Inside: How to make this simple, no-knead pizza crust plus my tips and tricks for the perfect pizzeria pizza.

Friday pizza night is one of our favorite weekly traditions. We often turn it into family night and play games or watch a movie together. The culture that we as mamas and homemakers create in our homes is so important because it shapes the lives of our children, influences hearts, and sets the tone for either peace or chaos in our homes. If you are a mama or homemaker, I highly recommend checking out this stack of books.

I firmly believe that traditions are the foundation of family culture and that traditions should be intentionally created and cultivated, not just at Christmas. Something as simple as pizza and games will become a regular rhythm of connection and memories in your home, and a time together your family will look back on and cherish.

Homemade pizza is such an easy and fun thing to make with your children and it is SO much tastier than anything you can eat out. With so many variations for crust, sauce, meat, and veggies the options are literally endless.

Several years ago I came across a no-knead pizza crust recipe and couldn’t believe how simple and delicious it was. After making pizza almost every Friday night for years and years, I have learned some tricks and found some easy ways to elevate homemade pizza.

I’m sharing my crust recipe and all the tips with you so you can have delicious pizzeria style pizza at home too.

What are the ingredients in the pizza crust?

• All-purpose flour – White flour gives this pizza crust a soft, airy texture similar to any hand-tossed pizza crust you would get in a restaurant.

• Whole wheat flour– I really love to add a couple cups of fresh milled whole wheat flour to this crust recipe. It adds a little extra texture and chewiness, plus helps give the crust some structure to hold lots of toppings.

• Yeast – Yeast is the leavening agent in this crust that will give it that light and fluffy texture.

• Salt – Enhances flavor, a necessity in any bread recipe.

• Water – The moisture in this recipe that brings it all together.

That’s it! Five ingredients, four if you choose to do all white flour.

Homemade pizza, the process

The crust recipe is super simple to throw together. Really. No kneading involved.

You will start by adding the water and yeast to a bowl and allowing it to bloom for about 5 minutes.

Now, if you are in a real pinch, I have totally just dumped everything into a bowl at the same time and skipped the yeast blooming step and it worked out fine. Best practice, you should allow the yeast to bloom, essentially making sure it is active.

After allowing the yeast to bloom, add the salt and flours to the mixing bowl and stir it well. The dough will be very wet and sticky and feel like it needs more flour, but resist that temptation. This is not a stiff dough that will needs lots of kneading and rolling.

Once the dough is mixed up, cover with plastic wrap or beeswax wrap and let it rise for 1-2 hours in a warm space. It will get nice and puffy and then you know it is ready to use.

At this point, cut a piece of parchment paper and dust it well with flour, cornmeal, and oregano. Turn your dough out onto the parchment paper and with well-floured hands, gently press the dough out into a circle, about 10-12 inches wide.

Add your sauce, cheese, and toppings. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, oregano, and red paper flakes.

Place directly on your hot stone or baking sheet and place in the oven. Pizza will bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and crust is cooked through.

What is the secret to the perfect crust?

Okay, here’s where the magic happens. The perfect crust, in my opinion, comes from baking your pizza on a preheated stone AND brushing the crust with melted butter and garlic. More on that late

If you don’t have a pizza stone, no worries, you can still make delicious pizza, it will just turn out with a slightly different texture.

Pizza stone – If you have a pizza stone, preheat your oven to 500 degrees. 15-20 minutes before you are ready to bake your pizza, go ahead and put the stone in the oven to preheat. Placing your pizza on a preheated stone means that it will start to bake the moment you put it on the stone and gives you a beautiful, crispy crust, without over-baking or burning it.

Aluminum or stainless steel pans – If you don’t have a pizza stone, you will NOT preheat your pan. Simply preheat your oven to 450 degrees and place your pizza directly on the pan and into the oven.

What toppings go on the pizza?

This is my favorite thing about pizza, the sky is the limit. Classic marinara sauce is always delicious, but you could also try barbecue, alfredo, or even butter sauce!

Meat options are also varied, but some of our favorites are pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ground beef.

We love all the veggies on our pizza! Onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and olives are our favorites, but we also love a good margarita pizza with fresh tomatoes, spinach, and basil.

Tips and Tricks

• A hot stone is a game-changer. It creates the perfect crisp crust, while allowing the inside to still remain soft and chewy.
• Mixing spices with the flour under the crust of the pizza adds a delightful pop of flavor.
• Brush the crust with melted butter and fresh, minced garlic. Trust me. This step is absolutely delicious.

Homemade pizza is so easy to make at home and with this simple crust recipe, you’ll be making delicious pizza at home in no time. Do you do a regular pizza night in your house? Let me know!