Are you ever longing for Friday night to bite into that delicious crispy crust and melted cheese on the pizza you know you will order to kick off the weekend? Do you prefer a good meat lovers pizza or stick to the veggie? Well, as much as ordering in for pizza is convenient and always fun to try different concoctions each pizzeria comes up with, it isn’t always the best option if you’re trying to be budget conscious. Making your own pizza, tailoring the toppings to your absolute favorite ingredients, or even throwing some leftovers (something you might’ve just thrown out) on top of it can save you more than you’d think in that grocery line item in your budget! And who doesn’t want to save on groceries these days?!

Making It Yourself

Even if the thought overwhelms you, I promise you can make your own pizza! You don’t have to be the professional tossing the dough into the air to perfect the rounded, thin crust. Use a rolling pin if you have one, or press it out with your hands if you don’t! When making your own pizza, you can add whatever toppings you’re craving and cook it to the desired doughy or crispy texture you prefer. Here are some classic go-to combinations, but I’m sure with a look through the fridge and pantry, you could come up with some fun topping options yourself!

Favorite Pizza Topping Combinations

Some classic and fun pizza combinations include:

Meat Lovers

Check the fridge for any leftover precooked meat from previous meals. Are there a few strips of bacon sitting in the fridge waiting to get cooked that you could throw in a skillet and then on the pizza, or any leftover grilled chicken from a previous dinner? How about some pulled pork from a recent BBQ?

Veggie

First, what’s in your fridge or pantry that you can use? Once you’ve checked those areas, look up what’s in season. Fruits and veggies that are in season are always the cheapest options when at the grocery store. And don’t forget to pop your head in the freezer – frozen corn is a delicious addition to a pizza! My go-to toppings always include peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and onions.

BBQ

Mix some of your favorite BBQ sauce with tomato sauce as your base, then add your meat preference and some sliced red onions and cheese.

Pesto

Use pesto as the base instead of tomato sauce to switch up the flavors, then add chicken or some veggies of your choice along with cheese.

Remember, aside from how fresh and delicious it is, the best part of making homemade pizza is getting so much more food for your money! Take a peek through your pantry and fridge before finalizing your grocery list. You may surprise yourself and have some leftover pasta sauce you could use as your base instead of spending money on another can of tomato sauce. It just takes a moment to double-check!

Pizza Dough Recipe:

Serving Size: 1 batch of dough yields about 3-4 10inch Pizzas

• 1 Cup Warm Water

• ½ Tb Sugar

• 1 Tb Yeast

• 1 Tb Olive Oil

• 2-2 ½ Cups All-Purpose Flour

• 1 Tsp Salt

Mix yeast, sugar, and water, then let sit until it has doubled in size.

Add flour, salt, oil, and yeast mixture in a stand mixer with a hook attachment. Mix until thoroughly combined, and no dough sticks to the side of the bowl. If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour. If the dough isn’t coming together well, add a bit more water.

Cover with a damp dish towel or saran wrap and sit for one hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees (if you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven).

Once the dough is ready, cut in fourths. Roll dough out on a floured surface until optimal size. Place directly on the pizza stone to prebake or on a sheet tray if you don’t have a pizza stone. Prebake crust for 3-5 minutes until almost brown. Bring out of the oven to add sauce and toppings. Place the pizza back in the oven until the crust is crispy and the cheese has melted, approximately another 5-7 minutes, depending on how hot your oven gets.

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