Last week I shared my easy pizza sauce recipe using tomato paste and tomato sauce. So this week, I’m going to share my pizza dough recipe.
This really is the best (and easiest) pizza dough recipe! This dough comes together so quick and you don’t need a mixer or any other special equipment for it. Just a bowl, a spoon (or something to mix with) and your hands. This recipe is foolproof! You cannot mess it up. I promise your pizza dough will turn out great!
Your family will love turning Friday pizza night into Friday homemade pizza night!
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Some helpful and needed equipment:
- These batter bowls are great for mixing any type of ingredients.
- I use these silicone spatulas for mixing everything.
- A dough whisk makes mixing dough a breeze.
- I always make my pizza in a cast iron skillet.
- Pastry brush to brush olive oil on the crust after it comes out of the oven.
- Shower caps to use as bowl covers. I use these for all the recipes I make when dough has to rise.
Notes and tips:
- You can make the dough up to 2 days ahead of time. After the dough rises, put it in the fridge (covered) for up to 2 days. Use directly out of the fridge. No need to let it come to room temperature.
- You can freeze it by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and placing it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Use within 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours. Then shape, top and bake!
- Store leftover pizza in ziplock bag or airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
- Use the dough for calzones, strombolis, pepperoni rolls or anything else you would use pizza dough for.
- I use my cast iron skillet to bake our pizzas. You can use a pizza stone, pizza pan, cookie sheet. Or whatever you usually use to bake your pizza.
- Make stuffed crust pizza by putting string cheese around the edge and fold the crust over it.
- Feel free to add seasonings to your dough. Just mix them in there while you’re mixing the dough up.
- You can use active dry yeast in place of the instant yeast. Dissolve yeast and sugar into 1/2 cup of the water and let sit for 5 minutes. Then mix all the ingredients together and follow the rest of the recipe.
- You can use a blend of bread flour and all-purpose flour in this recipe. Equal parts of each, or substitute to your preference.
- If the dough feels dry, add water by wetting your hands to knead.
- This dough will make 2-14 inch pizzas. If you prefer thin crust, you can make more than 2 pizzas with this recipe.
- This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
Ingredients needed:
all-purpose flour (see notes)
instant rise yeast or active dry yeast (see notes)
sugar
salt
warm water from tap (not hot)
extra virgin olive oil
Step by Step Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt together with a whisk. Add your warm water and the oil. Just use your hot tap water. You don’t want to use too hot of water. Mix with rubber/silicone spatula, wooden spoon or dough whisk until dough starts to form. Then just use your hands to knead in the mixing bowl until all the flour is absorbed. (see photo top left)
Then, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter. Wet your hands and then knead the dough on the counter. Just fold one side of the dough into the middle and using the bottom of your palms, push down, away from you. Fold up from the other side and push down away from you. Then flip over and knead a few more times. Just keep repeating the folding of the dough and pushing down away from you. Knead for 1 to 2 minutes, until the dough is smooth and tacky, but not sticky. Form dough into a smooth ball. (see photo top right)
Add olive oil to the bowl you used to mix the dough and place dough ball in the bowl, turning over once so all sides are covered with oil. Cover the bowl and set aside to rise for 30 minutes, until it has doubled in size. I use shower caps to cover the bowl. (see photo bottom left)
When the dough has doubled in size, turn out onto lightly floured counter, and divide dough into 2 pieces. (see photo bottom right)
Use a rolling pin or your hands to spread the dough out to the size of your pan. Or you can put the dough onto or into your pan and spread out.
Once the dough is in the pan, add your sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings and bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 450 degrees.
When the pizza is done, remove from the oven and, using a pastry brush, lightly brush olive oil around the outside of the pizza crust. This is of course optional, but it gives the crust a nice flavor. You can also sprinkle on some garlic powder or parmesan cheese.
Looking for other simple and easy recipes?
Not ready to make your own pizza dough? Try Naan Bread Pizza!
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Want Italian Food, but not Pizza? Try my 5 Ingredient Pasta Sauce Recipe
Need sides to go along with your pizza?
The Best Simple Side Salad Recipe
Did you try The Best (and Easiest) Pizza Dough Recipe? What did you think? Comments and Suggestions are always welcome!
The Best (and Easiest) Pizza Dough Recipe
This homemade pizza dough recipe is so easy to make and so much better than store bought.
Ingredients
- 4 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1.5 Tbsp instant rise yeast
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water (not hot)
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil + ½ Tbsp for bowl + crust drizzle
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt together with a whisk. Add water and oil.
- Mix with rubber/silicone spatula, wooden spoon or dough whisk until dough starts to form. Then use your hands to knead in the bowl until all the flour is absorbed.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured counter. Wet your hands and then knead the dough on the counter. Just fold one side of the dough into the middle and using the bottom of your palms, push down, away from you. Fold up from the other side and push down away from you. Then flip over and knead a few more times. Just keep repeating the folding of the dough and pushing down away from you. Keep kneading for 1 to 2 minutes until the dough is smooth and tacky, but not sticky. Form dough into a smooth ball.
- Add olive oil to the bowl you used to mix the dough and place dough ball in the bowl, turning over once so all sides are covered with oil. Cover bowl and set aside to rise for 30 minutes, until it has doubled in size.
- When the dough has doubled in size, turn out onto lightly floured counter, and divide dough into 2 pieces.
- Use a rolling pin or your hands to spread the dough out to the size of your pan.
- Place the dough in your pan, add sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings and bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 450 degrees.
- When pizza is done, remove from the oven and using a pastry brush, lightly brush olive oil around the outside of the pizza crust.
- East and Enjoy!
Notes
- You can make the dough up to 2 days ahead of time. After the dough rises, put it in the fridge (covered) for up to 2 days. Use it straight out of the fridge. No need to let it come to room temperature.
- You can freeze the dough by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and placing it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Use within 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Store leftover pizza in ziplock bag or airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
- This easy pizza dough isn't just for pizza! Use the dough for calzones, strombolis, pepperoni rolls or anything else you would use pizza dough for.
- You can use active dry yeast in place of the instant yeast. Dissolve yeast and sugar into 1/2 cup of the water and let sit for 5 minutes. Then mix all the ingredients together and follow the rest of the recipe.
- You can use a blend of bread flour and all-purpose flour in this recipe. Equal parts of each, or substitute to your preference. If the dough feels dry, add water by wetting your hands to knead.
- This dough will make 2-14 inch pizzas. If you prefer thin crust, you can make more than 2 pizzas with this recipe.
- Feel free to add seasonings to your dough. Just mix them in there while you're mixing the dough up
I love the simplicity of this recipe! It makes it easy for busy moms to still make food from scratch.
I’ve been meaning to make my own pizza dough for a long time. Appreciate your simple step by step instructions. Oh and hello~ stuffed crust using string cheese! Yes, please!🥰
I started making sourdough pizza dough recently and love the homemade pizza so much, but I always find it to be dinner time and I forgot to prepare the dough. I will definitely use this recipe on nights I want quick pizza dough! Thanks.