Description
This homemade pizza dough recipe is easy and perfect for making restaurant-quality pizza at home. The dough is soft, chewy, and flavorful, thanks to the use of high-protein bread flour, olive oil, and a quick rise with instant yeast. Whether you’re making a classic Margherita or your favorite toppings, this dough is the perfect base!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant/rapid rise yeast (or active dry yeast, see notes below)
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour or pizza flour (all-purpose flour works too)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (around 110°F or 45°C)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Stir and let sit for about 5 minutes (if using active dry yeast, dissolve it in water before use).
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
- Slowly pour the flour mixture into the yeast mixture while stirring with a spoon or using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
- Once the dough starts coming together, knead it on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes (or 3-5 minutes in a stand mixer) until smooth and elastic.
- Drizzle the olive oil into a clean bowl and place the dough in it, turning the dough to coat it in oil.
- Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into portions (enough for 2 large pizzas or 4 smaller pizzas).
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness.
- Add your favorite sauce, cheese, and toppings before baking.
Notes
- If using active dry yeast, you’ll need to dissolve it in warm water (around 110°F) and let it sit for 5 minutes before proceeding.
- You can make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours for even more flavor development.
- This dough works well for thin crust or thicker, chewy crusts, depending on how thick you roll it.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian