Craving homemade pizza but don't have hours to wait for the dough to rise? Jamie Oliver's infamous "Cheat's" pizza is the perfect 30-minute meal to satisfy any pizza lover. This simple recipe only requires a few ingredients and basic techniques to craft a deliciously crispy, cheesy pizza pie right at home.
In this post, we'll walk through exactly how to make Jamie's famous fast pizza step-by-step, from measuring out ingredients to sliding that sizzling pie into the oven. You'll also get plenty of tips to customize this basic recipe with your favorite toppings and make it your own. Let's get ready to craft some piping hot, melty pizza perfection in 30 minutes flat!
An Overview of Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute 'Cheat's' Pizza
Jamie Oliver first introduced his quick and easy "Cheat's" pizza recipe on his hit TV show The Naked Chef back in 1999. It instantly became a viewer favorite for being able to craft a fresh, homemade pizza so quickly.
This speedy recipe cuts corners to avoid the long rising time traditional pizza dough requires. Instead of letting the dough slowly ferment for hours, baking powder and yeast help it spring to life fast. A brief knead and rest is all it takes to make the dough easy to shape and stretch.
Topped with tangy tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella, and your choice of toppings, this simple pizza delivers on all the cheesy, crispy goodness you'd expect without the hassle and wait. It's the perfect fast food fix when you're craving pizza stat.
While this 30-minute timeline makes Jamie's special pizza recipe ideal for hectic weeknights, it's also easy to double for feeding a crowd. You can even get creative with toppings to please all tastes - meat lovers and vegetarians alike.
Ready to whip up some flavorful fast pizza? Let's get oven-ready with a step-by-step guide.
Gathering Ingredients and Equipment
Part of what makes this pizza recipe such a breeze is that you likely have most, if not all, of the ingredients on hand. Here's a quick rundown of what you'll need:
For the Pizza Dough:
- 11⁄2 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3⁄4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Toppings:
- 3⁄4 cup tomato or marinara sauce
- 11⁄2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- Desired toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, etc.
Equipment:
- Large bowl
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Box grater or food processor (for grating cheese)
- Pizza stone or heavy baking sheet
- Parchment paper
And that's it! Now let's get cooking.
Step 1: Making the Pizza Dough
Mixing up Jamie Oliver's fast pizza dough takes just 5 minutes. Here's how:
- In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, salt, instant yeast, sugar, and baking powder. Whisk to blend everything together evenly.
- Make a well in the center and pour in the water and olive oil.
- Using a wooden spoon or spatula, mix the liquid into the dry ingredients until it forms a shaggy dough ball. If it seems too dry, add another tablespoon of water.
- Lightly flour your hands and knead the pizza dough in the bowl for 1 minute until it forms a smooth, elastic ball. This brief knead is enough to activate the yeast and bind the ingredients when using baking powder.
- Cover the dough and let it rest at room temperature as you prep the toppings.
And just like that, the dough is ready for all your favorite toppings! The baking powder gives the dough an extra lift while a quick knead develops the gluten proteins for a nice chewy bite.
Step 2: Prepare the Toppings
While the dough rests, you have 10 minutes to prep any toppings. Here are a few ideas for delicious toppings to personalize Jamie Oliver's pizza:
- Sliced mushrooms
- Diced onions
- Chopped peppers
- Sliced black olives
- Sliced Italian sausage
- Cooked ground beef
- Pepperoni slices
- Diced cooked chicken
- Fresh basil
- Sliced tomatoes
- Pineapple tidbits
- Spinach
- Broccoli florets
For a quick veggie pizza, try a combo of sliced mushrooms, onions, peppers, olives, and spinach. Meat lovers can load up their pie with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, chicken, bacon, or ham.
Other tasty additions include artichokes, arugula, roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and jalapeños for extra spice. Get creative with your own favorite flavors!
Just make sure any meat or vegetable toppings get diced small - you'll want them to cook through in the short baking time.
You can also grate fresh mozzarella cheese or slice some mozzarella balls rather than using pre-shredded cheese. The bonus is stretching and tearing the fresh mozz yourself after baking for that perfect “pull-apart” cheese effect!
Step 3: Preparing the Pizza Pan
While you're prepping toppings, you'll also want to get your pizza stone or baking sheet ready:
- If using a pizza stone, place it on the center oven rack and preheat to 450°F for at least 30 minutes before baking. This gives it time to get piping hot.
- For a baking sheet, just line it with parchment paper. No need to preheat.
The super hot pizza stone will give you the most authentic crisp crust, but a heavy baking sheet also works great.
Step 4: Shaping and Topping the Pizza
Now comes the fun part - shaping and loading up your pizza!
- Lightly dust your work surface with flour. Turn out the rested pizza dough and flatten it into a round with your hands.
- Starting at the center and working outwards, use your fingertips to stretch and shape the dough into a 12 to 14-inch circle or oval. Go slowly to prevent tearing.
- Carefully transfer the stretched out dough round to your preheated pizza stone or lined baking sheet.
- Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the dough, leaving about a 1⁄2 inch border.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce.
- Top with any other toppings you prepped, leaving the outer edge clean.
Some people prefer par-baking the crust for 3-5 minutes before adding toppings to prevent a soggy center. But for this thin crust pizza, the short bake time prevents this.
Now just slide it into the hot oven and bake!
Step 5: Baking the Pizza
Here's how to bake Jamie Oliver's quick pizza:
- For a pizza stone: Bake at 450°F for 15-18 minutes, rotating halfway through, until the cheese is melted and edges are crisp and golden brown.
- For a baking sheet: Bake at 425°F for 14-16 minutes, rotating halfway through, until the cheese is melted and crust is crisp.
The pizza stone will give you the best crispy crust, but a hot baking sheet still does the trick!
Step 6: Adding the Finishing Touches
Once the pizza comes out of the oven, it’s time to complete it with Jamie's special finishing touches:
- Grate over a little fresh Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
- Drizzle with some olive oil around the outside edge for a nice garnish.
- Sprinkle over fresh basil, oregano, or thyme leaves to add fresh herb flavor.
- If you want that stretched “pull apart” cheese effect, wait 1 minute then gently lift and pull the melted mozzarella strands upwards from the center.
- Let cool for 2-3 minutes before slicing to prevent losing those delicious toppings.
And your hot, melty pizza is ready to devour! Jamie Oliver may call this the "Cheat's" pizza for skipping the rise time, but no one will ever guess thanks to the deliciously crisp homemade crust and flavorful toppings.
Tips for Making Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Pizza
Jamie Oliver's speedy pizza recipe may seem simple, but we have a few tips to guarantee pizza success:
- Use instant yeast rather than active dry for a faster rise. Check that it’s still fresh and active.
- Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature for the dough to come together quickly. Cold dough will be stiff and slow to rise.
- Knead the dough just long enough to form a smooth, elastic ball. Over-kneading will make the crust tough.
- Work slowly when stretching the dough into a circle so it doesn't tear. Let it relax 5 minutes if shrinking.
- Use cornmeal rather than flour to dust pizza peels or stones for easier sliding.
- Preheat your pizza stone for at least 30 minutes at the highest oven temp to get piping hot. This ensures the crispiest crust.
- Rotate the pizza mid-bake for even cooking on both sides. Keep an eye on it so the edges don’t burn.
- Use a pizza cutter, not a knife, to neatly slice the pizza when slightly cooled. This prevents toppings from sliding around.
- Customize with your favorite toppings! Jamie's basic recipe is endlessly adaptable.
Follow these tips and you’ll have a hot, homemade pizza on the table in 30 minutes flat. It’s as close to delivery as you can get without the wait!
Frequently Asked Questions About 30 Minute Pizza
Here are answers to some common questions about making speedy pizza:
What can I use instead of a pizza stone?
A pizza stone is ideal, but a heavy baking sheet, enamel pan, or pizza pan all work. Line with parchment paper and preheat before use.
Do I have to use a specific flour?
Bread flour gives the crispest crust, but all-purpose flour can be substituted. Whole wheat flour also works for a nuttier flavor.
Can I use a food processor to mix the dough?
Yes, you can use a food processor fitted with the dough blade to mix everything together in seconds. Just knead briefly after.
What if the dough tears when I try to stretch it?
Don’t worry! Just pinch the tear together and let the dough rest for 5 minutes before trying again. Add a drop of water if overly dry.
Why does my pizza have a soggy center?
This happens if the crust didn't cook long enough. Make sure your pizza stone or pan is very hot before baking. Also rotate the pizza mid-bake for even cooking.
How do I reheat leftover pizza?
Reheating in a hot oven crisps up the crust best. Place slices on a baking sheet at 400 ̊F for 5-10 minutes until hot. The microwave makes the crust soggy.
Can I freeze extra dough or baked pizzas?
Definitely! Tightly wrap balls of extra dough in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Wrap baked pizzas well and freeze for 2-3 months.
Customize Your Own 30 Minute Gourmet Pizza
Once you've mastered the basics, the fun begins with dreaming up your own signature “gourmet” pizza combinations!
Endless combinations of meats, veggies, cheeses, and spices are possible on this easy pizza crust recipe. Here are just a few delicious ideas:
- BBQ Chicken Pizza: Chicken, red onion, cheddar, BBQ sauce, cilantro
- Hawaiian Pizza: Ham, bacon, pineapple, red peppers, chili flakes
- Mediterranean Pizza: Artichokes, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, basil
- Breakfast Pizza: Scrambled eggs, bacon, potato, cheddar, hot sauce
- Taco Pizza: Ground beef, onion, peppers, salsa, tortilla chips, cilantro
- Thai Chicken Pizza: Chicken, carrots, peanut sauce, mozzarella, peanuts
- Greek Pizza: Spinach, Kalamata olives, red onion, feta, oregano
- Pesto Margherita Pizza: Tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella, pesto
Mix and match your favorites or get creative with cultural flavor combinations! Using quality ingredients like fresh veggies and cheeses will take this 30-minute pizza over the top.
Enjoying Jamie's Quick Pizza Any Night of the Week
Now that you know how simple whipping up Jamie Oliver's fast homemade pizza can be, you can start enjoying it any night of the week. No more waiting around for the delivery guy!
Better yet, get everyone involved in topping their own custom pizzas for a fun dinner activity. Kids especially love piling on their ideal toppings. You can even shape individual sized pizzas for a party!
Freezing extra dough means you can break out this crowd-pleasing recipe anytime. Thaw dough in the fridge overnight, let come to room temperature, then roll out and top as desired.
So next time a pizza craving strikes, look no further than your own kitchen. In just 30 quick minutes, you can be biting into crispy, melty pizza that tastes even better than takeout!