Basketball Court Pizza Toppings

Featured in: Wham-Worthy Weeknights

This unique dish transforms a classic dough base into a basketball court using colorful bell peppers to outline court markings, olives and corn to highlight free throw and three-point areas, and pepperoni arranged as basketballs. Mozzarella and Parmesan spread evenly over the sauce add rich, melted texture. Ready in under an hour, it’s ideal for sports events and family gatherings, combining playful presentation with familiar flavors.

Updated on Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:11:00 GMT
Freshly baked Basketball Court Pizza with pepperoni "basketballs" and colorful bell pepper lines. Save
Freshly baked Basketball Court Pizza with pepperoni "basketballs" and colorful bell pepper lines. | whambite.com

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 is a fun recipe that brings sports and food together, perfect for sharing with family and friends during game 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
  • Cheese: 1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • Toppings (for decoration and free throws): 8 slices pepperoni
  • Toppings (for decoration and free throws): 1/4 cup (40 g) pitted black olives, sliced
  • Toppings (for decoration and free throws): 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
  • Toppings (for decoration and free throws): 1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
  • Toppings (for decoration and free throws): 2 tbsp (15 g) green onions, thinly sliced
  • Toppings (for decoration and free throws): 1 tbsp (10 g) corn kernels (optional, for court lines)
  • Flour (for dusting): 2 tbsp (15 g) all-purpose flour

Instructions

Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat.
Prepare Dough:
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.
Add Sauce:
Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch (1 cm) border.
Add Cheese:
Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the sauce.
Create Court Lines:
Using bell pepper strips, create the court boundaries and center line. Use yellow for outer lines and red for the center circle and key.
Arrange Toppings:
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.
Add Green Onions:
Add green onions for additional court markings or grass-like effect on the edges.
Bake:
Bake for 12 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
Serve:
Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and slice into rectangles to serve.
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Making this pizza always sparks joy as my family gathers around the table to admire and eat our sporty creation together.

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.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 370. Total Fat: 13 g. Carbohydrates: 45 g. Protein: 15 g (per serving).

A close-up of a Basketball Court Pizza, with melted cheese and olives for free throws. Save
A close-up of a Basketball Court Pizza, with melted cheese and olives for free throws. | whambite.com

This basketball court pizza is a winning recipe that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.

Kitchen Guide

How do I create the basketball court design?

Roll out the dough into a rectangle and use sliced bell peppers to outline court lines. Yellow peppers form outer boundaries, red peppers mark the center circle and key. Olives and corn create free throw and three-point line details.

Can I substitute the pepperoni for a vegetarian option?

Yes, you can replace pepperoni with vegetarian sausage or omit it altogether, while keeping the olives and peppers for vibrant toppings.

What cheese types are best for this dish?

Mozzarella provides meltiness and stretch, while Parmesan adds a sharp, savory flavor that complements the other toppings.

How long should I bake the topped dough?

Bake at 475°F (245°C) for 12 to 15 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Any tips for easy dough handling?

Dust your surface with flour and roll the dough into a 10x14 inch rectangle for best court shape. Using parchment paper or a preheated pizza stone helps with even baking.

Basketball Court Pizza Toppings

A vibrant pizza styled as a basketball court with colorful sliced peppers, olives, and melted cheeses.

Prep Duration
25 min
Cook Duration
15 min
Complete Duration
40 min
Created by Brandon Ellis


Skill Level Easy

Heritage American-Italian Fusion

Output 4 Portions

Diet Requirements Meat-Free

What You'll Need

Dough

01 1 lb pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)

Sauce

01 1/2 cup pizza sauce

Cheese

01 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
02 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Toppings

01 8 slices pepperoni
02 1/4 cup pitted black olives, sliced
03 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
04 1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
05 2 tbsp green onions, thinly sliced
06 1 tbsp corn kernels (optional)

Flour

01 2 tbsp all-purpose flour for dusting

Method

Phase 01

Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 475°F. Heat pizza stone inside oven if using.

Phase 02

Prepare Dough: Dust surface with flour. Roll dough into a 10x14 inch rectangle resembling a basketball court. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet or hot pizza stone.

Phase 03

Add Sauce: Spread pizza sauce evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border around edges.

Phase 04

Layer Cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses uniformly over the sauce.

Phase 05

Create Court Lines: Use yellow bell pepper strips for outer boundaries and red bell pepper strips for center circle and key markings.

Phase 06

Add Free Throw Markers: Place pepperoni slices as basketballs at each end of the court. Use sliced olives and corn kernels to mark free throw circles and three-point lines.

Phase 07

Add Additional Markings: Scatter green onions along edges to resemble court details or grass-like effect.

Phase 08

Bake: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Phase 09

Cool and Slice: Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly, and cut into rectangles for serving.

Kitchen Tools

  • Rolling pin
  • Baking sheet or pizza stone
  • Parchment paper
  • Sharp knife or pizza cutter

Allergy Guide

Review ingredients carefully for potential allergens and seek professional medical guidance if unsure
  • Contains wheat (gluten), milk (dairy); possible soy depending on cheese or sauce.
  • Pepperoni may contain pork and preservatives.

Nutrient Breakdown (per portion)

Numbers shown are estimates only - consult healthcare providers for specific advice
  • Energy: 370
  • Fats: 13 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45 g
  • Proteins: 15 g