American Pizza Recipe

Preheat oven

Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while preheating. Allow at least 30 minutes for the oven (and stone) to fully heat.

Prepare dough

If using refrigerated dough, let it sit at room temperature 20–30 minutes so it relaxes. Lightly flour a work surface or dust with cornmeal/flour. Stretch or roll the dough into a 12–14-inch round, pressing a slightly thicker rim for the crust.

Transfer to peel or pan

If using a pizza peel, dust it with cornmeal/flour to prevent sticking. Transfer the shaped dough to the peel or to a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza pan.

Sauce and cheese

Spread 1 cup of pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving about a 1/2-inch border for the crust. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce, reserving about 1/2 cup for a finish layer.

Prepare vegetables

Toss the sliced mushrooms, sliced green pepper, and sliced red onion with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch (about 1/10 tsp) of black pepper in a bowl. This lightly seasons the vegetables and helps them roast instead of steaming on the pizza.

Assemble toppings

Distribute the cooked, crumbled American sausage evenly over the cheese. Arrange pepperoni slices over the pizza. Scatter the seasoned mushrooms, green pepper slices, and red onion evenly across the surface. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella over the toppings.

Season and bake

Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano across the pizza and add red pepper flakes if desired. Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake at 500°F (260°C) for 8–12 minutes, rotating once halfway through, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling and lightly browned.

Rest and slice

Remove the pizza from the oven and let it rest 3–5 minutes to allow the cheese to set slightly. Transfer to a cutting board, slice into 8 slices, and serve hot.