Breads & Doughs

Better Frozen Pizza From Scratch

4.92 from 12 votes
Skip the frozen aisle and make a Homemade Frozen Pizza that's better in every way imaginable — with higher quality ingredients.
Sliced pizza baked from frozen

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Hi Bold Bakers!

IN THIS RECIPE: You’re going to get a better-frozen pizza experience if you make it from scratch! In almost no time at all, you’ll have all the work done ahead of time for you to pull out a from-scratch-made pizza from the freezer to make whenever you have the craving — and it will last in the freezer for up to 12 weeks.

Frozen Pizza can be a lifesaver. Everyone is busy, and everyone gets stressed out from time to time, so why not give the future version of yourself a break? Instead of running to the store on the way home from work to pick up a frozen pizza, you can do yourself a favor and make a better one, from scratch, that will be waiting for you to bake off at home whenever you need it.

You can even use my Five Minute Pizza Sauce recipe to truly build this pizza from the ground up.

Why trust me when it comes to pizza? Look at how many recipes for it I have:

My best-ever pizza dough before par-baking.

The Allure Of Frozen Pizza

Nobody goes for frozen pizza for quality — though I’ve had some really good frozen pizzas in my life. No, frozen pizza is about saving time and skipping the delivery process down the road. Luckily, frozen pizza technology has come a long way and you’re getting fresher toppings and higher quality crusts than before.

But you haven’t had it this fresh and this high in quality! There’s something to be said about knowing exactly what’s going into your next meal — so you can skip all of the filler and get right to incredible taste without all of the time.

And when I mean quality, I truly mean it — this recipe uses my Best Ever Pizza Dough!

A par-baked crust ready for toppings

Pizza Sauce

When it comes to pizza sauce, of course, it’s fine to use store-bought. It will freeze just the same. But for the same reason as to why you’d make your pizza dough from scratch, you should spend the extra 5 minutes to make your sauce from scratch, too.

When you use my Five Minute Pizza Sauce, you can rest easy that you know exactly what’s going into your sauce, and how much, and you can tailor it to how you like it. 

Cheese Of Choice

When it comes to cheese, shredded works best. Go for mozzarella if you’re a purist, but you could even try various sharpness of cheddar — or even a Mexican blend if you want to go that route with your toppings!

My better homemade frozen pizza

Toppings

Speaking of cheese, what other kinds of toppings can you put on a pizza meant to be frozen? Frankly, whatever you want! Here are some ideas:

  • Bell pepper
  • Onion
  • Pepperoni
  • Sausage
  • Ham
  • Pineapple

What You Need To Make Homemade Frozen Pizza

Since we’re making this from scratch, you’ll need a few items:

For The Dough

  • A large bowl for proofing
  • Cling-wrap or a shower cap for covering
  • Instant yeast (not active dried)
  • Measuring jug

For The Sauce

  • A blender or food processor

A freshly baked frozen pizza

How To Make Homemade Frozen Pizza

When it comes to making a frozen pizza that’s better in every way than what you get in the frozen aisle at the store, the hardest part is waiting for the dough to rise and ferment overnight. After that, it’s simply shaping the dough, letting it rest, then rolling (or stretching) out to the size of the pizza you want — these are about 10-inches, and you get 4 of them from this batch of dough.

Then, you’re going to par-bake (to bake a little bit ahead of time) the dough for 4-5 minutes so it’s cooked the whole way through and can hold up to the freezing and the weight of your toppings.

Beyond that, it’s just assembly! Add your sauce and topping choices, then freeze the whole thing uncovered for about 30 minutes. Then you’re going to wrap it up tight and store it in the freezer until you’re craving pizza or out of time for anything else!

Make More Pizza

When it comes to pizza, I know a thing or two. Just look at how many pizza recipes I have! When you need an authority on pizza, come to Bigger Bolder Baking.

A hand taking a slice of pizza

Want To Go Deeper?

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That’s right, inside or out of the Academy! So subscribe now!

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Watch The Recipe Video!

Better Frozen Pizza Recipe (From Scratch)

4.92 from 12 votes
Skip the frozen aisle and make a Homemade Frozen Pizza that's better in every way imaginable — with higher quality ingredients.
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 4 Pizzas
Skip the frozen aisle and make a Homemade Frozen Pizza that's better in every way imaginable — with higher quality ingredients.
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 4 Pizzas

Ingredients

Instructions

Preparing the Pizza Dough

  • Start out the evening before by making you Best Ever Pizza Dough. Leave it to ferment over night for 12-18 hours at room temperature.
  • The next day turn out your pizza dough onto a well floured surface and divide into 4 even pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball of dough. Cover with your bowl or a cloth and allow to rest for 20 minutes before rolling.
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F (225°C) and place a flat baking tray or cast iron on the lowest shelf to preheat also.
  • Working with one ball of dough at a time stretch or roll your pizza base into a 10 inch circle. If the dough pulls back while shaping then cover it and allow it to relax for another 10 minutes so it will be easier to pull.
  • Place your pizza dough on a flat baking tray lined with parchment. Once your oven is preheat, slide the parchment straight onto the pre-heated tray.
  • Par-bake the crust for roughly 4 minutes, until bubbly and underneath the crust is browning. Note, you do not want to get the crust too brown at this stage, just lightly underneath. Continue rolling and baking off the rest of the pizza dough.

Topping and Freezing

  • Top the pizza with my 5 Minute Pizza Sauce, followed by the rest of your toppings.
  • Place the entire pizza on a tray into the freezer to freeze solid, uncovered for 2 to 3 hours. Once frozen, remove and fully wrap the pizza in cling wrap before placing it back in the freezer for the future.

Baking A Pizza From Frozen

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F (225°C) and place a flat baking tray on the bottom shelf of the oven to pre-heat again.
  • Unwrap your frozen pizza and immediately slide it into the pre-heat oven onto the tray.
  • Bake for roughly 12 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. Enjoy your freshly made pizza, from scratch hot from the oven.
4.92 from 12 votes (11 ratings without comment)
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Deneen
Deneen
3 months ago

I usually cook my pizza in a small pizza oven but I still want to freeze my pizza crust. Can I parbake the crust And still cook in pizza oven?

Mary
Mary
1 year ago

Hi Gemma, thanks for the lovely and delicious recipe! Should we freeze the pizza for 30 minutes or a couple of hours before wrap it with cling film? You mention both times unless I got something wrong.

Casey Balkcom
Casey Balkcom
1 year ago

I was interested in using this recipe to make individual pizzas ahead of my daughter’s sleepover so I wanted to just freeze the crusts and then let the kids customize their topping amounts. If I am just freezing the crust after I par bake them, should I let them thaw a bit before they add toppings? Do you know if this would affect baking time? Thanks in advance!

Last edited 1 year ago by Casey Balkcom
Leah
Leah
2 years ago

hi,

I want to make these into mini pizzas. Any suggestions on what temperatures to bake the crust and the thawed pizza at?
thanks

Kristin
Kristin
2 years ago

Thank you for the great tips! Does the pre-baked crust need to cool completely before topping and freezing? Thank you.

Gina
Gina
2 years ago

Hello! I can use pizza stone for bake this pizza recipe?

Jennifer
Jennifer
2 years ago

Thanks so much for this tip Gemma! I made your pizza and it’s delish!!! I love making homemade pizza and now I can pre-make these and put them in the freezer for a teenage snack attack!!!

Karen
Karen
2 years ago

Hi Gemma,
Recently saw some of your videos which impressed me. Love and made your pizza dough and sauce and thought they were the best ever and so easy to make. I will definitely be making the frozen pizza recipe. What a great idea, thanks Gemma!

About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

Weeknight Family Favorites Chapter from the Bigger Bolder Baking Every Day Cookbook