Homemade Pizza Buns (Soft, Cheesy & Freezer‑Friendly)

My homemade version of the soft, cheesy pizza buns you see at the grocery store, but much more affordable to make at home. Made with simple pizza dough, pizza sauce and lots of melted cheese, these soft buns are kid‑friendly, freezer‑friendly, and perfect for snacks, lunches or quick dinners.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry or instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar (for the yeast)
• 1 cup lukewarm water (about 105F)
• 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar (for the dough)
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable, canola or other neutral oil
• 2 1/2 - 3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and levelled)
• 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce (store bought or make your own)
• 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Add the 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry or instant yeast and 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar to 1 cup lukewarm water in a small bowl or measuring cup. Stir and let stand for 5-10 minutes before using.
2. 2In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the kneading hook, mix together 2 cups (250g) of the flour, 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon fine salt. Add the yeast and water mixture and the 1 Tablespoon vegetable, canola or other neutral oil and mix together until combined.
3. 3Knead by hand or with the mixer, adding the remaining 1 cup (125g) of flour in small increments, only as much as needed, until the dough comes together into a smooth dough that wraps the kneading hook and cleans the bowl. (I find I generally end up using just shy of 3 cups of flour in total.)
4. 4Remove the dough to a floured work surface and knead briefly, then form the dough into a ball. (The dough shouldn't stick to your hands or the work surface. If it does, add a touch more flour, as needed.) Grease a bowl and place the dough ball into the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled in size, about 30 - 45 minutes, depending on how warm your kitchen is.
5. 5Prepare two large baking sheets. You can use a bare baking sheet or line it with a sheet of parchment paper if you like. Set aside.
6. 6Remove the doubled dough to a floured work surface. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces
7. 7Take a piece of dough. Form it into a ball, then stretch in to a circle about 3 inches in diameter. You don't need to stretch them completely at this point. Once you have stretched each of the 12 pieces, go back and stretch each piece again to about 4-inches diameter. Repeat with each piece of dough, placing 6 pieces on each of the prepared baking sheets (you can place them fairly close together as they don't spread much, but don't allow them to actually touch each other). Once on the baking sheet, stretch the rounds one last time until they are about 5 inches in diameter.
8. 8Using a Tablespoon measure from your cutlery drawer, top each piece of dough with with a heaping Tablespoon of pizza sauce, spreading it over the top, going right to the edge, as far as you can without it spilling over the sides. Top with a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat with all the buns. Let stand 20-25 minutes, while you preheat the oven.
9. 9With racks in the upper and lower third of your oven, preheat oven to 375° F (or 350°F for softer buns - see Notes). (regular bake setting/not fan-assisted). After the buns have stood for 20-25 minutes or so (or until they look a little puffy around the outside edges), bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, switching the pans from top to bottom halfway through baking. Cook until golden and bubbly. Remove from the oven, then immediately remove the buns to a cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy immediately or place in an airtight container and refrigerate, or see below for freezing instructions!
10. 10Freezing: These buns freeze really well. Freeze them on baking sheet and then transfer to a freezer bag. Enjoy straight from the freezer, no need to thaw! Just place the frozen buns on a baking sheet and warm in a preheated 400° oven for 7 or 8 minutes.