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The Secret To The Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe

4.94 from 125 votes
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posted: 02/05/19

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

The Secret to the Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe! Easy to follow step by step photos that will give you the perfect pizza dough! And if the pictures aren’t enough to help you out, I have a video that shows the whole process. Read the reviews on this recipe, you will never use another pizza crust recipe!

a picture of a ball of dough on a marble counter top with a rolling pin the background

This pizza dough recipe is a family recipe passed down from my mom, and it is an absolute winner. It is one that we use in our house weekly and it always turns out perfectly.

The secret to this recipe is both very simple and very important.

READER REVIEW

“I’m definitely saving this recipe because I just made the most perfect pizza for dinner and it’s because of this perfect crust. Absolutely the perfect balance of tender/chewy/fluffy/crispy.” – Rebecca

The Secret to the Best Pizza Dough Recipe

So here is the secret to making your perfect pizza dough at home, water temperature.

Yup. That’s it.

You just have to make sure that your water is in the zone. I’m not going to tell you how many seconds to microwave it, because water comes out of the faucet/fridge tap at different temperatures and microwaves all work differently.

You really need to use a thermometer. If the water isn’t hot enough, it won’t wake up the yeast. If it is too hot it will kill the yeast. If it is in the correct temperature window, it will bubble up just perfectly.

Believe me, I wasted lots of dough before my mom, fed up with my phone calls to her about why it wasn’t working, just gave me her thermometer. She could tell the correct temperature by touch and after many batch of dough you’ll be able to also.

Temperature to Proof Yeast

In order to proof your yeast, the temperature of the water needs to be between 110 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Make Perfect Pizza Dough

Now that you know the secret, we can get started.

two measuring spoons, active dry yeast, a thermometer, and a measuring cup with warm water to make pizza dough

This thermometer taught me the feel of the right temperature for water. For years, I used it every single time I made dough. I doubt you’ll be able to find another just like it, but a candy thermometer will work just as well.

a glass measuring cup with a thermometer to get the correct temperature of water

Once you get it in the temperature window (and sometimes I have had to dump my water and start over), you add 2 1/4 teaspoons of active dry yeast and one teaspoon of sugar. You don’t really have to stir, it will work it’s way in.

a small one cup measuring cup with water and yeast to start the best pizza dough

Let it sit for about five minutes until it is nice and frothy on the top.

a glass measuring cup with water and active dry yeast that is starting to grow

If it doesn’t look like the picture below after you let it sit for five minutes, dump it and start over. I would much rather you waste a little yeast, sugar, and water than end up with a bad batch of dough or pizza.

a glass pyrex measuring cup with with yeast that has grown and a bottle of active dry yeast in the background

In the bowl of a food processor, mix together:

  • 3 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt

Now add the water yeast mixture and then 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil.

Spray a large bowl with cooking spray, and then drop in your dough. (I use this large bowl for about 75% of my recipes I swear.) Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for at least one hour, but two is better.

a large glass bowl with homemade pizza dough before it has risen

Your dough should have doubled in size. And will ultimately should look like the photo below.

The Secret to the Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe!  Easy to follow step by step photos that will give you the perfect pizza dough!

Pizza Recipes

This recipe makes two pizza crusts. Rip it half and roll it out for two different pizzas. This recipe also works well for 5 small individual pizzas.

Try some of my different pizza sauce recipes!

  • I have a great pizza sauce recipe that you can use with this. It is a delicious and simple red sauce.
  • If you want to make pizza with white sauce, check out my White Pizza for that sauce recipe.
  • You absolutely MUST make my Taco Pizza! It’s legit.
  • Finally, you could use my BBQ sauce to make BBQ pizza.

In the summer months try making your pizza on your grill! It cooks fast and is a big hit every time we do it.

Storing Leftover Dough

When we only make one pizza, I store the extra crust in the refrigerator and we get to have pizza again tomorrow night too! When pulling the crust out the next day, just make sure to bring it to room temperature for about 5 to 10 minutes before you start working with it.

I haven’t personally frozen this pizza dough recipe (we eat it too fast!), but several readers have at the “divide into two dough balls” stage and have had great results.

Perfect Pizza Dough Cheat Sheet

Here are all the tips you need to make sure it comes out perfect every time:

  • Make sure that your water is the right temperature (between 110 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit or between 43 and 46 degrees Celsius). After a while of making this recipe, you will be able to do it without the thermometer.
  • Once you add the yeast and sugar, leave it for five minutes and wait for your yeast to proof. If it isn’t nice and frothy like the picture above, dump it and start over.
  • When measuring the flour for this recipe, make sure to scoop the flour into the cup and level off. If you scoop right from the flour container, you might end up with more flour.
  • If your dough isn’t coming together well (because maybe you did add a little too much flour), add a tiny bit of warm water, just a few teaspoons at a time until it comes together.
close up overhead picture of a pepperoni pizza divided into slices made with homemade pizza sauce

If you make this pizza dough recipe, leave me a comment to let me know how it went and what you topped your pizza with!

a picture of a ball of dough on a marble counter top with a rolling pin the background
4.94 from 125 votes

The Secret To Perfect Pizza Dough

Serves: 2 pizza doughs
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
The Secret to the Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe!  Easy to follow step by step photos that will give you the perfect pizza dough!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup + 1 tablespoon water heated to 110 to 115 degrees
  • 2 1/4 tsps active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Heat water to between 110 and 115 degrees. (You will use the full 1 cup and 1 tablespoon all at once.)
  • Sprinkle 2 1/4 tsps active dry yeast over the water. Then sprinkle 1 tsp of sugar over the yeast. Let it sit until the water has become frothy. If it doesn’t froth as pictured above, dump your water and start again.
  • In the bowl of a food processor add three cups all purpose flour and salt. Pulse for a few seconds to evenly distribute the salt.
  • With the food processor running, add the oil. Then add the yeast water combination with the food processor still running until a dough ball forms.
  • Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Put the dough ball in and cover with plastic wrap. Allow it to double in size, about an hour to an hour and a half.
  • Pull the dough apart to create two dough balls for two pizza crusts.
  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  • Roll out the pizza dough and place on a pizza stone or pizza baking sheet, add pizza sauce, your favorite toppings, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Serving: 1slice Calories: 91kcal (5%) Carbohydrates: 16.8g (6%) Protein: 2.2g (4%) Fat: 1.2g (2%) Saturated Fat: 0.1g (1%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.6g Sodium: 70mg (3%) Fiber: 0.8g (3%) Sugar: 0.3g
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
a picture of a ball of dough on a marble counter top with a rolling pin the background

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The Secret To Perfect Pizza Dough

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Stephanie says

    Hi Lisa, I’m eager to try your Best Pizza Dough recipe using your best kept secret (NOT) ,now that’s out there on the internet :), and I’m wondering what changes I have to make to the measurements as I am in Australia. Do I use Australian measurements for the cup of water which is 250ml and the 1 tablespoon which is 15ml (as compared to your US measures of 240ml as 1 cup and the tablespoons as 20ml) ? Also 1 cup of flour is 125gAUS and 120gUS as I know that accurate measuring matters particularly in baking. I know that a teaspoon is the same at 5g).

    • Lisa Longley says

      One cup of water equals 236.588 ml. 3 cups of flour is 360 grams. I hope that helps and you enjoy the recipe!

  2. Shea says

    Hi, I am looking forward to trying this recipe. I have been trying and failing at making sourdough discard pizza, not a lot of success. I notice you do not knead this dough, I’m assuming its not necessary? Thanks, Shea

    • Lisa Longley says

      It does get kneaded, it’s just done very quickly in the food processor. Another option is a dough hook with a kitchen aid mixer, and I’ve had some readers do it by hand with good success.

  3. LEN says

    CAN I LEAVE THE SALT OUT , HAVE A RESTRICTION FOR SALT

    • Lisa Longley says

      You can. It won’t affect the outcome of the recipe, just the taste.

  4. LEN says

    QUESTION, I MADE THIS BUT THE DOUGH WAS NOT SOFT AND CHEWY MORE LIKE A CRACKER, I ADMIT I USED INSTANT YEAST INSTEAD OF ACTIVE YEAST, COULD THAT BE MY PROBLEM ??? ABOVE YOU SAY ADD OIL THAN YEAST MIXTURE, AND IN THE RECIPE YOU REVERSE THE ORDER , DOES THAT MATTER,??? SHOULD YOU THROW FLOUR WHERE THE DOUGH IS GOING TO BE ROLLED
    JUST TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT

    • Lisa Longley says

      Yup, the instant yeast instead of the active yeast really could be the difference here. The order of the oil isn’t key. I would recommend adding flour to the surface you are rolling it out on. I hope that helps!

  5. Shela says

    I plan on making this tonight. Wondering if I can double the recipe?

    Also, I will be using my bread maker to mix and rise. I’ll let ya know how it works!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Yes! You can double it!

  6. Carole says

    Does this recipe work with whole wheat flour?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’ve never made this with whole wheat flour, but I would recommend only swapping out half of the flour for whole wheat for best results. You’ll be more likely to still get a light dough with this method.

  7. Len says

    I am still trying, it’still not great, cooked @ 400 degrees on parchment paper for 20 minutes, but dough seems to be quite dense , what am I doing wrong, not nice and chewy

    • Lisa Longley says

      Without me being there, it’s really hard to say. When you add the yeast to the warm water do you get that nice thick top on it before adding it to the rest of the ingredients?

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