Quick and Easy Pizza Dough Recipe

Introduction

Making your own pizza dough at home can be quick and satisfying. This recipe offers a simple way to prepare a thin, crispy crust perfect for your favorite toppings. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook, you’ll have delicious homemade pizza in no time.

Ingredients

• 350g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 sachet fast-action dried yeast
• ½ tsp caster sugar
• 200ml warm water
• Large pinch of salt
• Pizza toppings of your choice

Instructions

1. Step 1: Tip the flour into a large bowl and stir in the yeast and sugar evenly.
2. Step 2: Make a well in the center, pour in the warm water and add the large pinch of salt. Mix with a wooden spoon until all the flour is incorporated and you have a soft dough.
3. Step 3: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. Step 4: Place the dough into a bowl, cover with a clean tea towel, and rest for 5 minutes. If you have time, you can leave it to rise longer for a thicker crust, but this is optional.
5. Step 5: Heat your oven to 240°C (220°C fan) or gas mark 8. Put a pizza stone, sturdy baking sheet, or an upturned baking tray on the top shelf to heat.
6. Step 6: If you allowed the dough to rise, knock it back, then divide it into two balls.
7. Step 7: Roll out one ball on a floured surface into a large circle using a rolling pin. Transfer it onto a floured baking sheet.
8. Step 8: Scatter your preferred toppings evenly over the dough.
9. Step 9: Carefully slide the pizza from the baking sheet onto the hot stone or tray in the oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the topping is bubbling and the base is crisp.
10. Step 10: Remove the pizza from the oven and repeat the process with the second ball of dough.

Tips & Variations

• For a gluten-free option, substitute strong white bread flour with a gluten-free flour blend suitable for bread baking.
• To enhance flavor, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the dough mixture before kneading.
• Experiment with different toppings like fresh basil, mozzarella, or spicy pepperoni to suit your taste.
• If you don’t have a pizza stone, a preheated sturdy baking sheet works well to achieve a crispy base.

Storage

Store any leftover cooked pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a hot oven or toaster oven to maintain crispiness. The uncooked dough can be wrapped tightly and refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for longer storage. Thaw in the fridge before using.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this dough without a pizza stone?

Yes, you can use a sturdy baking sheet or an upturned baking tray preheated in the oven to help achieve a crispy crust similar to a pizza stone.

Is it necessary to let the dough rise?

For a thin crust, a short resting time is sufficient, but allowing the dough to rise longer will result in a thicker and airier base.

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 100 reviews

• Author: Ethan
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 2 medium-sized pizzas 1x

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Description

This quick pizza dough recipe offers a simple and speedy way to make delicious homemade pizzas with a crisp thin crust. Using basic ingredients like strong white bread flour and fast-action dried yeast, you can prepare a soft dough that requires minimal rising time, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or impromptu gatherings. Top your pizza with your favorite ingredients and bake on a preheated pizza stone or tray for a crispy, bubbling finish.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Dough

• 350g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 sachet fast-action dried yeast (approximately 7g)
• ½ tsp caster sugar
• 200ml warm water
• Large pinch of salt

For the Toppings

• Pizza toppings of your choice (e.g., tomato sauce, mozzarella, vegetables, meats, herbs)

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Instructions

1. Mix the dry ingredients: Tip the strong white bread flour into a large bowl. Stir in the fast-action dried yeast and caster sugar evenly through the flour.
2. Add wet ingredients and mix: Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture. Pour in 200ml of warm water along with a large pinch of salt. Using a wooden spoon, combine the ingredients until all the flour is incorporated and you have formed a soft dough.
3. Knead the dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
4. Rest the dough: Place the dough into a bowl and cover it with a clean tea towel. Set it aside to rest for 5 minutes. (If time allows, you can let it rise longer for a thicker crust, but this is optional for a thin crust pizza.)
5. Prepare the oven and baking surface: Heat the oven to 240°C (220°C fan) or gas mark 8. Place a pizza stone, sturdy baking sheet, or an upturned baking tray on the top shelf of your oven to heat thoroughly.
6. Shape the dough: If you’ve allowed the dough to rise longer, gently knock it back by pressing it down. Divide the dough into two equal balls. On a floured surface, roll out one dough ball into a large circle using a rolling pin.
7. Add toppings: Transfer the rolled dough onto a floured baking sheet. Evenly scatter over your chosen pizza toppings.
8. Bake your pizza: Carefully slide the pizza from the baking sheet straight onto the preheated pizza stone or baking tray in the oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the toppings are bubbling, and the base is crisp and golden.
9. Finish and serve: Remove the cooked pizza from the oven and repeat the shaping, topping, and baking steps with the second ball of dough. Serve hot and enjoy.

Notes

• Using a warm liquid helps the yeast activate quickly, speeding up the dough formation.
• The dough requires minimal rising time, making it ideal for quick meal preparation, but longer resting will give a softer, thicker base.
• Preheating your pizza stone or baking tray ensures a crispier crust.
• If you don’t have a pizza stone, an upturned baking tray works as a good alternative to achieve similar results.
• Feel free to customize the toppings to your preference, from classic margherita to meat lovers or vegetable-packed pizzas.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 8-10 minutes per pizza
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: quick pizza dough, homemade pizza, thin crust pizza, easy pizza recipe, pizza baking