• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Sugar Spun Run
  • All Recipes
  • Desserts
    • Cookies
    • Candy
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Cake
    • Pies
  • Breads
  • Savory
  • Breakfast
    • Muffins
    • Scones
  • Seasonal
    • Cozy Winter / Holiday Treats
    • Easter / Spring
    • Fall Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • All Recipes
  • Contact/Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
  • ×
    Home » Breads

    The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

    May 23, 2018 By Sam 8,292 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    The Easiest Pizza Dough Recipe

    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! 

    Pizza Dough Recipe with dough after it's risen

    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.

    Folding over pizza dough to form a crust

    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.

    Pizza dough formed into a ball before rising

    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.

    Pizza dough on pizza pan

    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.

    Cheese pizza made with my pizza dough recipe

    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!

    Pizza dough in glass bowl, after rising

    The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

    How to make the BEST Pizza Dough Recipe
    4.97 from 4781 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Rising Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 12 servings (makes one 10-12" pizza)
    Calories: 113kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    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)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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

    ¹I've found that all-purpose flour yields a softer crust while bread flour gives a slightly crispier exterior. Please see the post for more information on all-purpose vs. bread flour in pizza dough.
    ²Many commenters have reported using active dry yeast (use the same amount, 2 ¼ teaspoon) with success. Some people have proofed the yeast first with the ¾ cup warm water, which is what I would recommend, while others have just mixed it into the dough as instructed. Both have had success! 
    ³Ideally your water should be between 105-115F (40-46C). I usually just use warm tap water but do make sure that your water isn't too hot or it will kill your yeast!

    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

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 113kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 146mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

    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.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
    « Nutella Cookies
    Texas Caviar »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mark

      March 19, 2024 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the recipe Sam! For a crisp crust: I pre-bake the crust on a perforated pan for 9 minutes, then add toppings, then bake another ~9 minutes to melt cheese, etc. During final 2 minutes, I slide the pizza off the pan directly onto the lowest rack to get a crispy crust. Foil on bottom of oven to protect from any drippings.

      Reply
    2. Morissa

      March 18, 2024 at 7:43 pm

      5 stars
      This is my Go-To pizza dough recipe. It’s simple, delicious, and easy to double or even quadruple!

      Reply
    3. Jan

      March 18, 2024 at 1:32 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent! Can the dough be frozen?

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 18, 2024 at 2:40 pm

        Sure thing! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Rosie

      March 17, 2024 at 11:28 pm

      Great pizza base! Came out delicious. If I want to triple or quadruple the amount, should I use the same ratio of yeast to flour or should I use less yeast? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 18, 2024 at 10:56 am

        Hi Rosie! You would want to increase everything proportionally. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Zahraa

      March 15, 2024 at 5:13 am

      5 stars
      the best pizza dough I’ve ever made.
      today we have guests so I’m doing it for them ,last time I did it was great❤️❤️❤️

      Reply
    6. Cynthia

      March 13, 2024 at 9:20 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! The dough was easy to stretch/roll to fit the pizza pan and baked up light and airy with whole wheat and bread flour. Definitely will be a go-to recipe. (:

      Reply
    7. Ivy

      March 10, 2024 at 11:23 am

      I’m going to try this recipe today. I’m sure its going to be good so thank you in advance

      Reply
    8. Gail

      March 10, 2024 at 11:12 am

      5 stars
      I made this dough for my husband and I on pizza night. It had been a long time since I had made homemade pizza, we usually order out. Every dough recipe I ever tried, I have not been happy with. Well…. this one is a keeper. Tonight it will be served to company! i love it.

      Reply
    9. Carol Russell

      March 10, 2024 at 6:39 am

      5 stars
      This dough recipe made the best pizza base we have ever had.

      Reply
    10. Amy

      March 09, 2024 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best pizza dough and making homemade pizzas has become a weekly thing. My question is, what else can I make with this dough? I love the simplicity of the recipe but looking to use it for more than just pizzas. I really appreciate the hard work put into your postings!

      Reply
      • Remi

        March 13, 2024 at 5:47 pm

        5 stars
        You can make breadsticks, calzones, etc. this is a staple in our home, and it’s been made while having a few drinks with friends! It’s a crowd pleaser for sure. I proof my yeast first (active dry) with 3/4 cup warm water and the sugar.

        Reply
    11. Amy Fullwood

      March 07, 2024 at 8:13 am

      can you divide the dough for individual pizza?

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 07, 2024 at 9:40 am

        Sure thing! 🙂

        Reply
    12. Taylor

      March 06, 2024 at 7:09 pm

      5 stars
      One of the best pizza crust recipes I have ever used! Super simple and super delicious! Will be using again for our pizza nights😋

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 07, 2024 at 4:40 pm

        I’m so happy to hear this, Taylor, thank you for trying my recipe!

        Reply
        • Jennie Webb

          March 09, 2024 at 10:01 am

          5 stars
          really good and easy recipe plus your pizza sauce, definitely I will make it again…

    13. Sara

      March 05, 2024 at 1:08 pm

      5 stars
      Very impressed! I used bread flour and it came out great. So quick and simple with no need to pull out the stand mixer.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

    Most Popular

    flaky biscuit on white cloth

    Easy Homemade Biscuits

    Pizza dough in glass bowl, after rising

    The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

    one bite missing from a slice of vanilla cake with chocolate frosting

    The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe

    Slice of cheesecake

    The Best Cheesecake Recipe

    Potato soup in bowl, with toppings

    The Ultimate Creamy Potato Soup

    Stack of cookies made from this chocolate chip cookie recipe with melty chocolate chips and a bite missing from the top cookie

    The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

    Cozy Soups

    CHICKEN tortilla soup in white bowl

    Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Close-up shot of a pot of creamy chicken noodle soup.

    Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

    Blue bowl of beef stew with chunks of beef, carrots, and potatoes.

    Beef Stew Recipe

    lasagna soup in white bowl

    Lasagna Soup

    french onion soup in white bowl

    French Onion Soup

    Bowl of turkey chili topped with sour cream, avocado, and shredded cheese.

    Turkey Chili (Great for leftover Turkey!)

    places sugar spun run has been featured (Women's Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, the huffington post, People, Delish, MSN, TLC, Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed)
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Privacy Policy|Accessibility Statement

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    ABOUT

    • About Me
    • Policies, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Terms of Use

    CONTACT

    • Contact
    • Work with Me!

    © 2020 Sugar Spun Run. All Rights Reserved

    • 1416

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    Name and email are required