“Store Bought Pizza Dough Recipe: Make Easy Homemade Pizza with Garlicky Tomato Sauce”

Making a delicious pizza at home doesn’t have to take hours, thanks to store bought pizza dough. Using ready-made pizza dough allows you to enjoy a fresh, soft, and flavorful crust without the fuss of mixing and proofing from scratch. Whether you choose Trader Joe’s pizza dough, refrigerated pizza dough, or frozen pizza dough, letting it warm to room temperature makes rolling and stretching effortless. Pairing the dough with a garlicky tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella transforms a simple pie into a mouthwatering meal. This guide shows you step-by-step how to make an easy, flavorful homemade pan pizza with a perfect crust.

Store Bought Pizza Dough And Other Ingredients

When you crave a fresh homemade pizza, ready-made pizza dough is a lifesaver. Using store-bought pizza crust saves time while giving your homemade pizza a pizzeria-like texture. Whether you choose pre-made pizza dough, refrigerated pizza dough, or even frozen pizza dough, letting it warm to room temperature improves flexibility and reduces tearing during stretching.

The quality of the dough pairs perfectly with pantry essentials like olive oil, fresh garlic, and Italian herbs blend. Combining these with the right cheeses and toppings creates homemade pizza flavors that rival restaurant pies. The dough becomes easier to handle when you know how to stretch pizza dough without damaging it, ensuring a perfectly crisp yet soft crust.

Best Dough Brands to Use

Top choices in the USA include Trader Joe’s pizza dough and Pillsbury classic dough, both of which offer reliable texture and flavor. Local pizzerias sometimes sell fresh dough, giving you access to high-quality store-bought pizza crust without leaving your neighborhood. These brands allow you to experiment with thin and thick crust pizza style while keeping prep time minimal.

Questions Regarding Store Bought Pizza Dough

Many home cooks ask, “Who makes the best store-bought pizza dough?” The answer depends on freshness, simplicity, and the absence of artificial additives. Dough should only contain yeast, flour, salt, water, sugar, and oil. Understanding why dough becomes sticky or how to perform proofing store dough correctly can prevent common mistakes and improve the final crust.

Additionally, convenience is a major factor. Using pre-made pizza dough lets you create an easy weeknight pizza or a family feast. Knowing how long to proof dough and how to stretch dough without tearing ensures the dough responds well during rolling and baking. Warm dough handles better and improves texture.

Shelf Life & Storage

Store-bought pizza crust lasts differently depending on the type. Refrigerated pizza dough usually keeps fresh for a few days, while frozen pizza dough can last weeks if wrapped tightly. Learning how long store dough lasts and can you freeze store dough allows planning ahead, making it easier to enjoy homemade pizza anytime without compromising flavor or texture.

Store Bought Pizza Dough With Homemade Garlicky Tomato Sauce

Pairing ready-made pizza dough with garlicky tomato sauce produces a pizza that tastes fresh and robust. The sauce combines garlic, tomato paste, water, salt, and a touch of olive oil. Cooking it gently on a stovetop develops a rich flavor that enhances the mozzarella melt quality when baked.

Rolling out the dough evenly and applying sauce correctly ensures consistent cooking. Using pizza oven temperature around 450 degrees Fahrenheit creates the perfect crust. This method results in a pizza with soft interior and crisp exterior, giving you a true homemade pan pizza experience.

Instructions

Making a perfect pizza with store bought pizza dough is simple when you follow the right steps. Warming the dough to room temperature dough, preparing a rich garlicky tomato sauce, and layering fresh mozzarella ensures a soft, flavorful crust. This guide walks you through each step for an easy, homemade pizza experience.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1:

Preheat your oven to 450°F and place the rack in the middle.

Step 2:

Let the ready-made pizza dough sit at room temperature for at least one hour.

Step 3:

Roll out the dough on a floured surface, stretching gently to avoid tearing.

Step 4:

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan, sauté chopped garlic for 2–3 minutes until golden.

Step 5:

Add 6 ounces of tomato paste and 12 ounces of water, stir, season with salt and pepper, then simmer for 5–10 minutes.

Step 6:

Place the rolled dough on a parchment-lined pan coated with olive oil.

Step 7:

Spread the garlicky tomato sauce evenly over the dough.

Step 8:

Add fresh mozzarella slices and a few basil leaves, drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top.

Step 9:

Bake in the oven for 15–20 minutes, checking for golden crust and melted cheese.

Step 10:

Remove pizza and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Always allow dough to rest at room temperature dough for at least one hour before rolling. This improves elasticity and reduces tearing. Adjust sauce thickness if watery and ensure toppings are balanced to prevent soggy crust. Following best oil method for crispy crust guarantees a golden edge every time.

Nutrition

Homemade Margherita pizza made with store-bought pizza crust contains approximately 550 kcal per slice. Calories in pizza slice can vary based on cheese and oil amounts. Using fresh mozzarella and basil keeps flavor high while sodium remains moderate. Learning nutrition facts for homemade pizza helps plan balanced meals.

Nutrient	Amount per Slice
Calories	550 kcal
Total Fat	23 g
Saturated Fat	12 g
Cholesterol	50 mg
Sodium	610 mg
Total Carbohydrates	61 g
Dietary Fiber	3 g
Sugars	5 g
Protein	26 g
Vitamin A	10% DV
Vitamin C	8% DV
Calcium	35% DV
Iron	15% DV

Nutrition Disclosure

Homemade pizza averages 550 kcal per slice. Nutrition facts for homemade pizza depend on cheese, oil, and topping choices. Monitoring calories in pizza slice helps maintain balanced meals while enjoying a rich pizza experience.

Homemade Pan Pizza Ingredients

Creating a homemade pan pizza starts with selecting the right dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings. Using store-bought pizza dough or make-ahead pizza dough saves time while delivering a soft, flavorful crust. Pair it with a garlicky tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella for the perfect melt. Adding vegetables, meats, or herbs enhances homemade pizza flavors. Layering toppings correctly ensures every bite is balanced and prevents a soggy crust. Following these carefully chosen ingredients guarantees a professional-quality pizza you can enjoy anytime, whether for an easy weeknight dinner or a weekend treat.

Ingredients Table

Ingredient	Quantity	Notes
Store-bought pizza dough	16 oz	Room temperature for easy rolling
Fresh mozzarella	1/2 lb	Use high-quality or buffalo mozzarella
Fresh basil leaves	1/8 cup	Whole or chopped, added before baking
Tomato paste	6 oz can	Forms base for garlicky tomato sauce
Water	12 oz	Thin out tomato paste
Garlic cloves	4	Chopped for rich flavor
Olive oil	1/4 cup	Plus extra for brushing
Kosher salt	1/4 tsp	To taste
Black pepper	1/8 tsp	To taste
Sesame seeds	1 tsp	Optional, for crust decoration

Dough Options

You can use ready-made pizza dough, refrigerated pizza dough, or frozen pizza dough. Allowing it to reach room temperature improves handling. Lightly flour surfaces to avoid sticking and follow pizza dough stretching tips for a smooth and uniform crust.

How to Make Sheet Pan Pizza with Store Bought Dough

Making a sheet pan pizza starts by rolling the dough to fit the pan. Applying garlicky tomato sauce evenly and layering mozzarella melt quality cheese guarantees flavor in each bite. Proper sheet pan pizza method ensures a crispy bottom and soft center.

Baking at correct pizza oven temperature gives golden edges. The crust becomes uniform in thickness when you apply gentle stretching and rotation, which also prevents tearing. This method creates restaurant-quality pizza in your own kitchen.

Stretching the Dough Properly

Hold the dough and let gravity help stretch it while rolling lightly. Use flour to prevent sticking and reduce why pizza dough tears. Room temperature dough handles more predictably, resulting in an even store-bought pizza crust.

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Tips for Making Crispy Sheet Pizza

Using olive oil correctly improves crust texture. Drizzle or brush oil lightly around the edges, which helps maintain a golden, crisp base. Proper heat placement ensures cheese melts evenly and the pizza topping layers remain stable.

Avoid overloading the pizza, as it can trap moisture. Knowing how to keep pizza crust crispy and applying best oil method for crispy crust enhances flavor while preventing soggy dough. Timing is crucial for the perfect bite.

Oil Techniques

Brushing olive oil lightly on the pan or dough improves browning and reduces sticking. High-smoke oils produce flavor without burning. Always allow oil to soak in slightly before adding sauce to maximize crispiness.

Can This Pan Pizza Recipe Be Made Ahead of Time?

Make-ahead pizza dough allows you to prepare pizza nights in advance. Store dough in the fridge or freezer, following safe food storage for toppings. Prepping toppings earlier prevents last-minute stress and improves assembly speed.

Baked pizza can be refrigerated and reheated later, knowing reheating homemade pizza preserves flavor and texture. Understanding storing cooked pizza ensures freshness and avoids soggy crust, making multiple meals convenient.

Make-Ahead Dough Tips

Cold dough ferments slowly, developing richer flavors. Warm dough slightly before baking for improved elasticity. Properly rested dough ensures even cooking and a consistent crispy sheet pan pizza every time.

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More Favorites from Fresh April Flours

Fresh April Flours provides recipes that complement your homemade pizza flavors. They recommend pairing pizza with sides like roasted vegetables or garlicky tomato sauce dips. Their recipes show versatility from cast-iron pan pizza to sheet pan variations, offering multiple techniques for home cooks.

Trying different toppings and dough textures expands your culinary repertoire. Learning from case studies in their tutorials helps you understand why pizza dough shrinks and how to avoid common mistakes, improving every homemade pizza.

Popular Pizza Recipes

Experiment with Margherita, white pizza, or pepperoni variations. Using crushed tomato pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella enhances authenticity while maintaining quick preparation. Following their methods produces consistent results with balanced flavors.

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Cast-Iron Pizza with Store-Bought Dough

A cast-iron pan pizza produces a golden crust with tender interior. Using Trader Joe’s pizza dough or Pillsbury classic dough works well. Proper heat distribution and oven temperature create a perfectly cooked pizza with crisp edges.

Cast-iron pan pizza benefits from high-temperature baking and brushing the pan with olive oil. Learning cast iron pizza instructions prevents sticking and ensures even mozzarella melt quality.

Directions

Roll dough to fit the pan, coat lightly with olive oil, spread garlicky tomato sauce, and layer toppings. Bake until edges brown. Use a broiler if cheese needs extra melting.

Tips for Cast-Iron Success

Preheat the pan, lightly flour surfaces, and avoid overcrowding toppings. Properly handling the dough prevents tearing and why pizza dough tears.

FAQs

Why is my dough not stretching?

Usually dough is too cold. Let it rest to room temperature dough and try again.

Can I freeze store-bought dough?

Yes, following can you freeze store dough instructions preserves freshness.

What cheese melts best?

Fresh mozzarella ensures superior mozzarella melt quality, while provolone adds flavor depth.

Conclusion

Using store-bought pizza crust allows you to enjoy homemade pan pizza without hours of preparation. Combining garlicky tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and proper baking methods ensures a restaurant-quality pizza at home.

Allow dough to rest, bake at proper pizza oven temperature, and manage toppings carefully. Understanding how to improve store-bought dough and how to stretch pizza dough helps you create perfectly crispy, flavorful pizzas every time.

Final Thoughts on Using Store-Bought Dough

With the right approach, store-bought pizza crust can rival any homemade dough. Follow proper proofing, stretching, and topping techniques for consistent results.

How to Handle Pizza Dough

Always warm to room temperature dough, flour surfaces, and handle gently to prevent tearing.

Preparation Steps

Roll evenly, layer toppings thoughtfully, and bake at the correct temperature for optimal crispy sheet pan pizza and melted cheese.