15-minute pizza dough and gourmet pizza recipes

My husband thinks I'm quite the gourmet every time I make pizza. I know, it sounds too easy to be true, but a good pizza can make you you the goddess of your abode. But we're going to make it even easier with our favorite 15-minute easy pizza dough (courtesy of my mother-in-law--thanks, Jode!). Once you've got this recipe down, making deluxe pizzas will be a piece of pie!

15-Minute Pizza Dough Recipe

2 1/2 c. flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup hot water (120-130°, use a candy thermometer for accuracy if you're not sure)
1 Tbsp. Rapid Rise or Bread Machine yeast
2 Tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 500°. Mix dry ingredients together. Add hot water and olive oil. Mix for five minutes (I use my Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook, but you could do this by hand, too). Let rest 10 minutes. Press dough on pizza pan, pizza stone, or jelly-roll pan. Bake at 500° for 3 minutes. Take out of the oven and cover with toppings. Return to the oven and bake 8-10 minutes more. Makes one large pizza (16-18 inches).

Told you it was easy. Now for some great toppings.

BBQ Pork Pizza Recipe

15-Minute Pizza Dough recipe
1 tub Lloyd's Hickory BBQ Pork (or similar prepared BBQ meat)
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/3 bunch cilantro, chopped

While your dough is resting, caramelize your onions. Place sliced onion in a frying pan over medium heat. Add sugar and cook for several minutes, stirring occasionally. Your onions are ready when they become tender and a little sticky.


Heat your meat according to the package directions. After baking your dough for 3 minutes, cover the crust with the BBQ meat.


Cover the meat with mozzarella cheese. Using a fork, separate onions and spread over pizza. Sprinkle on cilantro.


Return to the 500° oven for 8-10 minutes. EAT!


Another quick and easy pizza we love is pesto and tomato. This is a great summer pizza, especially if you grow tomatoes and basil in your garden.

Tomato Pesto Pizza Recipe

15-Minute Pizza Dough
Pesto, your own or in a jar (we like the big jar at Costco--it makes lots of pizzas!)
2-3 sliced fresh tomatoes
Sliced fresh basil (I use about 8 big leaves)
2 c. mozzarella cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)


After baking the dough for 3 minutes, cover the crust with pesto.


Add mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.


Bake for 8-10 minutes more. Enjoy!

This dough is also great for pizza parties. Make small pizzas and let everyone add their own classic toppings! Note: You'll probably want to shorten the baking time if you make smaller pizzas.