This easy chewy pizza dough will be sure to up-level your homemade pizza night! Ready to eat in 1 hour, it can be made without a mixer and has a perfectly fluffy texture with a crispy golden brown crust.
This chewy pizza dough makes homemade pizza night easy and stress-free!
I love this recipe because you only need a handful of staple ingredients and it's so easy to work with. Even if it's your first time, I guarantee you'll have perfect pizza dough!
This soft Italian dough is perfect for your next pizza party night!
For more pizza recipes, try Cast Iron Skillet Pizza, Foccacia Pizza, San Marzano Pizza Sauce, and Parmesan Bread Bites.
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why this chewy pizza dough works
- Made without a stand mixer: You can make this easy dough with or without a mixer!
- Versatile recipe: Top it with your favorite pizza toppings and make it into mini personal-sized or large family-style pizzas. It can easily be rolled to a thinner or thicker crust as well!
- Basic ingredients: You only need 6 basic staple pantry ingredients to make it!
- No-fuss recipe: This recipe has been tested hundreds of times and is fail-proof! The dough is soft, pliable, and easy to work with.
how-to video
ingredient notes
The secret to making the best soft pizza dough at home that is light and fluffy is always high-quality ingredients.
- Flour: This recipe should be made with all-purpose or bread flour. Do not substitute it with whole wheat flour as the hydration will be different.
- Yeast: This recipe calls for Active Dry Yeast. Substitute it with Instant Yeast instead if you have it on hand.
- Water: The water needs to be warm to activate the yeast. You should never use cold water. I usually run the tap water until it feels warm to the touch. In general, the water should never exceed 113 degrees F/45 C or it will kill the yeast.
- Honey: Substitute the honey with regular granulated sugar instead. Your pizza will not rise without some kind of sugar, so don't forget it!
step-by-step instructions
Note: Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
STEP 1: Activate the yeast. Mix the yeast with the honey and warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes.
STEP 2: Check for yeast activity. You can see the yeast will be foamy and bubbly after activating. If you are not seeing any activity or foaming after 10 minutes, your yeast is most likely dead or your water was not warm enough. Either way, you should start over with a new packet of yeast.
STEP 3: Mix the ingredients. Add the all-purpose flour, olive oil, and salt to the mixing bowl with the dough hook attachment. If mixing by hand, do it in a large bowl with a wooden spoon.
STEP 4: Knead the dough. Knead it on low speed until it is super smooth and soft and the sides of the bowl are clean. If kneading by hand, squeeze and knead it on your counter or a flat surface until it's soft and smooth.
STEP 5: Check for a gluten window. Check for a gluten window. Tear off a small piece of the dough about the size of a gumball and slowly flatten and stretch it as thin as possible. If you can stretch it thin enough to see through it, it's ready. If it tears easily, it needs more kneading.
Step 6: Shape into a ball. Shape the dough into a tight round ball by cupping your hands around the side and moving them from the top to the bottom. This will pull it into a tight ball which will help it rise properly.
Step 7: Let the dough rest. Place it in a lightly oiled bowl and cover it tightly with plastic wrap or a clean towel. Place the bowl in a warm spot or at room temperature to proof for about 20-30 minutes.
Step 8: Check if it has doubled. The dough should be double in size when ready to use.
STEP 9: Deflate the dough. Use your fist to gently punch down the dough to remove the gases.
STEP 10: Roll out the pizzas. On a lightly floured surface, portion it into smaller pieces for mini or personal-sized pizzas, or keep it as one large pizza. Use a rolling pin to roll it out to your desired thickness, then transfer it to an unlined baking tray or hot pizza stone.
STEP 11: Add toppings. Top the center of the dough with your desired toppings.
STEP 12: Bake. For a perfectly crispy crust, drizzle the edges with good-quality olive oil. Bake the pizzas at 425 F/ 220 C until the top and bottom of the crust are brown and the cheese is melted.
expert tips
- Always spoon measure your flour when baking: This means using a spoon to fluff the flour first, then spoon it into your measuring cup. This will give the most accurate results when baking without a kitchen scale.
- Leave the dough in the fridge overnight: For even more flavor, place it in the fridge for 24 hours after step 7.
- Top with fresh herbs AFTER baking: Top with fresh herbs like basil after baking or they will wilt and turn black.
- Use a pizza stone: For an extra crispy crust, place the pizza stone in the oven while it preheats. Roll and top your pizza on a piece of parchment paper, then carefully transfer it onto the pizza stone when it's ready.
- Humidity is important!: If you live in a humid environment, you may not need all the water in the recipe. Pour in half the water to start then add more until it feels soft and tacky.
flavor variations
Top this Italian pizza dough with:
- Cream cheese spread and fresh veggies for a vegetable pizza
- Fresh tomatoes and basil
- Cheese and pepperoni
- White sauce
storage & freezing
- Fridge: Store the kneaded dough in an airtight container in the fridge for only 1 day. After this point, the yeast will begin to ferment and it will smell like alcohol.
- Freezer: Place it in an airtight container after step 7 and freeze for up to 1 month. Then before using, defrost it in the fridge overnight then continue with step 8.
faq's
Yes. See the above section on storage and freezing instructions.
Yes. After step 7, place the dough in a container twice its size and place it in the fridge for 24 hours. Place the dough on your counter when you are ready to continue to step 8. It will take longer for it to double in size since the dough will be cold.
No, the dough should not stick to the pizza stone.
No, the yeast needs some kind of sugar to make the dough rise.
more savory recipes to try
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Recipe 📖
Chewy Pizza Dough
Equipment
- stand mixer or large mixing bowl
- hook attachment
- Rolling Pin
- baking tray
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Stand Mixer Instructions
- In a small bowl, active the yeast with the warm water and honey. Stir with a spoon to combine and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast, 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon honey
- Pour the yeast water into a stand mixing bowl and add the flour, olive oil, and salt.2 ¾ cup all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt
- Mix with the hook attachment for 8-9 minutes or until it is soft and smooth. If the dough is sticking to the sides of the bowl, add in extra flour 1 teaspoon at a time until it forms a ball.
- Tear off a gum ball sized piece of the dough and slowly stretch it out as thin as possible before ripping. If it rips quickly, knead it for a few more minutes. It should be able to stretch thin enough where you can see your finger through it.
- Shape the dough into a ball.
- Place the dough ball into a large lightly oiled bowl and cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Place in a warm spot to rise until doubled, about 20-30 minutes.
- Then lightly punch down the dough down to remove any excess gas.
- Portion or roll the dough on a lightly floured surface into desired shape, size, and thickness.
- Transfer the rolled dough onto a sheet pan.
- Top with desired toppings, drizzle with olive oil, and bake at 425 F/220 C for 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness. When the crust is starting to brown and the cheese and toppings are melted, it's done!
Mixing By Hand Instructions
- In a large bowl add your warm water, yeast, and honey. Mix with a spoon to combine and let sit for 5 minutes or until foamy.2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast, 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon honey
- Then add the flour, salt, and olive oil. Mix the dough with a wooden spoon until it starts to come together. It will be dry and shaggy.2 ¾ cup all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt
- Transfer the dough to your surface, kneading and squeezing vigorously for 10-15 minutes until it is smooth, tacky, and soft.
- Tear off a gum ball sized piece of the dough and slowly stretch it out as thin as possible before ripping. If it rips quickly, knead for a few more minutes. It should be able to stretch thin enough where you can see your finger through it when it is ready.
- Shape the dough into a ball.
- Place the dough ball in a lightly oiled bowl and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 20-30 minutes.
- Continue with the next steps above as the stand mixer instructions.
Notes
- The water should be no hotter than 113 degrees F or it will kill the yeast.
- If your yeast is not foamy after 10 minutes of sitting in the warm water and honey mixture, the yeast is dead and you need a new packet.
- Turn your oven to a low temperature like 300 degrees F and set your bowl on top of the oven to help it rise quickly.
- Substitute Instant Yeast instead of Active Dry. In this case, the yeast does not need to sit prior to mixing the ingredients. You still need to use warm water though!
- Always spoon measure your flour when baking-This means using a spoon to fluff the flour first, then spoon it into your measuring cup. This will give the most accurate results when baking without a kitchen scale.
- Don't over-proof- The dough can rise too much if left in a really warm place for too long. If it happens, it is still edible but it will not have as much 'poof' to it in the oven and will not be as soft. You'll know it's done proofing when it's doubled in size.
- Leave it in the fridge overnight- For even more flavor, place it in the fridge for 24 hours after step 7.
- Preheat your oven for a quick rise- to help it rise quickly, turn your oven on to 300 degrees F/149 C and place the bowl on top or next to the oven.
- Top with fresh herbs AFTER baking- always use fresh herbs like basil after it's done baking otherwise they will turn black.
- Use a pizza stone- For an extra crispy crust, place the pizza stone in the oven while it preheats. Roll and top your chewy pizza on a piece of parchment paper, then carefully transfer it onto the pizza stone when it's ready.
- Humidity is important!- if you live in a humid environment, you may not need all the water in the recipe. Start with about half the water then add it a little bit at a time until it feels soft and tacky.
Nutrition
The calorie information provided for the recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.
Megan W says
I rarely use recipes anymore but wanted to see how Cambrea writes them. Uniquely written and so easy to follow! Looking forward to dinner tonight- dough feels awesome!
cambreabakes says
Hi Megan! Yay! I am honestly so happy to hear that. I hope you have a delicious pizza night!!! 🙂
Heidi says
My first time making pizza, instructions were easy to follow! The dough did come out soft and delicious! I’ll definitely be making this again
Jordyn says
soooo good!!! never in my life made pizza dough before or anything even close and this was super easy to follow. the dough was so soft, can’t wait to make it again!
Sharon says
If you’re looking for a super quick AND delicious pizza dough, this is it!!!
I loved how quick it all came together and the dough was so soft. Definitely will be making this again!
anthony riddle says
This is my favorite pizza dough ever! it was so easy to make and follow along with the instructions