Easy Homemade Pizza

 

Make homemade pizza with this easy dough recipe using simple pantry ingredients. A thrifty, cozy, and customizable meal that’s cheaper (and tastier) than takeout.

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Why You’ll Love This Pizza

Homemade pizza is cozy, fun, and thrifty. With just a few ingredients, you can create a fresh, hot pizza at home — and top it with whatever you already have in your fridge. It’s a recipe that works for family dinners, weekends, or even a “use what you have” night in the Thrifted Kitchen Diary.

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Ingredients (2 medium pizzas)

For the Dough

• 2 ½ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp sugar

• 2 tsp dry yeast (or 15 g fresh yeast)

• 1 tbsp olive oil (or any oil you have)

• 1 cup (240 ml) warm water

For the Sauce

• 1 can (400 g / 14 oz) crushed tomatoes (or tomato passata)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 clove garlic, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)

• 1 tsp dried oregano or basil

• Pinch of salt + pepper

Toppings (choose what you have!)

• Cheese: mozzarella, cheddar, or any melting cheese

• Vegetables: bell pepper, onion, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini

• Protein: leftover chicken, ham, tuna, beans, or even an egg

• Extras: olives, chili flakes, fresh herbs

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Instructions

1. Make the Dough

1. In a bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.

2. Add flour, salt, and olive oil. Mix until it forms a dough.

3. Knead for 5–7 minutes (by hand or mixer) until smooth.

4. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour (or until doubled in size).

(Shortcut: If you don’t want to wait, you can use instant yeast and only let it rest 10–15 minutes — the crust will be thinner but still good.)

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2. Make the Sauce

1. Heat olive oil in a pan, add garlic, cook briefly.

2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, oregano, salt, and pepper.

3. Simmer 10 minutes until slightly thickened.

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3. Assemble the Pizza

1. Preheat oven to 220°C / 430°F (hot oven = crispy crust).

2. Divide dough into 2 pieces, roll out into circles or rectangles.

3. Place on baking tray or pizza stone.

4. Spread tomato sauce, add cheese, then toppings.

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4. Bake

• Bake for 12–15 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

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Tips from the Thrifted Kitchen

• Zero waste idea: Use up fridge leftovers as toppings. Even roasted veggies or yesterday’s chicken can become pizza night magic.

• Budget hack: Skip mozzarella if it’s expensive — use regular cheese you already have.

• Make ahead: The dough can be frozen after rising. Just thaw, roll, and bake.