Our Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe is easy to make when you want a fresh, cheesy pizza dinner. Make the dough earlier in the day and let it rise slowly for the perfect, chewy texture and classic flavor!
Years ago, my husband, his family, and I started a pizza place together. Although it was short-lived, we perfected the best pizza crust and wanted to share it with everyone. For best results, combine it with our no-cook homemade pizza sauce!
We use this simple pizza dough at home every week in some form or another. We can't get enough of this BBQ pork pizza and these pizza bites.
After years of making this recipe, we are confident this is the best pizza dough recipe for all bakers, whether they are beginners or experienced. Give it a try, and you'll see why!
Jump to:
Why This Easy Pizza Dough Recipe Works
Making your own pizza dough is a simple process that starts with flour and yeast. After letting it rise, you can add toppings and sauce. Although making homemade pizza dough involves several steps, it is easy and significantly less expensive than delivery.
- Easy to make. After waking up the yeast in warm sugar water, add all the ingredients to your stand mixer and let it go! Separate the dough into two balls and let it rise before pressing it into your pizza pan. No rolling pin is needed!
- Tender and chewy. When you work with yeast, patience is rewarded! The texture is much better when you let the dough rest for a few hours before rolling it out. The extra time makes a huge difference!
- Inexpensive. Since this dough is made from just a handful of ingredients, it is delicious and affordable.
- So versatile. You can use this for more than a pizza recipe! Make calzones, stromboli, rolls, flatbreads, breadsticks, bites, and more. There's so much you can do with a ball of dough!
Pizza Dough Ingredients
It's easy to make homemade pizza dough with basic pantry ingredients, a stand mixer, and a little patience.
- Warm Water - Use warm water between 105-115° to activate the yeast. Do not use water that is too hot because it will kill the yeast.
- Yeast - Use one packet or 2 ¼ teaspoon of active dry yeast. You can use instant yeast and mix it with the dry ingredients.
- Granulated Sugar - This will feed the yeast and add a little sweetness.
- All-Purpose Flour - You don't need fancy flour for this recipe! Regular all-purpose flour from the grocery store works just as well.
- Olive Oil - Using extra virgin olive oil in the homemade dough provides a great taste and tender texture, and it prevents holes when stretched.
- Salt - Don't skip this step. Salt enhances flavor and will make it taste so much better!
How to Make Pizza Dough at Home
For best results, we highly recommend making this dough in the bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook.
- Stir together the warm water, yeast, and sugar in a measuring cup and let sit for a few minutes.
- Add the flour, oil, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix with a dough hook until soft dough forms. Use floured hands to remove the dough from the bowl.
- Place on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Cut the dough into two even portions. Roll each one into itself and make a ball.
- Place the dough balls on a greased baking sheet and cover with a damp towel. Let it rest and rise on the counter at room temperature for 2-3 hours. If you will use it the next day, place the pan in the refrigerator to rise.
- When it is time to use the dough, punch it down to release the gas, then let it rest for a few minutes. Flatten, press, toss, or stretch the dough until it is a large circle. Place on a greased 14-inch pizza screen or pan. Add sauce and toppings, and bake the pizza until browned.
Pizza Crust Toppings
While the dough is rising, prepare your ingredients. Customize it with your favorite toppings from this list of popular options.
- Sauce - pizza, alfredo, garlic, buffalo, taco, ranch
- Cheese - mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, ricotta, gouda, fontina
- Veggies - tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, olives, bell peppers, broccoli, spinach
- Herbs - fresh basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, cilantro, chives
- Meat - pepperoni, sausage, chicken, bacon, ground beef, ham, meatballs, prosciutto
Storage Recommendations
If you make pizza dough at home, it's best to use it on the same day.
However, if you plan to use it the next day, wrap the dough ball in plastic or store it in an airtight container in the fridge. This will help maintain its freshness and prevent it from drying out or becoming stale. Make sure to leave enough space for the yeast to double in size.
If you want to store your pizza dough for later use, you can freeze it! First, let the dough ball rise for 2-3 hours in a warm place. Then, wrap it tightly in plastic and store it in a freezer bag.
When you're ready to make the crust, let the frozen dough thaw in the fridge before using it on your next pizza night.
Tips and Tricks
- Use a stand mixer. For the best results, add the ingredients to the bowl of a mixer and use a dough hook attachment. The homemade dough will take approximately 5-6 minutes to come together.
- Scoop and level your flour. It's important to know how to measure flour correctly. Spoon it into your cup, then use a flat edge to scrape the excess off the top.
- Don't rush the process. Although many super fast pizza dough recipes exist, good things take time. The first rise should take 2-3 hours, or you can let it rise overnight in the fridge to use the next day.
- Less is more. Don't overload your crust with toppings. Too many toppings can make the crust soggy. Balance is key.
- Use a hot oven. Preheat your oven to 425°F. The high temperature will give you the best crust, texture, and rise.
- Let it rest. Allow the pizza to rest for a minute or two after baking before slicing. This helps the cheese and toppings set.
Variations
- Try a different sugar. Although we've always used white sugar, some commenters enjoyed using brown sugar. You can also use honey or molasses.
- Use bread flour or type 00. For a chewier pizza crust, try using bread flour. Although type 00 flour is the best, it's not always easy to find. This is the preferred flour of Italian pizza chefs, but don't let that deter you from making your pizza dough for the first time.
- Adjust the pizza size. This recipe makes enough dough for two pizzas, but you can quickly form it into your desired shape. Make mini pizzas or even homemade flatbreads. Just adjust the baking time so you don't burn the crust!
FAQs
You can store your dough on the counter or in the fridge, depending on when you plan to bake it.
If you leave the dough at room temperature, the yeast will continue to make it rise. Typically, the dough will rise within 2-3 hours on the counter and then start to fall. If you let it go for too long, the dough won't be strong enough to make a pizza crust.
On the other hand, the fridge will slow down the yeast and the rising time, making it the perfect place to store your dough for later use.
Active dry yeast must be dissolved in water and proofed before use. Whereas instant yeast can be mixed directly with dry ingredients and doesn't require proofing. Instant yeast works faster than active dry yeast.
Yes, you can use all-purpose flour to make this crust recipe. All-purpose flour is a versatile option for making pizza crust and is commonly used by home bakers.
Pizza dough can be used in many ways beyond just making pizza. You can make breadsticks, flatbreads, fast focaccia, calzones, stromboli, pizza bites, and roll-ups.
If you prefer a sweet dish, the sky is the limit! Make cinnamon rolls, a dessert pizza, cinnamon twists, doughnuts, sweet little pretzel bites, rolls or buns, and so much more. Just think of it as a basic dough and have fun with it!
Other Ways to Enjoy Pizza
Do you love a recipe you tried from Inside BruCrew Life?
Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating and a review in the comments section below.
Recipe
Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
This Homemade Pizza Dough is an easy dough to use for pizza, breadsticks, or stromboli. Add your favorite toppings to customize it to your liking.
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water (between 110°-115°)
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 6 cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ tablespoon table salt
Instructions
- Stir together the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes or until foamy.
- Pour the flour, oil, and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the yeast water, and mix with a dough hook until soft dough forms.
- Use floured hands to remove the dough from the bowl. Cut the dough into two even portions.
- Roll each section into itself and make a ball. Place the dough balls on a greased pan and cover them with a damp towel.
- Leave on the counter to rise for 2-3 hours if using it that day. Place the pan in the refrigerator to rise if using the next day.
- When it is time to use the dough, flatten, press, or toss each ball until it is a large circle.
- Place on a greased 14-inch pizza screen or pan. Add sauce and toppings. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until browned to your liking.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 273Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 268mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 7g
*This post was first shared in May 2016. It was updated and republished in November 2023.
Cristina E. Amariles
I tried this recipe just now and I found that 2 cups of water for 6 cups of flour just wasn’t enough moisture, my dough was lacking water and wouldn’t form a ball not sure this is a great recipe at all.
Jocelyn
I am so sorry this dough did not work out for you. How did you measure the flour? Did you use a dough hook and a mixer or did you mix it by hand? We always use this recipe in a large mixer with a dough hook and it comes together after 5-6 minutes of continuous mixing. I hope you give it another try.
ColleenB.~ Tx.
I like adding some of my favorite herbs / seasonings right in with the dough mix; whether it be Italian seasoning, oregano, or whatever your little heart desires and use garlic salt in place of table salt.
SusanCK
This was such a simple pizza dough recipe to throw together in my Kitchen-Aide mixer. We can't wait to taste the results!
Jocelyn
That's awesome to hear! I hope you enjoy the pizza!
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen
Aw the restaurant business is such a hard business to be in. And it breaks my heart when I go to a place and its so slow, you know someone behind the scene has poured their heart and soul into the place. Glad you guys went for it but so sad it didn't work out for ya! At least you this fabulous recipe, I need to make homemade pizza dough!!
Maureen Blackburn
I can't believe I finally have the famous pizza dough recipe!!!!!!!!!! It is true that good things come to those who wait. Thank you for this. I have quite a few things I plan to do with your recipe...of course, pizza, and breadsticks, flatbread, and more . Having been blessed with getting to eat this several times, I will tell anyone that it is by far the best dough recipe EVER..
Julie
I never knew that story! Live and learn is right ... so much of life is like that. At least you got a blog recipe out of it 🙂
TammyO
Oh dear, homemade pizza was on the menu for tonight but I may have to change that until tomorrow so I can see what combo you have come up with!
Jocelyn
No need to wait another day for homemade pizza...I just shared my new favorite toppings. I hope you like it! https://insidebrucrewlife.com/bbq-pork-pineapple-pizza/
Doug Doescher
Pretty much the same recipe I've used for years except I use brown sugar instead of white sugar.
Jocelyn
I'll have to give it a try with the brown sugar one of these days. We have done honey before, and I really like that too.
Roxana
I love homemade pizza dough! How fun to make it with the kids every week too!
Michele @ Alwayzbakin
This is great! Pinned it for later. Love the idea of making pizza with the kids. 😀
Linda
Thanks for sharing your story. It had to be fun (for a while) having your own pizza shop. I had a small business too. The time and money spent never equalled what I needed to continue.
The best,
Linda