Pepperoni and Bell Pepper Pizza
A simple, customizable pizza perfect for family dinners and casual get-togethers, featuring gooey mozzarella, pepperoni, bell peppers, and olives.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 recipe Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
Toppings
- 1 cup Tomato sauce (smooth pizza sauce or crushed tomatoes seasoned with salt, garlic, and a pinch of sugar)
- 2 cups Fresh or shredded mozzarella cheese Use low-moisture mozzarella for optimal results.
- 1 cup Pepperoni slices
- 1 cup Bell peppers (any color), thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup Black or green olives, sliced or halved
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil, for drizzling
- 1 tablespoon Italian herbs (dried oregano and basil) Or a tablespoon of fresh chopped basil after baking.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven according to your pizza dough’s package or recipe instructions, and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside if you have one.
- Dust a work surface with flour and roll or stretch the dough to your preferred thickness. Transfer to a parchment sheet or a floured pizza peel.
- Spoon a thin, even layer of tomato sauce over the dough, leaving a 1/2–1 inch border for the crust.
- Scatter mozzarella evenly so the cheese melts uniformly.
- Arrange pepperoni slices, bell pepper strips, and olives across the pizza. Don’t overload the center — less is more for a crisp crust.
- Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the top and sprinkle oregano and basil.
Baking
- Bake for the time specified by the dough recipe (typically 10–15 minutes at high heat for thin crusts; follow package times for thicker crusts) until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven, let the pizza rest for 2 minutes, slice, and serve.
Notes
For a perfect pizza, ensure your oven is very hot (450–500°F / 230–260°C) and preheat a pizza stone for optimal crispness. Prepare sauce and slice toppings ahead of time to save on active assembly time.