^{This post has been sponsored by Zevia. All opinions expressed are my own.}

Welcome to a slice of culinary heaven that captures the essence of the Big Apple in all its savory glory – the incomparable New York style pizza. Each bite of this iconic dish offers a journey into the heart of New York's vibrant food culture, where chewy, yet crispy crust meets a medley of familiar flavors that have defined pizza perfection for generations. Today, we're bringing the spirit of that cherished Neapolitan pizza heritage to your kitchen with our Best New York Style Pizza Recipe – Authentic and Easy.

With a crisp crust that features layers of delectable goodness, a tomato sauce carrying the zing of red pepper flakes, and a variety of toppings to tantalize your taste buds, our recipe encapsulates the very essence of NY-style pizza. And the good news? It's easier than you might think. We're here to guide you through each step, from crafting the perfect dough to mastering the art of the oven-fresh pie. Whether it's a cozy pizza night with the family or a gathering of friends, our homemade New York style pizza recipe promises to transport you to the heart of the city that never sleeps.

And what's a pizza without perfect pairings? Imagine serving up your piping-hot slices with irresistible calzones, garlic knots that melt in your mouth, or a fresh salad bursting with complementary flavors. The options are as endless as the city skyline, and our easy pizza dough recipe, which we'll share below, makes it all the more accessible. So, get ready to create a pizza experience that's as authentic as it is delicious. Embark on this culinary journey with us, and let the flavors of the Big Apple inspire your next pizza night.

We’ll be putting pairing today’s pizza with sodas from our new friends over at Zevia, who’s sustainably sourced, all-natural colas promise a better-for-you alternative to traditional soda.

Now, without further introduction, let’s dive right in to one of my absolute favorite pizza recipes.

Ingredient Checklist – Everything You’ll Need

Fresh Thinly Sliced Pepperoni
- Notes: High-quality pepperoni adds a savory and slightly spicy flavor to the pizza.
- Tips: Look for pepperoni without excessive greasiness for a better texture when baked.
- Substitutions: Substitute with your preferred pizza toppings, such as cooked sausage, bacon, or vegetables.
Grated Cheese
- Notes: A blend of cheeses provides gooeyness and depth of flavor to the pizza.
- Tips: Combine mozzarella with cheddar, provolone, or fontina for a more complex taste.
- Substitutions: Adjust cheese types based on your preference; experiment with gouda, asiago, or blue cheese.
Olive Oil for Drizzling
- Notes: Drizzling olive oil before baking adds a golden finish and enhances the aroma.
- Tips: Use extra-virgin olive oil for a richer taste and aroma.
- Substitutions: Clarified butter or garlic-infused oil can be alternatives for added flavor.
Mozzarella
- Notes: I recommend ‘against’ pre-shredded cheese, as pre-shredded varieties often contain anti-caking agents that can hinder proper melt and alter taste. Fresh cheese ensures a smoother, more authentic texture and enhances the overall quality of your New York style pizza. You want the cheese to melt beautifully, creating a creamy and stretchy texture.
- Tips: Choose whole milk mozzarella for superior meltability.
  Substitutions: Fresh mozzarella slices can be used for a slightly different texture.
Red Pepper Flakes
- Notes: Red pepper flakes add a subtle kick of heat and flavor to the pizza.
  Tips: Adjust the amount to your desired level of spiciness.
  Substitutions: Use dried chili flakes or omit if you prefer a milder taste.
Dried Oregano
- Notes: Dried oregano contributes a classic Italian herb flavor to the pizza.
- Tips: Crush the dried oregano between your palms before sprinkling for enhanced aroma.
- Substitutions: Fresh oregano leaves can be used, adjusting the quantity accordingly.
28oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
- Notes: Crushed tomatoes form the base of the pizza sauce, providing a rich tomato flavor.
- Tips: Choose canned tomatoes with no added seasonings for a pure taste.
  Substitutions: Tomato passata or tomato puree can be used as alternatives.
Sugar
- Notes: Sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes and enhances their natural sweetness.
- Tips: Adjust the amount based on your taste preference.
  Substitutions: Honey or maple syrup can be used as natural sweeteners.
Butter
- Notes: Yes, we’re adding butter to the sauce. Butter adds richness and a silky texture to the pizza sauce.
- Tips: Unsalted butter gives better control over the sauce's saltiness.
  Substitutions: Additional olive oil can be used as an alternative.
Olive Oil
- Notes: Olive oil infuses the sauce with flavor and richness.
- Tips: Use extra-virgin olive oil for its robust taste.
Garlic
- Notes: Minced garlic contributes aromatic depth to the pizza sauce.
- Tips: Use fresh garlic for the best flavor.
- Substitutions: Garlic powder can be used if fresh garlic is unavailable.
Small Onion
- Notes: Chopped onion adds sweetness and depth to the sauce.
- Tips: Yellow or white onions work well for this purpose.
- Substitutions: Red onions can be used for a slightly different flavor.
Salt
- Notes: Salt enhances the flavors in the sauce.
- Tips: Adjust the amount based on your taste preference.
- Substitutions: Sea salt or kosher salt can be used interchangeably.

Kitchen Gear – Everything You’ll Need

Stand Mixer with Dough Hook Attachment: Using a stand mixer simplifies the dough-making process, ensuring consistent and well-kneaded dough.
Rolling Pin: A rolling pin is essential for shaping the pizza dough into the desired thickness and size.
Pizza Stone or Baking Steel: A pizza stone or baking steel is crucial for achieving that characteristic crisp and chewy crust of New York style pizza.
Pizza Peel: A pizza peel makes transferring the pizza onto the hot pizza stone or baking steel much easier and reduces the risk of deforming the dough.
Sharp Knife or Pizza Cutter: A sharp knife or pizza cutter is necessary for cleanly slicing the pizza once it's baked.
Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurements are crucial for consistent results in baking, so having a set of measuring cups and spoons is essential.
Baking Sheet: You might need a baking sheet to catch any drips or spills while transferring the pizza to and from the oven.
Saucepan: A saucepan is required for preparing the pizza sauce.
Wooden Spoon or Whisk: A wooden spoon or whisk is necessary for stirring and combining ingredients, especially when making the pizza sauce.
Bowls: Various bowls are needed for proofing yeast, mixing ingredients, and preparing toppings. A large bowl for preparing the dough, a small bowl for mixing ingredients, and various ramekins for holding toppings while assembling the pizza.
Cooking Brush: A cooking brush is useful for drizzling olive oil on the pizza before baking.
Cutting Board: You'll need a cutting board for slicing your pizza once it's ready.
Kitchen Timer: Accurate timing is crucial when baking, so a kitchen timer is helpful to ensure your pizza doesn't overcook.
Oven Mitts or Gloves: Protect your hands from the hot oven and baking equipment with oven mitts or gloves.

Having these kitchen tools and gear on hand will make the process of creating an authentic and easy New York style pizza much smoother and enjoyable.

Topping Ideas – Getting Creative

Toppings Variations:

Classic Margherita: Top the pizza with slices of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil for a simple yet flavorful option.
Pepperoni Lover's Delight: Load up on thinly sliced pepperoni for a hearty and indulgent pizza. Combine it with grated mozzarella for that gooey, cheesy goodness.
Veggie Delight: Create a colorful medley of sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, red onions, spinach, and black olives. Pair it with a blend of mozzarella and provolone cheeses.
Mediterranean Fusion: Go Mediterranean with toppings like artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and roasted red peppers. This combination offers a delightful contrast of flavors.
BBQ Chicken Feast: Spread a layer of tangy barbecue sauce over the dough, then top with cooked chicken, red onions, and a mix of cheddar and smoked gouda cheeses.

Swapping (or mixing!) Cheeses:

Fontina: Replace or blend the mozzarella with fontina cheese for a slightly nutty and creamy flavor profile.
Blue Cheese: Crumbled blue cheese adds a bold and tangy kick to your pizza, pairing well with caramelized onions, pears, or prosciutto.
Gorgonzola: Similar to blue cheese, gorgonzola offers a rich and distinctive flavor that compliments toppings like figs, honey, or walnuts.
Goat Cheese: Spread a layer of creamy goat cheese over the dough before adding toppings. It pairs well with vegetables and herbs.
Smoked Mozzarella: Elevate your pizza with the smoky depth of smoked mozzarella, which works beautifully with roasted or grilled vegetables.

Remember, the key to a successful pizza is a harmonious combination of flavors and textures. Feel free to experiment with different combinations to find your favorite personalized New York style pizza!

Prepping the Perfect Dough – Tips and Tricks

Achieving the perfect pizza dough is a crucial step in crafting an authentic New York style pizza. A quality dough serves as the foundation for a crispy yet chewy crust that's synonymous with this iconic pizza type. Here are some valuable tips to ensure your pizza dough turns out just right:

Flour Selection: Opt for high protein content bread flour to create a sturdy and elastic dough. This type of high gluten flour contributes to the desired chewy texture. All purpose flour can certainly be used in place of bread flour.
Yeast Activation: Proof the yeast by combining it with warm water and a pinch of sugar. Bubbles and froth indicate that the yeast is active and ready to leaven the dough.
Slow and Steady Kneading: Mix and knead the dough on low speed using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. Slow kneading encourages gluten development without overworking the dough. You want to form a singular ball of dough.
Rest and Rise: Allow the dough to rest and rise until it has doubled in size. Resting imparts flavor while rising ensures an airy and light interior.
Overnight Refrigeration: For enhanced flavor and convenience, refrigerate the dough overnight. This extended fermentation contributes to a more complex taste and texture.
Divide and Shape: Using a rolling pin, divide the dough into portions and shape them into balls. Gently flatten each dough ball to create individual pizza crusts.
Cornmeal for Handling: Sprinkle cornmeal on the pizza peel or baking surface before transferring the shaped dough. Cornmeal prevents sticking and aids in sliding the pizza into the oven.
High Heat Baking: Preheat your oven to a high temperature, around 400°F or higher. The intense heat ensures rapid cooking, resulting in a crisp outer layer and a chewy interior.
Proper Thickness: Roll out or stretch the dough to achieve the right thickness. New York style pizza typically boasts a thin-to-medium thickness, allowing for a balance between the crust and toppings.
Docking the Dough: Gently pierce the dough with a fork to prevent large air bubbles from forming during baking. This ensures an even, consistent rise.
Even Toppings Distribution: Apply your pizza sauce and toppings evenly to prevent any part of the crust from becoming soggy or undercooked.
High-Quality Cheese: Use freshly grated, whole milk mozzarella for its superior meltability and creamy texture.

Remember, the dough is the canvas for your pizza masterpiece, so take your time and follow these tips to craft a dough that elevates your New York style pizza to a new level of authenticity and deliciousness.

New York Style Pizza?

New York-style pizza often gets a bad rep as ‘fast food’ or as the ‘industrialized/Anglicized/corporatized/Insert Derogatory Here’ version of pizza. The truth is that New York pie began in (you guessed it) New York City, when Italian immigrant Gennaro Lombardi opened his Manhattan pizzeria in the very early 1900s. He offered large, thin-crust pizza composed of plain red sauce and a dense covering of mozzarella cheese. These pizzas were cooked at high temperatures in wall-sized deck ovens. Sound familiar? One of his employees, Antonio Totonno, who also happened to be his chief pizza maker, left the shop in 1924 to open his own pizzeria in Coney Island – and thus the spreading of New York-style pizza as the pizza-of-choice for slice joints began its spread across the nation by these entrepreneurial native New Yorkers.

However, these types of pies tend to get derided nowadays – and this derision is ‘not’ wholly unwarranted. Most people associate New York-style pizza with the low-quality offerings of ‘hole in the wall’ fast food establishments selling pizzas so greasy they melt the boxes their sold in. These pizzas are typically composed of low-quality ingredients, and assembled with questionable pizza-making skills. However, this is aught to reflect on the sellers of these pies, as opposed to the ‘style’ of pie being sold.

Now, with all of that out of the way, ‘what’ constitutes a NY pizza? This style of pizza is – ideally – a ‘very’ thin crust pie. Despite being thin, the crust should ‘not’ be fragile, but should instead be ‘pliable’ such that it is neatly foldable. The pizza should also ‘not’ be substantial, it should instead be more of a ‘snack’ than a meal (unlike something like a Chicago deep dish). Finally, its defining feature is a dense covering of cheese, beneath which there should be a plain red marinara. Toppings can go on either side of this cheese covering.

And that’s really it. That’s New York-style pizza.

Pairing Today’s Pizza

A Cold Soda: Pizza and soda are pretty much a match made in heaven. Made with ingredients you might find in your own kitchen, such as citrus oils and ginger, Zevia sodas feature no artificial colors, no phosphoric acids, and all Non-GMO ingredients. As a result, Zevia sodas are crystal clear – and that’s something Zevia is rightly proud of. Utilizing stevia to sweeten their drinks, Zevia sodas are a zero calorie, zero-sugar treat, making them a better-for-you alternative to traditional colas. However, the best part of all of this is that they are absolutely delicious beverages. My son absolutely loved the Black Cherry and Root Beer varieties, while my daughter thoroughly enjoyed their standard cola. Check them out here, order yourself a few, and pair them with your next pizza. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.
Homemade Onion Rings: I’m of the opinion that onion rings pair well with just about everything, and I wouldn’t hesitate to make a batch to serve alongside to today’s pizza. I prepare mine with just a hint of spice, and a thick, dense batter that crisps up beautifully during frying. You can grab my recipe here.
Homemade Breadsticks: At the risk of being old fashioned, I’m going to suggest breadsticks to pair with today’s pizza, and these are much easier to prepare than you might think. Paired with some olive oil for dipping, or even some herbed butter or black coffee, these are super versatile and keep great. As a nice bonus, they never fail to impress the guests.

NY Style Pizza

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Author: Living the Gourmet
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 2 (14-inch) pizzas 1x

Save Recipe

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the dough:

4 cups AP flour
2 teaspoons yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups warm water
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup olive oil

For the sauce:

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon butter

For the toppings:

2 cups grated Mozzarella
1/2 cup fresh thinly sliced pepperoni
1/2 cup grated cheese
Olive oil for drizzling

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

For the dough:

Proof your yeast. Stir yeast and sugar in 2 cups warm water and let stand for about 10 minutes until it has bubbled.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attachment, combine flour and salt. Add proofed yeast and olive oil and mix on low speed until just combined.
Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface. Gently knead the dough 2-3 times. In a lightly oiled bowl, place the dough and cover. Leave it to rest until it has doubled in size, or overnight in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Once the dough has doubled, turn out onto a well-floured surface and divide it. Roll each half out into a 16-inch circle. Sprinkle cornmeal over your pizza stone and carefully transfer the dough onto it. Top with homemade sauce (recipe below), pepperoni, and grated cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Slice immediately once out of the oven and serve.

For the sauce:

In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil until translucent. Add the seasonings, crushed tomatoes, and sugar. Cook down to a simmer, about 5-8 minutes. Add butter and leave to simmer for about 15-20 minutes before topping the pizzas. Any leftover sauce can be stored in an air tight container or jar for 4-5 days.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1

Recipe Card powered by

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow us on Newsbreak and MSN for even more great recipes and articles.

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below, we always love hearing from you.

Happy Cooking!