For One 14-Inch Pizza
1. Prepare Your Station
- Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C) with pizza stone/steel inside for at least 45 minutes.
- Lightly flour your counter, pizza peel, and hands.
- Have your sauce, cheese, and toppings portioned out and ready.
2. Shape the Dough
- Gently stretch the dough into a 14-inch round (don’t overwork — keep the air bubbles in the crust).
- Transfer to a floured peel or parchment for easy sliding.
3. Sauce Layer
- Spread 3–4 tablespoons of your prepared pizza sauce evenly, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
- Avoid over-saucing — it can make the pizza soggy.
4. Cheese Layer
- Evenly scatter 1 to 1½ cups of freshly shredded whole-milk mozzarella over the sauce.
- Add a light sprinkle of Parmesan for extra depth, if desired.
5. Toppings
- Add desired toppings (such as pepperoni and veggies), keeping them in a single layer to ensure the pizza cooks evenly.
- Less is more — overloading can weigh the crust down.
6. Bake
- Slide pizza onto the preheated stone/steel.
- Bake 6–8 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbling with slight browning.
7. Finish & Serve
- Brush crust with seasoned olive oil or melted butter for flavor and shine.
- Rest for 2 minutes before slicing — this keeps the cheese from sliding.
- Slice into 6–8 pieces, serve hot, and enjoy.
By Kyle J. Hayes
kylehayesblog.com
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