Pizza does not need to be complicated. Many social influencers and “pizza experts” will make you think otherwise, with complex recipes and techniques. However, all you need is a little time and patience and you can make amazing pizza at home with just a few simple tools and quality ingredients. The following techniques and homemade pizza recipes will teach you to make pizza the easy stress free way, using your home oven or a backyard pizza oven.

You do not need a fancy backyard pizza oven to make great pizza at home. All you need is a good baking steel and a baking scale for accurate measurements. You can get by without a pizza peel by using a non-rimmed sheet pan to slide your pizzas on to the backing steel. If you are committed to making pizza, I would still get a nice aluminum perforated pizza peel to make it easy on yourself.

Lots of size options - I prefer the 16" x 16" Baking Steel for larger pizzas.

Accurate measurements make great pizza possible for beginners

A cheap accessory - these little guys make cleanup and dough handling a lot easier
I am going to show you how to make three different styles of pizza, using similar dough recipes that make it easy and repeatable every single time. Below you will find links to three pizza recipes that range from thin and crispy to thick pan pizza that will remind you of Pizza Hut back in the good ol days when they actually made good pizza.
If you are new to pizza making, start with the Thin & Crispy Tavern Style Pizza, followed by the Detroit Style Pizza, then the NY Style Pizza Recipe. Making them in that order will grow your confidence along the way.

Thin and crispy with a dough recipe that is super easy to make. This Chicago Tavern Style Pizza Recipe is a great starting point for making pizza amazing pizza at home. This recipe has a detailed process for making the dough, as well as making a zesty sauce that pairs perfectly with the thin crust.

Thin and crispy with a dough recipe that is super easy to make. This Chicago Tavern Style Pizza Recipe is a great starting point for making pizza amazing pizza at home. This recipe has a detailed process for making the dough, as well as making a zesty sauce that pairs perfectly with the thin crust.

Thin and crispy with a dough recipe that is super easy to make. This Chicago Tavern Style Pizza Recipe is a great starting point for making pizza amazing pizza at home. This recipe has a detailed process for making the dough, as well as making a zesty sauce that pairs perfectly with the thin crust.
You will find a lot of detail in the specific pizza recipes above. Below are some tips and knowledge I have found useful when making pizza dough and stretching the dough into pizzas.
Flour Choices for Pizza
Dough, Resting Time, Temperature, and Yeast
The Day you Make Pizzas

Lots of size options - I prefer the 16" x 16" Baking Steel for larger pizzas.

Accurate measurements make great pizza possible for beginners

A cheap accessory - these little guys make cleanup and dough handling a lot easier

Lightweight and pizza dough slides off the perforated surface easily

Cuts through any style of pizza with ease

By measuring the temperature of your baking steel, you can make consistent pizza.

Excellent temperature control, small footprint, and it will make 16" pizzas

Top tier backyard pizza oven for a permanent backyard location. Amazing oven.

Portable, but still very solid. Great for making pizzas in the 10-11" size range.
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Hi, my name is Keegan Lare. I love to create delicious grilled and smoked food, bursting with bold flavors. I also love to see my friends and family try something tasty and new. It is in this spirit that I created Seared & Smoked. Leave me a message and i’ll get back to you as soon as I can.