The Best Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

This easy homemade pizza dough recipe has been a staple in our kitchen for years. With simple ingredients that are always on hand and a quick 30-minute rise time, it’s the perfect base for any pizza night! In about an hour, you’ll have cheesy, delicious pizza customized with your favorite toppings—much faster and more affordable than ordering out.

If pizza night is a regular tradition at your house, you might also enjoy experimenting with whole wheat or sourdough pizza dough for a different twist.

Pizza Dough Ingredients:

Water
Sugar
Yeast
Bread flour
Olive oil
Salt

Best Flour for Pizza Dough

For the best texture, bread flour is the way to go. While all-purpose flour can work in a pinch, bread flour creates a crispier, chewier crust that mimics the pizzeria-style pizza many love. If you don’t regularly stock bread flour, I recommend King Arthur Bread Flour or Bob’s Red Mill Artisan Bread Flour—both are reliable and widely available.

You can also use 00 pizza flour, a finely ground Italian flour. It has a lower gluten content, giving the dough a chewy texture with a crispy edge. If you use 00 flour, you might need slightly more than the recipe calls for to prevent the dough from being too sticky.

How to Make Pizza Dough

Activate the Yeast: Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. If you’re using active dry yeast, let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy. With instant yeast, you can skip this step and add it directly to the flour, salt, and olive oil.
Combine Ingredients: Mix in bread flour, olive oil, and salt. Stir until the dough begins to come together. Use a dough hook in a stand mixer or knead by hand.
Knead the Dough: Knead for about 5 minutes using a stand mixer or 6-7 minutes by hand until the dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky. If the dough is too sticky, add flour, one tablespoon at a time, until it’s manageable.
Let the Dough Rise: Coat a clean bowl with olive oil and place the dough inside. Cover and let it rise for 30 minutes to 1½ hours, or until doubled in size. If you’re making the dough in advance, you can refrigerate it for up to 3 days.

Shaping and Baking the Dough

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 500°F (or 475°F if your oven can’t go that high) for at least 30 minutes, allowing the heat to build up for the best pizza crust.
Divide the Dough: Once the dough has risen, divide it into 2-3 balls (or more for personal-sized pizzas). Roll, pat, or stretch the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
Add Sauce and Toppings: Top each dough circle with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and any other toppings you love. Make sure to evenly distribute the toppings to prevent sogginess.
Bake the Pizza: Bake your pizza on a pizza stone or an upside-down baking sheet for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden and crispy.

Homemade Pizza Dough FAQs

How Long Should You Knead Pizza Dough? Kneading develops the dough’s gluten, giving it that chewy, crispy texture. With a stand mixer, knead for about 5 minutes; by hand, knead for 6-7 minutes.
How Long Should Pizza Dough Rise? Allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size, which usually takes about 30 minutes to 1½ hours. If you’re in a rush, 30 minutes works fine.
Do You Need a Pizza Stone? A pizza stone helps create a crispier crust, but it’s not necessary. If you don’t have one, a baking sheet works just fine. You can also flip a baking sheet upside down to mimic the effect of a pizza stone.

Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions

Make-Ahead: You can make pizza dough up to 3 days in advance. Simply cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it. Let it sit at room temperature for about 2 hours before rolling it out.

Freezing: After rising, divide the dough into portions, coat with olive oil, and freeze in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge, then let it rise at room temperature for 1 hour.

Pizza Toppings

Customize your pizza with a variety of toppings! Here are some of our favorites:

Cheese: Freshly grated mozzarella, ricotta, or parmesan.
Meats: Pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon, or grilled chicken.
Veggies: Sliced peppers, onions, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and more.
Fruits: Try pineapple or pear for something different.
Herbs & Spices: Fresh basil, oregano, or red pepper flakes.

Tips for Perfect Pizza

Preheat your oven well and use a pizza stone if you have one.
Don’t overload the pizza with toppings, as it can make the crust soggy.
Consider adding cheese on the bottom and top to help the toppings stay in place.

With this simple recipe, your homemade pizzas will taste just like the ones from your favorite pizzeria. Experiment with different toppings and shapes to make it your own! Enjoy pizza night!

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups warm water (110°F)
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast or instant yeast (1 package)
3 ½ to 4 cups bread flour (455g to 520g)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt

Instructions:

Prepare the Oven: Place a pizza stone in the oven (if you have one). Preheat to 500°F (475°F if that’s as high as your oven will go). Let the oven preheat while you prepare the dough.
Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. If using active dry yeast, let it proof for 5 minutes until foamy. If using instant yeast, you can skip the proofing step.
Mix the Dough: Add flour, olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir well with a wooden spoon or use a stand mixer with a dough hook until the dough begins to come together.
Knead the Dough: Knead the dough for 5 minutes using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or 6-7 minutes by hand until smooth and elastic. The dough should be tacky but not overly sticky.
Let the Dough Rise: Drizzle a clean bowl with olive oil, then place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean cloth and let rise for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 ½ hours until doubled in size.
Shape the Dough: Once the dough has risen, divide it into 2-3 balls (or more for personal pizzas). Roll, pat, or stretch the dough out to about 1/4″ thickness.
Add Toppings: Top the dough with ¼ to ½ cup of pizza sauce, grated mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings.
Bake the Pizza: Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven, either directly on the pizza stone or on an upside-down baking sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown and crispy around the edges.

Enjoy your homemade pizza with your favorite toppings!