Description
This easy homemade pizza dough recipe gives you a chewy, flavorful crust that rivals your favorite pizzerias. The dough is simple to make and versatile for any topping of your choice. It’s made with just a few basic ingredients, including yeast, flour, sugar, and olive oil, for the perfect pizza every time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant/rapid rise yeast (or active dry yeast)
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for greasing)
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: If you’re using active dry yeast, dissolve it in warm water with a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it’s foamy. If using instant yeast, you can skip this step as it doesn’t need to be dissolved.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Mix well.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour the warm water (with yeast if using active dry yeast) and olive oil into the dry ingredients. Stir until the mixture begins to come together into a dough.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Add a bit of flour if the dough is too sticky.
- Let it Rise: Grease a large bowl with olive oil and place the dough inside. Cover it with a damp towel or plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Shape the Dough: Punch down the dough to release the air bubbles, then turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough into your desired pizza shape and size.
- Preheat the Oven: While shaping the dough, preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) if using a baking sheet, or 500°F (260°C) if using a pizza stone.
- Assemble the Pizza: Place the dough onto a baking sheet or pizza stone, and add your favorite pizza toppings.
- Bake the Pizza: Bake the pizza for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
Notes
- Flour: Using bread flour will give you a chewier texture, while all-purpose flour will give you a lighter, softer crust.
- Yeast: Instant/rapid rise yeast works best for speed, but if using active dry yeast, be sure to activate it in warm water first.
- Olive Oil: Adds moisture to the dough, which helps prevent it from drying out in a home oven.
- Freezing: You can freeze this dough after the first rise. Divide the dough into portions, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze. To use, thaw in the fridge overnight before rolling it out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes (depends on toppings and thickness of the crust)
- Category: Pizza, Baking
- Method: Mixing, Kneading, Rising, Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Pizza Dough, Homemade Pizza, Yeast Dough, Pizza Crust, Easy Pizza Dough