Pizza Dough Recipe - Once Upon A Chef

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Why settle for store-bought when you can make your own pizza dough in just 20 minutes? This foolproof pizza dough recipe delivers a crispy, chewy crust every time—plus, it’s freezer-friendly for whenever the craving strikes!

Ball of pizza dough on a floured surface.

If you’re looking for the perfect crust for homemade pizza, making your own dough is the way to go. With just five simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch in just 20 minutes. The key is to plan ahead—you’ll need to allow at at least 90 minutes for the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free spot before using it.

This recipe makes two pounds of dough, enough for two large pizzas, four individual ones, two stromboli, or four calzones. You can prepare it up to two days ahead, and it freezes beautifully for future meals!

“I’ve made many pizza doughs and this is by far the easiest yet tastiest dough ever!”

What you’ll need to make Homemade pizza dough

All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the dough.
Extra-virgin Olive Oil: Adds richness to the dough and helps it crisp up in the oven.
Salt: A healthy dose is added for flavor.
Cornmeal: Used to dust the baking sheet and keep the dough from sticking as it bakes; it also gives the crust a bit of extra crispiness and flavor.
Yeast: It’s what makes the dough rise! I like to use instant yeast, which you might also see labeled as rapid-rise, quick-rise, or even bread machine yeast (I know, it’s confusing—but they’re all the same thing). If you only have active dry yeast, also known as regular yeast, that works too—just keep in mind it’ll take about 50% longer for the dough to rise.
Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-By-Step Instructions

To begin, combine the flour, yeast, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.

flour salt and yeast in mixer

Stir with a spoon to combine, and then add the oil and warm water.

adding the oil and water to the dry ingredients

Stir until the dough comes together into a shaggy mass.

Fit the mixer with the dough hook and knead on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. (Alternatively, you can knead the dough by hand.)

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel, and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.

There are plenty of great spots to let your dough rise—try a sunny spot, near a heating vent in colder months, or even on top of a warm appliance like your fridge. If your oven has a proof setting, use it! No proof setting? Just turn on the oven light; it creates just enough warmth for a perfect rise.

Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut it in half and roll each piece into a ball. Cover the dough with a damp kitchen towel and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes.

If you’re not using the dough right away, lightly coat the balls with olive oil, place them in freezer bags, and squeeze out all the air before sealing. They’ll keep in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use the dough, thaw if necessary, and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

When it comes time to shape the pizza dough for baking, you can stretch it into any shape, size, or thickness you like (just keep in mind that a thicker crust will take longer to bake). Simply press and stretch the dough using your hands, dusting with more flour if necessary.

Circle of pizza dough on a marbled surface.

Baking Instructions

Every pizza recipe is a little different, but as a general guideline:

Preheat the oven to 500°F and set an oven rack in the bottom position. Dust a 13×18-inch baking sheet lightly with cornmeal.
Place the stretched dough on the baking sheet, and gently stretch it out again so that it maintains its shape.
Spread your sauce over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the crust is partially cooked. Remove from the oven and scatter the cheese and toppings over the sauce. Slide the pan back into the oven and cook until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbling, 4 to 6 minutes more.

Video Tutorial

Homemade Pizza Dough

Ball of pizza dough on a floured surface.

By Jennifer Segal Homemade pizza dough is easier than you think! With just a handful of ingredients and a little rise time, you'll be ready to stretch, bake, and enjoy. Servings: 2 (1-lb) dough ballsPrep Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes , plus at least 90 minutes rising time

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric

4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon instant/quick-rise yeast
2¼ teaspoons salt
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1¼ cups + 2 tablespoons warm water (see note)
Cornmeal, for dusting the pan before baking

Instructions

Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir with a spoon to combine. Add the oil and water and stir until the dough comes together into a shaggy mass. Fit the stand mixer with the dough hook and knead on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. (Alternatively, you can knead the dough by hand.) The dough should be slightly tacky and cling just to the bottom of the bowl; if it seems too dry during the kneading process, add 1 tablespoon of water. If it seems too sticky, add 1 tablespoon of flour.
Dust your hands with flour, then gather the dough into a ball and transfer it to a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
When the dough has risen, punch it down and place on a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough in half and roll each piece into a ball. (If you're not planning to use the dough right away, see the make-ahead/freezing instructions below.)
Cover the dough balls with a damp kitchen towel and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes (the dough will rise a bit). Using your hands, stretch the dough to the desired shape. Proceed with your pizza recipe, or follow the general baking instructions below.

General Baking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C) and set an oven rack in the bottom position. Dust a 13 x 18-in (33 x 46-cm) baking sheet lightly with cornmeal. Place the stretched dough on the baking sheet, and gently stretch it out again so that it maintains its shape. Spread your sauce over the dough, leaving a ½-in (13-mm) border around the edges. Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the crust is partially cooked. Remove from the oven and scatter the cheese and toppings over the sauce. Slide the pan back into the oven and cook until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbling, 4 to 6 minutes more. Remove the pizza from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Slice and serve.

Notes

Active dry yeast may be used instead of instant yeast, however the dough will take longer to rise. To give active dry yeast a boost, you can dissolve it in the warm water and let it sit until frothy, about 10 minutes. Following that, add it to the mixing bowl with the flour, oil, and salt and proceed with the recipe. The water should be warm to the touch — not hot — as anything over 130°F (54°C) will kill the yeast and keep the dough from rising. It’s not necessary to measure the temperature, but you’re aiming for around 105°F (41°C). Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: After step 3, lightly coat the dough balls with olive oil. Place into freezer bags and seal shut, squeezing out all the air. Refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen. Whether refrigerated or frozen, let the dough sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before stretching. Nutritional Data Disclaimer

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

See more recipes:

Bread Recipes
Dairy-Free
Freezer-Friendly
How To & Resources
Make-Ahead
Pizza, Pasta & Vegetarian
Italian

Comments

Hello, when did you change your recipe?? I have acopy of your old one, 3 cups flour??now 4??
- — Janice Tkach on March 1, 2026
- Reply
- Hi Janice, I changed it a few years ago. (I tweaked it so it would make two 1-lb dough balls.)
  - — Jennifer Segal on March 3, 2026
  - Reply
Hi Jen, I really like this recipe and use it often. One question: Would it work to do the first bake with the sauce an hour or two prior to the final bake with the other toppings? I’m thinking of making two or three pizzas and this would help to have them all ready in advance for the final bake, but I don’t want to compromise the quality. Thanks!
- — gloria colby on February 25, 2026
- Reply
- Hi Gloria, I don’t recommend it. I think it would have a negative impact on the texture – Sorry!
  - — Jennifer Segal on March 3, 2026
  - Reply

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Welcome - I'm Jennifer Segal - Classically Trained Chef, Cookbook Author & Busy Mom

Once upon a time, I went to culinary school and worked in fancy restaurants. Now, I’m cooking for my family and sharing all my tested & perfected recipes with you here! Read more…