The Best Ever Pizza Dough

I need you to knead me

JUMP TO RECIPE

What type of pizza crust do you like?

Do you prefer thin and crispy? Fluffy and chewy? Flakey and buttery?

There have been decades of debates over what is the best type of pizza crust. NY style crust vs Chicago and pan or thin crust the list goes on and on.

I have had many delicious varieties of pizza and my favorite type of dough encompasses all of the textures above!

This dough recipe is one that I developed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Before, I would buy my pizza dough at any regular grocery store and use it to make my pizza crust.

I found these doughs to be tough and flavorless and basically take away from the overall flavor profile. I wanted to make a dough that was easy and robust in taste.

This dough yields a 1 lb dough and can be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled!

How to make Homemade Pizza Dough

Before you begin making your dough, prep a medium to large glass bowl by brush about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Set this to the side because it's about to get messy!
Measure out 2 cups of flour, separated, because we are going to make a wet mixture with one cup and slowly add the other one while forming the dough.

Bring out a fairly large bowl, ideal for mixing, and place one cup of flour in the center.
Now we're going to measure out a very key ingredient in this dough making process; instant yeast! I love using instant yeast in my flour-based cooking and baking because I'm always afraid of not blooming my active-dry yeast properly. Instant dry yeast requires no activation and you can simply add it to your dry ingredients. For this recipe, I used about 1 packet of yeast or 2 1/4 teaspoons.

In addition to yeast, some other basic ingredients needed for the dough are about 3/4 teaspoon of salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar.

Now, we're at the fun part! Our spices! To this dough, I like to add the following to make it zestier; garlic powder, dried parsley, dried oregano and dried basil. Measure out about a teaspoon of each, or more if you want more flavor!

Place all of your dry ingredients on top of your 1 cup flour and, using a whisk, combine until uniform.

With all the dry ingredients combined, it's time to move on to the wet. Make a well, a small hole, in the center of the flour mixture, and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Have about 3/4 cup of warm water measured and ready on the side.

Taking a wooden spoon begin mixing in your olive oil. Using a wooden spoon is key because it helps incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry without the dough sticking to the spoon.
Add in the water slowly while continuously mixing until paste-like consistency forms.

It's time to get in with those fingers!
Pour the second cup of flour in small increments while mixing the dough with your fingers. When you add all the flour the dough will be shaggy. This means that it will have stringy pieces that haven't completely developed into the base flour mixture.

Keep working the dough between your hands by kneading and folding it until all the shaggy bits are incorporated and the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl forming a ball.

Transfer this ball to your oiled bowl and roll it around a little to coat it with the oil and then cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Place the bowl in a warm place, I usually choose the oven, for about an hour and a half or until double in size.

When the dough is ready, punch out the air and roll it out onto a floured surface. Sprinkle more flour on top and work the dough into your desired shape.

And now you're ready to make pizza to your heart's content!

Homemade Pizza Dough

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Proof Time: 1 1/2 hours

Yield: 1 (1 lb.) dough ball

Serves: 2-8

Ingredients

2 cups of all-purpose flour, divided, and more for rolling out the dough.
1 Packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) Instant Yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 tablespoons Olive Oil and more for coating the bowl
3/4 cup of warm water

Method

Prep a large glass bowl by brushing olive oil all around and set aside.
Measure and divide 2 cups of all-purpose flour. Place one cup into a large mixing bowl.
Add 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast, salt, sugar, garlic powder, parsley, basil and oregano.
Mix until fully incorporated.
Make a well in the center and add olive oil; mix
Slowly add in the water, continuously mixing, until paste forms.
Add in the second cup of flour and knead until uniform ball of dough is achieved.
Place dough ball in the glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and set in a warm place for 1 1/ hours or until double in size.
Punch down the dough to release air and roll out onto a floured surface, covering it with more flour.
Roll out to the desired size and top with your favorite sauce and toppings.
Bake in a 425-degree oven for 15 minutes
Enjoy!

Notes:

This recipe can be increased as needed. I normally triple my recipe as the men in my family like to have their own toppings and crust type.
You can also use this recipe to make calzones, garlic knots, and breadsticks. The outside will be hard and crusty but the inside will be soft fluffy and completely mouthwatering.

Please let me know what you think and share your creations in the comments :) - Deva