Homemade Frozen Pizza

I love having frozen pizza on hand for the nights when I don’t feel like cooking, so I decided to make my own. It’s just as convenient as the store-bought version, but it tastes so much fresher and you know exactly what’s going into it. The best part is that you can completely customize each pizza. Keep it classic with cheese, add grilled chicken and vegetables, or use whatever toppings you already have in the fridge. Once it’s assembled, just freeze, wrap, and bake whenever you’re craving some delicious pizza.

Tini’s Tips

• Don’t skip poking holes in the dough before par-baking it! This helps prevent large air bubbles from forming and keeps the crust nice and even.

• Par-baking simply means partially baking the crust before adding the sauce and toppings. This helps keep the finished pizza crust from getting soggy.

• Freeze the pizza uncovered for at least two hours before wrapping it. This keeps the cheese and toppings from sticking to the plastic wrap.

What You’ll Need

For the Pizza Dough

¾ cup warm water

2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, or 1 packet

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

2 ¼ cups double-zero flour, divided

Olive oil, for the bowl

Additional flour, for shaping the dough

For the Pizza Sauce

Olive oil

1 white onion, diced

5 large garlic cloves, minced

28 ounces crushed tomatoes

Salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

Fresh basil, chopped

Fresh parsley, chopped

For Assembling

Shredded cheese of your choice

Grilled chicken, optional

Sliced peppers, optional

Any additional pizza toppings you like ( this is your time to be creative!)

🍞 Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Pour the warm water into a large bowl. Add the yeast and sugar, then stir everything together. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, until it looks foamy on top.

🥣 Step 2: Make the Dough

Add the Italian seasoning, salt, and 1 cup of flour to the yeast mixture. Stir with a spatula until combined.

Add another cup of flour and continue mixing. Once the dough begins coming together and is firm enough to handle, knead it for about two minutes. Add the remaining ¼ cup of flour, then knead the dough for an additional five minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.

⏰ Step 3: Let the Dough Rise

Drizzle a little olive oil into a clean bowl. Add the dough and turn it over a few times so it’s lightly coated in the oil. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest on the counter until it doubles in size, about 1 to 1½ hours.

🍕 Step 4: Shape and Par-Bake the Crust

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down to release the air. Lightly flour a pizza pan or baking sheet, then place the dough on top and gently stretch it into your desired pizza shape.

Use a fork to poke holes all over the dough. This helps prevent large air bubbles from forming while it bakes. Par-bake the crust for 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer it to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely.

🍅 Step 5: Make the Pizza Sauce

While the crust cools, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and continue cooking for a few minutes, until the onions and garlic have a little color.

Pour in the crushed tomatoes, then season with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Add half of the chopped basil and parsley and stir everything together. Cover the pan and let the sauce simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once it’s finished, stir in the remaining basil and parsley.

🧀 Step 6: Assemble the Pizza

Spread a layer of pizza sauce over the cooled crust, then add your cheese and favorite toppings.

You can keep it simple with just cheese, or add grilled chicken and some sliced peppers you have left over. This is the perfect time to use whatever you already have in your fridge and be creative.

❄️ Step 7: Freeze and Wrap

Place the assembled pizza in the freezer uncovered for at least two hours, or until the sauce, cheese, and toppings are completely frozen.

Once frozen, wrap the pizza tightly in plastic wrap and return it to the freezer until you’re ready to bake it.

🔥 Step 8: Bake from Frozen

When you’re ready to eat, preheat your oven to 450°F.

Unwrap the frozen pizza and place it on a baking sheet. Bake directly from frozen for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on your oven, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is completely melted. Slice, serve, and enjoy your homemade frozen pizza!

Xo,

My Summer Beauty Staples

·

Jul 22

I’m switching things up today and taking a few minutes to chat about beauty products. I love summer, but between the heat, travel, and long days filming and cooking, I’ve realized there are a few products I reach for over and over again this time of year that make getting ready so much easier. I’m not someone who wants to feel like I have a full face me…

Honey Mustard Pickles

Jul 18

This recipe combines two of my favorite things on earth: pickles and honey mustard. The briny acidity of the vinegar mixed with the sweet, tangy notes of honey mustard is so satisfying that I wouldn’t be surprised if Antoine and I finish these jars in a couple of days. I harvested quite a few cucumbers from my garden, so this recipe yields a lot. Feel free to halve this (or double if you dare). This recipe is pretty adaptable, so you can make adjustments to the flavors as you like.

Everything's Better with Lemon 🍋

·

Jul 17

I don’t know what it is, but the second summer rolls around I want to add lemon to absolutely everything. Pasta? Absolutely. Dessert? Obviously. A refreshing drink? Even better.