How To Make Pizza Dough

You can never have to much pizza! So why not follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to make your own pizza dough!

By Kristi Eckert | Updated 2 years ago

There is nothing quite like biting into a fresh slice of piping hot pizza. It’s comforting, delicious, and has this way of evoking the happy memories associated with devouring those oh-so-scrumptious slices. The best part about pizza is that nabbing a delectable pie is never too far out of reach. Whether you are loyal to your local pizza joint, prefer to go the chain route, or can’t even wait that long and head straight to your freezer to unbox a frozen pie, you have options! However, did you ever consider trying your hand at making your very own pizza pie? Did you ever wonder how to make pizza dough? 

Believe it or not, learning how to make pizza dough is not as hard as you think. There are also a lot of advantages that can come from making your own dough from scratch. For starters, it can be a fun project to attempt with your kids or your partner on a rainy day. You can even impress everyone with all of your knowledge on the history of pizza! When making your own dough you have the added benefit of knowing exactly what ingredients you are using. It completely eliminates the worry of consuming any additives that you might find in commercially available pizza products. And the best part is you’ll get to start enjoying it right out of the oven! Say “hasta la vista” to all those tepid delivery pizzas! Convinced yet? We thought so! Follow the steps below to learn how to make pizza dough! 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you even start to gather your ingredients or begin learning how to make pizza dough you’ll want to make sure the workspace you’ll be using in your kitchen is adequately prepared. First, choose an area in your kitchen with an ample amount of counter space. You’ll need a decent size area to work in as you put together your ingredients and eventually roll out your dough. Once you’ve identified your workspace go ahead and disinfect the area thoroughly to ensure any bacteria or pathogens do not unintentionally come into contact with the food you’ll be handling. 

SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED

Now that you’ve got your work area squared away you can collect all the supplies that you’ll need in order to actually make the pizza dough. Once gathered, make sure you keep all the supplies within an arms reach so you can easily grab whatever you need as you go through the process.

• Liquid measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Small mixing bowl
• Large mixing bowl
• Rolling pin
• Whisk
• Wooden spoon
• Ladle (optional)
• Pizza stone or baking pan
• Parchment paper if using a baking pan
• oven mitts
• Pizza Oven (Optional)

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED

• 1 packet active dry yeast or about 1 teaspoon
• 3/4 cup lukewarm water
• 1 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (unbleached)
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Cornmeal (if using a pizza stone)
• Pizza Sauce
• Mozzarella (or a blend of other cheeses that you like, we recommend using a combination of Mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan)

STEP ONE

First preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (if you are using a pizza stone, place the stone in the oven when you begin preheating). Then in your small mixing bowl whisk together the yeast, lukewarm water, and 1 teaspoon of sugar until combined. Let the mixture rest until you notice tiny bubbles creep up towards the surface. It will resemble the way the top of a pancake looks when it’s about ready to be flipped. Set aside, briefly.

STEP TWO

In a large mixing bowl combine half of the flour (3/4 cup), the remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar, and salt. When combined, form a well in the center of the flour mixture. Take the yeast mixture that you set aside and pour it into the well. Add the olive oil into the well following the yeast mixture. With your hands or a wooden spoon mix until thoroughly combined. Add the remaining flour (you’ll likely need to use just your hands at this point) and, once again, mix until thoroughly combined. 

STEP THREE

Now we are really getting into the nitty-gritty of learning how to make pizza dough! Cover your work surface lightly with flour. Then dust your hands in flour as well. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl, set the bowl aside, and begin to knead the dough on the floured surface. Continue kneading for about five minutes or so. If the dough becomes sticky re-flour your hands and/or your surface as necessary. 

STEP FOUR

Place the newly kneaded dough back in the large mixing bowl. Cover it with saran wrap or a light cloth and let rise for 45 minutes to one hour. After the dough has risen, re-flour the surface once more, and then divide the dough in half. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough pressing in from the center and spreading outward. Do this in a circular rotation until the dough has been evenly spread out and has reached your desired thickness. (We recommend spreading the dough until it has reached at least 1/4” thickness because it will rise when baking). 

Note: At this point, you can either save the other half of unused dough for later. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days or can be frozen for up to two months. Or you can repeat the steps above to make a second pizza.

STEP FIVE 

If you are using a baking pan: Place a piece of parchment paper over your baking pan. The parchment paper should be large enough that the edges extend over the pan. Place your prepared dough on top of the parchment paper. Spread your chosen pizza sauce (using a ladle or spoon) on top of the dough. Make sure to leave about one inch of the perimeter uncovered. Top the sauce with your chosen blend of cheeses, followed by any toppings you want on your pizza. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15-20 minutes or until the crust has turned golden brown. 

If you are using a pizza stone: Remove the pizza stone from the preheated oven using oven mitts. Lightly sprinkle the stone with a handful of cornmeal. Then place the dough on top of the stone. Proceed to follow the additional steps above. 

STEP SIX: ENJOY!

Congratulations! You just learned how to make pizza dough! Now all that’s left for you to do is dig in! Bon appetite! Also, be on the lookout for when we share our recipe for homemade pizza sauce, so your next homemade pizza can be next-level delicious!