My homemade Cheese Pizza features a soft, chewy crust, a flavorful homemade sauce, and a blend of three cheeses. It’s perfect for a cozy, cheesy pizza night at home with the family.
Cheesy Pizza Recipe
Pizza night at home has become a family favorite. The kids enjoy customizing their slices, and this three-cheese pizza makes a great base to build on. Use homemade dough and sauce for the best flavor, or choose store-bought options for convenience. Add garlic bread or cheese sticks on the side for a full pizza night feast.
There’s something about homemade pizza that beats takeout: fresher flavor, lower cost, and no waiting for delivery. This recipe is straightforward, family-friendly, and reliable when you want a satisfying cheese pizza at home.
Why You’ll Love This Cheese Pizza Recipe
- Crust with a slightly crispy exterior and a soft, chewy interior
- Simple and approachable to make
- A flexible base for any toppings you prefer
- Works well with either homemade or store-bought pizza sauce
Key Ingredients for Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Cheddar Pizza
For best results, use fresh pizza dough and sauce, either homemade or store-bought. Below are the main ingredients you’ll need for this three-cheese pizza.
- Cheeses: A combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar provides a great balance of melt, flavor, and bite. Swap in your favorites if you prefer.
- Flour: All-purpose or bread flour both work. Bread flour yields a chewier crust.
- Yeast: Active dry or instant yeast are both fine; active dry may require a slightly longer rise.
- Liquid: Warm water (around 110–115°F) activates yeast. Replace with milk for a softer crust if desired.
- Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds flavor and keeps the dough tender.
- Sugar: A small amount helps feed the yeast and balances tomato acidity.
- Salt: Essential for flavor and for regulating yeast activity.
- Tomato sauce and tomato paste: Canned tomato sauce works well; a bit of tomato paste deepens the flavor.
- Seasonings: Dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, and a pinch of red pepper flakes or black pepper to taste.
Instructions to Make 3 Cheese Pizza
Prepare dough and sauce: If you’re making them from scratch, prepare your dough and sauce first. If using store-bought, have them ready.
Preheat: Heat the oven to 425°F and grease your chosen pan—baking sheet, pizza stone, or pizza pan.
Create the crust: Roll or stretch the dough into a 14-inch circle and place it on the prepared pan. Form a small rim around the edge to keep toppings in place.
Add the toppings: Spread sauce evenly over the dough, leaving the crust exposed. Top with shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan, then sprinkle oregano, basil, and garlic powder.
Bake: Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden. Allow the pizza to rest a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Stretching vs. Rolling the Pizza Dough
Both methods work, but stretching by hand preserves more air in the dough and typically produces a puffier, more authentic crust. Rolling can flatten the dough more and sometimes yields a thinner, drier crust.
To stretch by hand, gently pull and rotate the dough, avoiding overhandling the edges so the rim keeps its air pockets. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—the more you practice, the better it will get. Pricking the dough occasionally prevents large air bubbles from forming while baking.
Pizza Night In Topping Ideas
Make pizza night a family event—let everyone build their own mini pizza with preferred toppings. My only rule: don’t overload the crust. Too many toppings add weight and moisture, preventing the crust from rising and causing sogginess. Also, place most toppings on top of the cheese so they cook through properly.
Topping ideas:
- Pepperoni
- Sausage
- Ground beef
- Bell peppers or hot peppers
- Onions
- Olives
- Mushrooms
- BBQ sauce (use sparingly)
- Bacon
- Ham
- Pineapple
FAQ
A pizza stone gives excellent results, but a perforated pizza pan or a nonstick pizza pan also works well and is easier to manage for many home cooks.
For this style, spread the sauce first and add the cheese, then place any additional toppings on top of the cheese so they cook evenly.
Mozzarella provides melt, Parmesan adds savory depth, and cheddar brings a sharper flavor. You can also experiment with provolone, ricotta, or goat cheese to change the profile.
425°F works well for home ovens, yielding a golden crust and fully melted cheese. Many home bakers find success between 400–500°F depending on their oven and equipment.
For a quick option, use the microwave. For a crisper crust, reheat slices in a skillet covered with a lid until warmed and the crust has crisped—this method preserves texture best.
More Pizza Recipes To Try
- Easy Zucchini Pizza Bites
- Pepperoni Pizza Sliders
- Deep Dish Three Meat Pizza
- French Bread Pizza
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy this three-cheese pizza—let me know how it turns out.
Homemade Cheese Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound (550g) pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
- 1⅓ cup (315ml) pizza sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 2½ cups (280g) shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup (55g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ⅓ cup (40g) shredded Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet, pizza stone, or pizza pan and set aside.
- Roll or stretch the dough into a 14-inch circle and place it on the prepared pan. Form a small lip around the edge to hold the toppings. Spread the sauce over the dough, then top with the cheeses. Sprinkle oregano, basil, and garlic powder on top.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden. Let the pizza cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Notes
- If using a pizza stone: Preheat the stone while you assemble the pizza. Build the pizza on a peel or on parchment and transfer it to the hot stone to bake.
- Nutrition: Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary by ingredient brands and portion sizes.
Nutrition
*Originally published March 2017. Photos and text updated.*