If you’ve ever wondered how to make a DIY pizza, then you should give this recipe a try.
- Calories per serving: 842
What Kind Of Pizza Do You Want In Your Bowl?
The first step when making any food that involves yeast is proofing the yeast.
This means mixing it with warm water until it starts to bubble.
You can find instructions on this process online or in an official cookbook.
The goal here is to activate the yeast so that it will create carbon dioxide bubbles as it works its magic.
Once you have activated the yeast, you are ready to move forward with your pizza-making adventure.
There are many different types of pizzas out there!
To get started, I decided to go with one of my favorite recipes from Serious Eats called “A Better Margherita Pizza.”
If you would like another option, check out these other tasty recipes for homemade pizza.
I used whole wheat flour because I wanted something light and healthy.
However, feel free to use all white flour if you prefer.
In addition to using regular old flour, I also added some garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
These ingredients add flavor without adding too much extra weight.
The result was a very thin crust pizza with a nice crunchy texture.
Before I moved onto the actual pizza dough itself, I prepped everything else needed for the pizza.
First, I melted butter over medium heat in a skillet.
Then, I stirred in 1/4 cup olive oil and 4 cloves minced garlic.
After letting those two ingredients simmer together for about 5 minutes, I removed them from the stovetop and set aside.
Next, I put 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese into a large bowl along with 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese.
Finally, I mixed in 1 tablespoon of dried basil and 1 teaspoon of salt (you could also add more).
Now that is done, it’s time to move onto the actual dough.
For starters, I got myself a small package of active dry yeast.
Once again, follow the directions on the back of the box to prove the yeast before starting anything else.
After proving the yeast, mix in 1 tablespoon of sugar and 2 teaspoons of salt.
Now comes the fun part where we start kneading the bread dough by hand.
Start off slowly and work up to speed once you become familiar with the task.
Also note that while you may be tempted to skip steps, don’t worry.
We will come back around later and cover every single thing you did during the initial stages of making the dough.
As you continue to knead the dough, you might notice that it gets increasingly sticky as you keep working away.
When this happens, stop immediately and add more flour to the mixture.
Continue to add flour by the tablespoon until the consistency resembles that of Play Dough.
At this point, you can either let it sit to rise or roll it out right now.
Either way, it is important to remember that you cannot rush through the rising process.
How Much Pizza Dough Do You Need For This Recipe?
This homemade pizza recipe only requires one sheet of store-bought pizza dough because the dough is used as both the base of the pizza bowl and its topping.
That means that you can use whatever type of crust or sauce you like in your bowl.
The dough will be rolled out into a circle about 12 inches across (30 cm) before any other ingredients are added.
The size of the pizza bowl
Before starting to roll out the dough, measure the diameter of your baking dish using a ruler.
To find the exact measurement, add 2 inches (5 cm) to the total height of the pan.
For example, if you have an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking dish, add 4 inches (10 cm) to the side length.
So here we go:
12 inch = 30cm
Add 14inches + 2 inches(5cm)
28 inches = 70cm
So now we know that our pizza bowl needs to be around 28 inches wide (70 cm).
How many pizzas can I make with the same amount of dough?
We don’t recommend making more than two different kinds of pizzas from the same batch of dough.
Because the dough has been stretched thin when it’s placed inside the baking dish, there won’t be enough thickness left over to create another round of crust.
Can I save leftover dough to make my own pizza later?
Yes! You can freeze fresh pizza dough in zip-top bags until needed.
When ready to bake a pizza, follow these instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius).
Unwrap the dough and place between two sheets of parchment paper so that they’re flat against each other.
Use a rolling pin to gently press down the top layer of parchment paper onto the bottom piece.
Remove the top piece of parchment paper and flip the dough over onto a lightly floured surface.
Gently peel back the second layer of parchment paper and slide the dough onto a wire rack.
Let cool completely before storing.
What Toppings Do You Want On Your Pizza Bowl?
There are endless possibilities when it comes to making homemade pizzas.
You can add any topping that you wish or whatever combination of ingredients works best with your taste buds.
The options here are just suggestions.
Feel free to experiment!
Cheese (or other dairy)
The most common option is cheese.
Just like in real pizza, adding cheese gives the top layer extra flavor.
If you prefer to skip the dairy, feel free to use an alternative ingredient like mushrooms instead.
Vegetables
You can also choose to include vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumber, etc.
Adding veggies adds another dimension to the experience by giving each bite more flavors and textures.
Meat/Poultry
Another popular choice is meat, which brings protein into the equation.
Some people opt not to eat meat because they don’t have enough time during their busy day, but if you enjoy eating red meat, then you can always choose beef, pork, chicken, salmon, turkey, lamb, etc.
Sauces
Some people love the idea of having a little bit of sauce on their pizza.
However, others would rather avoid it altogether.
That being said, there are still plenty of choices available when choosing sauces to go along with your favorite toppings.
Olive Oil
For some reason, olive oil doesn’t get mentioned often when talking about pizza.
Still, it’s important to point out that many people believe it makes for a better crust.
Olive oil contains essential fatty acids called polyunsaturated fats that help create a healthier body overall.
When used as a cooking medium, olive oil will keep your food from drying up too fast while cooking.
Onion
This one might seem obvious, but onion is actually very underrated when it comes to pizza.
Onions provide great flavor without taking away from anything else.
Tomatoes
Again, tomato is considered the king of all fruits when it comes to pizza.
It provides natural sweetness and acidity, which helps balance the rest of the ingredients nicely.
Pepperoni
Yes, pepperoni is technically a type of sausage.
But since we’re talking about pizza bowls, let’s leave the details aside and focus on what matters — the taste! Pepperoni is known for its spicy kick, so it goes well with everything else.
Capsicum
Capicums are related to bell peppers, but they differ significantly in terms of size and shape.
Capsicums contain capsaicin, which gives them their characteristic heat and pungency.
They can be found fresh, dried, raw, fried, pickled, or even smoked.
Depending on where you live, you may find these items at local grocery stores or markets.
Ground Beef
Ground beef is usually associated with hamburgers, but it turns out that ground beef can work wonders when it comes to creating a tasty pizza bowl.
Ground beef has a lot of iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and calcium, which can help boost energy levels and improve muscle strength.
Ham
Ham is another good option to consider.
Ham is high in sodium, but it also contains lots of protein, which means it can help repair muscle tissue after exercise.
In addition to that, ham has less fat than other meats, meaning it won’t weigh down your pizza bowl quite as much.
Chicken
Like ground beef, chicken is full of nutrients that can benefit our bodies.
Chicken is low-fat, packed with protein, and it’s extremely versatile.
Not only does it taste fantastic, but it’s also fairly inexpensive compared to other types of meat.
Salmon
Not everyone likes fish, but if you happen to be one of those who doesn’t care for seafood, then you should definitely check out salmon.
Salmon is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce inflammation within the body and lower blood pressure.
Plus, salmon contains tons of vitamins A, D, E, K, B1, B6, B12, C, and niacin, which are all vital for proper health and wellness.
Turkey
Many people think of turkey as Thanksgiving dinner, but did you know that it’s also a great source of protein? Turkey is typically leaner than other poultry and contains fewer calories.
This makes turkey a perfect fit for weight loss programs, especially considering it tastes incredible as part of a healthy meal plan.
Lamb
Just like turkey, lamb is also considered a “red meat,” though it differs slightly in terms of texture and taste.
Lamb is generally leaner than other meats, so it’s ideal for anyone looking to cut back on saturated fat intake.
It also contains fewer calories than other red meats.
Beef
Finally, beef is another great option to consider.
Like lamb, beef is relatively low in saturated fat.
Also, unlike other cuts of beef, steak cuts of beef aren’t as tough as regular cuts, so they tend to cook faster and retain moisture better.
These reasons make beef a smart choice for a variety of diets including veganism and vegetarianism.
How Do You Make The Pizza Dough For This Recipe?
For the best homemade pizza, use high-quality flour with no additives or preservatives.
You can find it in most grocery stores.
If not, check out these websites that sell organic gluten free or vegan flour options:
- Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour Mix
- All Purpose Organic Unbleached White Whole Wheat
- King Arthur Flour
You will need 2 cups of flour for this recipe.
The rest of the ingredients are pretty simple.
- 1/4 cup olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons yeast
To mix the ingredients together, combine them all into a large mixing bowl and whisk until well combined.
Place the bowl onto a flat surface and knead the mixture using your hands until it comes together as one cohesive ball of dough.
Now place the bowl inside of an oven safe dish such as a baking sheet.
Cover the entire dish with plastic wrap and let sit for 10 minutes so the dough has time to rise slightly before cooking.
Now that you have risen the dough, it’s time to prepare the sauce.
To do this, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a small pan.
Once the oil begins to shimmer, add chopped garlic cloves and sautee until fragrant but not burnt.
Add crushed red pepper flakes and stir constantly for another minute.
Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
In a separate pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil while stirring frequently.
When boiling, reduce heat to low and add tomato paste, basil leaves, oregano, black pepper, and salt.
Stir occasionally until the tomato paste melts into the soup.
Set aside to cool completely and store in the refrigerator.
After both sauces have cooled down, take the dough out of the fridge and divide it into two equal portions.
Using a rolling pin, roll each piece of dough flat until it becomes about 6 inches long by 4 inches wide.
Take half of the cooled tomato sauce and spread it across the bottom of the baking tray.
Then top with mozzarella cheese slices followed by fresh basil leaves.
Repeat with remaining dough and sauce.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove from oven and cut pizzas into 8 pieces.
Serve immediately!
How Do You Cook The Pizza Dough For This Recipe?
The first step in making your own homemade pizza is to prepare the crust.
You can use store-bought or premade pre-cooked doughs if you want, but it will not be as authentic as what we are going to show you here.
The next thing that needs to happen is to add toppings to the crust.
A lot of people like to put their favorite ingredients on top of their homemade pizzas, so feel free to experiment with whatever you have available.
How Do You Assemble The Pizza Bowl?
This recipe calls for two pans of aluminum foil, so you will need enough foil to wrap around your entire kitchen countertop or table.
When it comes time to put together the pizza bowl, take a look at the pictures below for guidance on what order things go in.
You can also download our Pizza Bowl Assembly Guide PDF here.
Step 1 – Prepare your toppings
The first step when making this recipe is preparing all of your ingredients.
Start by preheating your oven to 450° F (232 C).
Next, prepare each ingredient individually, as they are needed throughout the assembly process.
If you have any questions about which pan goes with which item, check out our handy guide above!
Step 2 – Make the dough
Next up is creating the dough.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, salt, olive oil, water, and egg using an electric mixer.
Mix until fully combined, then knead the mixture for 5 minutes.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.
After rising, divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.
On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of dough into a circle between 1/4-inch (.6 cm) thick.
Use a pizza cutter to cut each disc into 4 wedges.
If one of your slices doesn’t come out perfectly circular, don’t worry.
Just use some cookie cutters to get it right.
Place the dough rounds onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
Brush each round with olive oil, cover them tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside to rise again for 20 minutes, or until doubled in size.
Step 3 – Assemble the bowls
Once both discs have risen, remove the plastic wrap from each bowl and place the bottom half of the dough in each bowl.
Using your fingers, press down the sides of the bowl to form a cup shape.
Fill each bowl with shredded mozzarella cheese and top with pepperoni slices, green peppers, black olives, red onion rings, and fresh basil leaves.
Add more cheese if necessary to fill the bowls completely.
Cover the bowls loosely with plastic wrap, leaving space underneath for air circulation.
Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the dough rises slightly.
Preheat your oven to 425ºF (218ºC), and place the bowls directly on the center rack.
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove the bowls from the oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately!
How Do You Bake The Pizza Bowl?
To cook your homemade pizza in the oven, first preheat it on your gas or electric stovetop burner until it reaches 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 Celsius).
After that, turn off the heat source and allow the oven to cool down completely before placing the pizza inside of it.
Make sure to place a baking sheet underneath the pizza so that it doesn’t slide around during cooking.
The next step is to add some oil to the bottom of the pan and lay out all of the ingredients.
You will need one large egg white, 1/3 cup water, 3 cups flour, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt.
Next, mix everything together with a wooden spoon until you have a thick batter consistency.
Then, pour the dough into the pan and spread it evenly across the bottom.
Let it rest for about 10 minutes before adding toppings.
How Do You Serve The Pizza Bowl?
Pizza bowls can be served as an appetizer or as part of your meal.
You can also use it as a main course if you want something more filling.
The beauty about this tasty treat is that you don’t need any special equipment to prepare one.
Just grab yourself a plate and get cooking!
What Are Some Variations Of This Recipe?
There isn’t much variation in this recipe because it is based on the same dough that I use for my homemade frozen pizzas.
However, if you want your bowl to be served cold or hot, add an extra step.
For instance, if you wanted to heat up your pizza bowl, follow these instructions below.
To heat up your pizza bowl (ideally):
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Put a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the bowl so that no grease gets onto the bottom of the bowl.
Bake for 15 minutes until the edges start to brown slightly.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely before eating.
For a cold pizza bowl, simply skip steps one through three above and bake as usual.
These directions will work with any type of dough, but they aren’t necessary if you have enough time to prepare and cook a regular pie.
What Are Some Tips For Making This Recipe?
The first thing I would do with this recipe is make sure that your oven has been preheated properly.
If it isn’t hot enough, the dough will just be too cold and won’t come together in one piece when you roll it out.
I also highly recommend purchasing an actual peel if you plan on doing any rolling or cutting of the crusts.
This will help ensure that everything comes off cleanly without tearing up your hands or having to use a knife instead.
And last but not least, don’t forget about those toppings!
You want to have all of them ready before you start baking so they can cook evenly.
Equipment
- Large skillet
Ingredients
- 2 cups pizza sauce sugar free
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- ½ cup Italian sausage meat
- ½ cup salami slices
Instructions
- Cook the sausage and mushrooms in a large skillet over medium-high heat until brown.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- 14 cup pizza sauce, divided into four oven-safe bowls
- Divide the sausage and mushroom mixture among the four serving bowls.
- 14 cup cheese should be placed on top of each bowl.
- Spread the remaining sauce over each bowl and top with salami slices.
- Top each bowl with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts and begins to turn slightly golden brown.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.