to store pizza dough in the fridge or freezer
    • Pizza topping ideas
    • Things To Do For the Best Homemade Pizza
    • The Perfect Pizza Setup
    • More pizza recipes from Sip Bite Go
    • Making pizza at home with store bought dough (Sip Bite Go)

    The gist: Let your store-bought dough rest, stretch it onto a sheet pan, load it up with sauce, cheese, and toppings, then bake until golden and bubbly. Thatโ€™s itโ€”homemade pizza night in under 30 minutes.

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    Why Youโ€™ll Love This

    • No special tools or pizza stone requiredโ€”just a sheet pan and your oven.
    • Crispy edges, bubbly cheese, and a golden crust every time.
    • Itโ€™s totally customizable, perfect for picky eaters or fridge clean-outs.
    guide to making pizza at home with store bought dough from trader joes or whole foods premade dough

    Ready for 15+ years worth of secrets and tips for making pizza at home with store bought dough?

    Tips & Tricks for the Perfect Pizza with Store-Bought Dough

    • Donโ€™t skip resting the doughโ€”cold dough fights back and wonโ€™t stretch.
    • Skip overloading with toppings (especially sauce), or youโ€™ll end up with a soggy crust.
    • Avoid using parchment paperโ€”it can prevent that crispy bottom we all want.
    • Donโ€™t bake on the top rackโ€”middle rack gives you even heat and browning.
    • Donโ€™t stress if the shapeโ€™s not perfectโ€”rustic = charming and tasty.

    How to get pizza dough to rise

    First, you have to know how to get premade dough to rise… my method will help the ready made pizza dough double in size at room temperature.

    Many people struggle with the very first step of making pizza at home with store bought dough. That’s because stretching store bought dough is difficult when it’s cold.

    Pizza dough needs at least 30 minutes and up to 3 hours to rise, outside of the fridge.

    Trader Joe's fresh premade pizza dough

    Above is an example of Trader Joe’s store bought dough. The one on the right has been rising on the counter for hours. The one on the right is straight out of the fridge.

    How to thaw frozen pizza dough

    Freezing balls of pizza dough is a great way to buy-in-bulk for homemade pizza nights.

    To thaw the dough, remove it from the freezer and transfer it to the fridge the night before. The morning of (or at least by lunch time), move the dough to the counter to rise.

    homemade pizza with store bought dough

    I like to set rising dough near a window or wrap it in a kitchen towel and set it on the counter. If you’re short on time, use a kitchen towel straight out of the dryer – a little heat will help.

    Here’s another trick. If you’re making pizza at home soon after buying ingredients at the store, let the pre-made dough sit by a sunny car window on the ride home. Growing up, that’s what my mom always did.

    Once the pizza dough rises, it’s time to shape the dough.

    homemade pizza topped with ham cheese and basil shaped in a rectangle cooling on a butcher block

    See tips on choosing the best store bought pizza crust for pizza night.

    How to shape pizza dough

    Shaping rectangle pizza for a sheet pan is very, very easy once you get the hang of it.

    Watch the video with the recipe at the bottom of this page for step by step instructions.

    Or follow these step-by-step photo instructions to lean how to stretch pizza dough.

    homemade pizza dough step by step guide flouring butcher block and stretching dough

    Step 1-2.

    Lightly flour a large work space like a butcher block, cutting board, or clean counter.

    Press both sides of the fresh dough against the lightly floured surface.

    Step 3-4.

    First, work the outside of the pizza dough by pinching it with your fingers to make the crust.

    Next, working against a flat surface, move to the center of the dough and push the dough outward to make a larger base. As you expand the dough, pick up a light dusting of flour, which will help the size of the dough grow.

    homemade pizza dough step by step guide flouring butcher block and pushing and stretching dough

    Step 5.

    Once the dough has spread as far as possible against the cutting board, gently pick up the dough.

    With your hands under the dough, use your knuckles to stretch the dough in vertical and horizontal motions.

    Adding a little flour will help the dough expand.

    Step 6-8. 

    Work the dough until it is expands enough to cover your sheet pan.

    Go back and forth between pushing the dough and using your knuckles as needed.

    Add light dustings of flour as needed to help the dough retain the progress you’ve made. Don’t worry about the dough being a perfect shape. All pizzas are beautiful.

    At any time, patch holes as they appear by folding over the dough.

    homemade pizza dough step by step guide with sheet pan and stretched dough

    Step 9. 

    Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and a drizzle of olive oil.

    Step 10. 

    Gently transfer the pizza dough to the baking sheet.

    Push out the premade dough as far as it will go towards the edge of the baking sheet.

    homemade pizza dough cut in square slices on a red and white kitchen towel and cutting board

    Shaping round pizzaย is similar, but you will begin by forming the dough into a perfectly round ball. Follow the instructions above, but instead of pulling the dough in vertical and horizontal motions, you’ll want to stretch the dough in a circular motion.

    Chewy pizza crust on homemade pizza cooling on a cutting board topped with fresh basil ham and mozzarella

    Don’t add toppings yet! First, par-bake the premade dough

    It’s super important to pre bake the pizza crust once before adding pizza toppings.

    Follow the recipe at the end of this post for details on how to to par-bake the pizza dough at 450 degrees in the middle rack of the oven.

    Homemade pizza made in the oven on a cutting board topped with fresh basil and mozzarella

    After the dough bakes “naked”, add the toppings and bake the pizza

    When making pizza at home, it’s crucial to using a really high temperature, once you add the toppings, to get restaurant quality pizza.

    step by step guide to adding pizza toppings to homemade pizza with red pizza sauce cheese and ham

    After par-baking the pizza dough, add the toppings and finish baking pizza in the oven at 500 degrees until the cheese melts. This final bake will take about 7-10 minutes.

    Where to buy premade store bought pizza dough

    Buy fresh premade pizza dough at a local bakery, Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.

    Trader Joe’s also has a garlic & herb pizza dough that’s quite tasty. See my post on Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough Tips.

    How to store pizza dough in the fridge or freezer

    If you don’t plan to use store bought pizza dough for a few days or weeks, keep it fresh in the fridge or freezer.

    In the fridge, premade pizza dough will stay fresh for a few days.

    In the freezer, pizza dough can last a couple of months. When you’re ready to defrost pizza dough, move it to the fridge overnight. Then take it out in the morning to expand in time for dinner.

    My freezer is always stocked with pizza dough and frozen cheese. And my pantry is always stocked with pizza seasoning and pizza sauce. And, thanks to my husband, my fridge is always stocked with craft beer to go with the pizza.

    homemade pizza in the oven

    Pizza topping ideas

    Sauce – Classic red pizza sauce, BBQ sauce, Alfredo sauce, or a simple garlic and olive oil for a white pizza, as used in this pear and goat cheese pizza.

    Cheese – Traditional mozzarella is a popular melting cheese, as is fontina and cheddar. If you’re looking for a cheese with bold flavor, try bleu cheese, smoked gouda or goat cheese sprinkled on top of a melting cheese.

    Meats, fruit and veggies – If you’re looking for something outside of traditional toppings (pepperoni, ham, smoked chicken breast, sausage, bacon) or get creative with seasonal fruits and vegetables.

    For fruits, try dried figs, grilled pineapple, pears, cherries, and apples.

    For vegetables, try butternut squash, zucchini and caramelized red onions.  And don’t forget about fresh herbs for pizza! Add delicate herbs like basil after the pizza is done baking in the oven.

    homemade pizza slice with ham cheese and basil on a plate with an IPA beer

    Here’s a unique way to add flavor… make Smoked Traeger pizza – right on the pellet grill.

    pizza cooling on a baking sheet

    Things To Do For the Best Homemade Pizza

    • Avoid the struggle of stretching pizza dough by letting it rise in advance. 
    • Never add toppings to raw pizza dough. 
    • Cook the pizza twice. First, cook the premade dough โ€œnakedโ€ without any toppings. On the second trip to the oven, add all the ingredients and cook the pizza until the cheese melts and the crust is golden brown.
    • Brush olive oil around the perimeter of the dough to create a golden crust.
    • Season the crust. Sprinkle the crust with parmesan and a light sprinkle of salt.
    • Add any fresh herbs, like basil, after the pizza is done baking (so the herbs don’t wilt)
    • Pizza is great for game day served with sous vide chicken wings with bleu cheese dressing

    One of my favorite pizzas is BBQ chicken pizza. Learn how to make chicken breast in under 20 minutes so you can add it to pizza, too. 

    homemade pizza topped with cheese ham and fresh basil

    The Perfect Pizza Setup

    Want to make restaurant style pizza at home? I’ve got you covered! Here are some of my top tips, tricks, secret ingredients and tools for a pizza night everyone will look forward to, again and again.

    1. NEVER do this… Contrary to what most people believe, when baking pizza on a sheet pan, never add toppings to raw pizza dough. Instead, follow my recipe for making homemade pizza with ready made dough, which will teach you how to par bake pizza dough first.
    2. Get help from secret ingredients…
      – This dough seasoning is the secret to real Italian-tasting homemade pizza dough.
      – Add pizza seasoning to store bought pizza sauce. This makes the pizza taste really fresh!
    3. Herbs are for after… In my weekly pizza making practice, I’ve found that fresh herbs, like basil, need to be added to pizza after the pizza is done baking (so the herbs don’t wilt).
    4. Buy fresh dough and get amazing results. Yup, fresh dough from grocery stores is one of my favorite short-cuts. Learn how to use fresh Trader Joe’s pizza dough and Whole Foods pizza dough with my tutorials.
    5. Frozen pizza can taste amazing, too!! Learn how to spruce it up with this recipe for pizza using frozen crust.
    6. Slice pizza pies like a chef with just a few swipes, using big ol’ pizza cutters.
    7. Want to grill pizza? Here are some pizza grilling tools to check out.
    8. Do you really need to cook pizza on the rack? Nope! I basically never do. Here are tools you see me using in my tutorials on cooking pizza in the oven…
      – Bake pizza on a rimmed baking pan set to get a beautiful golden brown crust.
      – Love crispy crust? Let the air flow with this dishwasher safe pizza pan.
      – Get personal – let your fam / friends top their own pies with this set of personal pizza pans.

    More pizza recipes from Sip Bite Go

    • Freshly Traeger smoked or oven baked taco pizza rolls topped with sour cream, guacamole, shredded lettuce, cheese, diced tomato, and onion, arranged on a white platter
      Taco Pizza Rolls (Smoked or Oven-Baked)
    • Plate with Pepperoni Pizza Baguette Bites
      Pepperoni Pizza Baguette Bites
    • Traeger Smoked Tri Tip Pizza
      Traeger Smoked Tri Tip Pizza

    More Italian recipes people loveโ€ฆ

    • Cheesy Italian Stuffed Peppers
    • Crispy Italian Chicken Breast with Tomato Sauce
    • How to make pizza at home with store bought dough
    • Baked chicken parmesan with vodka sauce
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    • 50+ gourmet grilled cheese ideas

    Canโ€™t wait to hear what you think!

    Iโ€™d love to know how your version turned out! Drop a rating and leave a comment below to help the Sip Bite Go community. And if you snapped any photos, tag me on Instagramโ€”I love sharing reader pics in my Stories!

    Feel inspired to cook with my free recipe newsletter.

    text and image recipe review rhomemade pizza recipe
    Homemade pizza made in the oven on a cutting board topped with fresh basil and mozzarella on pre-made dough

    Making pizza at home with store bought dough (Sip Bite Go)

    Making pizza at home with store bought dough is easy! This is the best homemade pizza recipe with premade dough. See how to make homemade pizza in the oven. This guide to making pizza at home with store bought dough covers everything from stretching the dough, to cooking delicious crust in the oven for homemade pizza. Use this recipe as a base for pizza at home with any toppings you like! 
    5 from 128 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: homemade pizza, homemade pizza dough, how to make pizza, Pizza, store bought pizza dough
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 394kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Video

    Ingredients

    • 1 bag pizza dough ( I use pre-made dough)
    • 16 oz pizza sauce
    • 2 tsp dried herbs pizza / pasta blend or oregano / parsley
    • 3 tbsp flour
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 2 tbsp parmesan cheese optional, for the crust
    • 1 pinch Salt
    • 8 oz shredded mozzarella or fontina or cheddar
    • โ…” cup toppings ham, chicken, pineapple, onions, etc.
    • 2 tbsp basil chopped

    Instructions

    • Let dough rise. Keeping the store bought dough in the bag, set it out on a counter for 30 minutes up a few hours. When youโ€™re ready to make the pizza, preheat oven to 450 degrees F. 
    • Stretch the dough. Place raw pre-made dough dough on top of flour, coating each side. Begin stretching the dough by pinching the outside in a circular motion to spread it out. Then you can alternate between pinching the dough with your fingers, pressing it out on your work surface, and using your knuckles to pull the dough from underneath in an outward motion. Usually a few motions work best! When itโ€™s large enough, transfer it to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and a light drizzle of olive oil.
    • Bake the naked pizza dough in the oven at 450 for 7 minutes. During this time, prep toppings. 
    • Once dough is cooks for 7 minutes, take it out and preheat the oven to 500. Brush olive oil around the perimeter of the dough to create a golden crust. Add the sauce, any dried herbs, cheese and other toppings. Sprinkle the crust with parmesan and a light sprinkle of salt. Add pizza sauce, dried herbs, cheese and other toppings. 
    • Bake the pizza at 500 for 7-10 minutes, removing when the cheese has melted. Sprinkle chopped basil and allow the pizza to cool a few minutes before slicing and serving. 

    Notes

    • Avoid the struggle of stretching pizza dough by letting it rise in advance.ย 
    • Never add toppings to raw pizza dough.ย 
    • Cook the pizza twice. First, cook the premade dough โ€œnakedโ€ without any toppings. On the second trip to the oven, add all the ingredients and cook the pizza until the cheese melts and the crust is golden brown.
    • Brush olive oil around the perimeter of the dough to create a golden crust.
    • Season the crust.ย Sprinkle the crust with parmesan and a light sprinkle of salt.
    • This dough seasoning is the secret to real Italian-tasting homemade pizza dough.
    • Addย pizza seasoning to store bought pizza sauce.ย This makes the pizza taste really fresh!
    • Add any fresh herbs, like basil, after the pizza is done baking (so the herbs don’t wilt)Pizza professionals cut their pizza with just a few swipes, using big ol’ pizza cutters.
    • Bake pizza on a rimmed baking sheet so the edges turn a beautiful golden brown. This baking pan set will enable you to make multiple pizzas at once.
    Share your pizza with me! I’d love to see what you make. Find me @sipbitego on Instagram and tag #sipbitego with your pizza!ย 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 394kcal
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tina Panicci-Bowes says

      February 25, 2024 at 3:51 pm

      Loved the video! Very informative, esp about the dough. It was very easy. I like my crust a bit browned so I slid it off the pan directly onto oven rack after the 7 mins. For 2-3 mins and it Was perfect!!! ๐Ÿ•5 stars

      Reply
    2. Elayne says

      February 20, 2024 at 5:45 pm

      The pizza was great we followed the recipe exactly.5 stars

      Reply
    3. Lorna Jordan says

      February 11, 2024 at 11:56 am

      Made last night for hockey game night!
      Used bought fresh pizza dough from my local grocery store.
      Followed your instructions to a tee and made it on a sheet pan – half pineapple/ham and other half pepperoni/mushrooms.
      It was the best pizza Iโ€™ve made, better than some pizza establishments !
      Will definitely be my go to recipe ๐Ÿ‘5 stars

      Reply
    4. Tom Eggebeen says

      October 19, 2023 at 10:15 am

      Did this last night – it was terrific … easier than I thought it would be – your comments, video, made it all work.

      Thanks.5 stars

      Reply
    5. Ak says

      September 20, 2023 at 7:03 pm

      Thank you so much! This worked out wonderfully and is the best pizza Iโ€™ve ever made.5 stars

      Reply
    6. Beth Travis says

      July 10, 2023 at 4:30 pm

      Unbelievable! Never thought I could make pizza at home thatโ€™s better than the pizzeria! Easy and amazingly delicious!5 stars

      Reply
    7. Alex Fisher says

      May 02, 2023 at 5:24 am

      Thank you, thank you, thank you! Iโ€™ve made pizza following your instructions several times now, and my friend and I are amazed each time. Where has your recipe been all my life?! ๐Ÿ˜‚ I added one step when the dough doesnโ€™t rise well enough at room temp. (This seems to be when Iโ€™ve bought the dough frozen.) I boil a small bowl of water in the microwave, then put the dough in the warm, steamy โ€œproofing boxโ€ for a few minutes. (I do not microwave the dough!) This gives me a lovely poofy dough.

      And just a comment to Robert Stevens: When weโ€™ve been saying something wrong for so long that we donโ€™t know itโ€™s improper, thatโ€™s called an idiom. Just wanted to put my two scents in!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenna Passaro says

        July 02, 2023 at 6:39 pm

        Thanks for your comments! With hundred and hundreds of recipes now on Sip Bite Go it’s quite a lot keeping up with the comments, I’m going to look to see what the Robert Stevens one is… I think someone didn’t like my grammar at one point, right? I’m a creative foodie not a proper english writer sorry y’all!

        Reply
    8. Sue says

      April 28, 2023 at 6:48 pm

      Not sure about parchment paper. I cooked it as directed and the bottom crust was perfect.5 stars

      Reply
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    5 from 128 votes (28 ratings without comment)

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    homemade pizza on a cutting board on a marble counter

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