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Sliced pizza wtih pepperoni on a round baking pan.
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5 from 24 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 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time2 hours 30 minutes
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 pizzas
Calories: 1111kcal

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