This is the best homemade pizza crust recipe. Honest, I’ve tried many.
Thick, pan type pizza crust, that is crisp on the outside, chewy and tender on the inside. Perfect.
This is one of those recipes that everyone loves.
Excellent thick, pan-type pizza crust, that is crisp on the outside and chewy/tender on the inside.
Pile on your favorite pizza sauce and toppings and you’ve got “pizza nirvana” right in your own home.
Easy Pizza Crust Recipe
BEST PIZZA CRUST RECIPE FROM SCRATCH
2-1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 tsp white sugar
1-1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees)
1 tsp salt
2 TBS olive oil
3-1/3 cups flour
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried oregano
Brush with:
1 TBS butter, melted
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water and let it sit for 10 minutes. Stir the salt, oil, basil and oregano into the yeast solution.
Mix in 2-1/2 cups of flour and turn the dough out onto a clean, well-floured surface. Knead the dough and add more flour until it is elastic and smooth; not sticky. You may use your dough hook if you like. This also works well in a bread machine set on “dough” cycle.
Place the dough into a well oiled bowl and turn over to cover crust entirely with oil; cover with a cloth. Let the dough rise until doubled in size; approximately 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees.
Punch down the dough and form into a ball; letting it rest for a minute before rolling it out onto your pizza pan. This makes 2 medium to large thin crusts or one x-large thick crust.
If using a pizza pan:
Place dough in an lightly oiled pan and let the dough rise for 15 minutes. Bake the crust only for 10 minutes (if you don’t do this, the dough will still be raw in the center when the pizza is done).
Turn the heat up to 425 degrees and add the pizza sauce and your favorite toppings to the crust. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until crust is cooked and cheese is melted and lightly browned. Brush crust with melted butter and garlic mixture when done.
Using a pizza stone:
If you are placing the dough directly on a pizza stone, top with sauce and toppings; bake immediately at 425 degrees.
Here’s another excellent homemade pizza crust recipe. The simpler, the better. Makes two 12 inch pizzas.
BASIC PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE
2 envelopes active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
5 cups flour
1-1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp white sugar
4 TBS oil
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Put the flour into a large mixing bowl and whisk in the salt and sugar. Make a well in the flour and add the proofed yeast mixture and oil. Mix the flour in until the dough is soft but not sticky. If it is sticky, add additional flour during the next step.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface (if the dough was sticky, use more flour). Knead for 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic (dough will “pop back” if you stick a finger in it).
Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and brush it with oil. cover with a slightly damp towel and put in a warm place. Allow to rise for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until dough has doubled in size (a hole remains if you poke your finger into the dough).
Remove the dough from the bowl and punch it down on a board. Divide into 2 equal balls, cover and let rise for 10 minutes. Take 1 ball at a time, roll it out or pat and stretch it into a circle about 14 inches in diameter. The dough should be thinner at the center than at the edge.
Pinch the edge of the dough up to form a rim and place it on a oiled baking sheet or pizza pan. Prick lightly all over with a fork.
Fill the circles with the filling of your choice and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until the crust is done.
Now to make the perfect pizza, you need my homemade pizza sauce recipe. Then make sure to cut up mushrooms, green pepper, onion and choose the meat. Ground beef, pepperoni and sausage are wise choices.
I have more than a pizza crust recipe, be sure to check out more Italian food recipes below.