The Best Pizza Dough Recipe - One Sweet Appetite

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This easy Pizza Dough recipe is perfect for beginners. Soft, homemade pizza crust with a list of simple ingredients that you most likely already have on hand. One-Bowl and only a few minutes of kneading.

Want to make it a meal? My Pizza Dough Garlic Knots and Chopped Italian Salad make the perfect sides!

This recipe was originally published March 4, 2015. It has since been updated to include helpful tips and fresh photos.

round of dough on parchment paper with flour

RECIPE FEATURES

5-Ingredients: After a lot of testing, we found the best pizza dough recipe uses basic ingredients.
Easy Weeknight Dinner: No more take-out with this super simple recipe.
Make-Ahead: Start your dough the night before and it’ll be ready in a snap.

This recipe is SO dang good and will have you adding pizza night to your menu on a weekly basis. We used to order out, but now THIS is our go-to. Perfect for baking, grilling, or freezing for later. So buckle up as we walk through the step by step of how to make perfect pizza dough.

Save this one for later.

EASY PIZZA DOUGH INGREDIENTS

This list of ingredients is short, which means you need to make sure they are fresh. Especially the yeast. Improperly stored yeast won’t let the dough rise the way it needs to before baking.

Flour: Specifically, bread flour. Using bread flour will make the crust on the crispier side while all-purpose will give you a soft finish.
Salt: Because this recipe uses very easy ingredients, salt is needed to help enhance the flavor.
Water: Luke warm water helps to activate the yeast to give your crust a perfect rise.
Yeast: Active dry yeast. Be sure to double check the expiration date before adding to your dough.
Oil: The secret ingredient to giving you a stretchy dough that doesn’t rip. Oil helps to make the dough more pliable, giving you a perfectly rounded pizza base.

two dough balls on a parchment lined tray

MAKE-AHEAD PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE

Whisk together the flours and salt in a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer.
Stir the warm water, yeast, and oil in small measuring cup until just combined.
Slowly stir the yeast mixture into the flour until combined, using a wooden spoon or fingers.
Let the dough rest 15 minutes.
Using your hands, or the dough hook of a stand mixer, knead dough until smooth. About 3 minutes.
Divide the dough in half and shape into round balls.
Cover with dampened cloth and rise 4 hours at room temperature 8-12 hours in the refrigerator.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to the hottest temperature with a pizza stone inside (No stone? Cook in a cast iron pan).
Using your fingers, stretch and shape into rounds on parchment paper.
With a pizza paddle, transfer the pizza to a heated hot stone.
Let cook no longer than 5 minutes and carefully remove parchment.
Finish cooking 5-10 minutes

They key to keeping this recipe simple and stress free is to use a stand mixer. The dough hook will change your life and you will thank me later. It takes all of the grunt work out of dough making. You will want to make a triple batch and store some in the freezer because YES you CAN freeze this stuff.

Can I get a “HURRAY!?” I know how much we all love freezer meals and this makes for a quick weeknight dish.

pizza dough rolled with toppings ready for the oven

RECIPE TIPS AND FAQS

What is the most important ingredient in pizza dough?

The flour. Making sure you use the right flour, with the addition of oil, is going to be key to giving you a stretchy dough that will not rip.

What flour is best for pizza dough?

While 00 Flour is a highly rated flour option, I have found bread flour is more available and gives you a great dough that is extremely delicious. The higher protein content gives you a stretchy dough that is less likely to tear when shaping your pizza.

How to freeze this recipe?

Make the dough through shaping into rounds. Wrap tightly in plastic and place in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and let rest on the counter for 1 to 2 hours before shaping.

What are good pizza topping ideas?

The beauty of pizza is how easy it is to customize. Some easy topping ideas are:
Fresh grated mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni
Sausage
Mushrooms
Bacon
Onions
Peppers
Chicken
Pineapple (controversial? Yes. Delicious? Also yes.)

What’s a good substitute for pizza dough?

No time to wait? No problem! You can try to use one of these awesome ideas in place of a pizza crust:
Texas Garlic Toast
Tortillas
French Bread Sliced
Pitas or Flatbread
Bagels (think pizza bites!)

Cooked pizza sliced on a wooden cutting board

MORE PIZZA RECIPES TO TRY

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Homemade Pizza Dough

Yield: 2 (10 inch) or 1 (14/15 inch) pizza

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Rise Time: 4 hours

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups + 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons bread flour (300g)
1 teaspoon salt
Scant 1 cup water, lukewarm*
3/4 teaspoon active yeast
1 teaspoon oil

Instructions

Whisk together the flours and salt in a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer.
Stir the warm water, yeast, and oil in small measuring cup until just combined.
Slowly stir the yeast mixture into the flour until combined, using a wooden spoon or fingers.
Let the dough rest 15 minutes.
Using your hands, or the dough hook of a stand mixer, knead dough until smooth. About 3 minutes.
Divide the dough in half and shape into round balls.
Cover with dampened cloth and rise 4 hours at room temperature 8-12 hours in the refrigerator.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to the hottest temperature with a pizza stone inside.
Using your fingers, stretch and shape into rounds on parchment paper.
With a pizza paddle, transfer the pizza to a heated hot stone.
Let cook no longer than 5 minutes and carefully remove parchment.
Finish cooking 5-10 minutes

Notes

*Scant is slightly under the 1 cup measuring point.
Be careful! Using a high temperature with parchment paper can be tricky. Avoid leaving it in the oven for too long.
This recipe tastes better the longer it raises. Try letting it rise in the refrigerator.

HOW TO FREEZE PIZZA DOUGH

Make the dough through shaping into rounds. Wrap tightly in plastic and place in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and let rest on the counter for 1 to 2 hours before shaping.

Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe