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
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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.
Judi
Finally! I’ve been experimenting w dough recipes and my last was so hard I cd barely cut it ! This is it! I used plain flour and yes it was soft. I used a garlic seasoning blend of spices and it boosted the flavor perfectly. It made enough for a large sheet pan so I’m freezing individual slices as I live alone. I made my own sauce and used just a little over 1 cup of mozzarella. The only real change was the baking time. I actually had to bake it almost twice as long I guess because I just have an apt oven. I can’t tell u how perfect it turned out no sogginess in middle but nicely coked thru And delicious.! Now I’m anxious to try your other recipes cause you have won me over ! Thank u Sam
Sugar Spun Run
Your comment made my day, Judi! Thank you so much for commenting. I am so glad that you enjoyed the pizza dough. I can’t wait to hear what you try next! 🙂
Tatjana Barazon
Good pizza1 Thank you for the recipe. It is round and has a good crust – best pizza I have tried!
Sam
So glad you enjoyed, Tatjana! Thank you for commenting! 🙂
Asiya
Thank you for such great and easy recipe .
Pizza gets made here more often now and we all enjoy it.
Sugar Spun Run
That is wonderful, Asiya! I am so glad that you enjoyed the pizza dough and that has become a staple in your home. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Marinela
I found this recipe four months ago and I swear we haven’t ordered takeout pizza anymore! My very picky eater son loves my pizza so Saturday night is pizza night for us! Love how little tips are so useful like poking the dough with fork folding the sides and the oven temp and baking time makes for an amazing pizza! Really really thank you for this recipe!
Sam
Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know how well the pizza dough has worked for you, Marinela! We eat it weekly here, too! I’m so glad the tips are helpful, too 🙂
Terri D.
Wow. I added 1 tsp of garlic season all seasoning. I swear this is the best pizza dough ever. It is easy and quick to make. I won’t be ordering take out pizza anymore. Another great recipe from Sugar Spun Run.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Terri! I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe and that you found it easy to make. 🙂
Dylan
This was my first time ever to make a homemade pizza and this recipe was amazing!! There was a perfect crunch in every bite of the slices and the crust was golden. Thank you so much for this recipe, I’ll definitely be using it again!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the pizza dough, Dylan! I hope that you enjoy it for many years to come. Thanks so much for commenting. 🙂
Maria Bohlman
I made this pizza dough tonight and everyone loved it. It was so easy to make and will now be my official pizza dough recipe! Thanks for sharing. Question for you – would this same recipe work for making bread (if I double the recipe) and if not, do you have a recipe for bread?
Sam
Hi Maria! I am so glad you enjoyed the pizza dough! I have made it into Garlic knots, but I’m not sure it would work out well as a loaf of bread. I actually don’t have just a bread recipe. I’m sorry. 🙁
Jean
Great dough. I made stromboli with it. Delicious!!! Thanks for a great easy recipe. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Sugar Spun Run
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Jean! Thank you so much for commenting. I am so glad that you enjoyed the pizza dough. 🙂
Jean
Do you have a pastry dough recipe that doesnt need to be blind baked? Thanks 🤗
Linda V Taylor
Excellent!! I have made this recipe many times and it always turns out perfectly. It’s easy to make too!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoy the pizza dough recipe, Linda! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Shah
Hi,
This recipe turned out great!! I never thought I will ever be able to make pizza bases at home! Thanksss
Can I pre-cook the bases before a dinner party? If yes, for how long should I bake them for?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Shah! I haven’t tried it personally, so I can’t give you an exact bake time, but I think that will be fine. If you try it, please let me know how it works out and how much time it needed. I hope that everyone enjoys the pizza at your party. 🙂
Harvey
Can the dough be made ahead of time, frozen and then thawed and rolled out?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Harvey! I have not personally frozen the pizza dough, however, others have and have had success. I recommend letting it rise, then storing it in an airtight container or freezer bag. It should last for about one month. 🙂
Shannon
My first time making homemade pizza dough and it actually turned out for me! Thank you for a great pizza dough recipe!
Sugar Spun Run
That is wonderful! I am so glad that it turned out so well for you, Shannon. Enjoy! 🙂
Brenda Z
Wow this is a wonderful recipe. I haven’t found a pizza dough recipe that was easy and that turned out until now. Delicious! Thank you!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Brenda! I am so glad that you enjoyed the pizza dough! 🙂
B. Reilly
It took me a few times to get best results but is so easy now.thank you very much.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that after a few tries you have mastered the art of pizza dough. I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Jill
This recipe was so easy! And the crust came out perfect and delicious!(I didn’t use the garlic or basil though). I’ve never made homemade crust before, I usually buy the refrigerated pizza crust in the can… But now, I’m never going back! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that you enjoyed the pizza dough, Jill! Thanks for commenting. 🙂