Print

Best Pizza Dough Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 99 reviews

This BEST Pizza Dough Recipe creates a delicious, crispy, and chewy crust perfect for homemade pizzas. The dough is easy to prepare using simple ingredients like warm water, yeast, bread flour, olive oil, and salt. It requires a short rise time and can be baked in a very hot oven for an authentic pizzeria-style finish. Whether you prefer classic cheese or loaded toppings, this versatile dough forms the perfect base for all your pizza creations.

Ingredients

Scale

Pizza Dough Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast or instant yeast (1 package)
  • 3 1/2 to 4 cups bread flour (455g to 520g)
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pizza Stone: Place a pizza stone in your oven if available and preheat to 500°F (or 475°F if 500 isn’t possible). This ensures the stone is thoroughly heated for perfect crust baking.
  2. Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, granulated sugar, and yeast. If using active dry yeast, allow it to proof for 5 minutes until foamy. Skip waiting if using instant yeast.
  3. Mix Dough Ingredients: Add bread flour, olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir together using a wooden spoon or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook until ingredients are incorporated.
  4. Knead the Dough: Knead the dough for 5 minutes using a stand mixer or 6-7 minutes by hand until it becomes smooth and elastic. It should be slightly tacky but manageable.
  5. Let Dough Rise: Lightly oil a clean bowl with olive oil. Place the dough ball inside and turn it to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean cloth and let it rise for a minimum of 30 minutes, up to 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in size.
  6. Divide the Dough: Once risen, divide the dough into 2 or 3 balls depending on pizza size preferences. You can make more if you want smaller, personal pizzas.
  7. Shape the Dough: Roll, pat, or stretch each dough ball to about 1/4 inch thickness to prepare the pizza base.
  8. Add Toppings: Spread 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pizza sauce over the dough, then sprinkle freshly grated mozzarella cheese and arrange any other toppings you desire.
  9. Bake the Pizza: Bake pizzas on the hot pizza stone or baking sheet for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown and crispy at the edges.
  10. Cool and Serve: Allow the baked pizza to cool slightly before slicing and serving to enjoy the perfect homemade pizza experience.

Notes

  • Using a pizza stone helps achieve a crispier crust by evenly distributing heat.
  • If active dry yeast is used, proofing is necessary; instant yeast can be added directly.
  • Dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours to develop more flavor.
  • Adjust flour amount slightly depending on humidity and dough stickiness.
  • For thinner crust pizzas, stretch the dough thinner than 1/4 inch.

Keywords: pizza dough, homemade pizza, pizza crust, easy pizza dough, Italian pizza dough

Find it online: https://amayaharis.com/best-pizza-dough-recipe/