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.
Sylvie
Best pizza dough ever! I am french and make my own bread to make my French baguettes, i tried to take that bread dough as a base for pizza, but it never came, the way you do it. Since i use your recipe, my pizzas turn GREAT, and make everyone happy at home. Thanks for sharing !!!
Sam
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thank you so much for letting me know how the recipe worked for you, Sylvie, I appreciate it! 🙂
Erin
I’m excited to try this recipe out for our family pizza and movie night tonight. I didn’t see though if this recipe is meant for only 1 pizza or 2? I’ve got the pampered chef pizza stone, so that’s about the size I’d like to make, but 2 or 3 pizzas, so just wanted to confirm if I need to double/triple this recipe or not?
Sam
Hi Erin! This recipe is for one pizza. I hope you love it 🙂
Adelia Flores
Hi Ssm,
Yay i am so happy that i tried your recipe. I made some pizzas before but I didn’t like the dough. This is the perfect dough recipe i am looking. I just baked it today. Before i did, i read all the comments and that added my motivation to bake it,
Many thanks.
Adelia
Sam
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the pizza dough so much, Adelia! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Sara
WOW super easy & came out flawlessly. Love it and I can’t wait to try making a calzone with this dough
Sam
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the pizza dough, Sara! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Stacia
Can I substitute olive oil for different oil?
Sam
Hi Stacia! I think canola or vegetable oil will work fine here. Enjoy! 🙂
Jeff Wall
Thanks for this pizza dough recipe . Made couple of pans of dough knots , sliced them in half like you butter a biscuit , smeared pesto on knots of one pan and added baked chicken and mozzarella the covered them over with top portion of knot and brushed that with garlic butter and baked till cheese melted . They were a hit . Anyhow the dough recipe was spot on .
Sam
You’re very welcome, Jeff! I”m so glad to hear the recipe was such a success 🙂
Belle
Trying this recipe!! Thanks for sharing. Can I omit the sugar? Or do you feel it’s a must?
Sam
Hi Belle! You’d be fine leaving out the sugar. Enjoy!
Julie
The yeast needs the sugar to ferment. I wouldn’t recommend leaving it out!
Tasha
Perfect. I usually would get premixed(?) dough because I knew I wouldn’t have time to make it myself. This is simple and easy. I love the idea of adding garlic powder, I’m looking forward to exploring with other herbs and spices. Thank you for sharing!
Sam
You’re very welcome, Tasha, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the pizza dough! 🙂
Melissa
Pizzas are our thing now! This is the BEST recipe. The dough is soft, flavorful & light. Even the day after the dough is still soft. You can eat a ton of this and not feel bloated afterwards too. (I love pizza.) This is the ONLY recipe we use now. Thank you. I love this recipe.
Sam
I am so happy to hear this! Thank you for letting me know what a success this recipe has been for you, I really appreciate it 🙂
AB
Hi Sam,
Wonderful pizza dough recipe, thank you very much!
My kids love it and so do I.
Cheers from France,
Alex
Sam
Hi Alex! I am so glad everyone enjoys the pizza dough! 🙂
Priya
Jus WOWWW!!..amazing dough recipe..tried it today and it’s perfect…we just loved the pizza today!! Thanks much for the recipe 😊
Sam
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the pizza dough, Priya! Thank you so much for commenting 🙂
jenna
I use this recipe for gluten free flour mixes or just straight up brown/white rice flour and it works a treat! Much harder to spread or roll but rises just as regular dough. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Sam
You’re very welcome, I’m glad to hear it works with the substitutes! Thank you for commenting, Jenna! 🙂
Stacy Cole
I’ve commented on this dough before, but had to follow up. This is the recipe my kids compare all pizza too now, and nothing has beat it. I make it as it, adding on Italian seasoning and garlic powder to the crust. I don’t use the parchment paper. Instead, a pizza sheet with holes to vent. They LOVE it and request it all the time.
Sam
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave another comment, Stacy! I’m glad everyone enjoys the dough so much. 🙂
Suzan
This recipe made an excellent pizza crust one of the best that I’ve tried. I did add some roasted garlic powder and Mexican oregano to the to this recipe.
Just remember when you’re making pizza dough that it is wetter than bread dough, and depending on your flour you might need to increase your water.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the dough Suzan! 🙂
Spoonman Mike
I use this recipe every time I make pizza and my family loves it, thank you for such a nice recipe and website!
Sam
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoy the dough so much! 🙂
Ball singh
Hello I want learn 5kg flour recipes pizza dough recipe can u send me tht