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.
Edith
Can I Make the dough ahead of time
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Edith! Yes, you can make the dough in advance. You will make it, allow it to rise, then store in an airtight container and in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. It will last up to 3 days. 🙂
Evis Bagdades
Thank you for a great and easy recipe. The little hints were so helpful. Loved it
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you loved it, Evis! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. Enjoy! 🙂
Emily
This reciepe is amazing! Thank you so much. I was wondering if this reciepe would still work if I put all the ingredients in my stand mixer at once?
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you have enjoyed it, Emily! Thanks for trying my recipe. As far as placing all ingredients in a stand mixer at once, you will have to try it to see. 🙂
Emily
I tried it and it worked well!
Sugar Spun Run
That is wonderful! Thanks for letting me know, Emily! 🙂
Amy
Amazing pizza, divided the batch into two for a vegetarian and a non-vegetarian. Really great and filling
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the pizza, Amy! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Don A.
Absolutely love this recipe!! So easy. I have never had dough stretch so easily and I have tried many. My daughter, who was watching me stretch it, said “Wow! That’s the roundest pizza you’ve ever made!”. Hahaha! I use the Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook attached and it works just fine. Thank you. P.S. I also love your biscuit recipe. Another so good, so easy recipe that comes out perfect every time.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much for trying another recipe of mine, Don! I am happy that you have enjoyed the biscuits and loved this recipe as well. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Robert
I followed the recipe but I used my stand mixer and added flour until it pulled away from the bowl, about a third cup extra flour. Maybe it was a little too dry. I couldn’t get it rolled out thin enough so the crust got thick when I cooked it. It was more like focasia bread. It was good but I like thinner crust. How would I modify to get a thinner crispier result?
Sugar Spun Run
Thanks so trying my recipe, Robert! I am sorry to hear that your dough was dry. This is usually the result of too much flour. Mismeasuring flour is the most common mistake in baking so I have created a guide on how to measure flour properly that can be used as a reference for next time. I hope that this helps. 🙂
Drew Packman
Worked perfectly for me and i am a poor cook.
When you bake the pie don’t take it out of the oven until the center is melted and bubbling. The parchment paper is optional if you coat your baking pan lightly in olive oil.
This gave us a perfect pizza.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, Drew, and your pizza turned out perfectly. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Drew Packman
Making it again tonight as i recived strong approval from the wife.
If i can do it anyone can.
Eric
Thx, very clear n really tasty
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you found the recipe easy to follow and enjoyable, Eric! 🙂
Jenny
Amazing dough! Doubled the recipe and made smaller individual portions. I used normal flour and it worked brilliantly!
New go to recipe!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it was such a hit and you now have a new go-to recipe, Jenny! Thanks for trying my recipe. 🙂
Deborah Baumgarten
Doughy crust and really tasteless even though I seasoned with garlic powder
Sugar Spun Run
I am sorry to hear that, Deborah! You may just need to add in more spices if you wish to have a more flavorful crust. This recipe is very versatile so you can make it to your liking. 🙂
Steve
I’m anxious to try this recipe in a couple weeks. I will be camping on private property with four friends. In going to cook this in a cardboard box oven that I just made.
Sugar Spun Run
Have fun, Steve! I hope that the pizza is a hit with your friends and cooks perfectly for you. 🙂
Des
Turned out PERFECT. Making it for the second time tonight because it was so good!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe and are back to make another batch, Des! Thanks for commenting. Enjoy! 🙂
Amanda jones
This was really good and easy! Have you ever tried freezing the dough? I normally buy dough at Walmart and keep a few in the freezer. They thaw nicely, but I’m sure there are some added ingredients.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Amanda! Yes, this recipe freezes well. You will make the dough, allow it to rise completely before storing it in an airtight container in the freezer. Enjoy! 🙂
Farhin Zaidi
Hi! Thanks for the recipe! Can the dough be frozen and used later?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Farhin! Yes, it can! You will make the dough, allow it rise completely before storing it in an airtight container for later use. 🙂
Teo
How hard is it to double the recipe? My girls like individual pizzas (We’re a family of four). Or would you suggest 2 batches?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Teo! This recipe doubles easily. For a family of four to have individual pizza’s I would reccomend doubling it and dividing the dough evenly. Enjoy! 🙂
Parvathy
Tried this recipe today..the crust was amazing! Just like the ones we get from our fav pizzeria..even better perhaps..and so easy to put together too. Can we use the same dough to make buns/ bread loaf or anything else?
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Parvathy! I use this base to make stromboli, calzones, and garlic knots. I do have a dinner roll recipe and a recipe to make homemade bread you can try as well.