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Perfect Chewy Homemade Pizza Dough

Once you try this homemade pizza dough, you’ll never want to order delivery again. It’s chewy, tender, and incredibly easy to make using simple pantry staples, making it a game changer for any pizza night. Plus, you can make it ahead and freeze portions for those unexpected cravings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 485
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 2 packets active dry yeast (1/4 ounce each)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil plus more for coating the bowl
  • 2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled, plus extra for work surface
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Whisk
  • Measuring cups
  • Plastic wrap
  • Floured surface or rolling board

Method
 

  1. Pour 1 1/2 cups of warm water into a large bowl and sprinkle 2 packets of active dry yeast over the surface. Allow the mixture to sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating that the yeast is active.
  2. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1/4 cup olive oil, and 2 teaspoons of coarse salt into the yeast mixture to begin building the flavor foundation.
  3. Add 4 cups of all-purpose flour and stir until a sticky dough forms. Don’t worry if the mixture appears shaggy at first; this is normal.
  4. Transfer the dough to a clean bowl that has been lightly coated with olive oil. Brush a little more olive oil on top of the dough, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it sit in a warm, draft-free area for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
  5. Once doubled, gently turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and give it a quick knead before shaping it into your desired pizza base.

Notes

This pizza dough is versatile and perfect for making your own pizzeria-quality pizza at home. It freezes beautifully for up to three months if you portion it before freezing, and you can experiment with substitutions such as replacing half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat or adding dried herbs for extra flavor. Always use lukewarm water (around 110°F) to ensure the yeast activates properly, and adjust the rising time according to your kitchen’s temperature.