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Home » Uncategorized » Kitchen Tip: Totally Awesome Pizza at Home
tips for homemade pizza
January 25, 2011

Kitchen Tip: Totally Awesome Pizza at Home

From the Kitchen of Katie Kick

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I don’t know a single person (besides Logan – because he’s Mr. Particular) that doesn’t enjoy biting into a big slice of pizza. Pizza seems like universal comfort food, yet it’s often tricky to make it just right at home.

With these five easy tips you can improve your homemade pizza making skills. In no time at all you’ll be whipping up your own delicious pizza at home faster than it would take to pick up a pizza for takeout.

how to make great pizza at home

5 Tips for Totally Awesome Pizza at Home

1. Use a HOT oven. I crank mine up to 550 degrees F (as hot as it goes).

2. Let the oven preheat for at least 35 minutes. You want it really, hot and evenly hot. Especially if you’re using a pizza stone, (see #3)

3. Don’t bother with a pizza pan, cook the pizza right on a hot baking stone. The hot, hot stone is essential for the crispy on the bottom crust without the whole crust being crunchy.

4. Use a pizza peel – or fake it! – to transfer the pizza to the stone. I don’t have a pizza peel, so I fake it.

  • First, I roll the crust out on a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper.
  • Then I transfer the parchment to a pizza pan (which I don’t use for the actual baking).
  • To get the pizza in the oven, slide the pizza (with the parchment) off of the pan and onto the baking stone.

5. Use Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a day Master Boule dough recipe for your crust. This is the best pizza crust I’ve made, with Cook’s Illustrated’s recipe coming in at close second. Why?

  • With Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a day you won’t have to wait 2 hours for the dough to rise before you can assemble your pizza. In fact, you’ll have the dough already ready in your refrigerator whenever the mood for pizza strikes.
  • It’ll take you less time than ordering and picking up take out pizza.
  • Get the Master Boule Dough Recipe or purchase a copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Amazing Pizza Recipes for your Inspiration:

  • Asparagus, Bacon and Feta Pizza on Garlic Flatbread
  • Black Bean Mexican Pizza Recipe
  • BBQ Chicken Pizza with Tomato Chutney
  • Barbecue Chicken Pizza with Gouda
  • Caprese Pizza on Focaccia Garlic Crust
  • Prosciutto and Artichoke Pizza on Garlic Flatbread

Do you have any tips for making great pizza at home?


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Meet Katie Kick

My lifelong interest in cooking has shown me that part of the goodness in life is enjoying delicious food with friends and family. I love trying new foods, discovering new places & things that help my family live the good life.

More About Katie
Updated: January 27, 2025

Reader Interactions

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  1. Maddie says

    January 25, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    thanks for the tips! your crust looks great!

    Reply
  2. Lauren from Lauren's Latest says

    January 25, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    I LOVE your pizza photos! I almost ate my computer screen!

    Reply
  3. Cookbook Queen says

    January 25, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    You had me at totally awesome.

    Kidding 😉

    This pizza looks amazing and I love your photos!! I have been dying to buy that cookbook, this gives me the perfect excuse. THanks for the tips!!

    Reply
  4. Alina says

    January 25, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    Oh thank you, we’ve been making pizza almost every weekend recently. Beautiful pictures – such a splash of colour!

    Reply
  5. Nisrine|Dinners and Dreams says

    January 25, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    Thanks for the tips. I must say that the isuue for me is getting the dough right more than anything else.

    Thanks for the link to the recipe.

    Reply
  6. Jamie | My Baking Addiction says

    January 25, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    Great tips Katie. I keep meaning to invest in a pizza stone!

    Reply
  7. Kristen says

    January 25, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Great tips – we love making homemade pizza.

    Reply
  8. Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says

    January 25, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Great tips! I make pizza all of the time… It’s one of our favorites. I have to try that recipe for the pizza dough.

    Reply
  9. SusieBee at eatlittleeatbig says

    January 25, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    Good tips. I’d add-don’t overload the pizza with too many/much toppings. Also, be creative-take flavors/combinations that you love and adapt to the pizza. (see below, my spicy peanut chicken pizza).
    I have to try to the AB5M recipe; I use a whole wheat dough now that works well, freezes well and cooks up great:

    http://eatlittleeatbig.blogspot.com/2010/11/recipe-for-spicy-peanut-chicken-whole.html

    Reply
  10. Tracy says

    January 25, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    Homemade pizza is the best! Love these tips!

    Reply
  11. Shaina says

    January 25, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Love the tips! Perfect for pizza night.

    Reply
  12. Annie says

    January 25, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    I’ve been wanting to try pizza for a while. Any suggestions for someone who doesn’t have a pizza stone?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 25, 2011 at 7:35 AM

      You can bake it on an inverted cookie sheet that has also been preheated, but you won’t get the same results. Another option would be to experiment with cooking it on the grill. A stone is definitely worth the investment. I have this one: Old Stone 4461 16-Inch Round Oven Pizza Stone. I use it for pizza, galette, crostata and breads.

      Reply
    • Annie says

      January 25, 2011 at 7:37 AM

      Awesome! Thanks Katie.

      Reply
  13. stephchows says

    January 25, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    Have you ever tried grilling pizza?? It’s my favorite thing to make in the summer!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 25, 2011 at 7:37 AM

      Yes, we’ve done that too! Definitely fun in the summer when you don’t want to heat the house up. I follow the same basic rules and put my pizza stone in the grill.

      Reply
  14. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says

    January 25, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    You are so right, the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a day Master Boule dough recipe is amazing! I really love that book. Great tips on making pizza at home!

    Reply
  15. Liz @ Blog is the New Black says

    January 25, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    These are some great tips. 🙂

    Reply
  16. marla {family fresh cooking} says

    January 25, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    Katie, this is such a helpful & inspirational post. The fact that any of us can make a great pizza thrills me 🙂 xo

    Reply
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Katie Kick from Good Life Eats in her kitchen

Meet Katie Kick

Hi, I’m Katie! Thank you so much for visiting my corner of the internet. I am passionate about cooking delicious and beautiful, yet accessible, food for my family and friends. I love tasting new foods, discovering new places and things that help my family live that good life.

More about Katie
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