Rustic Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza on Hand-Tossed Crust

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-01 · Updated 2026-08-01

A hearty pizza featuring savory Italian sausage, sweet roasted red peppers, and melted cheese on a hand-tossed crust with a hint of oregano. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, warm water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups (110°F) warm water
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 8 oz, casing removed Italian sausage
• 1/2 cup, sliced roasted red peppers
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce
• 2 tbsp (for dusting) cornmeal

The pizza stone or steel we’d bake this on → Best Pizza Stones and Steels for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, mix 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F), 1 tsp sugar, and 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: Add 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until combined, then knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until elastic.
3. Step 3: Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
4. Step 4: While dough rises, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 8 oz Italian sausage (removed from casing) and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
5. Step 5: Preheat oven to 475°F. Dust a pizza peel or baking sheet with 2 tbsp cornmeal.
6. Step 6: Punch down dough and stretch into a 12-inch circle on the cornmeal-dusted surface.
7. Step 7: Spread 1/2 cup pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border.
8. Step 8: Sprinkle 2 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over sauce, then scatter cooked sausage and 1/2 cup sliced roasted red peppers on top.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle 1/4 cup grated Parmesan and 1 tsp dried oregano over the pizza.
10. Step 10: Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbling.
11. Step 11: Remove pizza, let cool 5 minutes, slice, and serve.