Cooking Hidden Pepperoni & Bacon Pizza in a Wood-Fired Oven

Posted by ilFornino New York on 12th Mar 2020

Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hour, 20 min
Prep: 35 min
Inactive: 45 min
Yield: One 12” Pizza

Grab your apron and chef hat because Chef Aaron and Chef Carl are with us at ilFornino Pizza Academy! In this video, they will show you how to make everyone's favorite pepperoni & bacon pizza. You’re probably wondering why we are calling it a hidden pepperoni pizza. That’s because we are placing pepperoni beneath the mozzarella cheese and then topping it off with bacon! This way the pepperoni is sealed with flavor while cooking, giving you a richer flavor than the pepperoni placed on the top. Let’s begin!

Ingredients:

For ingredients and directions on making the dough, click here!
1 cup pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
6-8 ounces pepperoni slices
6-8 slices of bacon (cooked and crumbled)

Optional Add-Ons:

½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
Fresh basil leaves (optional for garnish)

Directions:

1. Preheat the Wood-Fired Oven: Prepare your wood-fired oven by lighting the fire and wait for 30-45 minutes for the oven to heat up to 700°F.

2. Prepare the Toppings: Cook the bacon until crispy, drain on paper towels, then crumble into small pieces. Set the crumbled bacon pieces in a small bowl for later use.

3. Assemble the Pizza: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to your desired length (about 12 inches in diameter). After rolling, spread the pizza sauce evenly over the base. Layer the pepperoni slices evenly over the sauce and sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the pepperoni. Add the remaining mozzarella cheese on top, followed by the crumbled bacon.

Optional: Finish with a sprinkle of garlic powder and oregano.

4. Bake the Pizza: Carefully slide the pizza onto the hot pizza stone in the wood-fired oven using the pizza peel. Bake for 2-4 minutes, rotate the pizza halfway through for even cooking.

5. Serve: Once the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly, remove the pizza from the oven. Let it cool for a few minutes, slice it with a pizza cutter, and enjoy your delicious pepperoni and bacon pizza!