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)
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.
Kathryn
Planning to make this recipe today! Looking to make a double batch – does this recipe double well by just doubling all ingredients? Any recommendations?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yes, just double everything and you should be good. Enjoy, Kathryn! 😊
Tam
My family loved our first home made pizzas! I did make an error in measurement and used 1 cup of water, I just added 1 tbsp of flour at a time until dough was as explained in the video. My second batch went perfect. The toddler enjoyed helping too. Thank you for yet another great recipe.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so glad it turned out for you, Tam! And great to hear that your toddler was able to help too. Enjoy ❤️
Kathy
I have tried many pizza dough recipes, finally found this one and my husband loves it!! Thank you!!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so glad our recipe was the winner for you both, Kathy! Enjoy ❤️
Annie
I follow this recipe always….
It’s worked out so…well, for me.
It’s the best recipe.
Thank you ❤️
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for your sweet review, Annie! We’re so happy you love the pizza dough. Enjoy ❤️
Carla
Awesome dough!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for letting us know how it turned out for you, Carla! Enjoy 😊
Donna
Dough was dry. Not enough water for 2 Cups of flour.
Sam
Hi Donna! It sounds like you used a bit too much flour, as mentioned in the post and recipe you may not need quite as much flour as is called for and for this reason I recommend adding it gradually. I hope that helps!
Bill
Can you recommend how much water to add with 2 cups of flour?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Bill! You can find the measurement in the post 😊 Hope that helps!
Alena
I was always struggling with pizza dough, many have bin thrown in a bin! This receipt is amazing! Thank u so much. Simple and delicious
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy our recipe is a hit for you, Alena! Thanks so much for coming back to leave a review 😊
Jessie
So I have used this recipe at home in my oven and it was of course amazing! We went camping in the RV and I wanted to try it in my ninja foodi…. So I followed the recipe exactly the same but made two small round pizzas! Once on the pizza pan I cook the dough on bake for 2 minutes by itself then take it out, add toppings and put back in for 8 min at 400 degrees! Still so fluffy and perfect! Thank you so much for this recipe,it’s delicious!!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for letting us know how it turned out for you, Jessie! We’re so happy this recipe is a hit for you. 🙂
Anneli
Made this tonight using bread flour – EXCELLENT and so easy. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy to hear that it was a hit for you, Anneli! Thanks for coming back to leave a review 😊
Ava
Very nice and fluffy would recommend putting the base into the oven for a minute before putting on the toppings
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re glad you liked it, Ava! Enjoy 😊
Kat
A simple & delicious pizza crust recipe! Easily modified for your personal crisp level or flavor desires. I will usually 1.5x the recipe to get a thick soft crust or 2 thin crispy crusts. Definitely a favorite for vegan pizza night!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy our recipe is a hit for you, Kat! Enjoy 😊
Linda
My first attempt at making pizza dough and it turned out fabulously using all-purpose flour! Thank you for such a simple, delicious, and may I say, “forgiving” recipe. I did proof the yeast first but otherwise followed the directions almost to the letter. Since I didn’t want to make pizza until the next day I went ahead and refrigerated the dough. Next day I punched it down, added a bit more flour, kneaded it and then let it rise again in a warm place until I was ready to bake. Didn’t have the ingredients for the fresh sauce but used Rao’s Pizza Sauce, fresh mozzarella, shaved parm and sliced bay bellas. So delicious!!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy it turned out for you, Linda! Congrats on making your first pizza dough–we’re so happy our recipe was the one you chose!
Enjoy 😊
Seanserre Spencer
Everything went WELL until time to get the pizza off paper……..it was stuck……
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Oh no! We’re so sorry this happened. You can try sprinkling the parchment (or the ungreased pan directly) with a bit of cornmeal to keep from sticking. Hope that helps!
Lewis
I am going to try this tomorrow.
Other recipes for pizza say to bake at 500 for crispy pizza. Is that an option for this dough?
Also, others say to use a hot pan before placing in the oven. Have no idea how that would work, wondering if anyone has tried that
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
You can pre-bake the crust to make it a bit crispier. Enjoy! 🙂
Debbie
Just made this. Waiting to come out of oven.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We hope you love it, Debbie! 😊
Nicole
My daughter sent me her homemade sausage bread recipe. Wow talk about steps! Her dough was so complicated! And then i found this!!! I made 2 loaves. One w hers and one w this. My daughter and her husband went on and on about how #1 was so much better n they told me so! Hahaha it was your recipe!! Now she uses this as well. I dont make pizza, but we make loads of other things w this. Pizza rolls for the kids, w chicken, veggies, everything. Its so easy. And so good. Now everyone thinks Meemaws sausage bread is the best!! Thank you so much!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
That’s too funny, Nicole! We’re honored that our recipe is the one your family relies on now. Thanks so much for sharing–enjoy! 😊
Lama
Best pizza dough recipe!! I highly recommend it. My family liked it so much I will never use another recipe!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you found our recipe, Lama! Thanks so much for coming back to leave a review; it means a lot to us! 😊