Easiest Pizza Recipe
Pizza night in Canada is more than dinner — it’s tradition. From Friday nights to birthday parties, homemade pizza means family gathered around the table, kids stretching dough with flour-dusted hands, and everyone claiming a corner or slice with their favourite toppings. While Italian immigrants first brought pizza here, Canadians made it their own — from Ontario’s world-famous Hawaiian invention in 1962 to the bacon-mushroom-pepper “Canadian classic.” It’s a dish that feels homemade, celebratory, and endlessly adaptable.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Serves: 4–6
Ingredients
For the Dough
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp sugar
1 pack instant yeast (7 g)
1 cup tepid water
1 tbsp olive oil
Pinch of salt
For the Toppings
Tomato sauce (see homemade recipe)
Grated mozzarella
Your choice of toppings, such as:
Hawaiian: ham + pineapple
Classic: pepperoni
BBQ: chicken, red onion, red pepper
Canadian classics: Canadian bacon or peameal, bacon, mushrooms, black olives, bell peppers, onions
Fun twists: maple bacon, double cheese, or a drizzle of maple syrup
Method
Start the yeast: Place flour in a mound with a well in the centre. Add sugar and yeast. Pour in tepid water and let sit 10 minutes until bubbly.
Make the dough: Add olive oil and salt. Mix into a dough and knead lightly until smooth.
First rise: Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Shape: Punch down the dough and hand-stretch into a pizza base — stretching by hand keeps the crust airy.
Assemble: Spread tomato sauce over the base, scatter mozzarella, and layer on your chosen toppings.
Bake: Cook on a preheated pizza stone or baking sheet at 220°C (425°F) for 12–15 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese bubbling.
Serve: Slice hot and let everyone grab their favourite slice.
Variations
Vegetarian Garden Pizza: Load up with roasted zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes; finish with fresh basil.
West Coast Style: Smoked salmon, red onion, and dill cream drizzle for a nod to Pacific flavours.
Though pizza was brought to Canada by Italian immigrants, Canadians quickly gave it their own twist. In 1962, the now-famous Hawaiian pizza was invented in Chatham, Ontario by Sam Panopoulos, who first paired ham with pineapple — a topping combination that went on to spark debates around the world. Canada also developed its own signature “Canadian pizza,” usually topped with pepperoni, mushrooms, and bacon or peameal. Today, pizza is one of the most popular take-out and homemade meals across the country, reflecting both immigrant traditions and Canada’s taste for bold, inventive flavours.
