Super Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

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Homemade Pizza Dough

The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

Homemade pizza dough is the foundation of a great pizza, and when paired with the air fryer, it delivers a crispy crust with a soft interior—perfect for any pizza night. While we already have a full recipe for air fryer pizza here, this post focuses on everything you need to know about making the best dough.

Ingredients and Supplies to Make This Easy Pizza Dough Recipe

Pizza dough ingredients

Create a versatile pizza dough with the perfect crust. Warm water activates the yeast, while honey feeds it for optimal rise, and the right flour-to-liquid ratio ensures a chewy yet crispy crust.

Ingredients

  • Warm water
  • Honey (or granulated sugar)
  • Olive oil
  • Instant yeast
  • Salt
  • All-purpose or bread flour
  • Your favorite pizza toppings
    • Tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, or alfredo sauce

What Is the Best Flour for Pizza?

Choosing the right flour makes a noticeable difference in your crust:

  • All-Purpose Flour: A versatile choice for soft, chewy crusts; it’s easy to find and works well for most pizza styles.
  • Bread Flour: Contains higher protein content, resulting in a chewier, more elastic crust with air bubbles, perfect for thicker pizzas.
  • 00 Flour: The gold standard for traditional Italian pizza; its fine texture creates a smooth, thin crust that’s crisp on the outside and tender inside. This flour is ideal for Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked at high temperatures.

For a homemade air fryer pizza, all-purpose or bread flour are excellent and readily available options.

BBQ chicken pizza in the air fryer

Supplies

  • Electric stand mixer
  • Rolling pin
  • Air fryer or oven
  • Pizza pan

The Best Pan to Use

For air fryer pizza, the right pan ensures even cooking:

  • Perforated Pizza Pan: Ideal for air fryers, it allows hot air to circulate around the crust. My favorite options include a pizza pan for the air fryer and a pizza stone if you’re cooking in the oven.
  • Cast Iron Skillet: For a thicker crust, preheat the skillet on the stovetop. Then place the dough in the skillet and bake in the oven for a crispy base.
  • Parchment Paper: Works in a pinch to prevent sticking while still allowing airflow. Be sure to use air fryer-safe parchment paper.

Tip:

If using a perforated pan, lightly grease it or dust it with flour to prevent sticking.

Pesto Pizza in the air fryer

Topping Variations

Get creative with your toppings! Here are some ideas:

  • Classic: Marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and basil.
  • Gourmet: Pesto, goat cheese, caramelized onions, and arugula.
  • Veggie Lovers: Tomato, zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, and spinach.
  • BBQ: BBQ sauce, shredded chicken, red onions, and cilantro.

Pro Tip:

To prevent soggy crusts, avoid overloading the pizza with sauce and use drier toppings like cooked meats or drained vegetables.

How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough

Veggie pizza in the air fryer

Step 1: Mix the Dough

In the bowl of an electric mixer with a dough hook, combine water, honey, oil, yeast, and salt. Gradually mix in 1 ½ cups of flour, then add more until a soft, tacky dough forms. The dough should be soft, smooth, and tacky, but should not stick to fingers.

This is also the time where you can add more seasonings to the dough. Add a teaspoon or 2 of Italian seasoning or garlic powder to really enhance the flavor of the dough.

Step 2: Knead

Let the dough knead in the mixer for 2-3 minutes (or knead by hand for 5-6 minutes on a lightly floured work surface). Cover the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes.

kneading pizza dough

Step 3: Roll and Shape

Roll out the dough to be one large pizza, about ¼-inch thick to fit on your pizza pan. Or roll out 3 personal-sized pizzas on parchment paper to fit your air fryer. 

rolling out pizza dough

Step 3: Bake

Oven:

  1. Lightly prick the surface of the dough with a fork to help prevent bubbles while baking.
  2. Place the shaped dough on a pizza stone or lightly greased baking sheet. Spread on sauce and toppings.
  3. Bake at 475°F (245°C) for 8-10 minutes.

Air Fryer:

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Place the shaped dough in the air fryer basket and bake the pizza crust for 5-7 minutes.
  3. Spread sauce and toppings on the prebaked crust. Bake for 5 minutes.

After baking, top it with fresh basil for an authentic flavor and look!

pepperoni and cheese pizza in the air fryer

Why Cooking at the Right Temperature Matters

Cooking pizza at high temperatures mimics the effects of a pizza oven, yielding a perfectly crisp crust and melted toppings.

Air Fryer Tips:

  • Preheat Your Air Fryer: Ensures even cooking and reduces bake time.
  • Ideal Temperature: 370°F (188°C) to 400°F (200°C), depending on your air fryer model.
  • Leftover Pizza: Reheating pizza in the air fryer is the way to go. Much quicker than the oven and gives you a crispier pizza crust that’s fresher than the microwave!

How to Freeze Pizza Dough

Freezing pizza dough saves time and makes it easy to whip up pizza anytime.

Steps to Freeze:

  1. Prepare the Dough: Follow the recipe up to the resting stage.
  2. Portion the Dough: Divide it into individual pizza portions.
  3. Wrap It: Lightly coat the dough with oil, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
  4. Store: Place wrapped dough in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
  5. Label the dough with the date it was frozen to help track freshness.

How to Use Frozen Dough:

  1. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for 2-3 hours at room temperature.
  2. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes before rolling and topping.

Frequently Asked Questions

how to make homemade pizza dough

What is the best way to store pizza dough?

Store pizza dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze it for longer storage as described above.

Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?

Yes, but it may result in a denser crust. To balance texture, consider using half whole wheat and half all-purpose flour.

How do I prevent the dough from sticking while rolling?

Lightly dust your work surface and rolling pin with flour. If the dough is too sticky, knead in a small amount of flour.

easy homemade pizza dough

Final Thoughts

Creating your own pizza dough is not only fun but allows for endless customization to suit your taste. Use this same dough recipe to make calzones or breadsticks. With the convenience of freezing dough and the efficiency of air fryers, you can enjoy delicious homemade pizza anytime.

Remember to experiment with toppings and techniques to find your perfect combination. Whether you’re hosting a pizza night or making a quick meal, this recipe is a reliable go-to for crispy, flavorful results.

Enjoy experimenting and share with us your pizza and perfect combination of crust, toppings, and cooking methods—we’d love to hear about your pizza-making adventures!

More Pizza Recipes:

Homemade Pizza Dough

Super Easy Pizza Crust Recipe

Delicious and easy homemade pizza crust that can be cooked in the oven, on the grill, or you can freeze it for later!
5 / 5 ( 5 Reviews )
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 10
Adjust Servings: 10

Equipment

  • Stand mixer

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a dough hook, mix together the water, honey, oil, yeast, and salt. Mix in about 1 ½ cups flour, then gradually add more until a soft dough forms and clears the sides of the bowl. The dough will be soft, smooth, and tacky, but should not stick to fingers.
  • Let dough knead in the mixer for 2-3 minutes. (If kneading by hand, it will take 5-6 minutes.)
  • Cover dough and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Roll out dough onto parchment paper and shape into pizza(s). Lightly prick the surface of the dough with a fork, to help prevent bubbles while baking.

Oven

  • Spread on sauce and toppings. Bake at 475°F/245°C on a pizza stone or lightly greased baking sheet for 8-10 minutes.

Grill

  • Divide dough into three small pizzas. Preheat the grill, setting one burner on medium-high and the other on medium-low. The actual temperature setting will depend on your grill and how hot it cooks. The hotter side should cook one side of the crust quickly, in just a few minutes.
  • Brush oil on both sides of pizza crusts. Place dough on the hotter side of the grill for a few minutes, until top of dough blisters and bottom of the crust is cooked to your preference. Flip the dough over and transfer it to the less hot side of the grill.
  • Spread on sauce and toppings, let cook until cheese is melted, being careful not to overcook the crust.

Air Fryer

  • Prebake the crust for 5-7 minutes at 370°F/188°C.
  • Spread on the sauce and toppings, then air fry at 370 °F/188°C for about 5 more minutes.

Freezer

  • Spread on sauce and toppings. Before baking, wrap the topped pizza with plastic wrap, then cover with foil. Freeze. To cook from frozen, preheat oven and pizza stone to 475°F/245°C. Unwrap the pizza and bake on pizza stone for about 15 minutes, rotating halfway through.

Recipe Notes

Makes a large 14” to 16” pizza (about 10 slices), or 3 personal size small pizzas.
For the best results, use a pizza stone. It will help your pizza cook more evenly, and it'll make the crust light, bubbly, and crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 235mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, Honey, Salt, Water, Yeast
Meal Type: 30-Minute Meals, Main Dish, #StayHome
Categories: Pizza, Grill, Make Ahead/Freezer Meal, Oven

Comments & Reviews

5 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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