Print

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

4.5 from 87 reviews

This easy pizza dough recipe provides a simple and reliable base for homemade pizzas. With minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, it is perfect for any home cook looking to create delicious, fresh pizza from scratch. The dough becomes soft and elastic, ideal for shaping into your favorite pizza crust thickness, whether for a single large pizza or several smaller ones.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water (about 110°F)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for bowl and drizzling

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 packets (1/4 ounce each) instant dry yeast
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for work surface

Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: Pour the lukewarm water into a large bowl and sprinkle the instant dry yeast over it. Let it stand undisturbed for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active and ready to use.
  2. Mix Ingredients: Whisk the granulated sugar, olive oil, and coarse salt into the yeast mixture. Gradually add the all-purpose flour, stirring until a sticky dough forms and all ingredients are combined.
  3. First Rise: Lightly brush another large bowl with olive oil. Transfer the dough into this bowl and drizzle a little olive oil over the top to prevent drying. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm, draft-free spot. Let the dough rise until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
  4. Knead and Shape: Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead it 2 to 3 times to reshape it into a smooth round ball. Allow it to rest for another 10 minutes to relax the gluten.
  5. Use or Store: Use the dough immediately for one large pizza, cut it in half to make two medium pizzas, or divide it into four equal portions for individual pizzas. For tips on baking for crispy crust and proper storage, refer to additional recipe notes.

Notes

  • Use lukewarm water (about 110°F) to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
  • If you prefer a crispier crust, bake the pizza on a preheated pizza stone or steel at high temperature (450–500°F) for 10–12 minutes.
  • The dough can be refrigerated, covered tightly, for up to 24 hours to develop more flavor.
  • Make sure to allow the dough to come to room temperature before stretching and baking if using refrigerated dough.
  • Extra flour for the work surface helps prevent sticking but avoid adding too much to keep the dough soft.

Keywords: pizza dough, easy pizza dough, homemade pizza, yeast dough, pizza crust