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Build Your Own Pizza Recipe

Name: Giuliano's Italian Kitchens Build Your Own Pizza Recipe
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 each store-bought or homemade hand-tossed pizza dough; 1 tbs olive oil (for dough edge and pan); 0.5 cups tomato pizza sauce (already included by menu); 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded, already included by menu); 1 tsp semolina or cornmeal (for dusting); 2 tbs all-purpose flour (for dusting and shaping); 20 each pepperoni (sliced); 0.5 cups Italian sausage (cooked, crumbled); 0.25 cups smoked bacon (cooked, chopped); 0.5 cups chicken breast (grilled, sliced); 0.25 cups red onion (thinly sliced); 0.25 cups green bell pepper (thinly sliced); 0.5 cups mushrooms (sliced); 0.25 cups black olives (sliced); 0.25 cups fresh tomatoes (thinly sliced or cherry halved); 6 leaves fresh basil (torn); 0.25 cups spinach (lightly wilted or raw); 2 tsp parmesan (grated); 2 tbs goat cheese (crumbled); 1 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 tsp fresh garlic (minced); 1 tsp balsamic glaze (to finish)

Inspired by Giuliano's Italian Kitchen

Time35m

Serves2

Feel like trying something new? Build your own pizza & select all the toppings you want, cheese & sauce are already included, of course.

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Ingredients

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Dough & Base (includes cheese & sauce)

1 each store-bought or homemade hand-tossed pizza dough

1 tbs olive oil (for dough edge and pan)

1/2 cups tomato pizza sauce (already included by menu)

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded, already included by menu)

1 tsp semolina or cornmeal (for dusting)

2 tbs all-purpose flour (for dusting and shaping)

Meats

20 each pepperoni (sliced)

1/2 cups Italian sausage (cooked, crumbled)

1/4 cups smoked bacon (cooked, chopped)

1/2 cups chicken breast (grilled, sliced)

Veggies & Produce

1/4 cups red onion (thinly sliced)

1/4 cups green bell pepper (thinly sliced)

1/2 cups Mushrooms (sliced)

1/4 cups black olives (sliced)

1/4 cups fresh tomatoes (thinly sliced or cherry halved)

6 leaves fresh basil (torn)

1/4 cups spinach (lightly wilted or raw)

Cheeses & Extras (optional)

2 tsp parmesan (grated)

2 tbs goat cheese (crumbled)

1 tsp Red pepper flakes

1 tsp fresh garlic (minced)

1 tsp balsamic glaze (to finish)

Method

Dough & Base (includes cheese & sauce)

Preheat & prepare

Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C) with a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet on the middle rack. If using a home oven that won't reach 500°F, preheat to the highest setting. Lightly dust a pizza peel or an additional baking sheet with semolina or cornmeal.

Stretch the dough

On a lightly floured surface, gently press and stretch the hand-tossed pizza dough into a 12-inch round, leaving a slightly thicker 1/2-inch edge for the crust. Use your fingertips to create a uniform rim. Transfer the stretched dough to the prepared peel or baking sheet dusted with semolina.

Oil the crust

Brush the exposed crust edge lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil to encourage browning and crispness.

Add sauce & cheese

Spread 1/2 cup of tomato pizza sauce in an even layer over the dough, leaving the oiled rim exposed. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce. (Menu includes cheese and sauce; these amounts are the recommended baseline.)

Meats

Distribute meats evenly over the cheese: arrange about 20 pepperoni slices in a single layer (slightly overlapping is fine), scatter 1/2 cup cooked crumbled Italian sausage, sprinkle 1/4 cup cooked chopped bacon, and top with 1/2 cup thinly sliced grilled chicken if using. Ensure meats are in a single layer to cook and crisp evenly.

Veggies & Produce

Add vegetables sparingly so the crust remains crisp. Scatter 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1/4 cup sliced green bell pepper, 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (pat dry to avoid extra moisture), 1/4 cup sliced black olives and 1/4 cup thinly sliced tomatoes. If using spinach, distribute 1/4 cup lightly wilted or raw leaves. Tuck torn basil leaves on top either before or after baking (see finishing note).

Cheeses & Extras (optional)

If adding extra cheeses, dot 2 tablespoons crumbled goat cheese and sprinkle 2 teaspoons grated parmesan over the assembled pizza. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon minced garlic sparingly (too much can burn). Add red pepper flakes to taste.

Baking & Finishing

Slide the pizza from the peel onto the preheated stone or inverted sheet. Bake at 500°F (260°C) for 8–12 minutes, or until the crust is golden-brown and cheese is bubbly and starting to brown in spots. Rotate the pizza halfway through baking for even color.

Remove the pizza from the oven using the peel. Let rest 1–2 minutes, then garnish with remaining fresh basil leaves. Drizzle 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze over the top if desired. Slice into 8 pieces and serve hot.