Ingredients
Equipment
Method
1. The Classic Neapolitan-Style Margherita
- Preheat your air-fryer or baking steel to its absolute maximum temperature of 550°F / 287°C. Stretch a 250g dough ball thinly onto a floured peel, leaving a thick rim for the crust. Spread 3 tablespoons of crushed San Marzano tomatoes, top with drained fresh mozzarella slices, and fresh basil leaves. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes until the crust shows beautiful leopard-spots and the cheese is vigorously bubbling.
2. Garlic-Herb White Pizza
- Whisk together 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, and a pinch of dried oregano. Brush this aromatic oil base entirely over your stretched dough, completely bypassing the red sauce. Layer generously with a blend of shredded low-moisture mozzarella, creamy ricotta cheese dollops, and grated fontina. Bake at 500°F / 260°C for 8 minutes until the cheese turns a deep golden brown and bubbles beautifully.
3. Cast Iron Deep Dish
- Coat a cold 12-inch cast-iron skillet heavily with 2 tablespoons of olive oil to ensure a deep fry on the crust. Press your high-hydration dough firmly into the bottom and up the sides of the pan, letting it rest for 10 minutes. Layer the ingredients backwards: lay down thick mozzarella slices first, follow with your toppings, and ladle heavy crushed tomato sauce over the top. Bake on the bottom rack at 475°F / 246°C for 20 minutes until the edges form a caramelized, crispy cheese crown.
4. Sweet & Spicy Hot Honey Pepperoni
- Stretch your dough to a medium thickness and apply a smooth, even layer of classic San Marzano red sauce. Cover the surface entirely with low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella, then tightly shingle your cup-and-char pepperoni slices across the cheese. Bake at 525°F / 274°C for 7 to 9 minutes until the pepperoni edges curl upward into tiny cups filled with rendered fat. Immediately upon pulling the pizza out of the oven, drizzle 2 tablespoons of hot honey across the top while it sizzles.
5. BBQ Chicken & Red Onion
- Spread 4 tablespoons of your favorite smoky BBQ sauce as the base layer, keeping it thin to avoid a soggy middle. Mix shredded cooked chicken breast with a teaspoon of BBQ sauce, then scatter it over a blend of smoked gouda and mozzarella cheese. Top with very thinly sliced red onions and bake at 500°F / 260°C for 9 minutes until the sugars in the sauce caramelize beautifully.
6. Sheet Pan Sicilian-Style Pizza
- Generously oil a 13x18 inch half-sheet pan with olive oil, then press your high-hydration dough out to fill the corners. Let the dough rise directly in the pan for 2 hours at room temperature until it becomes incredibly puffy and full of air bubbles. Par-bake the naked dough at 450°F / 232°C for 10 minutes, then remove to add a heavy layer of marinara sauce and block-shredded mozzarella. Return to the oven for another 12 minutes to create a thick, airy crumb structure with a golden, fried bottom crust.
7. Prosciutto, Arugula & Balsamic Glaze
- Bake a simple dough base topped only with a light brush of olive oil, minced garlic, and a thin layer of mozzarella cheese. Once the crust is fully baked, golden, and hot, immediately drape uncooked prosciutto di Parma slices over the melting cheese. Scatter fresh, peppery baby arugula over the warm meat and finish with a heavy drizzle of thick, aged balsamic glaze reduction.
8. Smoky Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- Combine 4 tablespoons of Frank's RedHot sauce with a tablespoon of melted butter to create an emulsified sauce base. Spread this buffalo mixture over the dough, then layer with a blend of low-moisture mozzarella and crumbled blue cheese. Toss your shredded chicken in extra buffalo sauce, scatter it across the pizza, and bake at 500°F / 260°C for 8 to 10 minutes until aromatic.
9. The Ultimate Veggie Supreme
- To prevent water logging, pre-roast your sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, and red onions for 5 minutes to release their moisture. Spread your classic red sauce over stretched dough, apply your shredded mozzarella cheese, and pile on the par-cooked veggies along with sliced black olives. Bake at 525°F / 274°C for 8 minutes to yield a crisp crust completely free of soggy wet spots.
Notes
CHEF JOHN’S PRO TIPS FOR ARTISAN PIZZA
• Flour Selection Matters: Always use high-protein Bread Flour (like King Arthur, 12.7% protein) rather than All-Purpose flour. High protein content is required to build a strong gluten network that traps gas bubbles, giving you those signature airy pizzeria crust rims.
• The Secret to No More Soggy Middles: If you are using wet or fresh toppings like sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, or fresh mozzarella di bufala, always par-cook or drain them first. Raw veggies release water under high heat, which puddles on top of your cheese and ruins the crispness of the undercarriage.
• Thermal Mass Setup: Always preheat your pizza stone or baking steel at your oven's maximum temperature (500°F - 550°F / 260°C - 287°C) for at least 45 to 60 minutes before sliding the first pizza in. This builds up the intense thermal energy needed to blister the bottom crust instantly.
🌡️ FOOD SAFETY & TEMPERATURE DANGER ZONE
• Crust Internal Doneness: To check if a thick crust (like the Cast Iron Deep Dish or Sicilian Sheet Pan) is fully baked through, insert an instant-read digital thermometer into the center. It should read between 200°F and 205°F / 93°C and 96°C.
• The 2-Hour Rule: Never leave your leftover pizza out on the kitchen counter inside the cardboard delivery box overnight. High-moisture dairy products and cooked protein toppings enter the USDA-defined bacterial danger zone (40°F - 140°F / 4°C - 60°C) after 2 hours at room temperature.
🧊 STORAGE, FREEZING & FLUSH-CRISP REHEATING
• Fridge Storage: Seal your baked leftover slices tightly inside an airtight glass container or wrap them securely in heavy-duty aluminum foil for up to 4 days.
• Freezer Storage: To freeze raw dough balls, coat them lightly in olive oil, place inside a freezer-safe zip-top bag, and freeze for up to 3 months (thaw overnight in the fridge before stretching). For baked slices, flash-freeze them on a tray for 1 hour before stacking them inside a freezer bag separated by parchment paper.
• Reheating for Maximum Crunch: Never use a microwave, as it agitates water molecules rapidly and turns the crust rubbery and tough. Instead, place your cold slice inside a preheated air fryer at 360°F / 182°C for 3 to 4 minutes, or lay it directly onto a dry, hot cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes covered with a lid to melt the cheese perfectly while frying the bottom base back to its original crunch.
