Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (2026)

Published: · Last Modified: by Jessica · 27 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

Share

Pin1.8K

Tweet

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

It's easier than you think to make homemade pizza dough at home. This is my favorite Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe that makes the chewiest, most tender and crispy crust.

Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (1)

Whenever I'm in a pinch, which is at least more than once a week,instead of reaching for the take-out menu, I throw togetherthis super easy pizza dough recipe andmake homemade pizzas with various toppings, sausage stromboli's, calzones etc. It's such a better option than ordering out because not only are you saving money, but you can tailor it exactly how you want itand there's nothing more satisfying than making a pizza from scratch!Ready made pizza dough that you can buy at the store is great in a pinch but nothing beats homemade!

This dough is ready to go in just under an hour with little prep time. I've made this dough over and over and over again so it is absolutely fail-proof!

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed to Make The Best Pizza Dough
  • How to Make No-Fail Pizza Dough
  • Recipe Tip
  • Recipe FAQ
  • More Recipes You'll Love
  • 📋 Recipe
  • ⭐ Reviews

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Amazing texture and flavor. The texture is chewy but crispy at the same time and the flavor has a slight hint of garlic. So yummy!
  • It's easy to make:This pizza dough recipe is relatively simple and is made with pretty basic ingredients. Store bought pizza dough is a thing of the past once you learn how easy it is to make at home! Just like my homemade soft pretzel dough.
Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (2)

Ingredients Needed to Make The Best Pizza Dough

I kept this pizza dough as simple as possible while creating the best texture and delicious taste!

  • Water: Make sure the water is about 105°-115°F to best activate the yeast.
  • Active dry yeast: It helps the dough to rise while baking. Have more yeast to use? Try a sweet treat like my soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls.
  • Sugar: A small amount of granulated sugar is used in this recipe to sweeten the dough slightly. It also helps to brown the crust.
  • Olive oil: I like the taste of olive oil in my dough recipe but have substituted with vegetable oil in a pinch. Any oil will work.
  • Salt: Helps give the dough some flavor.
  • Garlic powder: This gives it such a yummy subtle flavor! It gives it that "something" it would otherwise be missing.
  • All-purpose flour: After testing this recipe, the best flour for pizza is all-purpose flour.
  • Prepared pizza sauce: I have an amazing pizza sauce recipe that you guys absolutely have loved!

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions.

  • Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (3)
  • Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (4)

How to Make No-Fail Pizza Dough

  1. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add warm water and sprinkle yeast and sugar on top. Mix on low to combine and let it sit to proof for 5-10 minutes until the top looks frothy.
  2. Once the yeast is proofed, add olive oil, salt and garlic powder. Mix to combine. Add 2 cups of flour and turn mixer on low speed to combine. While mixer is running, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together and is no longer sticky. You want it to be tacky but not sticking to your hands. The dough will stick to the bottom of the bowl and this is OK - too much flour will result in dry, dense dough. Once your dough is the right texture, leave mixer running on low speed for 7 minutes to knead the dough.
  3. Grab a large bowl and grease it with olive oil. Place dough into greased bowl and roll it around to lightly coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap or a wet towel and allow it to sit in a warm place for 30-45 minutes or until doubled in size.
  4. Once dough is doubled in size, punch it down to get the air out. If you are making pizza, this dough is enough to make two pizza crusts so you will cut the dough in half at this point. Roll it out on a lightly floured surface or you can try stretching pizza dough by hand. At this point you can add sauce, toppings to make pizzas, stromboli, calzones or whatever you desire!
  5. Bake at 500°F until golden and crispy. For pizza, dough does not need to be pre-baked before adding toppings.
Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (5)

Recipe Tip

Dough rising tip: I like to turn my oven to 170 degrees, turn it off and then place my dough in there because it creates the perfect warm environment.

Before & after rising:

  • Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (6)
  • Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (7)

Recipe FAQ

Do I need a mixer to make this Italian pizza dough recipe?

Absolutely not! While using a stand mixer makes the whole process much easier with very little effort, it isn't needed. Many people have told me how they have made this same day pizza dough by hand, it just takes a little more elbow grease!

Can you freeze homemade pizza dough?

Yep! To freeze: Prepare the dough and allow it to rise. Punch it down and divide it into two balls because this recipe makes two pizzas. Wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw: Place in refrigerator overnight. Allow dough to warm up on the counter for about 20-30 minutes before trying to stretch it out and add toppings, it will be much easier to stretch!

Why is my pizza dough dry?

This is likely from adding too much flour. When mixing the dough, you WANT your dough to be tacky/slightly sticky. This will ensure that there is enough moisture in the dough to create a chewy and crispy crust while baking.

Is my yeast dead?

In the first step, if your yeast doesn't get "frothy," this unfortunately means it is dead and the dough will not rise. You will need to toss it and start over.

Can I make this pizza dough gluten-free?

To make a gluten free pizza crust, use 1:1 Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour.

More Recipes You'll Love

  • BEST Pizza Sauce
  • Italian Sausage and Provolone Stromboli
  • The BEST Authentic Italian Meatballs (with sauce recipe!)
  • Caprese Flatbread Pizza

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a ⭐️ reviewbelow andtag @sprinkle_some_sugaronInstagram!

📋 Recipe

Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (12)

Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

Jessica

It's easier than you think to make homemade pizza dough at home. This is my favorite Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe that makes the chewiest, most tender and crispy crust.

5 from 1 vote

PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Dessert, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Italian

Servings 2 12" pizza crusts

Calories 729 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast 1 standard packet
  • 1 tbs granulated sugar
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 ½-3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½-1 cup prepared pizza sauce* link to my homemade pizza sauce included in notes section

Instructions

  • In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add warm water and sprinkle yeast and sugar on top. Turn mixer on low and mix to combine and let it sit to proof for 5-10 minutes until the top looks frothy.

  • Once the yeast is proofed, add olive oil, salt and garlic powder. Mix to combine. Add 2 cups of flour and turn mixer on low speed to combine. While mixer is running, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together and is no longer sticky. You want it to be tacky but not sticking to your hands. The dough will stick to the bottom of the bowl and this is OK - too much flour will result in dry, dense dough. Once your dough is the right texture, leave mixer running on low speed for 7 minutes to knead the dough.

  • Grab a large bowl and grease it with olive oil very well. Once dough is kneaded, pull the dough out and knead in your hands slightly to create a round ball. Place dough into greased bowl and roll it around to lightly coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a wet towel and allow it to sit in a warm place for 30-45 minutes or until it is doubled in size. I like to turn my oven to 170 degrees, turn it off and then place my dough in there because it creates the perfect warm environment.

  • Once dough is doubled in size, punch it down to get the air out. If you are making pizza, this dough is enough to make two pizza crusts so you will cut the dough in half at this point.

  • Roll it out on a lightly floured surface. At this point you can add sauce, toppings to make pizzas, stromboli, calzones or whatever you desire!

  • Bake at 500°F until golden and crispy. For pizza, dough does not need to be pre-baked before adding toppings.

Notes

*Grab my homemade pizza sauce recipe here!

Freezing instructions: Prepare the dough and allow it to rise. Punch it down and divide it into two balls because this recipe makes two pizzas. Wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To thaw: Place in refrigerator overnight. Allow dough to warm up on the counter for about 20-30 minutes before trying to stretch it out and add toppings, it will be much easier to stretch!

Nutrition

Calories: 729kcalCarbohydrates: 127gProtein: 18gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gSodium: 2337mgPotassium: 210mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 7mg

The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Leave a comment below & tag @sprinkle_some_sugar on instagram!

Share

Pin1.8K

Tweet

See more

  • Creamy Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels
  • How to Make Easy Homemade Buttery Soft Pretzels and Pretzel Bites
  • The BEST Creamy Chicken Pot Pie
  • Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Pinwheel Appetizers

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Nada says

    This is a fantastic recipe, thank you for sharing. I make it on a Sunday and after the first proof, I divide the dough into pieces and refrigerate for baking fresh for school lunch every morning. Can't thank you enough 😀

    Reply

    • Jessica says

      I love this idea!

      Reply

  2. Amber says

    Can this be used with whole wheat flour instead of all purpose?

    Reply

    • Jessica says

      I have not tried it myself but I don't see why not! It just may be a bit more on the dry side and I would probably add a little less than the recipe requires. Maybe try half all purpose and half whole wheat?

      Reply

  3. Dave says

    Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (17)
    Just finished fermenting the dough for 3 days in the fridge. It smelled like pizza already as I punched it down and divided it! The long ferment allows the yeast to make alcohols and deconstruct the gluten mesh a bit for a great texture and depth of flavor. I prefer thin crust. I understand that in Italy, it's all about the dough/crust and sauce and not so much the toppings.

    I measure everything in grams, not cups but it's not difficult because almost all flours weigh between 130-140 grams per cup (it's a carry-over habit from 10 years of gluten free baking). Weighing "tare" on the scale adding ingredients into the mixer bowl saves on cleanup.

    Going on the hunt for your sauce recipe now and grab some pointers from you. Take care.

    Reply

    • Jessica says

      So interesting! The dough definitely does play such a HUGE part in the flavor! I hope you love my recipes for both the dough and sauce! 🙂

      Reply

« Older Comments

Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe (2026)

FAQs

What is the secret to chewy pizza crust? ›

What makes dough chewy? The chew in dough comes from the flour used to prepare it. Bread flour contains higher protein content than all-purpose flour which gives pizza crust its chew.

What makes pizza dough too chewy? ›

There are a number of things that can cause a pizza crust to become excessively tough or chewy. The tough and chewy stage is set when a high protein (very strong) flour is used to make the dough.

What makes pizza dough rubbery? ›

When mixing your pizza dough, the flour and water create a chemical reaction that results in a build-up of gluten. Gluten is what helps create a stretchy texture, allowing the dough to stretch without breaking. Though it's important to knead your dough thoroughly, it's not necessary to knead your dough for long.

Does kneading pizza dough make it chewy? ›

As you knead the dough, however, these proteins begin to line up and form chains of amino acids which creates a matrix within the dough. It's this matrix that allows the dough to rise which makes the dough soft and chewy instead of hard like cardboard.

How do you get a chewy crust? ›

High hydration dough: I prefer to use a dough that is around 75% hydration (the percent of water relative to the amount of flour). This will encourage a lot of gas bubbles, a chewy crust and a complex flavor.

Does olive oil make pizza dough crispy? ›

Brush on the olive oil: To get that crispy, crackly crust, use a brush to slather on some olive oil. A flavorful extra virgin olive oil will score you maximum flavor points.

Should you let pizza dough rise twice? ›

With pizza fermentation, you can create a pizza dough with the ideal texture and flavor with minimal effort. By double fermenting pizza dough, you are allowing it to rest twice. This process helps the yeast react better with the other ingredients in the dough and helps it rise correctly.

What makes the dough more elastic and rubbery? ›

The more the dough is mixed, the more gluten is developed. This causes the dough to become elastic and stretchy, as can be seen in bread dough. The gluten is formed during kneading of the bread dough. Kneading causes the gluten strands to get stronger and longer.

What makes pizza dough gummy? ›

Because of its grayish color and gelatinous texture, some people crudely refer to gummy layer as “snot.” Gummy layer varies in thickness from very thin to almost the entire crust. It's caused by excessive diastatic action in the dough. So the cure is to reduce diastatic activity.

How do you make dough more chewy? ›

Increasing moisture can be accomplished by simply adding more water, you can also increase moisture by adding some oil the the dough. The chewiness of your bread, or lack thereof, is related to gluten content, hydration levels, and proper kneading to develop the structure of the dough.

Should you roll or stretch pizza dough? ›

The best approach to achieve a light, airy crust is to stretch the dough. Yeast produces gas bubbles, which increase volume and fluffiness. Those air pockets in the dough won't disappear no matter how much you knead it. It will shuffle them about, merging smaller air pockets into larger ones.

How long to let pizza dough rise before kneading it? ›

If you're planning to make pizza today, then give the dough a rise. Clean out the mixing bowl, coat it with a little oil, and transfer the dough back inside. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let the dough rise until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Option 3 — Store the dough in the fridge.

What is the secret to a crispy pizza crust? ›

Higher heat = crunchier and tastier crust. Most home ovens only reach 240-250°C, though some have a specific 'pizza' setting. For the best results, preheat your oven and pizza stone or pan on the lower-middle shelf for at least half an hour before cooking your pizzas.

What does egg do to pizza crust? ›

A: Eggs, as either whole eggs or as egg whites, have been added to pizza dough for many years and for different reasons. Whole eggs can be added to the dough to provide better browning characteristics to the dough. To some extent, they also provide a richer flavor.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Sen. Ignacio Ratke

Last Updated:

Views: 5986

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Ignacio Ratke

Birthday: 1999-05-27

Address: Apt. 171 8116 Bailey Via, Roberthaven, GA 58289

Phone: +2585395768220

Job: Lead Liaison

Hobby: Lockpicking, LARPing, Lego building, Lapidary, Macrame, Book restoration, Bodybuilding

Introduction: My name is Sen. Ignacio Ratke, I am a adventurous, zealous, outstanding, agreeable, precious, excited, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.