Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
Learn how to make delicious pizza dough! It is incredibly easy and the taste blows your store-bought dough out of the water!
Pizza night is a beloved tradition in our household. My kids especially love the hands-on experience of crafting their own pizzas, from kneading the dough to spreading the sauce and finally selecting their favorite toppings. It’s a fun and interactive way to get the whole family involved in meal prep.
The best part? It’s surprisingly easy! I usually prepare the dough earlier in the day and let it rise, making the process even more efficient. Then I pop it into the fridge to wait till I am ready for Zaa – time!!
A key ingredient to a truly delicious pizza is homemade dough. This homemade pizza dough recipe is so incredibly easy to make, and the results are far superior to store-bought crusts. If you’re looking to build a “from scratch” kitchen, mastering homemade pizza dough is a must.
Why You Should Make Homemade Pizza Dough
Easy to Follow: The simple steps make it perfect for beginners.
Versatile: Customize your pizza with your favorite toppings.
Delicious: A homemade pizza is always more flavorful than store-bought.
Healthier: Don’t feel guilty enjoying a pizza night. Your homemade dough eliminates unnecessary additives that are found in the ingredients list of pre-made dough.
Tips For The Perfect Pizza Crust
Water Temperature: Ensure the water is the right temperature. Too hot can kill the yeast, while too cold will slow down the rising process.
Kneading: Proper kneading develops gluten, resulting in a chewy and flavorful crust.
Rising Time: Allow adequate rising time for the dough to develop flavor and texture.
Flour: All-purpose flour is a great choice for pizza dough. However, you can experiment with bread flour for a chewier crust, or whole wheat flour for the added nutritional benefits.
Olive Oil: A good quality olive oil adds flavor and moisture to the dough.
Prep Ahead: Make the dough in advance to save time on pizza night.
How to Store Homemade Pizza Dough
Homemade pizza dough can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. After that I would reccomend storing in the freezer until ready to use. This is a great hack when you want to introduce convenience into your from scratch kitchen. Make several batches ahead of time and freeze. You can do this by first creating individual dough balls (200-250g) and then lightly coating with olive oil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze your dough balls for a minimum of 3 hours on a baking sheet. Transfer to an airtight bag, squeezing all air out. Store in the back of your freezer until you are ready for homemade pizza! To thaw, just place in the fridge or if you are short on time you can place your dough (still in the plastic bag) into a bowl of water on the counter for 1-2 hours.
How To Make Homemade Pizza Dough
Yield: 1 x 14in pizza crust
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cup All purpose flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp yeast
- ¾ cup warm water
- Olive oil, for greasing
Step-by-step Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the flour and salt to the bowl, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough seems dry, add water 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Or set your stand mixer to level 2, and knead for around 5-7 minutes.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size. If you are pre making this dough for later, then you can cover it and allow it to do the first rise in the fridge.
- Portion the dough: Punch down the dough and divide it into desired portions. Shape each portion into a ball and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This recipe makes one 14 in pizza or two 7 inch pizzas, perfect for little kiddos.
- Shape the pizza: Start by creating a ball, and then flattening it with the heel of your hand. Rolling pin: You can use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to its desired thickness. By hand: Take your dough disk and hold it by the edge and allow its own weight to stretch it down. Rotate slightly and continue to allow it to stretch larger and larger.
- Add Oil & Toppings and Bake: Using a fork poke holes across the dough and then drizzle with olive oil. Then top the dough with your favorite sauce, cheese, and toppings. Bake in a preheated oven at 450°F (230°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
Equipment
- 1 stand mixer optional
- 1 medium bowl
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cup All purpose flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp yeast
- ¾ cup warm water
- Olive oil for greasing
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the flour and salt to the bowl, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough seems dry, add water 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Or set your stand mixer to level 2, and knead for around 5-7 minutes.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size. If you are pre making this dough for later, then you can cover it and allow it to do the first rise in the fridge.
- Portion the dough: Punch down the dough and divide it into desired portions. Shape each portion into a ball and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This recipe makes one 14 in pizza or two 7 inch pizzas, perfect for little kiddos.
- Shape the pizza: Start by creating a ball, and then flattening it with the heel of your hand. Rolling pin: You can use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to its desired thickness. By hand: Take your dough disk and hold it by the edge and allow its own weight to stretch it down. Rotate slightly and continue to allow it to stretch larger and larger.
- Add Oil & Toppings and Bake: Using a fork poke holes across the dough and then drizzle with olive oil. Then top the dough with your favorite sauce, cheese, and toppings. Bake in a preheated oven at 450°F (230°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
