Calling all pizza lovers! This Spicy Sausage Pizza with Roasted Red Pepper and Onion is pizza night done right!
Hey guys! It’s almost the weekend. That calls for a Pizza Party!
So, how did this week’s winter weather treat you?! Any snow come your way? Snow totals weren’t as bad as expected, but HOLY MOLY it’s f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g outside! I spent most of our snow day inside cooking away in my cozy little kitchen. It was perfect. And the best thing on the snow day menu was this Spicy Sausage Pizza with Roasted Red Pepper and Onion.
I made this pie for Casey a few weeks back before he left on his trip. We’re talkin’ homemade dough, homemade sauce and all my favorite toppings! It was ah-mazing, and I was totally looking for an excuse to make it again. As soon as I heard a snowstorm was predicted, I made sure all the ingredients were on hand so Tom and I could have a snow day pizza party!
Take it from me folks, it’s totally worth the extra effort to make homemade dough and sauce. Yes, I’ve used ready made pizza dough from the market and jarred pizza sauces in the past, but honestly it takes no time at all and very little effort to make everything from scratch. It’s actually a fun snow day or any day activity really.
While you wait for your dough to rise, you make your sauce, and get your toppings ready. Sausage, roasted red peppers and red onion has always been one of my favorite combos, so I highly recommend it. But, by all means, pick your own faves. I also like to add a little sprinkle of crushed red pepper for spice and a teaspoon or so of fennel seed along with fresh oregano leaves. It gives an additional flavor boost.
So put in the extra effort next pizza night and make it all from scratch! You won’t be disappointed! Enjoy!
- Pizza Dough:
- 1 cup warm water 105-110 degrees
- 2 tsp. granulated sugar
- 1 - 1/4 oz. packet active dry yeast
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cups bread flour plus extra for dusting (I use Bob's Red Mill Artisan Bread Flour)
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- yellow cornmeal for dusting board
- Sauce:
- 1 28 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp. sugar
- Topping:
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella more if you like it extra cheesy
- 1 lb. hot Italian sausage
- 1 large red onion quartered and thinly sliced
- 1 cup jarred roasted red pepper strips drained
- olive oil for drizzling
- red pepper flakes fennel seed, fresh oregano leaves, parmesan cheese - for sprinkling - if desired
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Dough: Combine warm water, sugar and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer and combine. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until mixture begins to get foamy. Add the olive oil and combine. Mix the flour and salt in a medium bowl; add to the the mixer and with the dough hook attached beat until the dough forms into a ball.
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Scrape dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently. Form into two even balls. Transfer to two bowls sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm placed until doubled in size, 1-2 hours.
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Sauce: Place tomatoes in a strainer. Squeeze tomatoes carefully because juice will squirt out and leave in strainer for 20 minutes. Then place tomatoes, garlic, oregano, salt, red pepper flakes and sugar in a blender and blend until smooth. Some slight chunks are ok too.
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Preheat oven to 500 degrees. If you are using a pizza stone place that in the oven to preheat also.
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Toppings: Remove sausage from casing and cook, in a large skillet over medium-high heat breaking into medium chunks until no longer pink. Remove from skillet and set aside.
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Heat one tablespoon olive oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Remove from skillet and set aside.
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Assembling pizza: Stretch one ball of dough into a 12 inch round on a lightly floured and cornmealed pizza peel or rimless baking sheet. Spread 1/3-1/2 cup sauce on top of the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the cheese, sausage, onion and peppers. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and then sprinkle with red pepper flakes and fennel seed. Slide the pizza onto the stone if you're using or baking sheet and bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly, about 10-15 minutes, rotating if needed.
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Remove from oven and sprinkle with oregano leaves and parmesan cheese if desired. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool 2 minutes before cutting into slices. Repeat with second ball of dough.
Love this pizza! Such a great combination of flavours (love sausage on pizza :) And love the idea of snow day pizza parties! I saw all the snow your way on the news, but we didn’t get a flake here. Go figure.
My favorite combo ever Jennifer! Hoping for warmer temps here soon! I’ve had enough of the cold! Happy weekend!
I can’t handle the cold. I dress up in layer upon layer. I can’t wait for the warmer weather to break out my spring/summer clothes and shoes. We made homemade pizza last weekend and plan to do so again this weekend. You are right. Can’t beat homemade dough and sauce….nothing like it and definitely a perfect activity to do when it’s not so nice out. Love the combination here of sausage and spice. Right up my alley! Pinned! Hope you have a fantastic weekend, Mary Ann! xo
I know Dawn! I can’t believe it’s this cold this late in the season! Praying for warmer weather soon! Thanks for pinning. Hope you enjoy! Have a great weekend! XO
K Alex is going to be so excited when I show him this. So much deliciousness in one bite!
Yay!! Hope you both enjoy if you give it a go Sarah!
Every day I wake up is a good excuse to eat pizza, ESPECIALLY if I wake up and I’m snowed in! We didn’t get any snow this week (we got some over the weekend), but it’s cooooooold outside! Staying indoors and making pizza from scratch is an excellent idea! This pizza is just perfection, Mary Ann! I love the toppings and the crust looks amazing! Pinned! Cheers!
Lol! This pizza made the snow day totally bearable! I just can’t believe spring is next week and we are still freezing our tushes off!! Happy weekend Chey!
I am not good at making pizza crust. Not sure why, but anything with yeast scares me to death! Are you sure I can do this Mary Ann? If you say so, I will give it a go. Topping it with spicy sausage is the best – my kids, and hubby would go crazy for this one. Stay warm girl!
It’s one thing I’ve finally mastered Karen! It’s really not hard at all though. I used to be afraid, but just make sure the water you add is only warm, not hot, or you’ll kill the yeast and the dough won’t rise. That was always my problem. Good luck! You stay warm too! Spring can’t come quick enough!
My ‘Pizza Man’s’ going to love this! And I will, too! Nothing like a sausage pizza to get you through the storm!
Yes Annie! Sausage pizza is my all time fave! Stay warm my friend!
If I lived up north I’d definitely have a snow day pizza party! It all sounds so cozy. And that 500 degree oven would certainly warm up the kitchen!
Yes, it does Danielle! At least the kitchen is warm cause outside is unbearable!
Definitely adding this to our Friday night pizza rotation!
Yay! Nothing like a homemade pizza Matt!
It’s warm and sunny here in California but that doesn’t mean I can’t make this delicious looking pizza. My husband loves a good pizza. I hope you get warmer weather soon.
Please send some of that sun and warmth our way Gerlinde! It’s terrible here!! Hope you enjoy!
I agree with you, Mary Ann, nothing beats homemade dough and sauce! My kids will love this! Just perfect!
Thanks Gaila!! They’ll love it! Happy weekend.
This is divine and I’m loving all the pizza color. Swoon!
Thanks Lindsay! Love the spicy sausage on my pizza!
This pizza literally has everything on it I want from pizza night! Yay for the almost weekend!! :)
Sausage, peppers and onions is my favorite combo Gina! Pizza doesn’t get any better in my book!
Love it Mary Ann. I’ve got a pizza dough recipe that makes 8 crusts, so I just freeze the rest of the dough into single servings. I think I may have some in the freezer right now, so I’m gonna make this!
Yes! Enjoy Debs! I need to make a few more and freeze them too. Have a great weekend!
I’m thinking Thursday night = pizza night! This is perfection! :)
I like the way you think Laura! Thanks so much. Happy weekend!
Can I just come and live with you Mary Ann? I love the snow, and I love ALL your recipes!
Lol! Thanks Sue!!
I’ve been looking forward to this recipe since I saw your photo a few days ago. Reading through the recipe, I’m excited at how simple it is. Your topping choices are spot on in my book and that crust looks like perfection!
Thanks so much Marissa! So glad you stopped back to check out the recipe!
Oh my gosh! This pizza sound insanely awesome!! Perfect for Friday night!
Thanks Tieghan! It’s my favorite combo of toppings! Happy Friday!
I’m SO with you on homemade anything.. it’s always better! I’ve tried all kinds of pizza dough, trying to get it to into my belly faster, but I always… ALWAYS come back to a long rise. This is where the flavor develops! Your pizza looks just fabulous Mary Ann, a delicious way to spend a snow day! We’re starting to warm a bit here, but the mountains got another pounding of snow this past weekend! It was gorgeous! You’ve got me craving pizza at 5:30 in the morning! Delicious!
Thanks Traci! It was the perfect way to warm up and enjoy our snow day! I’m hoping warmer weather may be heading our way soon though! And your way too! Happy Friday!
This pizza looks amazing!!!! can’t wait to try this pizza dough!
The Bob’s Red Mill Artisan bread flour is my favorite Alice!
Done right indeed…that is my kind of pizza.
Thanks Karen! We totally enjoyed this one!
Casey is one lucky dude! Glad the snow motivated this incredible recipe. Ah-mazing is right – and I couldn’t agree more, homemade dough to table is killer. We are major meat-lovers so this pizza is right up our alley! Thanks for sharing.
I keep telling Casey that!! Hope you all enjoy if you give it a try! Some carbs for all that training you’re doing!
your crust looks fabulous! it’s sturdy enough to hold all of those delicious and colorful toppings, but still looks tasty and light. very nice!
Thanks so much Grace! I love homemade pizza because you can customize it any way you want. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog to leave a comment! Happy Monday!