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Home » Course » Dinner » Soft and Fluffy Pizza Dough Recipe

Published: Mar 11, 2020 · Modified: Jan 31, 2022 by Veronika's Kitchen * This post may contain affiliate links

Soft and Fluffy Pizza Dough Recipe

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Forget about pizza take out! Make your own fluffy homemade pizza dough with just 6 simple ingredients. This is a foolproof recipe for a deliciously crispy crust that’s soft and chewy inside.

Sliced pizza wtih pepperoni on a round baking pan.

If you’ve never made pizza at home, you should definitely give it a try! There is nothing wrong with calling for take out, but it will never taste the same as a homemade meal.

It will be a great recipe for a cozy lazy night or fun summer cookouts! Serve it together with Potato Salad with Bacon, BLT Pasta Salad, or any other party meal!

Let me show you how to make the best homemade pizza dough with just 6 basic ingredients: water, yeast, salt, sugar, olive oil, and flour.

Why this recipe works

Pizza is all about the crust! You want it to be soft and chewy with a delicious crispiness.

The main trick here is water. If you don’t put enough of it, your dough will be tough. Put too much and it will spread and won’t keep the shape. So, we need to put just enough water to keep it moist, resulting in crispy crust that is soft and chewy inside. It’s very similar to how you make Homemade Sandwich Bread.

Ingredients for Pizza Dough.

How to make Homemade Pizza Dough

1. Make the Dough

In a stand mixer bowl add warm water (about 110°F), yeast, and granulated sugar. Give it a stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. The mixture will start to bubble (Photos 1-4).

Process photos of how to make Homemade Pizza Dough.

In 5 minutes, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and all-purpose flour (Photos 5-8).

Process photos of how to make Homemade Pizza Dough.

In a stand mixer, using a dough attachment, mix the ingredients on low speed until combined. After it’s mixed, let it knead for 5 minutes. The dough will be a little bit sticky.

NOTE: Because different brands have different flour texture and moisture, you might need to use less or more flour. If your dough is too sticky, simply add a little bit more flour. Though, make sure you don’t add to much. It should be soft and a little bit sticky. That will help you to have a chewy and soft texture.

If you don’t have a stand mixer, first, mix all ingredients with spatula, then knead with your hands.

process photos of how to kead the dough in a stand mixer.

When done, add another 2 tablespoons olive oil to coat dough from all sides.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a clean towel. Let it rise for 2 hours, it will double in size.

Process photos of proofing the pizza dough.

2. Shape and Bake

Preheat the oven to 475°F.

When ready, take off the towel and plastic wrap from the bowl and gently press dough to deflate. Divide it in half.

Place one half on a round baking pan. Using your hands, flatten and stretch dough into a 12-inch disk, leaving the edges lifted (Photo 9).

Top with pizza sauce (or Homemade Marinara Sauce), cheese, and pepperoni, and bake at 475°F for 15-18 minutes on a middle rack (Photos 10-12).

Process photos of how to assemble pizza toppings.

Tips for Best Results

  1. Because different brands have different flour texture and moisture, you might need to use less or more flour. If your dough is too sticky, simply add a little bit more flour. Though, make sure you don’t add to much. It should be soft and a little bit sticky. That will help you to have a chewy and soft texture.
  2. When proofing the dough, I like to keep it in the oven (which is turned off). The reason being, that this is a perfectly contained place without any wind.

Toppings Ideas

  • Classic. Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni (optional).
  • Margherita. Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil.
  • BBQ Chicken. Pizza sauce, BBQ sauce, chicken, mozzarella cheese.
  • Hawaiian. Tomato Sauce, cheese, ham, pineapple.
  • Fig and Prosciutto. Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, arugula, prosciutto, figs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refrigerate pizza dough?

You can refrigerate it for up to 2 days. Grease it with a little bit of oil, place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge. When ready to bake, let it sit on the counter for 20-30 minutes to warm up.

Can I freeze it?

Yes! Divide the dough in half (if you freeze both) and lightly cover them with oil. You can wrap them individually in a plastic wrap, then in foil, or just put in individual zip lock bags. Freeze up to 3 months. When ready to use, put it in the fridge overnight. Take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking.

Sliced pizza wtih pepperoni on a round baking pan.

Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!

Sliced pizza wtih pepperoni on a round baking pan.
Print Recipe
5 from 10 votes

Soft and Fluffy Homemade Pizza Dough

Forget about pizza take out! Make your own fluffy homemade pizza dough with just 6 simple ingredients. This is a foolproof recipe for a deliciously crispy crust that’s soft and chewy inside.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time18 mins
Total Time2 hrs 30 mins
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 pizzas
Calories: 1111kcal
Author: Veronika’s Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups warm water (about110°F)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • In a stand mixer bowl add 1 ¾ cups warm water (about 110°F), 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast, and 1 tbsp granulated sugar. Give it a stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. The mixture will start to bubble.
  • In 5 minutes, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 ½ tsp salt, and 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour.
  • In a stand mixer, using a dough attachment, mix the ingredients on low speed until combined. After it’s mixed, let it knead for 5 minutes on low speed. The dough will be a little bit sticky. (If you don't have a stand mixer, first, mix all ingredients with spatula, then knead with your hands.)
  • NOTE: Because different brands have different flour texture and moisture, you might need to use less or more flour. If your dough is too sticky, simply add a little bit more flour. Though, make sure you don't add to much. It should be soft and a little bit sticky. That will help you to have a chewy and soft texture.
  • When done, add another 2 tablespoons olive oil to coat the dough from all sides.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a clean towel. Let it rise for 2 hours, it will double in size.
  • When ready, preheat the oven to 475°F.
  • Then take off the towel and plastic wrap from the bowl and gently press the dough to deflate. Divide it in half.
  • Place one half of the dough on a round baking pan. Using your hands, flatten and stretch the dough into a 12-inch disk, leaving the edges lifted.
  • Top with pizza sauce (or Homemade Marinara Sauce), cheese, pepperoni, and bake at 475°F for 15-18 minutes on a middle rack.
  • When done, let it rest for 5 minutes, cut into 8 slices with pizza cutter and serve.

Notes

Because different brands have different flour texture and moisture, you might need to use less or more flour. If your dough is too sticky, simply add a little bit more flour. Though, make sure you don’t add to much. The perfect dough should be soft and a little bit sticky. That will help you to have a chewy and soft texture.
When proofing the dough, I like to keep it in the oven (which is turned off). The reason being, that this is a perfectly contained place without any wind.
Can I refrigerate it? You can refrigerate it for up to 2 days. Grease it with a little bit of oil, place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge. When ready to bake, let it sit on the counter for 20-30 minutes to warm up.
Can I freeze it? Yes! Divide the dough in half (if you freeze both) and lightly cover them with oil. You can wrap them individually in a plastic wrap, then in foil, or just put in individual zip lock bags. Freeze up to 3 months. When ready to use, put the frozen dough in the fridge overnight. Take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking.
Toppings Ideas
  1. Classic. Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni (optional).
  2. Margherita. Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil.
  3. BBQ Chicken. Pizza sauce, BBQ sauce, chicken, mozzarella cheese.
  4. Hawaiian. Tomato Sauce, cheese, ham, pineapple.
  5. Fig and Prosciutto. Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, arugula, prosciutto, figs.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pizza | Calories: 1111kcal | Carbohydrates: 178g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 1767mg | Potassium: 363mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 7g | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 11mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to know how it turned out! Please let me know by leaving a review below. Or snap a photo and share it on Instagram; be sure to tag me @veronikaskitchen.
 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. judith judge says

    February 05, 2022 at 7:01 pm

    5 stars
    does bread flour make the crust better or does it matter

    Reply
    • Veronika's Kitchen says

      February 11, 2022 at 9:03 am

      Hi, bread flour is always great to make bread and pizza, it usually gives a better crust. I used all-purpose flour in this recipe as it’s more available to people. Whatever flour you decide to use, you still will have soft texture inside and crispy crust 😉

      Reply
  2. maren says

    October 24, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe twice and its amazing! perfectly fluffy and crispy, my partner calls it “doughnut pizza”. The only thing is I use organic King Arthur all purpose flour, and I find that I need to add wayyy more flour to get it the right consistency, at least a half a cup if not a full cup. This will definitely be my go to pizza crust from now on though!

    Reply
    • Veronika's Kitchen says

      November 05, 2021 at 5:55 pm

      Yaay! Thank you, Maren! Yes, the flour amount may vary, depending on the flour brand you use. Also, I prefer to keep the dough a bit sticky, it makes the crust even a crispier with perfectly soft texture inside!

      Reply
  3. Barbara says

    May 29, 2021 at 10:35 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe

    I added broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, spicy sausage, olives, jalapeños, green peppers and red peppers, pepperoni soaked them in olive oil before I put it on the dough. Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes topped it off

    Reply
    • Veronika's Kitchen says

      November 05, 2021 at 5:56 pm

      That sounds like a great topping combo! Glad you enjoyed it, Barbara!

      Reply
  4. Katrina says

    February 06, 2021 at 8:09 pm

    To freeze, do you do it before or after proofing? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Veronika's Kitchen says

      February 12, 2021 at 10:17 am

      Hi Katrina! You need to proof the dough before freezing.

      Reply
      • Katrina says

        April 19, 2021 at 7:43 pm

        Thank you. I made the recipe but think I should have added more flour. I added about 1/4 cup more but was afraid to add too much because I didn’t want a super dense end product. As it was the dough was very sticky even after extended kneading. It tastes really good though, so I’m hoping I can master the dough consistency so it’s easier to work with. I’d love to make this my go-to recipe because it really does have great flavor and texture.

        I divided this dough into fours and have 3 in the freezer. I’m wondering if once I though I can knead more flour into it and let it rest before baking. I’ll give it a try and see how it goes.

        Reply
  5. Laura says

    April 12, 2020 at 1:58 am

    Hello Veronika!

    I tried your recipe yesterday but I had a big problem. My dough was too sticky and it was impossible to knead. I added a lot of flour (approx. 1 cup more) so I could actually work with it. I don’t know what happened to the dough being so sticky but the final result was delicious.

    Thank you for sharing your recipes with us. I’ll try as many of them as I can.

    Reply
    • Veronika's Kitchen says

      April 12, 2020 at 8:26 am

      Hi Laura! I’m glad you liked the recipe! we make it at least twice a month in our house. The difference in flour amount might be caused by air humidity or even humidity in the flour. The dough should be a little bit sticky before proofing but not too much. Glad it worked out for you!

      Reply
  6. Aleta says

    April 06, 2020 at 10:37 am

    5 stars
    Pizza is our favourite around here! We have been missing the ease of takeout, it was one we did regularly, I love that now I can make it at home! My girls love plain cheese and I am going to try your suggested margherita!

    Reply
  7. Kacey Perez says

    April 06, 2020 at 7:04 am

    This crust looks amazing! Looks like the perfect consistency for my preference in pizza crusts. And I am loving the step by step photos I can follow along with as I make this recipe!

    Reply
  8. Charity says

    April 05, 2020 at 8:47 pm

    5 stars
    Friday night date night for us is usually pizza out at a restaurant. Excited to try making it at home from scratch. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  9. Leslie says

    April 04, 2020 at 12:16 pm

    I totally agree with you! The best part about pizza is the crust! The crust makes or breaks the pizza for me! Yours looks like perfection!

    Reply
  10. Paula Montenegro says

    April 04, 2020 at 11:20 am

    5 stars
    I love to have all I need to know about making pizza dough in one post! It went straight into my Pinterest and is happening this weekend! Great step-by-step images.

    Reply
  11. Elaine says

    April 03, 2020 at 11:45 am

    5 stars
    After reading through your post, I’ve realized what I have been missing – a true homemade pizza like this. That crusp looks so crispy and just the way I like it! Yum.

    Reply
  12. Nicoletta and Loreto Nardelli says

    April 02, 2020 at 5:39 am

    5 stars
    Pizza, the magic word. We’ve been making pizza every week for many many years, you just can’t beat homemade pizza 🙂 ! Love the look of yours, with that thick edge and a nice crust!

    Reply
  13. Anna says

    April 01, 2020 at 11:18 am

    5 stars
    Made this pizza dough over the weekend and it was wonderful! We are never ordering takeout pizza again! My partner said this was literally the best pizza dough he ever had! Thank you!

    Reply
  14. HEATHER PERINE says

    April 01, 2020 at 9:06 am

    5 stars
    Oh we love making homemade pizza around here! Can’t wait to try your version 🙂 and I am going to have to try the fig and proscuitto version!

    Reply
  15. Karen says

    March 30, 2020 at 4:10 pm

    We’ve been making pizza almost every day during our social distancing…must add yours to our routine.

    Reply

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