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Quick and Easy Pizza Dough

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough by Baking The Goods
Quick and Easy Pizza Dough by Baking The Goods.
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Sure, aged sourdough pizza crust is the ultimate in chewy, flavorful pizza crust satisfaction. But we don't always have time for all of that rigmarole. Be it thin and artisan or deep dish focaccia-esque, there is a time for all types of pizza dough. However, one thing we all need is a Quick and Easy Pizza Dough recipe that gets us to a homemade place of pizza as soon as possible!

I have been using this 72 Hour Pizza Dough recipe for years. It's got loads of character and charm. It takes planning, something I don't always have the luxury for. Enter my Quick and Easy Pizza Dough. A reliable kitchen hero that will get you right where you need to be, quickly.

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough ingredients
Flour, water, olive oil, yeast, salt & a pinch of sugar are all you need to make this Quick and Easy Pizza Dough!
Active Dry Yeast blooming
Active Dry Yeast is activated when mixed with warm water and just a pinch of sugar. You'll know it's alive when it starts to foam and bloom up!

Easy Pizza Dough has minimal yet active ingredients

  • Flour - when it comes to pizza dough flour, you've got options. Just about anything works here. From all purpose flour to bread flour or wheat flour but especially 00 flour.
  • Olive Oil - adding a bit of olive oil enriches the dough with a touch of tenderness from the fats in the OO.
  • Active Dry Yeast - bless the souls who created Active Dry Yeast and brought it to our busy lives. I like using Active Dry Yeast and kick starting it with a pinch of sugar and warm water. This allows you to see it begin to bloom up and activate. That bloom is like an insurance policy so that you know your yeast is indeed active.
  • Sugar - just a pinch feeds the yeast and helps to get things going!
  • Water - the water should be lukewarm, somewhere between 105° - 110°F. The warmth of the water also feeds the yeast. If it's too hot it could kill the yeast and leave you with a dough that doesn't rise.
  • Salt - this Quick and Easy Pizza Dough gets a good amount of salt, adding flavor depth and character to the quick acting dough.
olive oil pizza dough
Adding olive oil to the pizza dough gives it a dose or richness.
mixing pizza dough with wooden spoon
Slowly add the yeasty water and olive oil mix to the flour mixture and use a wooden spoon to stir it together until you have a rough dough.
mixing pizza dough
Your pizza dough will look rough and shaggy once mixed. Worry not, a few minutes of kneading will smooth things out.

What type of flour should I use for pizza dough?

The good news is, you can use all kinds of flour for pizza dough; all Purpose flour, bread flour or wheat flour. But your best bet is 00 flour. Think of 00 Flour as the 007 of pizza dough flours, a handsome secret agent who fights for perfect pizzas. It is the ideal flour for this Quick and Easy Pizza Dough.

00 flour can be hard to come by. It may be a little more expensive. But, speaking from experience here, 00 flour truly is superior in the pizza dough department. If you plan on making pizza at home a few times, it is well worth the investment. It adds serious character in both texture and flavor. And, it kneads up like a dream with bouncy elasticity and puff, making it easier to handle - yay! 00 flour bakes into a beautiful crust with just the right amount of chew to bready fluff ratio.

Why is 00 Flour the best choice for Easy Pizza Dough?

When making doughs for breads and pizzas, we generally look for something that will give it a good chewy texture. This is achieved by using flour that has higher gluten content, like bread flour. More gluten = more chew! 00 flour has a finer grind, almost similar to pastry flour. But, it still has a good amount of gluten going on. The fine grind of the flour slows the absorption of water, making a slightly more hydrated pizza dough. This all adds up to a pizza dough that's airy yet chewy instead of dense. AKA the perfect texture and everything you want in a Quick and Easy Pizza Dough.

You can have the best toppings in the world but pizza needs a solid, ace of a base. This Quick and Easy Pizza Dough is a versatile workhorse that can chameleon itself from a classic Margherita Pizza, can curl up as a comforting calzone or roll up into a tight Pepperoni and Black Olive Stromboli. Or serve alongside my Cheesy Garlic Bread Pizza and thank me later for most craveable pizza of your life. Seriously.

kneading pizza dough
To knead the pizza dough, use the heel of your hand to push the dough down and away from yourself on a lightly floured surface.
how to knead pizza dough
Then pull the dough back in towards you to create tension.
kneading pizza dough
Repeat this process for 6-8 minutes until the dough is smooth with bouncy elasticity.
Quick and Easy Pizza Dough by Baking The Goods
After kneading the Quick and Easy Pizza Dough it should naturally start shaping into a boule (ball) shape.
Making Quick and Easy Pizza Dough
Once the dough feels smooth and elastic, equally divide it for 2 large, 3 medium or 4 small pizzas.

Making Easy Pizza Dough in minutes

It only takes a few minutes to mix and knead this Quick and Easy Pizza Dough. And there is no need for specialty equipment. Just a nice big bowl, a wooden spoon and a little of that old fashioned elbow grease gets this dough going.

shaping pizza dough boules
Gently pat the dough down to lightly flatten. Fold it into thirds like an envelope, pressing the dough tightly into itself with your fingertips.
folding pizza dough boules
Rotate the dough 90°, then fold and shape into that thirds envelope again.
shaping Quick and Easy Pizza Dough
The dough will start to tighten up and come together at this point. Make sure you are giving it good pressure as you press the dough into itself with your fingertips.
pressing pizza dough
Rotate another 90° and repeat the envelope technique a third time.
shaping pizza dough
All of that folding creates tension in the pizza dough, naturally bringing it together into a round shape.
pinching pizza dough to seal
Gently pinch the bottom of the dough to seal it together like a dumpling.
shaping pizza dough boule
Finally, set the dough boule seam side down and rotate between your hands, while gently pressing the dough into the counter as you turn to build tension and create perfectly round boule shape.
Quick and Easy Pizza Dough rising
Place each pizza dough boule in an oiled bowl and cover with a damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap to rise.

Easy Pizza Dough rises in under 2 hours

This Quick and Easy Pizza Dough goes from mixing to kneading to rise and ready to roll in under 2 hours. The effort is minimal and the bulk of the time it takes is passively rising in a draft free kitchen corner. This simple pizza dough quietly rises until it's doubled in size, then it's go time.

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough risen
After about 90 minutes to 2 hours, the pizza dough will have doubled in size. Now it's ready to rock!
Shaping pizza dough
Gently deflate the dough and use your hands to stretch it into whatever pizza creation your heart desires!
Shaping Quick and Easy Pizza Dough
Gently pull and stretch the pizza dough without over-stretching and causing it to rip or tear. If it seizes up, give it a few minutes to rest and go again.
Shaping Quick and Easy Pizza Dough
Use gravity to help stretch the dough naturally by holding it up and allowing it to stretch itself out.
Quick and Easy Pizza Dough
In moments you will have a lovely canvas for your homemade pizza creations!

Tips for shaping pizza dough

Shaping your Quick and Easy Pizza Dough into a perfect round may take a little practice. But, like anything else, practice makes perfect. So don't get discouraged if your pizza dough comes out a little wonky on your first few attempts. It get easier and soon enough your muscle memory will set in and you'll be slinging pizzas like a pro!

Bring the pizza dough to room temperature

When the pizza dough is cold, it's tight and sort of ceases up when you try and stretch it. Room temperature dough is relaxed dough, that's ready to stretch and shape with ease. Take that dough out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before using. It may take longer if you're in a colder environment. And if it's really warm, the dough could puff up quick. You want it pillowy and not cold to the touch.

Prep your surface

Pizza dough can be a sticky situation. Make sure you have enough bread flour or all purpose flour on your hands and the surface to keep the dough from sticking. Just a dusting should do it but if it's really stick add a bit more. Just don't add too much or your dough may become tough.

Press and flatten the pizza dough

Before you start the stretch, a little press of the pizza dough directly on the pizza peel will help set the stage for your Quick and Easy Pizza Dough base shape. By starting in the center and gently flattening the pizza dough ball into a round disc, the initial shape will be established. This will be a solid start and make the stretching step simpler by becoming more pliable and forming into an evenly round shape.

Stretch the dough with a little help from gravity

It may feel intimidating but once you get the hang of it, gravity will become your best stretch bud. Hold one edge of the pizza dough with both of your hands and allow the weight and gravity to lightly stretch the dough towards the table as you carefully rotate the dough between hands in a wheel turning motion. Keep the dough moving continuously as it stretches and pulls, being careful to not let it get too thin or tear. However, you want the dough to be thin enough that you can almost see through it when you hold it up to the light.

Finish shaping the Quick and Easy Pizza Dough on the pizza peel

Once the pizza dough feels evenly stretched, transfer it back to a semolina dusted pizza peel. If the shape is a little wonky or uneven, gently pull, press and stretch until it feels a little more even and round. *If the dough tears, gently pinch it back together to patch the holes or rips.

This Quick and Easy Pizza Dough makes the best pizza ever

This dough has got great gluten strength and stretches out with the best of 'em. It bakes up with just enough oven puff and a chewy texture to each bite. When you need a reliable pizza dough that bakes into a satisfying crust yet comes together quick, consider this Quick and Easy Pizza Dough your best pal in pizza! But, don't forget the sauce, my Simple Pizza Sauce pals up perfectly with this recipe.

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough Veggie Supreme Pizza
Top the dough with whatever ingredients make you happy. I went for it with a Veggie Supreme situation here.
Pepperoni Black Olive Stromboli roll
Or shape the Quick and Easy Pizza Dough into a rectangle for a tasty Stromboli roll like this Pepperoni Black Olive Stromboli!

If you're throwing a pizza party but need to accommodate your GF friends, my pal Meg of This Mess is Ours has a undeniably delicious Gluten Free Pizza Dough option for ya. Because everyone deserves a pizza party! 🍕🎉

Elote inspired Pizza
My favorite Elote Inspired Pizza uses this Quick and Easy Pizza Dough recipe. Isn't is beautiful?
Veggie Supreme Pizza
This Quick and Easy Pizza Dough makes for a great quick and easy at home pizza in your own oven!
Margherita Pizza with Cherry Tomatoes on Quick and Easy Pizza Dough by Baking The Goods.

I am a lover of all pizzas and really do think there is room for every kind. From one pizza lover to another, I can't recommend Baking Steel enough. If you have the means to pick one up, it will change your homemade pizza game entirely. Giving you wood fired pizza character straight out of your home oven! Also, I don't have an Ooni pizza oven but I have used them and they are glorious.

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Quick and Easy Pizza Dough by Baking The Goods

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough

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Description

A quick and easy pizza dough that mixes together by hand in minutes, proofs up in less than 2 hours and stretches out like a dream. 00 Flour gives the dough dimension and bakes up with an airy yet chewy texture. This pizza dough serves as the perfect base for your favorite pizza toppings, Stromboli stuffings or calzone fillings.

Ingredients

Units
  • 3 ½ cups bread flour (+ more if needed)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 package)
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 1 ¼ cups water, lukewarm at 105° F-110°F
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • a pinch sugar

Instructions

  1. Combine lukewarm water at 105° F-110°F and sugar in a small bowl, stir together. Sprinkle with yeast and allow to stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in olive oil.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Make a well in the center. Gradually pour in the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to make a rough dough.
  3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead for at least 6-8 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, dusting with more flour if necessary.
  4. Divide the dough into 2, 3 or 4 equal portions for large, medium or small pizzas.
  5. Place one portion on a clean surface, lift and fold two sides into center like an envelope. Gently pressing with your fingers to seal the dough. Rotate 90° and fold 2 sides into center again, continue this process until a rough ball is formed. Place the smooth side into your palm and tightly pinch dough to seal with a seam. Place seam side down on the counter and gently roll between your hands slightly presssing into the surface to build tension and form a tight boule. Repeat with remaining dough(s).
  6. Brush 2, 3 or 4 medium or large bowls with olive oil, add a dough boule to each and turn to lightly coat with the oil. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp, clean kitchen towel. Set aside at room temperature until doubled in size, about 90 minutes up to 2 hours. To slow the rise dough, place in the refigerator once the dough is shaped and allow it to chill up to overnight. Then remove from the fridge to finish the rise at room temperature before shaping. It should take about 90 minutes to 2 hours to rise.
  7. Now you are ready to rock and shape that pizza dough into a canvas for any pizza, calzone or Stromboli creations!

Notes

This recipe makes 2 large, 3 medium or 4 personal sized pizzas.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Rise Time: 120 minutes
  • Category: pizza

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