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.
Tim
Can this dog be frozen for future use?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Tim! The dough can be frozen. You want to make it, allow it to rise completely before storing it in airtight container or freezer bag. 🙂
Ed
Is the flour 2 1/3 divided or double that?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Ed! You will need one cup of flour to start (step 1). Then, you will gradually add in one more cup (step 3). This will be two cups in total. Additional flour (up to 1/3 cup) may be needed in order for the dough to form into a cohesive, elastic ball. I hope that helps. 🙂
Luna
Love this recipe! I’ve gone back to it several times and the family always loves it! Question for you, if I double the amount, and want to freeze half for next time, would you suggest freezing it before allowing it to rise or after rise but before rolling it out?
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that your family enjoyed the pizza, Luna! If you wish to freeze it, you want to make it and allow it to rise completely before storing it in an airtight container or freezer bag. 🙂
Jed
Could I roll out the dough, put all the toppings on, and then roll it up and bake it? Do you think the dough in the middle would cook through?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Jed! Others have used this recipe to create Stromboli and Calzones so I think that it should work ok for a pizza roll. I have not tried it myself so please keep me posted on how it works for you! Enjoy! 🙂
Alina
easy and delicious. I’ve come back for the second time now.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Alina! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Holly
Came home and realized I have active but not instant yeast!? Is there an easy work around or should I just run to store…?
Sam
If you use active dry yeast the rise time will just be a little bit longer. No need to run back to the store. 🙂
Shiloh
Hows the reheatablity of this?
Sugar Spun Run
I haven’t had anyone say anything negative about it reheating, nor had I personally had any issues. I hope that you enjoy it, Shiloh!
Mayra Rodriguez
Making it for the second time. It is very very good.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it and are back for the second time, Mayra! Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Tif
Hi. Can I pre make the dough and leave it sit throughout the day? Thanks
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Tif! That should be fine. 🙂
Tiffany Meagher
Great thanks. Trying tonight xo
Sugar Spun Run
Wonderful! I hope that you enjoy it, Tiffany! 🙂
Mimie Tinio
I made this first time and the results is very good. It’s very easy than the other recipe i tried ☺️👍 they loved the taste of the crust 😋
Sugar Spun Run
I am happy to hear that you found the recipe easy to follow and enjoyable, Mimie! Thank you for commenting. 🙂
Dilum
Great recipe! Simple and tastes good.
Enough for 2-3 people!
I was craving pizza during the lockdown and thought I would give it a go. I would definitely make it again
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Dilum! Thank you for trying my recipe. 🙂
Jen
Made this last week and making it again today! My kids love it!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it was such a hit, Jen! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Rose V
Everyone loved this recipe. I definitely will use this when we need more dough! It’s soft and has a nice rice. I may have used a little more liquid. My dough was wet when I let it rise.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the pizza dough was a hit, Rose! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Debbie Spencer
Made this pizza dough this afternoon. I usually kill the yeast but this rose perfectly. We attempted to make stuff crust which was a success. I couldn’t figure out how to attach a pic. We made pepperoni. Turned out AWESOME. I added the garlic powder & basil. Great taste. Forgot to pook holes in the base, but didn’t effect the taste. Thank You. Will do again
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe and were successful in making a stuffed crust, Debbie. Thank you so much for trying my recipe. 🙂
Meena
Hi Sam, I made this, it’s a first time for me, and it came out so beautifully! I have been asked to make it again by my kids and husband. The result was a nice soft, very tasty pizza. Thank you so much!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that your family enjoyed it, Meena! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Anna
I tried this recipe on lockdown lol….let me tell you best ever! Wont be disappointed it made 2 whole pizzas for me…tyvm hun…
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you loved the pizza, Anna! Thank you so much for trying my recipe. Enjoy!