Chilly Night In: Homemade Pizza Night With Friends

The perfect chilly night in with friends: making pizzas from scratch

Chilly Night In: Homemade Pizza Night With Friends

Our friends have done this twice now with friends during Chicago’s chilly months, and it’s been a fun, easy, and successful way to spend an evening together. Grabbing ingredients from Trader Joe’s to make a variety of pizzas is super simple, and it’s a great way to experiment with new flavors. Below, you’ll find a grocery list from Trader Joe’s for each pizza. Favorite pizzas we made were the Hot Honey Soppressata Pizza and Margherita Pizza.

Hot Honey Soppressata Pizza Ingredients

  1. 1 package of Trader Joe's pizza dough (garlic and herb is the best)
  2. 1 container of Trader Joe's pizza sauce (will only need to use part of this)
  3. 1 container of Trader Joe's whipped ricotta
  4. 1 package of Trader Joe's pepperoni slices
  5. 1 bottle of hot honey (Mike's is the best but any will work)

Hot Honey Soppressata Pizza Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 475°F (or as directed on your pizza dough package) and let it fully heat up.
  2. Prepare the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, stretch the pizza dough into your desired shape. Place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza stone.
  3. Add the Sauce: Spoon a thin layer of pizza sauce onto the dough, spreading it evenly.
  4. Add the Toppings:
    • Drop dollops of whipped ricotta across the pizza.
    • Arrange pepperoni slices generously on top.
  5. Bake: Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly. (Important to keep an eye on the pizza as it cooks very quickly)
  6. Drizzle with Hot Honey: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a minute. Drizzle hot honey over the top for a sweet, spicy finish. I also love to add some fresh arugula on top when serving.
  7. Serve and Enjoy!

Margherita Pizza Ingredients

  1. 1 package of Trader Joe's pizza dough (garlic and herb is the best)
  2. 1 container of Trader Joe's pizza sauce (will only need to use part of this)
  3. 1 package of Trader Joe's Fresh Basil
  4. 2 tomatoes

Margherita Pizza Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to 475°F (or according to pizza dough package directions).
  2. Prepare the Dough: On a floured surface, stretch the pizza dough to your desired size and shape. Place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza stone.
  3. Add the Sauce: Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the dough.
  4. Add the Toppings:
    1. Arrange tomato slices evenly across the pizza.
    2. Tear the fresh basil leaves and sprinkle them on top.
  5. Bake: Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the crust is golden and the tomatoes are slightly roasted. (Important to keep an eye on the pizza as it cooks very quickly)
  6. Serve and Enjoy: Slice, serve, and enjoy with friends
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