Homemade Pizza Recipe (from Scratch)

Pizza is a staple in our household. It’s a dinner I know I won’t need to fight with my kids to finish and so we rely on it pretty often for a weeknight meal.

I feel better serving my family homemade pizza than I do about ordering carry out. This recipe is as quick as ordering a pizza and waiting for delivery, but it tastes so much better with an easy homemade pizza crust. 

Homemade Pizza Ingredients 

3-3/4 cups bread flour

1 packet (2.25 teaspoons) dry active yeast

1-½ teaspoon sugar

1-½ cups warm water

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup pizza sauce

Mozzarella & Pepperoni for topping

Can I Use All-Purpose Flour for Pizza Dough?

You can absolutely use all purpose flour in place of bread flour in this pizza crust recipe, but know that it won’t have the same texture. Not all flours are created equal. 

As bread flour has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour, it will be stretchier when you roll it out and will have a chewier texture after baking. All-purpose flour will still taste great, but it may be a little more crumbly and less stretchy as you roll it out.

Homemade Pizza Instructions

Below are the steps to making homemade pizza from scratch. You’ll want to preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) while you make the dough so you can get your pizza cooking right away. The faster it cooks, the quicker you can eat!

We start by making the pizza dough and then all that’s left is to top it with sauce and your favorite toppings. Later on, I also list some great cheap homemade pizza toppings if you want to get creative.

1. Proof the Yeast

Pour the warm water into a large bowl. For the water temperature, aim for about 115°F (46°C). If you don’t have a thermometer handy the water should be warm to touch but not burn you.

Too cold and you’ll be waiting a long time.

Too hot and you’ll kill the yeast.

Sprinkle the yeast packet and the sugar packet into the water. Let this mixture sit for 10 minutes until you start to see it bubble and foam.

2. Mix the Pizza Dough Ingredients

To the yeast, add the flour, sugar, oil, and salt and stir to combine and form a ball of dough you can grab. 

3. Knead the dough

Remove it from the bowl and knead it on a floured surface for 3-5 minutes until the dough is smooth and a little tacky (but not wet) to the touch.

4. Let the Pizza Dough Rise

In a large bowl, pour a drizzle of olive oil and spread it evenly up the sides and the bottom of the bowl, so it is coated in oil.

Take the smooth, kneaded dough ball to a large greased bowl and let it rise until it has doubled in volume. This will take about an hour in a warm room.

5. Roll Out the Pizza Dough

Take the risen dough out of the bowl and split it into two equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands or a rolling pin to stretch the dough balls into 10-inch rounds, approximately ½ inch thick.

Gently take the pizza crusts and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. 

6. Spread The Sauce and Add Toppings

Spread the pizza sauce evenly over both pizzas. Less sauce will make for a crispier crust. 

Add your cheese and toppings of choice. My favorite is pepperoni and mushroom, but I’ve listed a few other ideas below!

7. Bake the Pizza

Bake the pizza in a 425°F (218°C) for about 15-17 minutes, until the top is brown and bubbly and the crust is starting to brown. 

Cookware Used

I don’t use a lot of cookware or equipment for this recipe. Below are my favorite tools (other than my hands).

Wood cutting board: I like to use a thick cutting board as my floured surface for rolling out and shaping the dough.

Rolling pin: You can absolutely use your hands to roll out the dough, but a rolling pin gives an even crust more quickly. 

Baking sheet: I use a parchment-lined baking sheet for my pizzas. I like that I don’t need to worry about spill-over or a mess in my oven.

If you find you are getting soggy-bottomed pizzas then consider a pizza stone or (cast iron) griddle pan. Make sure to preheat the griddle pan / pizza stone.

Large glass bowl: Using a glass bowl let’s me see how my dough has risen. 

Pizza cutter: This is the tool that gets you closer to eating your fresh, homemade pizza. A very important tool, indeed!

Optional Cookware

To make this pizza recipe, I simply used my hands, a large bowl, and a baking sheet. But, there are other cookware options to help you make this recipe your own way.

Vented pizza pan: These pans have a vented bottom to help crisp your crust.

Pizza stone: A pizza stone can be heated up in the oven first and then you can add your pizza and bake for a crisp, brown crust.

Stand mixer: Rather than kneading the dough with your hands, a stand mixer with a bread hook attachment is great for making pizza dough.

Tips for the Best Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

The main reason a lot of home cooks shy away from homemade pizza is the crust. It does take more effort than throwing a frozen pizza in the oven or dialing your favorite delivery option, but it is worth every extra step. 

Here are some of my favorite tips for making the best homemade pizza crust recipe. 

How Long Should Dough Rise?

This recipe needs a full 60 minutes to rise and it can take a little longer. Depending on how much dough you make and how long you want the flavors to meld, it can take up to 24 hours. 

For a quick rise, place the dough in a warm area of your kitchen until it has doubled in volume. This should take about 30-90 minutes.

For a medium rise, keep the dough in a bowl at room temperature and let it rise for 8 hours.

For a longer rise (which some people prefer, as it creates a better overall flavor), keep it in your refrigerator for a full 24 hours to rise.

Tips to Rolling Out Pizza Crust

Once your dough has risen, you’ll want to slowly work it into a round crust. Do this gently. The dough is stretchy, but it will still break if you try to work too quickly. 

I like to use my hands rather than a rolling pin. If you prefer a rolling pin, just make sure it is floured well to avoid ripping your dough.

If your dough does tear, just use your flour-covered fingers and press it back together.

How to Make Pizza Crust Crispy

I think using bread flour helps to make the dough crispy, but there are a few more tips to create a nice, crispy pizza dough.

• Roll it thin, ¼-inch thin will crisp nicely
• Bake at a higher temperature, 450°F (232°C) while keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning
• Use a pizza stone or vented pizza pan

How to Freeze Homemade Pizza Dough

Once your pizza dough has risen, you’ll want to deflate the dough with your hands and then separate it into the desired portion sizes. 

Place dough into a zip-top freezer bag and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 1 month before using it. 

To thaw the dough out for use, place it in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for 5-6 hours until completely thaw and easy to stretch and shape.

How to Make Homemade Pizza Sauce

I have been known to keep a jar of pizza sauce or two in my pantry to throw this homemade pizza together even more quickly, but making your own sauce is super simple. Combine the following ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for about 20 minutes.

• 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• Salt to taste

Cheap Homemade Pizza Toppings

If you want to try a few more topping ideas, below are some of my family’s favorites.

• Crumbled sausage and banana peppers
• Feta cheese and kalamata olives
• Mushrooms and fresh thyme
• Sliced prosciutto and fresh basil
• Pineapple, bacon, and jalapenos

Now It’s Your Turn

If you’ve never made homemade pizza from scratch before, I encourage you to try this recipe! The homemade dough is simple and pretty difficult to mess up. 

Make it with a variety of toppings until you find your family favorite and then you can add this homemade pizza recipe to your weeknight meal planning. I suggest also having your kids help you with rolling out the dough and adding the toppings to make it a fun, family event. Enjoy!

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