Everyone loves a delicious, homemade pizza made from scratch. And every good pizza has one thing in common – they’re all made with a fantastic pizza dough recipe that’s easy to reproduce time after time. Today I’m sharing the best pizza dough recipe out there. It’ll produce the best homemade pizzas you’ll ever make. When hosting a casual pizza party, it’s fun for everyone to roll out a small ball of pizza dough and create their own personal pizzas. I hope you enjoy this wonderful pizza dough recipe as much as my family does. Buen provecho!
This pizza dough recipe is simple to prepare, but like all excellent pizza dough recipes the dough will need time to rise. So making pizza dough from scratch does take a bit of planning ahead. When preparing pizza dough for families or large groups, it’s fast and easy to prepare several batches at the same time so they can sit and rise together. I usually double or triple this recipe when I invite a group of guests over for pizza making. It’s always better to have more pizza dough on hand than not enough.
EXPERT BAKING TIPS: HOW TO MEASURE FLOUR
Measuring flour correctly makes all the difference for this pizza dough recipe and all other recipes! Here are two techniques professional cooks, bakers and home-chefs use to measure their flour:
- Measure flour by weight using a scale. One cup of all-purpose flour weighs 4 1/4 ounces or 120 grams.
- Measure flour by fluffing it up well using a spoon while it’s still inside your flour container or bag. Gently sprinkle the flour into your measuring cup, one small spoonful at a time. Level off the cup with a knife.
- All-purpose flour will yield a nice chewy pizza crust. If you prefer a crispier crust use bread flour instead; it’s perfect for making thin-crust pizzas.
- For this pizza dough recipe, if you need a bit more water for the dough add it one tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
How to Make The Best Pizza Dough Recipe > INGREDIENTS
These are the ingredients you’ll need to create a beautiful, delicious pizza dough crust.
- Active dry yeast
- Granulated sugar
- Lukewarm water
- Sea salt
- All-purpose flour or bread flour
- Olive oil
How to Make the Best Pizza Dough > DIRECTIONS
Feel free to scroll down for the printable version of this best pizza dough recipe. Or you can follow along with me here, step by step. Let’s begin! In the bowl of a stand mixer, place the yeast and sugar together. Add lukewarm water (yeast loves temps of 70-80 degrees). Let the yeast sit there munching for 5-6 minutes until there’s a bubbly foam and the yeast is completely dissolved. Add flour, salt and 2 tablespoons olive oil to the bowl. Using the paddle attachment, combine the ingredients on low speed.
Once combined, remove the paddle attachment and switch to the dough hook. Turn the mixer on low speed. Slowly pour in the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil. Continue mixing/kneading for about 8 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl and become smooth. Gather the pizza dough into a round ball. Place it in a lightly-oiled mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen cloth.
Allow the pizza dough to rise for 1-2 hours in a warm place until it doubles from it’s original size. Punch down the the dough and transfer it to a lightly-floured surface. Using your hands, knead the dough. Place it back inside the lightly-oiled mixing bowl and cover the bowl. Let the pizza dough rise a second time (about 15 minutes). When the dough has risen, punch it down again. Your pizza dough is now ready to roll out!
How to Make the Best Pizza Dough Recipe > PIZZA DOUGH RISING TIP
Your oven is the perfect pizza dough rising environment, especially during cold-weather months. As you prepare the pizza dough preheat your oven to 200 degrees. After a few minutes turn the oven off and slightly prop the oven door open to release excess heat. The goal is to achieve a SLIGHTLY warm temperature within the oven – the oven rack should not be hot! Never put a plastic bowl in a warm oven. I use a clean, lightly-oiled, stainless-steel mixing bowl covered with a cloth. Pizza dough is very happy rising in this warm, cozy enclosed space.
How to Make the Best Pizza Dough Recipe > PIZZA DOUGH ROLLING
Place two overlapping pieces of waxed paper on a pastry board or cutting board. Using a long rolling pin, roll out the pizza dough to the desired thickness. If the dough is a bit sticky, lightly sprinkle it with flour.
Once you’ve rolled out the pizza dough, lightly brush it with olive oil. If you like pizzas with a bit of cornmeal on the bottom crust, lightly sprinkle cornmeal on the pizza dough while it’s still on the waxed paper. Using the edges of the waxed paper to lift the pizza dough straight up, flip the dough over onto a pizza pan. Brush this second side of the pizza dough with olive oil as well. Now comes the exciting part!
Top off your homemade pizza dough with your favorite sauce and a variety of fresh ingredients. Complete with a drizzling of olive oil and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese. Adjust your oven rack to the center of the oven. For thin-crust pizzas and those with a crust of medium thickness, bake at 450 degrees for about 15 – 18 minutes, or until the pizza crust edges are a lovely golden brown and the cheese is bubbling. When cooking thick-crust pizza bake at 400 degrees. A lower temperature will help protect your pizza toppings from getting scorched while the thicker pizza crust is cooking all the way through.
Best Pizza Dough Recipe > PIZZA TOPPINGS
The best homemade pizza starts with pizza sauce and a generous layer of Mozzarella cheese. I love using a variety of meats and fresh veggies: Italian sausage, ground beef, pepperoni, salami, onions, bell pepper.
When there’s a larger crowd I make several different types of pizzas in addition to a hearty supreme pizza. My favorite vegetarian pizza includes cheese, pesto, marinated artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives and slices of fresh tomatoes. My mother loves Hawaiian pizza with Canadian bacon and fresh pineapple. An all-time favorite pizza is simply pesto and cheese. And who could forget about a tasty all-cheese pizza for the kiddos? When it comes to topping off homemade pizza dough, the options are limitless!
Best Pizza Dough Recipe
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
Today I’m sharing the best pizza dough recipe out there. It’ll produce the best homemade pizzas you’ll ever make.
Ingredients
- 2 packets active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 + 1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 7 cups all-purpose flour*
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, place the yeast and sugar together. Add lukewarm water (yeast loves temps of 70-80 degrees). Let the yeast sit there munching for 5-6 minutes until there’s a bubbly foam and the yeast is completely dissolved.
- Add flour, salt and 2 tablespoons olive oil to the bowl. Using the paddle attachment, combine the ingredients on low speed.
- Once combined, remove the paddle attachment and switch to the dough hook. Turn the mixer on low speed. Slowly pour in the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil. Continue mixing/kneading for about 8 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl and become smooth.
- Gather the pizza dough together into a round ball. Place the ball in a lightly-oiled mixing bowl and cover the bowl with a clean kitchen cloth. Allow the pizza dough to rise for one to two hours in a warm place.
- You’ll notice that the dough will rise to about double it’s original size. Using your fist, punch down the the dough and transfer it to a lightly-floured surface. Using your hands, knead the dough. Place it back inside the lightly-oiled mixing bowl and cover the bowl. Let the pizza dough rise a second time (about 15 minutes).
- When the dough has risen, punch it down again. Your pizza dough is now ready to use!
Notes
*EXPERT BAKING TIPS:
- All-purpose flour will yield a nice chewy crust. For a crispier crust use bread flour instead; it’s perfect for making thin-crust pizzas.
- Measuring flour correctly makes all the difference for this pizza dough recipe and all other recipes! Here are two techniques professional cooks, bakers and home-chefs use to measure their flour: 1. Measure flour by weight using a scale. One cup of all-purpose flour weighs 4 1/4 ounces or 120 grams. 2. Measure flour by fluffing it up well using a spoon while it’s still inside your flour container or bag. Gently sprinkle the flour into your measuring cup, one small spoonful at a time. Level off the cup with a knife.
- For this pizza dough recipe, if you need a bit more water for the dough add it one tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
- This pizza dough recipe makes two round 16″ pizzas, or you can divide up the dough to make several personal-size pizzas.
- Prep Time: 150 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snack, Late Night, Party
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian, American
Keywords: homemade pizza crust, pizza dough recipe, best pizza dough, pizza crust
How to Make the Best Pizza Dough Recipe > REFRIGERATION TIPS
This pizza dough recipe may provide you with enough dough for a second meal. To refrigerate pizza dough place it in a lightly oiled Ziplock bag. Pizza dough can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. As the dough is initially cooling, you may need to punch it down a few times during the first 24 hours. This is because the yeast is still active and will keep expanding the dough. After the first day you will only need to punch down the pizza dough once a day. When you’re ready to use the pizza dough, simply remove it from the refrigerator, punch it down again, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature so it can shed off some of the cold.
How to Make the Best Pizza Dough Recipe > Breville Pizza Maker
For baking pizzas my double ovens come in quite handy. But when making a host of personal pizzas for a hungry crowd it really does help to have another oven. Earlier this year my daughter Ashley purchased a Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker
at Williams Sonoma. When I plugged that in on my countertop it was the center of attention. And boy did we whip out those gorgeous baked pizzas one right after the other!
With a built-in baking stone, dual heating elements, and settings for thin, medium and thick, it produced beautiful brick-oven pizzas in about 10 minutes. The “keep warm” setting was great for keeping pizzas hot between servings. I love having helpful kitchen tools that are worth their storage space.
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Best Pizza Dough Recipe > Your Thoughts
Have you ever tried making pizza dough from scratch? What are your favorite pizza sauces and toppings? Share your thoughts and tips on pizza dough and pizza making in the comment section below.
Hi! I know most comments are older so who knows if you will even get this. but I just want to say thank you. Our family does pizza night every Friday. I found this dough recipe 2-3 yrs ago and we have been using it ever since. We make two 16″ pizzas from one batch and sometimes freeze it. We will never use anything else.
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Really the best pizza recipe can only be made with good materials and proper tools too.
can you make it ahead of time and freeze it and how long can it be frozen
Tried this tonight and my dough also turned into Bria brick as I saw someone else wrote. I think the recipe should call for like a cup more water or less flour. ????
Hello Malin. This can happen if the flour is scooped directly into the measuring cup from the bag. Measuring flour correctly makes all the difference! Here are two techniques: Either measure your flour by weight using a scale (a cup of all-purpose flour weighs 4 1/4 ounces or 120 grams), or by fluffing up the flour nicely with a spoon while it’s inside your flour container. Use a spoon to gently sprinkle the flour into your measuring cup one small spoonful at a time, then level off the cup with a knife. This will help you measure the flour correctly. If you then need a bit more water for your pizza dough, add it one tablespoon at a time.
Just broke my new mix master making this pizza dough! Using the paddle while just mixing the ingredients. I’m so upset. I then had to knead it by hand and it was heavy like a brick. It’s in the oven rising, I’m so not impressed so far????
Oh Shannon, this is heartbreaking! I make this recipe all the time, as I have for more than a decade, with my KitchenAid stand mixer. Including making 3X times this recipe in one day for kids’ pizza parties, family get-togethers, etc. As stated within the post and recipe card, I start off with the paddle attachment with the machine on low speed when adding the flour, salt and olive oil into the yeast mixture until just until combined (this should be light work for the paddle attachment!). Then, as listed in my instructions, I switch to the dough hook. The dough should definitely not be like a brick! I’m wondering what happened. Shannon, I’m sorry this did not work out for you. I highly recommend returning your new MixMaster right away and getting your money back.
I have made those recipe several times. It always turns out great. I prefer my pizza crust a little on the thinner side. I cut the recipe in half and still have enough dough for 2 large pizzas. I usually cook my pizza on the grill. My family loves it.
This recipe is great! We have been looking for a good pizza dough recipe and this one fits the bill. It is so easy to make and truly delicious. I halved the recipe and still got a 16″ and two 8″ pizzas out of it. I used quick rise yeast because that was what I had on hand. Thanks so much for the recipe!
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I always forget how easy it is to make your own pizza dough, and how much better it tastes.
I am going to have to try your dough recipe. I always purchase it at my local pizzeria and it can be expensive. I didn’t realize ho easy it can be.
We love making our own pizzas!! My favorite topping is bbq chicken with peppers, red onion and cheese. Thanks for the tip about the different flours i never knew that! I’ll try the bread flour next time.
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I love homemade pizza and I believe that what makes pizza special is the dough itself. This looks like a super delicious pizza dough recipe!
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I really wanted to make a home made pizza. I just don’t have the equipment. s
LOVE IT! Pizza is a staple in my diet. I love the dough from scratch!
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Wow, that looks so good! I can’t wait to try this.
I love making my own pizzas. And I have a lot of fun making them with my daughter. I will have try out this dough.
Looks amazing! Can´t wait to try it! I´ve been into homemade stuff lately so this will be a great add
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I’ve never made my own pizza dough, mainly because I’ve never had success getting bread to rise. Maybe I’ll try your oven trick. I can see how being all toasty and warm would make the dough want to relax. It does the same to me :D
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These looks so amazing, I love homemade pizza but rarely ever make it. Definitely saving to try later!
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It is nice when you find that perfect pizza recipe. We have a favorite pizza dough recipe we make once or twice a week. We use it for taco pizza, calzones, and more.
I am going to share this recipe with my husband – he loves trying out baking different bread and the results are always better when he does it . This looks like a good pizza base recipe – I hope it turns out well.
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Love making home made pizza, will defiantly be giving this a try.
I am going to save this recipe so that I can try it. I love the brands you are using too. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
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What a yummy pizza dough recipe! There is nothing quite as tasty as a homemade pizza!
Oh yes making your own dough makes a huge difference int taste. This recipe sounds excellent. I have made homemade manicotti and it is sooooo much better then store bought.
Allie
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This pizza dough recipe is easy and delicious. Thank you for another great recipe!
I was thinking of making homemade pizza this weekend. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some this weekend.
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This pizza recipe looks incredible. I cannot wait to try this.
You are such a good tutor, very well explained from the scratch. Will bookmark this for my kid sister to give it a try.
ive been making my own pizza topping for awhile now but not the crust! i started making my own topping for health reason but im also a little lazy to make the crust! but with this recipe, i think i will give it a try! thanks for sharing!
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This is such a thorough list of tips! My mother in law makes wonderful pizza and although I always say I will try to make it at home, I haven’t yet. Maybe after going through each tip carefully, I may try my hand at it!
Your imagery is stunning! I’ve never made my own pizza base before but this looks like a great recipe! I’m desperate to get a pizza oven built in my garden so I’ll definitely be noting down this menu!
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Oh my goodness how delicious does this look, I am loving the deep base it really makes me want to have a good slice of pizza now.
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I had heard making pizza dough is something rather delicate and hard. Your recipe makes it totally accessible so one I am going to try for sure!
OHHHHHH MYYYY GOSH! This pizza dough recipe is phenomenal!
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how long do you cook it for at 450degrees?
With a blog title like that you’ve certainly convinced me to give this recipe a go!
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Sounds heavenly, thank you for sharing the recipe. BTW can I use whole wheat flour instead of all purpose?
xx, Kusum
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Kasum, I’m glad you like this recipe. I’ve never tried using whole wheat flour when making pizza dough, but now you have me thinking… Today you’re MY inspiration!
Looks so easy! It looks delicious, too! Thank you for the recipe!
Oooh, I make pizza dough every Friday, but this recipe looks easier than mine. I’m going to give it a try.
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Oh yum this does look delicious! Can’t wait to try!
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The first thing that caught my eye was that delicious looking pizza! I totally believe you when you say it’s the best pizza dough ever! I’ve never made my own pizza dough, but it sounds like it could be fun.
Learning to make pizza dough (and someday being able to toss it!) is actually something I have said I want to try in this new year! I think I will start with your recipe!
I love homemade pizza, and don’t make it near enough. Your recipe looks great. And I’m glad you use Redmond Real Salt! It’s a favorite of mine.
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OM to the G, you don’t know what you just did. Bread is my weakness and pizza dough is high up there. It looks so good I need to give it a try.
The idea of making my own pizza dough has always been so daunting, but this just looks too dang good, not to try!!! Thank you!!
Love making homemade pizza…this recipe is the BEST.
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This looks so good! I love making pizza at home.
Ohhh I love making my own PIzza dough, I will have to give this a try. The last type I made came out way too thick and I never could roll it out right!
Oh that pizza looks absolutely delicious! I don’t think I’ve ever made pizza dough, but this is definitely something I would like to try!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
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Wow this sounds amazing! I love homemade pizza but have never tried tackling it myself. Now I will definitely have to try!
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This looks so great and simple! Yum. I’ll need to try it out.
–Melissa
http://www.melissamchee.com
We love making homemade pizza dough and use it for all sorts of recipes in addition to pizza! This looks like a winning recipe. I also love Bob’s Red Mill flour. It’s so good!
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This pizza looks amazing! I love making pizza at home for our family movie/pizza nights! I’ll have to try your recipe!
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This looks easy enough to follow! Haha. I’m all about simple recipes and this one looks simple and delicious! Pinning for future reference :)
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I’ve always wanted to make my own pizza dough but never felt like searching for the recipe (how awfully lazy is that haha). I will definitely be bookmarking this for future homemade pizzas!
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I don’t even cook much – but I might have to try this! xo
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Would you believe I’ve never made homemade pizza dough?! I definitely want to because this sounds delicious!
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
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Hello Allison. I hope you’ll have a chance to try this delicious pizza dough recipe soon. I know you’ll really enjoy it! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it. :-)
So yesterday I tried making this pizza dough my first time making pizza dough I had to add an extra 1/2 a cup of water because 2.5 was not enough the pizza dough turned out great. When I make it again I will useb3 cups of water