This is the easiest, best pizza dough recipe. With just 6 ingredients and no fancy flours required (I’ve included instructions for using all-purpose or bread flour), this pizza crust requires just one bowl (no stand mixer, though you can use one if you’d like), about 3 seconds of kneading, and just 30 minutes to rise.
If you’re uncomfortable working with yeast or making your own pizza dough at home, I’ll walk you through every step of the process in my video just below the recipe. You’ve got this!
It’s a little silly how excited I am to share this recipe with you today. It’s pizza dough, not exactly glamorous or sexy and it was honestly pretty boring to photograph (how do you make a ball of dough look fun and appealing in pictures, please tell me!).
But as someone who has struggled with baking even the most simple recipes with yeast, perfecting this pizza dough was definitely a triumph for me and I’m really happy to announce that there’s nothing to be afraid of! Yeast baking isn’t all that scary or hard, and you too can make your own super simple pizza crust at home in a matter of minutes, no fancy ingredients required.
I kept this pizza dough recipe as simple and approachable as possible. It’s made with all-purpose flour (and notes on how to substitute that flour, in case you want to get fancy 😉), no stand mixer needed, and only the most minimal amount of kneading required.
Below I’ve tried to ask some of the most frequently asked questions about making your own pizza dough. Let’s get to it.
What is the best flour for making homemade pizza dough?
Many pizza-making-pros will likely argue that bread flour is best for making homemade pizza. However, I rarely keep any flours in my pantry that are more exotic than all-purpose flour, so when I was working on this recipe I first and foremost made sure that it worked perfectly with regular old all-purpose flour.
I did make a point to test this recipe (repeatedly, we ate a lot of pizza last week) with bread flour and it works very well when made that way, too. I find that the biggest difference is that using bread flour gives my pizza dough a crispier crust, while the all purpose flour yields a softer one.
Can I flavor my Pizza Dough?
Pizza dough on its own is obviously important as a base for your favorite pizza, but it’s also kind of… bland. Shockingly, something made primarily of flour and water isn’t super exciting to the taste buds, and most of the flavor will come from whatever toppings you add.
I do usually try to spice up my crust just a bit, though, by adding a dash of garlic powder (usually around a ¼ teaspoon) and sometimes dried basil leaves (dried oregano could also work for you but I absolutely loathe oregano) into the dough before you add your oil and water.
How do you stretch out pizza dough?
You can use a rolling pin or you can use your hands. If you’re especially skilled, you can toss it up in the air and spin your dough like an Italian pizza artist, but I definitely lack the ability to tell you how to do that one.
I prefer to use a rolling pin and roll the dough out into a circle (or more like an amoeba-shape, since I can’t roll a perfect circle to save my life). Alternatively you can use your hands to flatten and stretch the dough until it reaches the desired width.
Then use your hands to pinch the edges to make a crust or fold over the edges (I always fold mine over because it gives me a thicker crust, which I love), brush the entire surface of the pizza generously with olive oil, and then use a fork to poke holes over the center of the dough to prevent any bubbles from forming while it bakes.
How do you make Homemade Pizza?
You can use this pizza dough recipe to make your own homemade pizza using any toppings you’d like (I love making Margherita pizza and have even made a BBQ chicken version using my BBQ pulled chicken).
I included instructions in the recipe, but once you’ve prepared your pizza dough, just add your favorite toppings and bake in a 425F oven for about 15 minutes (you may need longer if you add a lot of toppings). Do make sure you let your oven preheat properly and use an oven thermometer as possible, my oven takes a while to reach that temperature and usually “tells” me it’s ready when it’s not even close.
OK, are you guys sick of hearing about my beloved pizza dough recipe yet? In case you just can’t get enough, I also made a video just below that you can watch so you can see exactly how your dough should look in every step.
How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough
If you enjoy watching these videos, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel to be notified every time I publish a video!
The Best Pizza Dough Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-2 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour OR bread flour¹ divided (250-295g)
- 1 packet instant yeast² (2 ¼ teaspoon)
- 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon garlic powder and/or dried basil leaves optional
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil + additional
- ¾ cup warm water³ (175ml)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup (125g) of flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. If desired, add garlic powder and dried basil at this point as well.
- Add olive oil and warm water and use a wooden spoon to stir well very well.
- Gradually add another 1 cup (125g) of flour. Add any additional flour as needed (I've found that sometimes I need as much as an additional ⅓ cup), stirring until the dough is forming into a cohesive, elastic ball and is beginning to pull away from the sides of the bowl (see video above recipe for visual cue). The dough will still be slightly sticky but still should be manageable with your hands.
- Drizzle a separate, large, clean bowl generously with olive oil and use a pastry brush to brush up the sides of the bowl.
- Lightly dust your hands with flour and form your pizza dough into a round ball and transfer to your olive oil-brushed bowl. Use your hands to roll the pizza dough along the inside of the bowl until it is coated in olive oil, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in a warm place.
- Allow dough to rise for 30 minutes or until doubled in size. If you intend to bake this dough into a pizza, I also recommend preheating your oven to 425F (215C) at this point so that it will have reached temperature once your pizza is ready to bake.
- Once the dough has risen, use your hands to gently deflate it and transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead briefly until smooth (about 3-5 times).
- Use either your hands or a rolling pin to work the dough into 12" circle.
- Transfer dough to a parchment paper lined pizza pan and either pinch the edges or fold them over to form a crust.
- Drizzle additional olive oil (about a Tablespoon) over the top of the pizza and use your pastry brush to brush the entire surface of the pizza (including the crust) with olive oil.
- Use a fork to poke holes all over the center of the pizza to keep the dough from bubbling up in the oven.
- Add desired toppings (see the notes for a link to my favorite, 5-minute pizza sauce recipe!) and bake in a 425F (215C) preheated oven for 13-15 minutes or until toppings are golden brown. Slice and serve.
Notes
Making in Advance:
To make in advance, let the dough rise covered at room temperature as indicated in the recipe, then deflate it, wrap it tightly so it doesn't dry out, and store in the refrigerator for up to several days or it will freeze for up to a month. Top your pizza off with my favorite, easy, homemade pizza sauce!Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Ai Leng
First time making pizza from scratch.
My family love the pizza base, I used 50% bread flour and 50% multiple purpose flour. Texture is just nice to our liking.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it was a hit and that the combination of the two flours worked nicely, Ai! Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Sam
Hi our oven isn’t working but our broiler is and we tried this recipe – totally worked! We put the broiler on high and cooked about 8-9 minutes. So yummy!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it worked and you enjoyed it, Sam! Thanks for trying my recipe. 🙂
Kenana Al-Shash
This is such an amazing recipe!! You are a genius.
I doubles the ingredients to make two pizzas.
I added the garlic powder and basil and it turned out great.
Love from Dubai x
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Kenana! Thank you for trying my recipe. 🙂
Par
Can I mix bread flour with all purpose flour 50-50?
Sugar Spun Run
That should be fine, Par! Keep me posted on how your pizza turns out. 🙂
Jason C
At the end, may I split the dough to make two smaller personal pizzas?
Sugar Spun Run
Absolutely! I hope that you enjoy the pizza, Jason! 🙂
A
I was super bored in home, so I made a two pizzas for my family a few days ago with your recipe. Now my mom came home with 2kg of pepperoni and mozzarella because everyone loved it!!! Thank you very much for sharing this recipe, I’m happy I found your website!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that your family enjoyed it and I am so glad that you found my site too, A! Thank you for trying my recipe. 🙂
Patricia Johnson
I have never made pizza crust before finding your recipe and I have made 3 since I did a few weeks ago. We no longer order out, this is a very simple yet really good recipe. I do add a little garlic powder as you do and it is great! Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run
That is wonderful! I am so happy to hear that this recipe has become a favorite of yours, Patricia. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Don
This recipe is for one pizza dough? So if I want to make 2 or 3 is it simply doubling or tripling the amounts including the yeast??
Thanks for any help…will be my first go.
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Don! This recipe yields (1) 10″-12″ pizza. It can easily be doubled or tripled. You will just adjust the amounts accordingly, including the yeast. I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Arlene F Blake
Once a month we have a “make your own pizza” night. Last month I used this recipe, and it was such a hit, I doubled it today. My grandson worked at a well known pizza parlor here in KC, and even he said this is the best crust he’s ever had. My great grandchildren love being able to add their favorite toppings to their personal pizza. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that this recipe has become your family’s pizza night staple, Arlene! I am so happy that you have enjoyed it. 🙂
Megan Juliano
Can I bake this on a large cookie sheet? I don’t have a pizza pan
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Megan! Yes, you can! I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Diane Mathias
Can this dough be made ahead of time and stored in refrigerator?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Diane! Yes, the dough can be made in advance. You will make the dough, allow it to rise completely, deflate it, then store it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 3 days. 🙂
Fidel
Can I add salt to the dough mix with garlic powder? I made it it was very nice but seem to lack a bit of salt.
Sugar Spun Run
Yes, absolutely! You can flavor the dough as you wish. 🙂
Malika Ali
This is the best pizza dough recipe that I’ve found! My hubby loved it so much that HE wants to learn how to make it now. That’s a big deal because I can never get him in the kitchen lol. Honestly please keep making recipes!!!!!! This recipe convinced me to try more! So I went ahead and tried your Big Soft Oatmeal Cookies and they were the BOMB too! You go girl! Please keep making more recipes for me!!!!!!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Malika! I am so glad that your family enjoyed the pizza and that the cookies were a hit too! Thanks for trying my recipes. I can’t wait to see what you make next! 🙂
Anita
Made this for dinner tonight and it was AWESOME!! All of is loved ot and it was gone in minutes!! This recipe is a keeper!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it was such a hit, Anita! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
saranya jibeesh
Thank you.It came out very well😊.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Saranya! 🙂
Linda Frangello Franco
When I found this recipe Sunday, I sent my husband to the store to get bread flour and instant yeast, even in the middle of a pandemic! I then proceeded to make the best pizza I’ve ever made. I come from an Italian family and my mom had a dough recipe which was good, but this one is better. (She’s in Heaven now so she can’t yell at me for saying that). I first made a ground turkey, assorted peppers, mushrooms and olives pizza on Sunday and today I’m making a BBQ chicken pizza which is in the oven now! Smells heavenly. I definitely like the crispier crust that bread flour gives and it smells yeasty good! I added basil to the crust with good results. Thank you for the recipe, I will be making this from now on. My husband thanks you, too, he loves pizza!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you loved this recipe, Linda, and that it has become a new family favorite. Thanks for trying my recipe. 🙂