Homemade Pizza Supreme

Your next pizza night could start with the opening of the oven door instead of the front door. This pizza supreme recipe is a worthy match for anything you could order. The dough for the crust is so easy to prepare, and then you only need a few standard ingredients for the sauce and toppings. 

What’s on a supreme pizza? This recipe sets you up with the fundamental flavors but you can really customize it according to your taste. Since you’re making it yourself, you can even top different sections with meats or vegetables to suit everyone. 

Ingredients for Pizza Supreme

Dough:

• Active dry yeast: Necessary to make the dough rise 
• Vegetable oil: Helps create a flexible, supple dough
• Salt: Just a little gives the pizza base some flavor
• All-purpose flour: Gives you a dough that’s easy to work with and rises well

Sauce:

• Tomato sauce: Use a high quality sauce with no added sugars or flavorings if possible.
• Onion: Grate a little onion to give the sauce aroma.
• Dried oregano: Adds a classic fragrance to any Italian-style tomato sauce.
• Salt: This balances some of the natural sweetness and acidity in the tomatoes.
• Pepper: Ground black pepper lends a sauce depth and warmth.

Toppings:

• Mozzarella cheese: Shred some part-skimmed mozzarella for a stretchy topping that isn’t too greasy.
• Canadian bacon: This diced bacon is sweet and salty and crisps up wonderfully in the oven.
• Pepperoni: Classic pizza topping that adds some spice and color to the topping.
• Red pepper: Slice some sweet red peppers for their tender texture and subtle flavor.
• Green pepper: Add green pepper too to vary the color palette.
• Olives: Drain and slice green or black olives to add a strong, acidic bite to each slice.
• Onion: Fine chopped onion give the topping sweetness.  
• Parmesan cheese: This fuller-flavored cheese balances the gentler flavor of the mozzarella.
• Basil: A little minced, fresh basil tops off the pizza with a fragrant flourish.

Directions

Step 1: Make the pizza dough

Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. If it’s foaming, it’s working. Add the oil, salt and a little flour. Using a food mixer, beat on medium speed for 3 minutes, then stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface and knead with your hands for about 6 to 8 minutes until you have a smooth and elastic dough. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top, and cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Allow to rest in a warm place for 10 minutes, during which the dough will rise.

Editor’s Tip: Dust the counter top with a little cornmeal to stop the dough sticking while you knead it. Your local pizza parlor probably does the same. 

Step 2: Make the pizza sauce

Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

Combine the tomato sauce, onion, oregano, salt and pepper then set aside. Divide the dough in half and roll each into a circle on a floured surface. Transfer each base to a greased pizza pan and crimp the edges slightly to raise them. 

Step 3: Pre-bake and bake

Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

Bake the crust at 375° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Spread evenly with the pizza sauce to the edges and sprinkle with the toppings. Bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until the cheese has melted. 

Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

Recipe Variations 

• Skip the homemade crust: Although kneading your own dough is soothing and relaxing, you can start your recipe with a premade pizza crust if you’re short on time. 
• Extra toppings: Personalize this pizza to your own preference with Italian sausage, mushrooms, capers or ground beef. Just don’t overload the topping or you’ll get an undercooked crust. 
• Spicy touches: If you like a pie with a little more heat, add chopped jalapeno peppers and a sprinkle of red chili flakes to the topping.

How to Store Pizza Supreme

This homemade supreme pizza is at its best straight from the oven, but you can store it for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator once cooled. Wrap in foil to stop it drying out, then reheat in the oven or skillet to melt the cheese again. 

Can you make pizza supreme ahead of time?  

The beauty of this supreme pizza recipe is that it’s quick, but if you really want to get a premium pie crust, you can make the dough up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate it (covered). This allows the yeast to fully ferment. The tomato sauce can also be mixed in advance. 

Pizza Supreme Tips

Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

How do I get the best possible pizza dough?

The sweet spot for yeast to work its wonders is between 110° and 115°. This will give you the lightest, crunchiest homemade pizza crust. Don’t over-knead the dough but do give it plenty of time to rise. 

How can I prevent a soft, undercooked pizza base?

Leaving your pie to bake for longer won’t necessarily fix a soggy base because then you’ll have burnt toppings. Instead, focus on delivering more heat directly under the crust with a preheated pizza stone or by placing your pizza in the hottest part of your oven. This will vary, so you’ll have to find the right rack for yours. 

What other types of flour can I use for a supreme pizza?

It’s hard to top regular all-purpose flour for a workable, reliable dough. However, you can vary the texture by trying finely milled double zero flour, or sturdier whole wheat flour, which has a nuttier flavor. This recipe will also work just as well with a gluten-free flour.