This easy homemade pizza dough is made with everyday ingredients, and it can be shaped into any kind of pizza crust you like! You’ll never buy store-bought pizza dough again!
Whether you’re making margherita pizza or your personal favorite pizza recipe, a pizza is only as good as its crust. Start with a lousy base and even the very best ingredients won’t be able to save it.
You can buy pizza dough at the store, but it’s easy to make at home—so why not?! This homemade pizza dough recipe is simple to follow and make, and it yields a delicious crust that’s crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. And since it’s made with just a few basic ingredients, you likely already have everything you need on hand!
(If you love Italian food, be sure to check out my recipes for Homemade Garlic Bread, Creamy Tomato and Basil Penne Pasta, and Italian Pasta Salad too!)
Easy Pizza Dough Recipe
You can use this pizza dough for all your favorite kinds of crusts. Want a thin, chewy Italian-style crust? You can do that! A cracker-thin crust? Just roll it out super thin! Looking for a classic pizzeria-style crust? Yep, that works too—and you don’t even have to toss it up in the air to get it. (Although, if you want to give that a try, go for it!)
Ingredients
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- All-purpose flour – You don’t need 00 or any other fancy flours here! Just everyday all-purpose flour.
- Granulated sugar – This is what feeds the yeast, so don’t skip it.
- Active dry yeast – Don’t use instant yeast; this recipe was developed using active dry yeast.
- Kosher salt
- Warm water – It should be 110ºF.
- Olive oil
- Semolina or all-purpose flour for dusting – Just a teaspoon or two should be enough!
How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough
1. Make the Dough
Whisk the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Pour in the water and oil and stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.
2. Knead the Dough
Turn out the pizza dough onto a floured surface. Knead for 3 minutes, dusting with more flour as needed, until the dough is still a little tacky, but doesn’t stick to the work surface. (You can also use a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.)
3. Let the Dough Rise
Lightly grease a large mixing bowl and set the dough inside. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Place it on the counter in a warm area for 2 hours to rise.
4. Store or Use
Store the pizza dough for later or use it immediately to make a pizza.
Bake in the oven on a pizza pan or pizza stone according to the recipe instructions for your pizza, or top with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and other toppings and make it according to the instructions on my margherita pizza recipe.
How to Store Homemade Pizza Dough
You can store this pizza dough in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Just place it in a greased bowl or container, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Let it come to room temperature before using.
Or, you can freeze this dough for up to 3 months. Place it in a freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before using, then let it come to room temperature just before you’re ready to roll it out.
FAQs
There are a few different types of flour you can use for pizza dough, but we prefer all-purpose flour. It’s versatile and yields a delicious crust. If you want to experiment, feel free to try other types of flour, such as bread flour or 00 flour, which is commonly used in Italian pizza crust recipes.
Pizza dough and bread dough are similar, but they’re not the same. Pizza dough is usually made with a higher proportion of water to flour, which results in a softer, more pliable dough. It’s also sometimes made with oil, which adds flavor and tenderness.
Bread dough, on the other hand, is typically made with a lower proportion of water to flour, which results in a stiffer dough. And while oil is sometimes used in bread recipes, it’s not as common as it is in pizza dough recipes. You can compare this homemade pizza dough to my French bread recipe to see the differences!
It’s cheaper to make pizza dough at home, and it’s also easier than you might think! You probably have most, if not all, of the ingredients in your kitchen already.
If you want to add some extra flavor to your pizza dough, try adding some herbs or spices. Or, brush the dough with a little olive oil before topping it with your favorite sauce and toppings. Another idea is to sprinkle the edges of the crust with seasonings or brush it with garlic butter.
More Kitchen Staples
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- How To Make Homemade Pancake Mix
- The EASIEST Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Easy Homemade Granola
Homemade Pizza Dough
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour unbleached
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp active dry yeast
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- 7 oz warm water 110F
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- semolina or all-purpose flour for dusting
Instructions
- Add the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt to a medium mixing bowl. Add the water and oil and, using a wooden spoon, stir to combine. Continue to stir until a dough forms. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead for 3 minutes, dusting with more flour as needed, until the dough is tacky but doesn’t stick to the work surface.
- Lightly grease a large mixing bowl and place the dough inside. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm area for 2 hours to proof and rise.
- Use in your favorite pizza recipe.
