Save to Pinterest A playful, crowd-pleasing pizza designed to look like a basketball court, complete with fun free throw topping shots. Perfect for sports parties or family nights.
This recipe always gets everyone excited at family gatherings and adds a playful twist to pizza night.
Ingredients
- Dough: 1 lb (450 g) pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
- Sauce: 1/2 cup (120 ml) pizza sauce
- Cheese: 1 1/2 cups (150 g) shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- Toppings (for decoration and free throws): 8 slices pepperoni, 1/4 cup (40 g) pitted black olives, sliced, 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips, 1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced into thin strips, 2 tbsp (15 g) green onions, thinly sliced, 1 tbsp (10 g) corn kernels (optional, for court lines)
- Flour (for dusting): 2 tbsp (15 g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat.
- Step 2:
- On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a large rectangle to resemble a basketball court (about 10x14 inches / 25x35 cm). Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or preheated stone.
- Step 3:
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch (1 cm) border.
- Step 4:
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the sauce.
- Step 5:
- Using bell pepper strips, create the court boundaries and center line. Use yellow for outer lines and red for the center circle and key.
- Step 6:
- Arrange pepperoni slices as basketballs at each end of the court. Place sliced olives and corn kernels to mark free throw circles and three-point lines.
- Step 7:
- Add green onions for additional court markings or grass-like effect on the edges.
- Step 8:
- Bake for 12 15 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
- Step 9:
- Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and slice into rectangles to serve.
Save to Pinterest My kids love helping me arrange the toppings to look like basketball markings which makes pizza night extra special.
Notes
For a meatier version, add cooked sausage or chicken instead of or alongside pepperoni. Serve with ranch or garlic dipping sauce for extra flavor.
Required Tools
Rolling pin, baking sheet or pizza stone, parchment paper, sharp knife or pizza cutter
Allergen Information
Contains Wheat (gluten), Milk (dairy), possible soy (check cheese or sauce labels). Pepperoni may contain pork and preservatives. Always double-check ingredient labels for allergens.
Save to Pinterest This fun and tasty basketball court pizza is sure to impress guests and bring smiles to family pizza nights.
Answers to Recipe Questions
- → How do you create the basketball court design?
Use strips of red and yellow bell peppers to form the court lines and key areas, while pepperoni slices represent basketballs. Olives and corn kernels mark free throw circles and three-point lines, adding visual detail.
- → What dough is best for this style?
Either homemade or store-bought pizza dough works well; roll it out into a large rectangle about 10x14 inches to resemble a basketball court.
- → Can this pizza be adapted for vegetarian diets?
Absolutely. Use vegetarian cheese alternatives and omit meat toppings like pepperoni or replace with vegetables to keep it vegetarian-friendly.
- → What baking temperature and time ensure a crispy crust?
Bake at 475°F (245°C) for 12–15 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese bubbles, ensuring a crisp yet tender base.
- → Are there toppings recommended for extra flavor?
Adding cooked sausage or chicken adds heartiness, and serving with ranch or garlic dipping sauce enhances the taste experience.
- → What tools are needed for preparation?
A rolling pin for dough shaping, a baking sheet or pizza stone for baking, parchment paper to prevent sticking, and a sharp knife or pizza cutter for slicing.