Easy Homemade Italian Pizza Dough Recipe

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This best Homemade Italian Pizza Dough recipe is easily whipped up from pantry staples. It will make enough dough for 8 lovely thin crust pizzas. Make a pizza or two now and save the rest for later. Perfect for batch cooking.

overhead shot of italian pizza dough cooked pizza

Hey foodies. Welcome to the easiest Homemade Italian Pizza Dough recipe made with pantry staple ingredients, so no need for an extra trip to the store or market.

For real. All you do is take a few ingredients, mix them with a little kneading, dump in a bowl to let rise. Less than an hour later you get no-fail homemade pizza dough, ready to be topped with EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!

Best is that this recipe creates the best pizza dough for 8 lovely thin crust pizzas so cook some now and you can save some for later. Batch cooking heaven.

Related bread Recipe = No Yeast Irish Raisin Soda Bread!!!!!!!

Kids loooooove helping with the mixing and measuring, making pizza and finally tucking into a warm cheesy pizza that they whipped up themselves. Making this authentic Italian Pizza Dough is a great rainy day activity, summer break treat or just perfect to entertain the kids when they’re stuck at home.

Why You’ll Love This 

  1. It is quick and easy to make.
  2. It’s made entirely with pantry staples.
  3. Feel free to mix it by hand or with a stand mixer.
  4. Easy to prep ahead for an affordable freezer-friendly meal.
  5. It is extremely adaptable, one crust base and soooooooooo many meals.

closeup of cooked italian pizza dough recipe with toppings like basil and tomatoes

Great for an inexpensive treat, homemade takeaway, Italian themed dinner, pizza night, movie night and date night.

 Recipe Tools

KITCHEN TOOLS, UTENSILS & APPLIANCES  NEEDED

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclosure.

Here are some of the items you will need to make this recipe.

How to Make Italian Pizza Dough Top down view of homemade italian pizza dough recipe ingredients - flour, salt, oil, water, yeast, sugar and herbs

How To Make Homemade Italian Pizza Dough By Hand

  1.  Combine 00 flour, active dry yeast, sugar, salt, herbs, and red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl.
  2. Now make a well in the center of the mix. Add olive oil and warm water to the well.
  3. Mix all ingredients using a wooden spoon. If the dough is too dry and crumbly, add in a few spoonfuls of water.
  4. Place mixture on a floured work surface and knead for about 3 minutes. It will be smooth and elastic at this point. Shape into a ball.
  5. Then cover with a cloth and let it rise in a warm place till it doubles in size (should take about 1-2 hours).
  6. At this point, the herb pizza dough is almost done. Place on a lightly floured surface and knead for a few seconds to remove the air.
  7. Next, divide it into 8 portions for thin crust pizzas, or 4 portions for thick crust pizzas.
  8. Roll one portion out into a pizza shape. You are now ready to make your pizza (read below for instructions).

image collage showing the steps for making chili herb pizza dough

Make With A Stand Mixer

  1. Step 1. To a mixer bowl, add flour, dry yeast, sugar, salt and mixed herbs (optional). Attach the dough hook.
  2. Step 2. Make a well in the center of the mix, add in olive oil and warm water, then turn on the mixer.
  3. Step 3. Keep the mixer running until dough is smooth and elastic. (If the mixture is too dry, add in a few spoonfuls of water.)
  4. Step 4. Lightly flour the mixing bowl, place the dough inside, dust the top with flour and cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth.
  5. Step 5. Leave the dough and let it rise to double in size. This takes about 1 hour in a warm place.
  6. Step 6. Turn  onto a lightly floured surface. Knock it and knead for a few seconds to remove air.
  7. Step 7. Split the dough into 8 portions. Form into balls and roll out into a pizza shape.

homemade italian pizza dough recipe being made in kenwood chef mixing bowl Your dough is done, so now you can add toppings of your choosing (see the next section for a few ideas), bake and enjoy.

Make and Proof Pizza Dough In the Instant Pot

  1. Combine flour, flour, dry yeast, sugar, salt, herbs in a large bowl.
  2. Now make a well in the center of the mixture and then add olive oil and water.
  3. Mix everything with a wooden spoon. If the dough is too dry and crumbly, add in a few spoonfuls of water.
  4. Place your  Dough on a floured work surface and knead for about 3 minutes. It will be smooth and elastic at this point.
  5. Shape into a ball, oil your Instant Pot Insert and add into the insert.
  6. Close the Instant Pot, choose the yogurt setting, normal pressure and set the time for 1 hour (it actually takes between 50-60 minutes to rise).
  7. Remove the Instant Pot Pizza Dough, and then divide it into 4 portions for 4 thin crust pizzas, or into 2 portions for 2 thick crust pizzas.
  8. Roll out one portion into a pizza shape. Now you’re ready to make pizza (see the instructions further below).

image collage showing the steps for making instant pot pizza dough

Your dough is done, so now you can add toppings of your choosing (see the next section for a few ideas), bake and enjoy.

8 pieces of easy italian pizza dough  on a grey surface

 Bake Your Pizza Crust

  1. Preheat the oven to 470F/ fan-assisted 22oC / 240C/ gas 8, with a pizza stone or with a baking tray lined with aluminum foil inside it.
  2. Roll out the pizza dough and prick with a fork.
  3. Remove the pizza stone or baking tray from the oven, and transfer the pizza crust dough onto it (you will need one tray or stone per pizza).
  4. Bake  for 4-5 minutes, then remove from the oven and top with pizza sauce, cheese and toppings of your choice.
  5. Return to the oven and bake for another 4-5 minutes, or until pizza crust is golden and crispy and cheese is nice and melted.

Recipe Tips 

  • Stickier dough makes for a lighter fluffier pizza crust.
  • I find that the pizza dough is ready at about 50 minutes, so you can check the dough at that time.
  • You can also use cornmeal or polenta to dust the Instant Pot pizza crust as you roll it out.
  • If you don’t have a pizza stone or pizza oven, then bake the pizza crust for 5 minutes first before adding the topping and continuing (this is what I normally do).ball of Italian Pizza Dough ready to be formed into crust shape

Cooking Tips 

  • My failsafe method of avoiding a soggy pizza crust is to prick the dough with a fork and then bake it plain for 5 mins before adding any toppings (especially if you don’t have a pizza stone).
  • However, you can add your toppings directly to the rolled crust if you prefer but may end up with a slightly soggier pizza crust.
  • Don’t over-top your pizza, and especially don’t overdo it with the tomato sauce. Less is more when it comes to the toppings.
  • If using freshly torn herbs, it is best to add those after cooking for maximum flavor.

Recipe Variations

cooked italian pizza dough with toppings aerial view - with tomatoes, basil and rocket

Meal Prep & Prep Ahead

With this recipe, you will have created the dough for 8 thin crust pizzas. It’s the perfect recipe to enjoy now and again in the future. I love to make batches and batches of it, freeze it and whip it out when I need beans for other meals.

Prep Ahead – The dough will last in the fridge for 24 hrs. Wrap individual portions in cling film.

Freeze – If you don’t plan to use it all within 24 hrs, freeze the remainder by following these steps:

  • Wrap each portion in plastic film and then transfer into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags.
  • Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
  • Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
  • Store in the freezer for 3 months.
  • It will defrost in only 1-2 hours.

Toppings

You can pretty much top this easy Pizza Dough with anything and everything. Favorites around here include:

  • artichokes
  • roasted peppers
  • anchovies
  • eggs
  • salami
  • ham
  • chili oil
  • jalapeño
  • pastrami
  • pineapple
  • mushrooms
  • chicken
  • pesto
  • sun-dried tomatoes
  • onions

FAQs

What Is The Best Flour To Use?

I think the best flour to use is either all-purpose – bread flour and “00” Italian flour. A combination of the two works really well too.

More Pizza Recipes

Weight Watchers Points

There are 14 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this. 

Thank you for reading my how to make pizza dough recipe post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Original post Feb 2014, updated Jan 2018, and March 2020

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5 from 10 votes

Homemade Italian Pizza Dough Recipe

A deliciously easy recipe for making pizza at home.
Prep Time15 minutes
Proof Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 8
Calories: 470kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 7 cups + 2 tablespoons (900g) '00' flour all-purpose flour will work too
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1.5 tbsp salt
  • 1 tsp mixed herbs optional, for more flavor
  • 1.5 tbsp active dried yeast
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2.5 cups (600ml) lukewarm water

Instructions

Make It By Hand

  • Add flour, yeast, sugar, salt and mixed herbs (optional) to a mixer bowl. After adding ingredients, attach the dough hook.
  • Make a well in the center of the mix and add in the oil and water, then turn on the mixer.
  • If the mixture is too dry and crumbly, add in a few spoonfuls of water. Keep mixer running until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  • Place the dough into a lightly floured mixer bowl, dust the top with flour and cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
  • Leave the dough to rise till it has doubled in size which takes about 1 hour in a warm place.
  • Now turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knock it and knead for a few seconds to remove the air.
  • Split the dough into 8 portions, form into balls and roll out into a pizza shape.

How To Make Using A Stand Mixer

  •  To a mixer bowl, add flour, yeast, sugar, salt and mixed herbs (optional). Attach the dough hook.
  • Make a well in the center of the mix, add in oil and water, then turn on the mixer.
  • Keep the mixer running until dough is smooth and elastic. (If the mixture is too dry, add in a few spoonfuls of water.)
  •  Lightly flour the mixing bowl, place the dough inside, dust the top with flour and cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth.
  • Leave the dough to rise to double in size. This takes about 1 hour in a warm place.
  • Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knock it and knead for a few seconds to remove air.
  •  Split the dough into 8 portions. Form into balls and roll out into a pizza shape.

Make and Proof Pizza Dough In the Instant Pot

  • Combine flour, flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and herbs in a mixing bowl.
  • Now make a well in the center of the mixture and then add oil and water.
  • Mix everything with a wooden spoon. If the dough is too dry and crumbly, add in a few spoonfuls of water.
  • Place on a floured work surface and knead for about 3 minutes. It will be smooth and elastic at this point. Shape into a ball.
  • Oil your Instant Pot Insert and add ball into the insert.
  • Close the Instant Pot, choose the yogurt setting, normal pressure and set the time for 1 hour (it actually takes between 50-60 minutes to rise).
  • Remove the Instant Pot Pizza Dough, and then divide it into 4 portions for 4 thin crust pizzas, or into 2 portions for 2 thick crust pizzas.
  • Roll out one portion into a pizza shape. Now you’re ready to make pizza (see the instructions further below).

How To Bake Your Pizza Crust

  • Preheat the oven to 470F/ fan-assisted 220C / 240C/ gas 8, with a pizza stone or with a baking trat lined with foil inside it.
  • Roll out the pizza dough and prick with a fork.
  • Remove the pizza stone or baking tray from the oven, and transfer the pizza dough onto it (you will need one tray or stone per pizza).
  • Bake the pizza dough for 4-5 minutes, then remove from the oven and top with tomato sauce, cheese and toppings of your choice.
  • Return to the oven and bake for another 4-5 minutes, or until pizza crust golden and crispy and cheese is nice and melted.
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Notes

Recipe Tips 

  • Stickier dough makes for a lighter fluffier pizza crust.
  • I find that the pizza dough is ready at about 50 minutes in the Instant Pot, so you can check the dough at that time.
  • You can also use cornmeal or polenta to dust the Instant Pot pizza crust as you roll it out.
  • If you don't have pizza stone / oven, then bake the pizza dough for 5 minutes first before adding the topping and continuing (this is what I normally do).

Cooking  Tips 

  • My failsafe method of avoiding a soggy pizza crust is to prick the dough with a fork and then bake it plain for 5 minutes before adding any toppings (especially if you don’t have a pizza stone).
  • However, you can add your toppings directly to the rolled dough if you prefer but may end up with a slightly soggier pizza crust.
  • Don’t over-top your pizza, and especially don’t overdo it with the tomato sauce. Less is more when it comes to  toppings.
  • If using freshly torn herbs, it is best to add those after cooking for maximum flavor.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 14 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this. 
Recipe adapted from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.

Nutrition

Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1315mg | Potassium: 124mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 5mg

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Recipe Rating




17 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Homemade pizza is one of our favorite things to make as a family. I love how easy this crust is to make!

  2. 5 stars
    I’m a pizza fan and love making pizza at home to get just what I want on it – but making dough has been a struggle for me. Not any more! Your recipe worked out perfectly, and I really appreciate the step by step instructions. This recipe is my new keeper for pizza dough!

  3. 5 stars
    This Pizza Dough looks amazing and I love how easy it is to make! Definitely making this!

  4. 5 stars
    My pizza turned out great with all-purpose flour. Now I want to try with 00 flour. It must be even more awesome.

  5. 5 stars
    Great to have a pizza dough recipe that can be frozen – we make tons of pizza during the summer and I have to make every batch from scratch!
    I love my Kenwood mixer too. Ours was a wedding present – 11 years and going strong. My Mum has had hers since HER wedding – nearly 60 years! A few years ago we thought it had conked out but my Dad took it apart and replaced one of the gears, and it’s been mixing brilliantly ever since. They are indestructible!

  6. 5 stars
    I’m in love!!!! What a beautiful recipe, and your pictures are outstanding! I very rarely order take-out pizza, and much prefer to make my own from scratch. This is going on my ‘to do’ list!

  7. I’ve always thought that making pizza from scratch would be a great date night activity where we could stay inside in the comforts of home…and it looks like I finally found a perfect recipe for the pizza dough! Can’t wait for this weekend!

  8. I’m always looking for a great pizza dough recipe. We have an attachment for the grill to cook pizzas. Going to give this a try once the weather warms up a bit

  9. 5 stars
    WOW this pizza looks absolutely professional and delicious! The dough seems just in the perfect texture and I just can’t wait to try it!