The BEST Homemade Pizza Crust

This homemade pizza crust makes the best pizza in the entire world! Don’t take my word for it – try it yourself! 

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Growing up, my mom always bought that little pouch of pizza crust mix. You mixed it with water and – bam! – pizza crust.

When I started living on my own and wanting to make pizza crust, I realized that the pouch of pizza crust mix was just a few dry ingredients (with some added preservatives). So, I made my own pizza crust one time, realized how simple it was – and that it kept out the unwanted preservatives – and knew I needed to perfect a homemade pizza crust recipe!

This homemade pizza crust recipe is the best pizza crust we’ve ever tasted. We like it more than anywhere we buy pizza, too! It takes only a few minutes and a handful of ingredients.

Read on to get tips and tricks for the perfect pizza crust!

Making Your Homemade Pizza Crust

First, grab your ingredients: all purpose (or whole wheat) flour, salt, sugar, dry yeast, and dried oregano (optional if you don’t have it!).

Measure 3/4 cup of warm water into a bowl. Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons of active dry yeast over the water and let sit for at least 3 minutes.

In your stand mixer, sift 2 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, 3/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano.

When those ingredients are well sifted, drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the dry ingredients and mix briefly.

Next, pour the yeast and water mixture into the stand mixer bowl and stir the dough until it forms a large bowl.

While the dough is mixing, spray a glass bowl with cooking spray or brush with a tiny bit of olive oil – just enough to keep the dough from sticking.

Set the ball of homemade pizza crust in the glass bowl and knead very briefly, 30 seconds or less. Cover the bowl loosely with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise/rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. A few hours is better and overnight is best. 

Baking Your Homemade Pizza Crust

When you are ready to use your pizza, remove your pizza crust from the refrigerator. Remove it right before you want to use it; the cold will make it a little less sticky and easier to press out.

Preheat your oven to 425.

If you’re using a pizza stone, preheat it in your oven. Dust your pizza stone or pizza pan with a layer of flour or cornmeal to keep the crust from sticking.

Place your pizza dough either on a piece of waxed paper or directly on the pan. Then, use your fingers to press the dough out into a rough circle. Tip: If you press it directly onto the pan and have issues with the crust sticking, use a spatula to raise the underneath before putting toppings on to stop crust from sticking. 

Add your pizza toppings – bbq pulled pork pizza, anyone? – and bake the pizza in your preheated oven for 13-17 minutes, or until the edges of the crust are golden brown.

The more toppings you add, the longer it will take to bake the pizza. 

10 Interesting Pizza Ideas

Mix it up and make something other than plain pepperoni or sausage pizza! Here are some ideas – add whatever toppings you can imagine for these categories!

• BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza
• Mac and Cheese Pizza – cheesy sauce, topped with mac and cheese and cheddar!
• Cheeseburger Pizza – hamburger meat, pickles, cheddar and american cheese, maybe even a ketchup/mustard drizzle?
• Chicken Alfredo Pizza – diced chicken breast, alfredo sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheese!
• Ham and Pickles Pizza
• Chicken Fajita Pizza
• Dessert Pizza: S’mores!
• Dessert Pizza: Cherry Pie!
• Breakfast Pizza with Sausage Gravy
• Caprese Pizza – fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and sliced Roma tomatoes; finish off the pizza with a balsamic glaze!

The best part of homemade pizza is that you can add whatever toppings you want and mix it up however you want. Plus, you could divide the crust to make 2 or 3 smaller pizzas and try different combinations. Or, let each family member design their own mini pizza!

Tell me what kind of pizza you’re making with the best homemade pizza crust you’ve ever eaten! Share your creations with me here or over on Instagram.  And make sure you subscribe to get all the best recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

Print

The BEST Homemade Pizza Crust

Prep Time

5 mins

Resting Time

30 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Servings: 1 crust

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
• 3/4 c. warm water
• 2 c. all-purpose or whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano (optional)
• 3 tbsp. oil

Instructions

1. Measure 3/4 cup of warm water into a bowl. Sprinkle dry active yeast over the top and let sit for about 3 minutes.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, sift together flour, salt, sugar and (optional) oregano.

3. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil into the bowl and mix briefly.

4. Pour yeast/water mixture into mixing bowl and mix thoroughly, until dough forms into a large ball.

5. Brush a glass bowl with a little bit of olive oil (to keep dough from sticking). Place ball of dough in glass bowl and knead briefly.

6. Loosely cover bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and let rest and rise for at least 30 minutes (a few hours or overnight is best!).

7. To use pizza crust: sprinkle a layer of flour or cornmeal on pizza pan or preheated pizza stone. Place ball of dough on pan and use fingers to roughly shape dough into a circle. Top with pizza toppings and bake at 425 degrees for 13-17 minutes or until edges are golden brown.