Learn how to make pizza at home! This is the only guide you’ll ever need for making homemade pizza in the oven. There are just a few secrets and tips for making pizza at home with store bought dough. This recipe is so simple you can make pizza at home without a pizza stone or a rolling pin. You don’t even need to make homemade pizza dough! All you need is ~20 minutes, a sheet pan, pre-made store bought dough, and a desire to eat delicious homemade pizza.
With this step-by-step guide to making homemade pizza, you’ll learn:
- Where to buy fresh pizza dough pre-made
- How to store pizza dough so it’s ready for pizza night any day of the week
- Tips for getting pizza dough to rise
- Techniques for stretching store bought dough (once you learn my tips for how to stretch pizza dough for sheet pan pizza, you’ll be a pro)
- How to pre bake pizza crust before adding toppings
- Pizza toppings
- The best oven temperature for pizza made at home
At the end of this post is one of my favorite home pizza recipe ideas.
Ready for 10+ years worth of secrets and tips for making pizza at home with store bought dough?
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.
Have frozen dough from the grocery store? Check out this tasty pizza with frozen premade pizza crust.
Shop at Whole Foods? Check out my BBQ chicken recipe on Whole Foods pizza dough.
How to get pizza dough to rise
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.
Here’s an easy trick to allow the dough plenty of time to rise. Set it 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.
See tips on choosing the best store bought pizza crust for pizza night.
Once the pizza dough rises, it’s time to shape the dough.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shaping round pizza 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. It’s easy to make a classic round pizza with this ventilated pizza pan.
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.
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.
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.
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, sous vide chicken, sausage, sous vide bacon,), get creative with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
For fruits, try roasted cherry tomatoes, 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.
Here’s a unique way to add flavor… make Smoked Traeger pizza – right on the pellet grill.
The good ol’ beer & pizza pairing
Not a pizza ingredient, per se…. but beer can be a great addition to pizza, even if you’re no longer in college. Looking for a beer + pizza pairing?
My friend Sarah, another Portland blogger at Twenty Something and Tipsy has milkshake IPAs to share with you… She made her version of this homemade pizza recipe with store bought dough from Trader Joe’s.
Her premade grocery store pizza is topped with sauteed mushrooms and vegan sausage. Sarah likes to dip her pizza in ranch dressing. 
My own big fat pizza fail…
I’ve been making pizza at home in the oven or on the grill for over a decade. (whenever I say something has lasted a decade I feel suuuuuuper old!) One time a grill accidentally caught on fire, but that was a manageable fail. My brother saved the day with a fire extinguisher and now we have an almost-caught-the-house-on-fire story to laugh about.
Another time, I left store bought pizza dough outside on a deck table to rise. Can you blame me? It sounded like a great idea to have the dough rise in the sun, mother nature’s original dough heater.
Well, this turned out to be a horrible idea due to a hungry critter. When I glanced out the window to check the progress of my dough, I found a squirrel eating the dough through the bag.
Long story short, don’t get rabies when making pizza at home with store bought dough. Let it rise inside.
I’m so excited to spread the word about this easy to make at home pizza recipe! I’ve made so many friends with readers who have successfully made this pizza, I hope you’re next on the list!
Tasty tips + notes for making 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 “naked” 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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! - 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).
- 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.
- Frozen pizza can taste amazing, too!! Learn how to spruce it up with this recipe for pizza using frozen crust.
- Slice pizza pies like a chef with just a few swipes, using big ol’ pizza cutters.
- Want to grill pizza? Here are some pizza grilling tools to check out.
- 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
- Cheeseburger pizza
- Philly cheese steak pizza
- Smoked Traeger pizza
- Chicken spinach pizza with bacon
- Homemade pizza dough
- Pizza sauce recipe
- White pizza sauce
- See tips for stretching pizza dough by hand
- Learn how to make frozen premade pizza crust taste better
- GUIDE: how to cook chicken breast for pizza
More Italian recipes people love…
- 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
- Best Caprese Salad Recipe
- Croutons On The Stove
- 50+ gourmet grilled cheese ideas
Let me know when you make your tasty homemade pizza. Be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe. It means so much to hear from Sip Bite Go readers and I love seeing photos of your food! Don’t forget to tag me @sipbitego on Instagram so I can see how the recipe turned out.
Subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel for my best recipes.
Making pizza at home with store bought dough (Sip Bite Go)
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
- ⅔ 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 you’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 it’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.
Video
Notes
- 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 “naked” 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.
- 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!
- 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.
Alex Fisher says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’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?! 😂 I added one step when the dough doesn’t rise well enough at room temp. (This seems to be when I’ve bought the dough frozen.) I boil a small bowl of water in the microwave, then put the dough in the warm, steamy “proofing box” 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 we’ve been saying something wrong for so long that we don’t know it’s improper, that’s called an idiom. Just wanted to put my two scents in!
Jenna Passaro says
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!
Tammy says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I made this tonight with my 12 year old using a rosemary herb pizza dough from the grocery store. Our pizza was so delicious. Will definitely make again!
Edith Bray says
This pizza making process is ABSOLUTELY perfect!! Pizza turns out outstanding every time. Who knew making pizza at home with store bought dough to could be so unbelievably easy and absolutely delicious!!! Thank you for these excellent instructions!
Diane Ferree says
In addition to baking in the oven you can also bake pizza on your barbecue. Just do the first bake by heating up your BBQ to REALLY HOT then place the stretched dough directly on the hot rack and par bake a couple minutes until it stiffens. Take it off the grill and add toppings to the side that was down and bake again till done. Not wood fired (unless you have a wood barbecue) but not bad.
A.k says
This was a game changer! The pizza turned out perfectly.
Jessie says
I bet this is Karen, using her husband’s “Steven’s” account, cause that’s what Karens do. Did you ask for the manager? I will absolutely make sure they email you, right away, over these appalling grammar and spelling mistakes!!! Some people are crazy busy, and they would much rather have a mistake, than spend precious time making sure everything is perfect, for these wannabe know it alls!!! Donut forget to preheat you’re oven when your cooking, maybe it will heat up you’re cold hart….hope your not bothered bye my mistakes 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Jenna Passaro says
Ahh! I know really nice Karens IRL though!
Beth says
Jenna – me too!! I feel bad for all the great Karens out there that I know! Thanks for the lovely recipe, I accidentally put ingredients on my raw pizza dough before looking this up, LOL – but it still turned out okay… and now I have this for next time!!!
Kecia Decasseres-Liguori says
Omg I was just looking around at pizza dough recipes and I had to laugh out loud about your comment. Actual made my day. Thanks KAREN!!!!!😜
Mike says
Question:
If making a pizza with veggie, do you sauté them first or leave them raw?
Jenna Passaro says
I’d saute them first. See this philly cheesesteak pizza recipe for example.
Bri says
Does the par bake work with pre rolled out Publix dough?
Jenna Passaro says
send me a photo @sipbitego on instagram
Sharon says
My first attempt was wildly successful thanks to your tips!!! Thanks!!! :))
Lisa Swanson says
Turned out perfect! Recipe was easy to follow and had lots of great tips. Thank you.
Jenna Passaro says
Lisa, so happy you made fabulous pizza. Next you have to try one of my creative ones, like this pulled pork pizza –> https://sipbitego.com/leftover-pulled-pork-pizza.
Cheers!
– Jenna
Cynthia Lyman says
I used Whole Foods fresh dough and followed your instructions to the letter. The tip for baking the pizza ‘naked’ is crucial to authentic restaurant style pizza enjoyed at home. Just delicious results ensued. Thanks so much for the step by step.
Robert Stevens says
The dough you purchase is NOT “pre-made” dough. Notice it says “Pizza Dough” on the package. “Pre” means “before,” so you’re telling people you buy dough that’s made before it’s made. Refer to the dough simply as, “dough.” We’re aware of the fact that the dough was purchased and not made from scratch at your home. Also, the oven can be in only two stages; Heated and not heated. So you “HEAT” the oven to 450, not, “pre-heat.” This has been said wrong for so long, we don’t realize it’s not proper. So again, you’re telling people to “heat before you heat the oven.” Telling people “heat pre-cooking” is proper. One other hint: get someone to proof your article. Many spelling and grammatical errors.
Chill dude says
Chill dude, it’s pizza!
Rachel says
Get a life
Twistedgreen says
Who hurt you?
Marcela says
being kind and acknowledging generosity in our fellow aficionados of the culinary arts is weigh moore importent then gramer and speling!
Valium Dan says
Robert Stevens I love you my man. You’re just a big ol’ grump in this happy-go-lucky world. I bet you hate when people say “ATM machine” too.n You do you
Sheree brunette says
Wow dude,so critical!! Can’t anyone ever just be nice. There always has to be 1 person who has to be mean!! Who cares about spelling and wording. We all understand the recipe.
Jenna Passaro says
🙂 I think actually, this “person” was from another website, one that promotes grammar tools, and they put a link back to their site in their comment. Also I totally don’t care that sometimes I write things incorrectly, and others notice it. No biggie. At least I get my recipes posted. If I was scouring over every word, you’d never see any recipe on here. And then who would help you cook a tasty pizza, hmm? ?? internet?? yup. enjoy your pizza nights!
Judy says
Wow! Who burnt your pizza, Bobby?
Giotta says
Ummm I think by pre made it means made before this moment… I think you totally butchered that term.. just saying.. I couldn’t read any further after that. You seem like a lot of fun
🤦
Sean says
Can you show me where on this doll this pizza recipe hurt you and your delicate, grammatical sensibilities? Get over yourself. It’s a pizza recipe.
Sue says
I have say somethinh because I found it to be writen and laid out beautifully. Its a recipe not an essay or college paper. I’m so sick and tired of people like you. How about sharing your results with the wonderful recipe, otherwise sod off.
Grammar Girl says
Dear Mr. Pot Calling the Kettle Black:
You should make sure your post is completely devoid of spelling and grammar errors before you start in on someone else lol. Your post contains numerous grammatical errors.
“Refer to the dough simply as, “dough.” This sentence contains one error. There should be no comma after the word “as.”
“Also, the oven can be in only two stages; Heated and not heated.” This sentence contains three errors. A colon should be used after the word “stages” rather than a semicolon. The word “heated” should not be capitalized since the colon serves as the precursor to a list. The awkward “not heated” should be replaced with “unheated.”
“So you “HEAT” the oven to 450, not, “pre-heat.” This sentence contains two errors. There should be a comma after the word “so.” There should be no comma after the word “not.”
“This has been said wrong for so long….” Seriously? Where do I start? While using passive sentence structure is not technically an error, it is certainly frowned upon and good writers avoid it like the plague. At the very least, this awkwardly constructed sentence calls for an adverb (wrongly), not an adjective (wrong).
“One other hint: get someone to proof your article.” This sentence contains one error. When a complete sentence follows a colon, the first word of the sentence is capitalized unless you are using APA style, which you are not – or at least not using correctly.
“Many spelling and grammatical errors.” This phrase contains one error. The word “grammar” should be used instead of “grammatical” to achieve parallel sentence structure. Noun (spelling) + noun (grammar) is correct. Noun (spelling) + adjective (grammatical) is incorrect.
You have been hoisted by your own petard, Mr. Cranky Pants. Like shooting fish in a barrel lol.
Good pizza recipe!
Andrea says
You are my hero for giving this dou*he a taste of their own medicine. P.s you’re amazing at grammar!! : )
Elizabeth says
I am constantly annoyed by grammar and spelling errors, especially when reading news articles that are supposedly written by journalists. But this is a pizza recipe. Bake the pizza, get a beer and relax.
Jenna Passaro says
Thank you ! I am not perfect at grammar but I can cook and share it with other foodies and that is where my heart is! You should see how questionable my video editing skills are too!
John says
Argue with the stove manufacturers douche nozzle, because when I set my oven temp it states pre-heat until the required temp is reached.
Lemme guess, the wife ran off with the pizza delivery guy so now your roaming the internet looking for pizza making women to harass.
Loser
Donna Adams says
We could all care less.
😆
Janalyn says
Wow.
Rose Maryanne White says
Came out perfect! I wish I could post my picture. Thank you! 😊
Cynthia Vaida says
Excellent and well thought out recipe. I had never heard of prebaking the dough. Will try this recipe and make individual pizzas to order when we get together after Christmas, which give me a good excuse for someone to buy me some small pizza pants just for this event!.
Jenna Passaro says
Glad you loved it. Those pants sound fun.
It took a while to perfect this homemade pizza making technique but I follow it religiously now.
Cheers!
Kris says
Oh my gosh!! As others have mentioned—-THANK YOU for the advice on the store bought dough. We let ours sit at room temp for 2 hours (made it super easy to stretch and shape) and then par baked it before adding ingredients. Best homemade pizza I’ve ever tasted!!