Individual homemade pizza is made with an easy 20 minute dough and makes a fun party or family movie night "pizza bar" where everyone can top their pizzas just like they want! This dough also makes a regular sized pizza - choices, choices.
We have had homemade pizza every other Saturday for more years than I can count - all the years our kids were growing up and then some (we don't have it every week because half our family loves burgers, so we alternate our Saturday night meals - which is also a great way to make menu planning easier!).
The reason it's possible for a normal time-crunched family to have homemade pizza is this easy pizza dough (and I do mean easy: no kneading and only 15-20 minute rest). I originally found this recipe in an old Betty Crocker cookbook we received for our wedding and it's been our go-to ever since.
Honestly, we found that it takes less time to make, start to finish, than ordering and picking up a pizza. And of course there is the savings: the cost is $5-$10 depending on your toppings (a regular pepperoni comes in at just $3-$4!) compared to $15-$20+ at a pizza chain.
One of the best things about the Betty Crocker recipe was that there were directions for making the dough into individual pizzas as well as a regular size. This was such a great option during the kid's "picky eating" years - we would load up our pizza with vegetables, our daughter would choose cheese and our son would add every type of meat that was available, lol. Needless to say, they LOVED pizza night even more after that.
Hosting A "Pizza Bar"
Making individual homemade pizza quickly became one of our favorite meals to serve to guests, especially families with children and people we were having over for the first time and may not know all their food likes. It's always a hit, but it's also great because it can all be made in advance so you can enjoy the meal just like everyone else.
You simply prebake the crusts, line up toppings, and let everyone go through the line choosing what they want. This really takes the stress out of hosting new friends and makes it fun. I've got tips for hosting your pizza bar below, including making everything ahead - I think you'll really love this idea!
Individual Homemade Pizza Recipe
You'll make the dough first and then assemble your ingredients while the dough is resting and prebaking. I plan about 45 minutes to make the dough and prep the ingredients for the pizza bar, depending on the number of toppings there will be.
Make the Dough
For the dough you'll need:
- Flour - we prefer 1/2 whole wheat and half unbleached wheat flour. I've made it with 100% spelt with good success, as well as 100% whole wheat. It's a bit more fluffy with half white flour, though.
- Dry Yeast - both instant and active yeast work.
- Salt
- Sugar or Honey
- Olive Oil
- Water
Mix the ingredients well, let the dough rest, and then divide into 6-7 pieces, rolling each into a rough ball.
Note on the rest time: I've let the dough rest for less time (read: none) and even longer, and it's always turned out fine. The pizza just has fluffier edges and is easier to roll if it rests for 15-20 minutes. It will have risen a bit at the end, but won't have doubled in size.
Shape the Dough
Prep two of your largest baking sheets by placing a little bit of cornmeal in four spots on one and three on the other (for 7 pizzas like pictured - use only 3 on each if making 6 larger pizzas). They fit better when staggered on the pan like pictured above.
Take a dough ball and shape it into a larger flat circle before placing it on top of one of the cornmeal spots. Then use your fingers to press each flattened ball into a circle roughly 6-inches in diameter.
Since the crusts will puff in the oven, I like to make an edge and make sure the center is fairly thin and even for cooking. And it's ok if the individual pizza edges touch - they won't be perfectly round but that's the joy of homemade, isn't it?
Note: You can also make one large pizza like I did here. Add a little cornmeal on a pizza pan, stone, or rectangular baking sheet, add all the dough to the center and press out to fill the pan, building up the edges if you'd like.
PreBake The Crusts
Prebake the crusts for about 10 minutes. They may puff up in spots, but you can just push them down when you take them out of the oven. It doesn't matter for the end result.
TIP: Make sure the tops are brown, but that the bottoms are only lightly brown, so they won't burn when you cook them later with the toppings. Why Prebake? You'll need to prebake to make it easy for everyone to hold and transfer their pizzas, but prebaking even the regular sized pizza helps make sure that the center is always fully cooked. Not soggy centers allowed.
Top & Final Bake
Add sauce and toppings, return to oven and cook another 7-12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned.
Pizza Topping Ideas
This is a great way to use things from your freezer and pantry, like:
- pizza sauce and/or pesto
- shredded cheese: mozzarella, parmesan, feta, etc.
- Italian sausage, pepperoni, cooked chicken, prosciutto, etc.
- sliced olives
- chopped onions
- canned artichokes
- roasted red peppers and/or chopped sweet peppers
- pickled jalapeños (or fermented pickled jalapeños)
- chopped fresh spinach or massaged kale leaves
- sliced tomatoes (for topping after baked)
Tips for Hosting a Homemade Pizza Bar
1) To Make Ahead: After the prebake, place the crusts on a rack to cool and let them sit out on the rack if it's only an hour before you'll be using them. Put them in an airtight container and leave at room temperature if making the day before. They can also be refrigerated for a few days and can be frozen for a couple of months.
Slice, chop, shred, and prep all the topping ingredients the morning of or day before, too. Place them right in the containers you'll put them out in so all you have to do is set everything up.
2) To Set Up for Guests: Line up the toppings in the order they will be used, sauce(s) and cheeses first and then the meats and vegetables. When serving to guests I like to have a couple of choices of sauces (red sauce and pesto), 2-3 cheeses, and at least 2 types of meat. Then add any kind of vegetables you have that you think will go well on pizza. If it's just family, the pizza bar will usually be more limited.
Give each person the plate they will use to eat it after baking, set a crust on it, and send them through the line. Have them set their plate at their spot at the table.
I plan for those who I think will eat two pizzas, and just ask them to make one first so we can get the first round baking before cooking their second.
3) How to Tell Them Apart: This is my biggest tip for homemade individual pizzas: always tell people top their pizza in unique ways so they will recognize it when it comes out of the oven (see the three pizzas in the photo above for examples). It's amazing how melting cheese makes everything look the same! Some ideas are:
- one olive in the middle
- using roasted peppers to make their initial
- one pepperoni in the middle
- two artichoke hearts in the middle
- and so on...
4) Baking & Serving: After the pizzas are topped, set on the baking pans, and put back in the oven, you'll need to rotate the pans if you have more than one in the oven at a time. The pizzas with less toppings may be done sooner, so you should keep checking after the 7 minute mark.
Since the pizza is hot when you're serving, I've found it easiest to have a cutting board and knife available to cut the pizzas in half (or quarters) before using a spatula to serve them to the owner. They're a little easier to eat that way.
Also, it's nice to have a platter of cut vegetables and dip available to munch on while everyone is waiting for the pizzas to cook. Not essential, but nice.
I hope your family - and your guests - enjoys this individual homemade pizza bar idea as much as we have!
Individual Homemade Pizzas
Ingredients
Homemade Pizza: Individual Mini or Regular Size
- 1 package dry yeast or 1 scant tablespoon, active or instant
- 1 cup warm tap water
- 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 ½ cups flour
- Pizza sauce cheese, and desired toppings
Instructions
Make the Crusts:
- Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in remaining ingredients.
- Beat with a mixer until the dough pulls away from the edges (or by hand vigorously for 20-30 strokes). Let rest 15-20 minutes.
- Separate into 7 equal balls, flatten and shape into small pizzas on a cookie sheet sprinkled with a little cornmeal. Three to four should fit on a sheet.
- Prebake the small pizzas for about 10 minutes in a 425 degree oven. Remove to a rack to cool. (Make Ahead Tip: you can make early in the day and keep the crusts in an airtight container until dinner or you can freeze the crusts for a couple months before thawing and using.)
Top & Finish Baking:
- Put all toppings in bowls, give a crust on a plate to everyone and then gave each person top the pizza as they wish. Important Tip: make sure to tell each person to use toppings to identify their pizza after cooking.
- Place the pizzas back on the cookie sheet and cook for another 7-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and browning. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- On a pan (pizza, baking stone, or cookie sheet), sprinkle some cornmeal and spread to the edges of the pan.
- Prebake in 425 degree oven (optional, but ensures fully cooked crust).
- Remove from oven, top with sauce, cheese and toppings and return to oven for 10-15 minutes, until done. Cook it on the lowest rack setting so that the bottom crust is closest to the element.
Nutrition
Other Easy Family Dinners to Try:
Easy Baked Maple Mustard Chicken (our son asks for this on his birthday!)
Classic Chef's Salads (another choose-your-topping meal popular with kids)
Quick Chicken Caesar Wraps (perfect for picnics and sport events)
This recipe has been updated - it was originally published in July 2009.
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Aman says
This is so amazing, thanks for sharing this recipe.
Melissa says
Thank you so much for this detailed post!! Im about To have a teen birthday party and we are doing a homemade pizza bar, and you have made it so much easier for me to figure everything out!
Thanks so much!
Melissa
Jami says
I'm so glad this was helpful for you, Melissa! That sounds like a perfect party.
Mary A. Sorensen says
I totally love things like this - it makes for such a fun get-together!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing your recipe and ideas. : )
Jami says
You're welcome - sure hope you enjoy it like we have!
Anne says
Okay, so I'm making this now, and I was following the printed directions. It said after dissolving the yeast to stir in remaining ingredients. So I just measured the flour, sugar, and salt into one bowl. But looking at the step by step instructions with the photos, it says to add the salt, sugar, and oil first, then add the flour. Will it still work if I add all the ingredients to the dissolved yeast together, or should I start over and add the sugar, salt, and oil before the flour?
Jami says
Well, even though I'm answering this and you're obviously finished with the recipe 🙂 hopefully you've seen that it will work with whatever order you put the ingredients it! It's a pretty forgiving recipe.
Terry says
The beginning of your directions say to "add honey" with the oil/water etc, yet I do not see honey listed in the ingredients. Am I missing something in the list of ingredients?
Thanks for all yu do, love your blog!
Terry
Terry says
opps just saw where it said "or honey" 🙂 Now I have my glasses on 🙂
Julie says
Hi there! Plan on using this recipe this weekend. thank you so much for the great idea. I was wondering if you happen to have a good recipe for homemade pizza sauce?
Jami says
I do, Julie! We use the sauce I can every year from our tomatoes: https://anoregoncottage.com/home-canned-pizza-sauce/
But if you don't have a stash of fresh or frozen tomatoes, I'm sure this will work with canned tomatoes - you just need to figure out the ratios, etc. And of course you don't have to can it - it can be frozen just as easily to be ready whenever you want pizza. 🙂
Frieda says
Have you ever tried freezing the prebaked crust? I think I will give it a try. It would be nice for my teenager to take out and make pizza on his own for an after school snack or when he has friends over. Thanks for all of your great recipes!
Jami says
Yes I have, Frieda, and you're right - it works great and is good for a quick meal!
Cathy says
Could this be made in a bread machine using the dough cycle? My right hand can not hold up to doing it by hand and I don't have a strong enough mixer.
Jami says
I've never tried it, Cathy, but I don't see why not!
Cathy says
I made this today, after you replied so quickly, and it was fantastic! The first pan I prebaked came out a little thicker than I intended, so I made sure the second pan was a little thinner. We all tried some of each and when I asked which was better, the answer was "both!". I'm getting ready to go back to work full-time for the first time in almost 20 years, so this is definitely going to be a keeper. I'll take some crusts out of the freezer in the morning, with some prepped toppings and dinner is almost ready when I get home. Thank you!
Magee says
Scratch my last note - rebooted my computer and was able to get the recipe. Sorry for the bother.
Magee says
For whatever reason, the recipe ingredients/quantities for the Quick Homemade Pizza Dough do not appear when I open the page. Would love to have the recipe! Thanks.
Hrodgers says
When you let it rest do you put olive oil on the top or cover it? I've never made pizza dough but seems like other recipes say to do this. If not that's great too. 1 less step!
Jami says
It's just 10 to 20 minutes, so I never bother oiling or covering. There is a very slight crust when I take it out of the bowl, but nothing that stays once I start shaping the pizza. Oil if you'd like to - or not, it's up to you!
Anonymous says
I have the same cookbook, my Aunt Bernice gave me as a wedding shower gift in 1984. I have used it so much the cover has fallen apart from the book and I keep it in the pantry since it looks so bad. The cookbook held up better than the marriage (10 years). My second husband is a keeper though, almost 16 years and 2 wonderful children. I love your blog!
Puanani503 says
Thanks for sharing this recipe..I'd like to try making this with the kids:)
Rhonda in OK says
thanks for recommendation about spelt. Our DD found out about 2 months ago that she is wheat allergic.
your pizzas look like lots of fun too
Jennifer says
What a great idea! I will have to try that next time we make pizza the kids will love it.
FishMama says
LOL "Six 13 year-old girls. For 24 hours. And that's all I'm gonna say about that..."
Gonna try this next time I forget to make the rising kind.
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says
It's called "Betty Crocker's Cookbook" and now that I look at it, the date inside says 1984 (someone gave us an old cookbook for our wedding!). It's published by Golden Press and the cover is orange with photos of food. It's also got my favorite brownie recipe - the fudgy version.
Sounds like a fun collection. Thanks for reading!
Anonymous says
Would you please let me know the name of your Betty Crocker Cookbook? I love to collect old, tried & true cookbooks and our library has a used book sale every year on Labor Day weekend where I usually look for old cookbooks. This recipe sounds easier than our usual pizza dough, so will try it on our next pizza night. BTW, love your blog!