Quick and Easy Pizza Dough – No electric mixer or fancy pizza dough hook needed here! Mix everything in one bowl, let rise for an hour, knead 1-2 times, and that’s it! Makes 1 large pizza, cut in half for 2 medium pizzas, or quarter it for individual pizzas.
I went from being terrified of yeast, to getting my feet wet with the Cheese Zombies, to completely obsessed with pizza dough.
Paul bought me a baking steel and these fun dice for my birthday last month >> which, btw, was clearly just as much a present for him, as it was for me!
I don’t think, however, he knew how much pizza he was about to eat from now until eternity. Or until I get fixated on something else.
After many articles and recipes, I fell in love with this basic dough. I’ve been going through a batch a week. But the beauty is, it’s so incredibly easy to make!
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2 packets (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for bowl and drizzling
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for work surface
- Pour the water into a large bowl; sprinkle with yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the sugar, oil, and salt. Add flour and stir until a sticky dough forms.
- Lightly brush another large bowl with a little olive oil. Place dough inside and drizzle a little oil over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draft-free place until dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently knead 1 or 2 times, forming into a round. Let rest for about 10 more minutes.
- Use or store as is for 1 large pizza, or divide into 4 equal portions for individual pizzas.
2. In the winter time, I like to place the bowl of dough on a heating pad to aid in the rising time.
3. Dough will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer for 2 months.
4. To freeze, allow the dough to completely finish rising, cover in plastic wrap and then place in a resealable freezer bag. (Divide in half or in quarters before freezing.)
5. Suggestion on cooking: preheat oven to 450 degrees F for at least 30 minutes, preferably an hour. Place dough on some lightly floured parchment paper; starting at the center and working outwards, use your fingertips to press the dough to 1/2-inch thick round. You can pinch the very edges if you want to form a lip. Transfer parchment with the flattened dough to a peel or baking sheet. Brush with a little olive oil, then your sauce and toppings (do not load up each pizza with a ton of toppings as the crust won’t end up crispy that way.) Slide the pizza, along with the parchment, off of the peel and onto the baking stone in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, until the crust is browned and the cheese is golden, then sprinkle a little more cheese and bake for another 2 minutes until melted.
This is the pizza steel I use (affil)
Other Easy Bread recipes you might like!
Irish Soda Bread – Belly Full
Easy Beer Bread – Belly Full
Honey Buttermilk Bread – Wishes and Dishes
Bread in a Bag – Your Homebased Mom
Rachel says
I am eager to try this recipe! I think I’ll use avocado oil though as I recently learned that olive oil cooked above 375 degrees (smoking point) causes free radicals (which can lead to cancer) Just wanted to share so others were aware ! Thank you for the recipe though!
BJ says
Olive oil is the healthiest oil you can eat and this myth about heating it and free radicals is just another way big companies get you to buy their genetically produced oils like canola. Avocado oil is wonderful though but I wouldnt worry about olive oil heating and cancer…mediterranean people have been heating it up for thousands of years and they are some of the healthiest people on the planet!
Monica says
This Greek and thousands of others have been cooking with olive oil for centuries. Since you’re concerned, the best thing to do is to cook with regular olive oil which has a higher smoke point than extra virgin. Save the extra virgin for everything else, like salads, dips, etc. Regular olive oil is cheaper as well.
The Right Crust says
Have you noticed a change in quality of the crust based on fermentation time in the refrigerator?
Nicole says
I used about 3 1/4 cups of flour instead of four! Turned out great!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
I love a good pizza dough! Your photos are beautiful.
Angela says
I use this recipe not only for pizza night but also for making Italian Doughnuts. So good and so easy!! Love, love this recipe!!!
Karissa says
Lovely recipe! Ran out of flour (noob mistake!) and ended up using only 3 cups but turned out just as good! Thank you!!
Joni Kruntorad says
This is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!
Elizabeth Bell says
Hi going to try this today..does it work to double the recipe? Or should I just do 2 separate batches.
Thanks
Elizabeth
Jasmin says
Would mixing this up in an electric mixer work the same?
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Jasmin – using an electric mixer is unnecessary. It literally takes about 1 minute for the dough to come together in the bowl with a wooden spoon.
amy meyer says
How do you get away with kneading it only 1 or 2 times? Most recipes say to knead at least 5 minutes.
Amy @Belly Full says
Because it’s a no-knead dough – not all recipes are the same. Read all the reviews…everyone loves this recipe. Try it.
Alyssa says
If you’re like me and forgot to pick up olive oil(or any oil at that) you can do 1/3 cup melted butter instead and rub your bowl down with it as well. Was so good and so fun to make with the boyfriend!
Marina says
That is fabulously delicious
Thank you
Cora says
Can coconut oil be used in place of olive oil??
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Cora – I’ve never tried that. For optimal results, stick to the recipe as written. Thanks!
Kinan says
This is my first attempt at making a pizza, and I am very happy with the result!!
Thank you very much for sharing this recipe! My Husband is italian and he was never always failed to make the dough rise, therefore he couldn’t believe that I did exceptionally well at the first attempt! Thanks to you!
Amy @Belly Full says
That’s awesome – so happy to hear it!
Stephanie says
If I want to use this to make calzones would this still work if we made it one day and then baked the calzones the next day? Also what temp and how long do you bake the dough for?
Keeley says
Hi! What would happen if you used instant yeast instead of active dry?
Amy @Belly Full says
I don’t know. Probably wouldn’t matter. Try it!
Jan says
Made this pizza dough for the first time today. In fact, it was my very first attempt at making pizza dough! It could not have been easier! I made a stromboli, and I’m happy to say, it looked and smelled wonderful baking in the oven. After patiently waiting for it to cool, we’ve just now enjoyed a few slices, and I couldn’t be happier with the results! One change, because I made one large stromboli from the dough, the results were a bit doughy. Next time, I’ll make two. Now I can’t wait to try pizza on the grill! Again, I,’m so pleased to find this was not only easy, but yummy!
Amy @Belly Full says
So happy to hear it, Jan!
Ann says
This was the best pizza dough I’ve ever made. I made one thick crust pizza and after it was done I was worried the crust would be too dry. Well, it wasn’t. It was light and airy inside. I topped it with a little marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, pepperoni and scoops of ricotta. It was perfect. Thanks for a great recipe.
Minal says
Tried the dough and it turned out amazing. Can this be stored and pre made, if yes pls suggest the no. Of days
priyanka Kothari says
Wow………Just amazing & Very easy. I tried it, Very easy to cook. Thank you for the sharing.
Rachel lau says
If frozen need defrost first?
Amy @Belly Full says
Yes.
Me says
Seriously?
Lynn says
I have never made a homemade pizza before and I wanting to learn how. Never heard of a baking steel, so I looked it up and found out what it is. So which is better the stone or steel to bake a pizza on. Do they come in different sizes? If yes what is a good size for making medium to large pizza on?
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Lynn – yes, they both work and yes they come in different sizes. I’m not a pizza expert, though and can’t really give proper advice on this. All I can say is I have this baking steel and love it http://amzn.to/2jKeFAF
JENNY says
Can you use coconut oil?
Amy @Belly Full says
I’ve only made the recipe as listed. Feel free to experiment, but the results may differ from what I’ve shared.
Lydia says
This crust it so good!! It gets puffy and crispy and is super easy!
Anne says
Can I sub with whole wheat flour??
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Anne – I haven’t tried this recipe with wheat or whole grain flour yet, so I can’t vouch for the results. But I would like to experiment with that. Maybe only swapping out 1-2 cups instead of al 4 at first, and maybe increasing the liquid a little bit. Whole wheat flour in pizza dough is much more forgiving than with other baked goods, so I think it could work, but would definitely take some tweaking.
Connie stamper says
*i do use alternate flours. A mixed flour does best. I have used Spelt and whole wheat with white flour. 2 cups white and two cups whole wheat did best. It past the kid taste test with no complaints. Definitely needed extra liquid. Added a little at a time until texture was right.
Melissa Fox says
I would like to tell you that THIS is easily the best pizza dough I’ve ever made. When I told my husband and son I was making homemade pizza they groaned- I’ve made more than enough crappy pizza dough to last them a lifetime. This is light without being flimsy but dense enough to give you a great texture that you can really sink your teeth in. My guys liked it so much we have decided that every Saturday is homemade pizza day and this is now our go to. 4th week in a row- no matter the weather- this dough has turned out perfectly every time. Thank you for sharing your recipe with us!
Amy @Belly Full says
This makes me so happy, Melissa! Thank you for letting me and my other readers know!
Dina Thompson says
We did a pizza bar for New Years Eve where everyone gets to make their own pizza and customize with different toppings.. I made two batches so we could have 8 pizzas. It was a big hit! The dough was definitely quick and easy. pressed them out pretty thin and baked them for about 13 minutes to get a little more crispy. They were perfect!
Janet says
Did you bake the crust prior to adding toppings? Or did you just bake it longer?
Lorry says
I found the dough to light and airy I prefer a heavier dense dough I think I should add more flour
Denise says
Has anyone tried this with organic all purpose flour ?
Jen says
I am making it right now with organic flour!
Helen says
Pizza!
Jill says
Wondering if yo can cook pizza dough on a cookie sheet if you don’t have a pizza stone?
Amy @Belly Full says
Yes! It just probably won’t be as crispy. You can try playing with the cooking time (slightly longer), but you don’t want your toppings to burn, so keep an eye on it.
Kimberly Meffert says
I have EVO Oil that has garlic, or basil, or tomato/basil/garlic and it works great in the dough and as a rub on it before saucing and topping. I use regular olive oil during rising
Sheila M. says
Hi, this pizza dough recipe sounds awesome, can’t wait to try it! I buy the jar of yeast instead of packets, as I bake bread rolls often.
Can you please tell me the actual measurement, ie. teaspoon(s) or tablespoon(s) that equal to the 2 packets of yeast?
Thank you.
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Sheila – there is approximately 2 1/4 teaspoons in each 1/4 ounce packet, so you would need 4 1/2 teaspoons total.
Colleen says
Have you ever used this recipe for stromboli? Just curious. I see someone used it for calzones, nice. Thanks.
Amy @Belly Full says
No, I haven’t ever tried that.
Caroline says
I’m making the dough for a Stromboli recipe as we speak. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for a Stromboli……
Jan says
This is the first time I’ve made pizza dough, and I have to say, it could not have been easier! I’ve made Stromboli with the dough and have it in the oven now. It looks and smells fantastic! Next, pizza on the grill. Thanks for a terrific and easy recipe!
Trish says
Hi it’s Trish again with an update. The pizza came out awesome, made 2 round ones and still had a bit of dough left over. I found the dough to be similar to a bread dough (versus a pizza dough) but it was so light and airy that we almost ate both pizzas. One I put fresh tomatoes/basil and grated parmesan & fresh grated provolone. The second one pizza sauce, salami, musrooms and pizza sauce. Can’t wait to make it again. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Amy @BellyFull says
So happy to hear it and I love your choice of toppings!
Trish says
Made the dough a few hours ago and it came out fabalous, nice and light and very pliable. Two pizzas in the oven now, I’ll keep you all posted on how it came out. Looks delicious.
Andrea W says
This is definitely going to be used enough to commit to memory! Changed how long I let the dough raise and how I baked it (erm, ok fine I got lazy – still recovering from the whole Thanksgiving meal thing). This dough has the perfect flavor, and baked to a perfect crisp! I halved the recipe and it was exactly what I needed for my 9×13 baking stone.
Brooke says
I just made this dough. I think i did something wrong as it is EXTREMELY sticky. I let it rise for an hour and a half, turned it out and attempted to knead it 3 or 4 times…all the while it was sticking to the counter, my hands…everything! I then let it sit 10 more minutes. Attempted to cut it with a knife so i could throw it in the fridge for later this evening…it stuck to the knife! So i tore it apart with my hands put it in saran wrap and put it in fridge….not so sure its going to work out for dinner….what did i do wrong? Should i have added MORE flour when mixing?
Sylvia says
When it is that sticky add more flour until it is no longer sticky. Also place some flour on your board or counter when you knead it too.
Penny Wallis says
Did I overlook the recipe for the sauce? I used to make pizza myself but gave that up as it was always a hit or miss for me. But, what is your Sauce secret? Please don’t stop at just the crust because the wrong sauce could spell disaster for a great crust recipe I’ll be trying out very soon!
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Penny – this is a recipe post for pizza crust. I will allow the reader to determine what sauce fits their tastes best, whether it be pesto, white, or traditional red. Store bought or homemade. But this is my preferred marinara, if you’d like to try it – https://bellyfull.net/2016/01/27/easy-homemade-marinara-sauce/
Natalie says
Hi,
This is really a spectacular pizza dough. I made it tonight and the pizza came out good. However, the dough rose too much, I guess, and was very thick and not crunchy. Still delicious, though. Do you have any idea why it came out more like cake dough?
Thank you!
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Natalie – unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for you…this is a first. Are you at a high elevation? Was your oven hot enough? Did you place it on a steel/stone? Many factors…
Tracy S. says
I made this recipe today and it was absolutely the easiest dough I have ever made!!! I will be using this recipe for the rest of my homemade pizza life!lol
Thank you so much for sharing
Lana says
Me too! I’ve tried so many pizza dough recipes that wasn’t good. This dough is perfect.
Regarding dough rising too much, I would add; mine came out like “hand tossed”. If you want a dough that’s crunchy thin crust perhaps roll out thinner. Probably not the dough but the prep. Hopefully that helps. I have baked a lot of bread and prep is everything ?
Haley says
Tried this last night and it came out great! I used it to make Calzones instead of a pizza. Best pizza dough recipe I have used. I am printing this recipe to add to my recipe binder!
Amy @Belly Full says
Yay! Always love it when I make it into someone’s binder!
Robin says
Hi! I have a jar of yeast not packets, what would be the correct amount we should use please?
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Robin – each packet contains 2 1/4 teaspoons, so you’d need 4 1/2 teaspoons total.
Lana says
Hi
Late posting but tried your Amazing pizza dough and it came out Perfect. My husband Love it. NO MORE FROZEN PIZZA FOR US !!!! Thanks for this Great recipe !
Daisy says
Thank you for this recipe. This is the second time I’m making homemade pizza and the first time my family said they liked mine better than delivery. Thank you for making my family feel like I’m a pizza expert. :)
Ms Ruth says
why 2 packs of yeast when one would do? just curious since other dough recipes usually call for one pack and artisan dough calls for less than one. thanks.
Amy @Belly Full says
Hi Ruth – that’s just the way I make it. Never tried it with only 1 packet, so I can’t vouch for the results. All dough recipes are not the same :)
Angela says
I made this tonight and it was great. Have you ever tried freezing it? I actually made the dough yesterday and it still rose overnight and a bit this afternoon so I was wondering how it worked if you ever tried freezing it for a quick dinner.
Amy @BellyFull says
Hi Angela – see #4 in my notes. Make sure it’s completely done rising first.
Lana says
Hi
Can you leave parchment on or take it off before baking it on the pizza stone?
Amy @BellyFull says
Hi Lana – you can leave it on! Actually makes transferring the pizza off of the stone easier.
Lana says
Thanks ! Gonna try this Friday nite for our Pizza nite and instead of going out we will be eating in !-Yea Me
Amy @BellyFull says
I love it! Quarter into 4 equal portions and everyone can choose their own toppings and make their own!
Larry Grant says
I agree, parchment paper is by far the cleaner and easier way to go. No cornmeal mess on your stone or in your oven. Plus if you have a 1″ margin of parchment paper around your pizza and some cheese melts over the edge of your crust, it won’t mess up your pizza stone, smoke up your kitchen and stink up your oven.
Sometimes I remove the parchment paper when there is 3-4 minutes left to bake. I think it browns the bottom a bit better. I do the same when I bake a free form bread like ciabatta.
L.
amy says
Did you mean you knead it 1 or 2 minutes? (not 1 or 2 times) It just seems like other recipes require you to knead it longer.
Amy @Belly Full says
Nope. 1-2 TIMES is correct. This is basically a no-knead dough. Could not be easier.
Judith says
Could you please advise what brand extra virgin olive oil you prefer? Many thanks for your response and this recipe!
Amy @BellyFull says
Hi Judith! I always have STAR on hand, which can be found at your local grocery store. Enjoy!
Judith says
Wonderful! Thank you! Many Blessings to you and yours!
Lisa says
Can you sub the sugar with agave? Just use a little less?
Amy @BellyFull says
Hi Lisa – I wouldn’t recommend it, sorry!
G Williams says
This dough was just perfect!!!! Thank you so much for such a easy recipe as well as delicious. My household loved it.
Silvia says
This is the first time ever I made a pizza base and it turned out just wayy too perfect.My husband and kids and friends loved it!!!
Usually when we buy pizza from the store my kids and husband leave the crust behind coz its so hard..but with this pizza the plate was empty..melts in your mouth.
Thank you soo much for your recipe <3
Amy @BellyFull says
I’m so happy it worked out for you!
Natalie R says
This was my first time making my own pizza dough and it turned out great! My husband swore I snuck in carry-out when he wasn’t looking. I added some Italian seasoning and garlic to the dough before I added the topping and it was so yummy! Definitely saving this.
Amy @BellyFull says
Yay!
Nancy says
So l let rise if lm keeping in fridge over night?
Amy @BellyFull says
Yes, let rise completely. Then wrap whole dough or 4 equal portions for individual pizzas in plastic wrap before placing in the refrigerator.
Lindsay says
How do you use after refrigeration? Allow to warm up to room temp then use or does it require another rise?
Amy @Belly Full says
No, just use straight from the refrigerator and proceed per directions.
Lindsay says
Thank you!
Virginia says
Made this the first time a few weeks ago..doing it again today! Was so ez and was my 1st time attempting dough. Even let my 6yr and 2 1/2yr little girls help make their own pizza. They loved getting messy with flour but we had fun and pizza was so good. Thanks fo sharing this!
Abby says
I made this dough last night, used half of the recipe and replaced the sugar with honey! This was my first time making my own dough and I think it came out great!! I used a pizza stone to bake in the oven and added a little flour to stone before putting the dough on top and it only stuck in a few places. I may try putting olive oil next time. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Flowers says
spread a little cornmeal on the stone and it won’t stick
Bob says
Make sure your pizza stone has been pre heated for 45 minutes and the dough will not stick.
Diane S. says
I used your dough recipe for the first time this afternoon, and we all thought that this was the best pizza I’ve ever made! I used all the same ingredients as I normally do, except for the crust.
I had been researching other dough recipes before I tried this, and most sources agree that using bread flour instead of AP makes the crusts crunchier. Since we prefer crunchy, that’s what I used. I ended up only using a little over 3 cups of the bread flour; it would have been too dry with 4.
I kept my oven temperature at 500, and preheated my pizza stone while I was forming the crust onto a piece of parchment paper. I slid the parchment onto the pizza stone, and pre-baked it for 5 minutes. Then I took it out, loaded on the sauce and toppings, then slid it back on the sizzling stone. I baked it about 8 minutes, then topped it with a little more cheese, and put it back in the oven for another two minutes. Then took it out, and let it rest on the stone for 3 minutes to set the toppings before attempting to slice it with the pizza cutter.
The crust was crispy on the bottom, but tender on the inside, almost like a French bread, and delicious! This will be my go-to recipe from now on! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Amy @BellyFull says
So happy to hear it, Diane! Thanks for writing!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Amy, I am so trying this recipe! and how can I get MY Paul to get me a baking steel???!!!
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee says
I need to try this!
We make pizza all the time and I always need to pull out the mixer.
Christie says
I’ll definitely be trying this. I’d like to try homemade dough so I can make my crust extra thin!
Sues says
I love making my own pizza dough and this one looks just beautiful!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I love making homemade pizza dough. This recipe looks perfect!
Melissa says
This makes me really happy for you. :D :D :D
Amy @BellyFull says
xooxoxoxoxoxoxo
Mary @ LOVE the secret ingredient says
I know it’s in the title, but I was still impressed with how quick and easy this is! At home we often make homemade pizzas by just adding ingredients to a baguette from the store, but I’m sure this is far superior! Can’t wait to try :)
Amy @BellyFull says
Well, nothing is quicker than buying bread already made! HA. But this is truly as easy as homemade gets, IMHO. I hope you like it!
cookbook queen says
Placing the dough on a heating pad is SO smart! I usually put it in a cold oven with a pan of boiling water set in the bottom, but the heating pad idea is so much easier.
We’ve been experimenting with different homemade pizzas once a week — the kids have a blast with it. I’m excited to try this dough recipe!
Amy @BellyFull says
I saw that tip on Pinterest a few years ago and I was like “Whaaaaat? DUH.” It’s life changing, especially if you make bread a lot!
Morgan says
I like to make my pizzas ahead of time and freeze them. Normally I prebake crust, add toppings, freeze, then when I need any easy dinner throw it in the oven. It works fine with the dough mix I buy at the store, but I’m ready to transition to homemade dough. Have you used this dough to freeze pizzas before?
Amy @Belly Full says
I always freeze the balls, then thaw, toppings, and cook. I haven’t ever formed the dough with the toppings prior to freezing. But I’m sure it would be fine!