Description
This easy homemade pizza dough recipe creates the perfect crust every time—crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. With just 6 simple ingredients and minimal hands-on time, you’ll never buy store-bought dough again. Perfect for beginners!
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
- 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ cups warm water (105-110°F)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy and bubbly.
- Mix the dough: In a large bowl (or stand mixer), combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead: Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes by hand (or 5-6 minutes in a stand mixer with dough hook) until smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
- Shape: Punch down the dough and divide into 2 equal portions for two 12-inch pizzas. Shape into balls.
- Second rise: Let dough balls rest for 15-20 minutes, covered, before stretching.
- Stretch and shape: On a floured surface, stretch or roll each dough ball into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a pizza peel or parchment paper.
- Add toppings and bake: Top as desired and bake at 475-500°F for 10-15 minutes until crust is golden and toppings are bubbly.
Notes
- Make ahead: Refrigerate dough for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- No stand mixer needed: This recipe works perfectly by hand.
- Flour options: Bread flour creates a chewier crust; all-purpose works great too.
- Thin crust variation: Divide dough into 3 portions instead of 2.
- Yeast check: If yeast doesn’t foam in step 1, start over with fresh yeast.
- For crispier crust: Preheat a pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Bread, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe (1 slice of 12-inch pizza crust, dough only without toppings)
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 585mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
