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Let’s face it—the price of everything seems to be at an all-time high. Food is no exception. Now that summer vacation is underway, your food budget is probably even higher because your children are probably eating at home more than during the school year. Besides the golden arches, what is the number one food your children are probably asking for frequently? You guessed it: “Pizza!” Having pizza delivered several times a week could cost a fortune. Would you like to skip delivery fees and discover the secret to turning simple, budget-friendly ingredients into the ultimate gourmet family pizza night? Here’s how.

Helping Kids Eat Healthier for Less

Whether eating pizza from a popular restaurant chain or pizza from the freezer section of the store, you may wonder just exactly what you’re getting. There could be ingredients you can’t pronounce in them, or you may wonder just how sanitary the conditions are at your local restaurant. If your children love pizza, you may want to grab some fresh ingredients from your local grocery store and gather around the countertop for some great food and fun. They’ll be getting much more nutritious food in their body while you can relax knowing you’re saving money on their favorite food.

The DIY Secret to Restaurant-Quality Pizza at Home

Ingredients

• Balls of Dough (available at the local grocery store or homemade with flour and yeast)
• Oregano
• Tomato Sauce
• Cheese
• Meat of choice
• Vegetables of choice (preferably Georgia-grown)
• Olive oil

1. Prep and Relax the Dough

Take your dough out of the refrigerator at least 30 to 45 minutes before baking. Cold dough fights back and snaps like a rubber band; room-temperature dough is relaxed, pliable, and easy for small hands to press out into a perfect 12-inch circle.

2. Crank Up the Heat

Preheat your countertop pizza maker on its highest setting. Pizzerias cook at incredibly high temperatures to get that signature rise and crispy under-crust. Letting your appliance get smoking hot ensures the bottom crisps perfectly before the cheese overcooks.

3. Build with Restraint

Gather the kids around the counter and let them spread a thin layer of sauce, followed by a handful of mozzarella and their favorite toppings. The secret to a crisp crust is less is more. Piling on too many heavy toppings or wet veggies will weigh the dough down and cause a soggy center.

4. Bake to a Golden Bubble

Carefully transfer the pizza into the heated unit and close the lid. Because these specialized cookers trap heat efficiently, your pizza will bake in a fraction of the time of a standard kitchen oven—usually just 5 to 7 minutes. Watch through the viewing window together as the cheese blisters and the crust turns a beautiful, golden brown!

Get the 12″ Pizza Maker

If you’re ready to turn your kitchen into the neighborhood’s favorite pizzeria, the secret weapon is the Hamilton Beach 12″ Pizza Maker. This brilliant countertop essential traps intense, concentrated heat to deliver that coveted, bubbly golden crust in a fraction of the time of a standard oven—all without heating up your whole house during a hot Georgia summer. It’s incredibly intuitive and safe enough to use right on the counter while the kids help add the toppings. When you consider that it pays for itself after skipping just two or three expensive restaurant delivery orders, it’s not just a fun addition to family night; it’s a smart, budget-friendly investment for your home.

View on the Hamilton Beach website

Head over to Hamilton Beach to grab yours and claim your crown as the ultimate DIY pizza chef!

Cover image courtesy of AI.

Product image courtesy of Hamilton Beach.

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Mel Childs is the author of this article and the owner of Move Me To Atlanta. She also owns her own writing company in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, she has written freelance for various publications, including Parade Home & Garden, Dengarden, Bob Vila, This Old House, Lawnstarter, WikiLawn, Homelight, Fixr, LeadsForward, Upscale Magazine, Black EOE Journal, Ancient Origins, and many more.