Homemade Pizza Recipe: How to Make Pepperoni & Sausage Pizza

This homemade pizza recipe works whether you want to make your own dough or use store-bought. So, semi-homemade, if you like. Either way, this Homemade Pepperoni Sausage Pizza Recipe is a cheesy, meaty, and delicious treat.

The crust comes out chewy and crunchy, and the gooey mozzarella and spicy, savory meat toppings are, well, classic. It’s made with a super simple, rich tomato sauce that’s layered between the base and cheese.

Making a homemade pizza is the perfect Friday night activity. It’s also ideal for game day or when you want a pizzeria vibe at home. You’ll love that you can make it ahead, bake it, and it’s then ready to go!

It’s such a crowd-pleaser, and it makes delicious leftovers. Who doesn’t love a good slice of leftover pepperoni pizza for breakfast?

Tips for a Crispy, Chewy Homemade Pizza Crust

Here’s how to get the very best out of this Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza recipe. It’s pretty simple to make, but there are a couple of ways to get winning results:

• Firstly, use bread flour rather than cake flour for the dough if you’re making it from scratch. Bread flour contains higher levels of protein, which is what gives your dough base a crispy yet chewy texture. This also means the pizza will hold up to the toppings better than a softer, more cakey pizza dough will.
• Shred your own cheese rather than buying it already shredded, which doesn’t melt as easily.
• Rest your dough for at least 1 or 2 hours so that it can really rise up and turn out strong. You want your dough well risen and fluffy when working with it.
• Go easy on your toppings. It can be tempting to load the pizza base with a multitude of toppings, but this can make it soggy. Try to create a good balance between base and toppings.
• Use a hot, properly pre-heated pan to cook your pizza on. A piping hot pan is what jumpstarts the crust and creates that crunchy, golden result.
• Drain the sausage of any excess oil after cooking. That way, your Homemade Pepperoni Pizza and sausage recipe won’t come out too greasy.
• To add extra flavor to your base, try brushing the crust with garlic powder and herb-infused oil before baking. This works for both homemade and store-bought dough.
• Taste your tomato sauce to check the seasoning before using it. It should be beautifully seasoned and well-balanced. This honestly contributes a lot to the final result and deliciousness of your pepperoni and sausage pizza.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

If you have leftover Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, go ahead and pop the slices into an airtight container. Make sure they are 100% cool or at least at room temperature before packing them into the container. Close the lid and pop it into the oven.

You can keep leftover slices in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They can be reheated in the oven or in an air fryer. We recommend avoiding the microwave, as it can cause the pizza crust to become soggy and soft.

For make-ahead preparation, the pizza dough can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 2 days. You can even freeze unbaked dough for 2 months. If you do, just make sure to let it come to room temperature before baking with it.

Topping Variations and Substitutions

There are a few really simple swaps and variations that work well in this recipe:

• Store-bought shortcut: You can make this homemade pizza with store-bought pizza dough or even a pre-made crust if you don’t have time (or the inclination). You’ll want to just follow the same topping and baking directions as you would for the homemade, from-scratch version.
• Go extra cheesy: Make a blend of mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan. We love the way the parmesan gives the whole thing a little crunchy crust on top. Read our guide for the best cheeses for pizza here.
• Make it spicy:  The easiest way to amp up the heat is to switch Italian sausage for hot sausage and add sliced or chopped jalapenos.
• Vegetarian version: Replace the pepperoni and sausage with mushrooms, peppers, or even black or green olives.
• Make a white base sauce: Instead of a tomato sauce, use and make a garlic cream base sauce.

How to Make Homemade Pizza in an Airfryer

You can also make this recipe in an air fryer:

1. Heat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
2. Roll or press the dough into smaller pizza rounds, approximately 6–8 inches in diameter, so that they will fit into the air fryer.
3. Par-bake the crust for 4-5 minutes in the air fryer.
4. Top with the sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and sausage.
5. Cook for an additional 7 to 10 minutes.

How to Make Homemade Pizza with Store-Bought Dough

To use a store-bought dough for this recipe, choose fresh dough balls from the bakery or your local pizza restaurant.

Bring it home, let it come to room temperature, and use it from Step 3: Assemble the pizza in the recipe below.

How to Make Homemade Pizza with Store-Bought Crust

If you’re going to use a store-bought crust, you can skip the parts of this recipe that direct you to make a dough, etc.

Follow the remaining recipe instructions to prepare the tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings. Then, top your thawed store-bought crust and bake.

You may need to adjust the baking time, depending on the thickness of your store-bought crust.

Homemade Pizza Recipe Shopping Lists

Shop online using our list below

To make the pizza dough:

• Bread flour
• sea salt
• white sugar
• instant yeast
• olive oil (good quality)

For the sauce:

• olive oil
• cloves fresh garlic
• 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
• white sugar
• dried Italian herb mix or dried oregano
• dried basil
• Salt and pepper

For the toppings:

• mozzarella cheese
• American pepperoni
• Italian sausage
• Fresh basil (optional, for garnish)

Extra cheese:

• provolone
• parmesan

Pizza Pans for Homemade Pizza

• Cast Iron Pizza Pan
• HexClad Hybrid Nonstick Pizza Steel for Pizzas and Flatbreads
• GoodCook AirPerfect 14″

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