Quick and Easy Pizza Dough

When I want a quick-fix, comforting dish, I know pizza is always a good choice. Especially since topping choices are endless. So no matter what you are in the mood for, you can make a pizza to satisfy those cravings! I make a lot of pizza, so I wanted you all to have this recipe on hand for those posts!


This dough is really simple to make and by the time it rises, you can get all your other ingredients together to have it done in no time. You can also make double or triple the amount and then refrigerate or freeze it until ready to use. Then all you need to do is top with your favorite toppings, cook and enjoy!


Be on the lookout...some really great pizza recipes are coming soon :)

Pre-Rise

Post-Rise...it should about double in size

**Note: This recipe was updated August 2015 with my new favorite pizza dough recipe!!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients
Makes enough dough for 2 large, 10-12" pan

• 1 1/2 cups warm water (105°F-115°F)
• 1 package (2 1/4 tsp.) of active dry yeast
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose or bread flour
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. sugar

Place the warm water in the large bowl of a heavy duty stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is dissolved. After 5 minutes stir if the yeast hasn't dissolved completely. The yeast should begin to foam, which indicates that it is still active and alive.

Using the mixing paddle attachment, mix in the flour, salt, sugar, and olive oil on low speed for a minute. Then replace the mixing paddle with the dough hook attachment. Knead the pizza dough on low to medium speed using the dough hook until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.

If you don't have a mixer, you can mix the ingredients together and knead them by hand.

If the dough seems a little too wet, sprinkle it with a little more flour.

Spread a thin layer of olive oil over the inside of a large bowl. Place the pizza dough in the bowl and turn it around so that it gets coated with the oil. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place (75-85°F) until it doubles in size, at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours. You can let it sit for several hours if you want. The longer rise will improve the flavor of the pizza crust. If you don't have a warm spot in the house you can heat the oven to 150 degrees, and then turn off the oven. Let the oven cool till it is just a little warm, then place the bowl of dough in this warmed oven to rise.

At this point, if you want to make ahead, you can freeze the dough in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. 

Spray a pizza pan lightly with cooking spray. Divide the dough in half and stretch out so it is the same size as the pan. Load with your desired toppings. Brush the crust with butter, if desired, to get a golden brown color.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Source: Simply Recipes