Thin pizza dough recipe

Follow the simple steps for this thin pizza dough recipe and make pizza night a regular hit at your house too!

There are 3 steps to making this pizza dough into a thin and crispy pizza base:

1. How to make the dough
2. How to roll pizza dough thin
3. How to make the pizza base crispy

This is the best thin crust pizza dough recipe I've tried. It's quick and easy to make with perfect crispy base every time. I recommend using a baking mixer with a dough hook, then it's no kneading, simply let the machine do the work instead.

How to make the dough?

Measure the flour in a bowl.
Make a well in the center.
Pour half the water in the well and add yeast, sugar and salt. Mix with a fork.
Slowly incorporate all the flour into the liquid. (This can easily be done in a baking mixer with a dough hook.)
Once all mixed, slowly add the rest of the water and mix for a few minutes then add the olive oil and mix until the oil is fully incorporated and the dough is smooth.

pizza dough in a kitchen mixer — The kitchen mixer is working the dough

Let the mixer work the dough for about 5 minutes. The olive oil makes it a silky smooth non stick dough which is easy to work with.

You can definitely make it by hand if you don't have a mixer!

Cover the dough and leave to rise until double in size.

Leave it somewhere warm for fast proofing,
in room temperature for 1-2 hours or
in the fridge overnight.

All the above methods works well! The dough is ready to use when it has doubled in size.

pizza dough after proofing in a with bowl — proofed pizza dough

How to roll pizza dough thin?

4 round pizza dough balls on a cream colored work bench — Pizza dough divided into 4 pieces

1. First divide the dough into four equal size pieces.

rolling the pizza dough with the palm of my hand on a cream colored work bench — Rolling the pizza dough balls

2. Shape each piece of dough into a round ball with the palm of your hand.

1 round pizza dough ball on a cream colored work bench — pizza dough ball

3. Do circular movements and press down lightly on the dough until a smooth ball is formed.
4. Roll each ball outwards as thin or thick as you like with the rolling pin.

rolling out a round pizza base with a rolling pin — Rolling the pizza dough thin

5. Rotate the dough around and repeat rolling it from the center outwards. You might need to flip the dough over a couple of times to prevent it from sticking to the bench surface.
6. Keep rolling backward and forwards from the center out until you have an even round base.

Hint: If you've proofed the dough in the fridge, then bring it back to room temperature before rolling it out. It makes it far easier to work with and much easier to roll the dough thin. If the dough is fridge cold its hard to work with and difficult to get it as thin as you like.

How to make the pizza base crispy?

If you like your dough crust crispy then cooking it on a pizza tray and hot stone, or in a pizza oven will bring you the best result.

Substitute some of the plain flour for semolina flour for a firmer and crispier pizza crust.

Lifting the corner of the pizza base. Golden brown underneath — crispy pizza base

Substitutes and Variations

You can substitute ¼ of the flour for whole meal if you like a wholemeal base

Substitute some of the flour for semolina flour for a firmer and crispier pizza crust.

Equipment

baking mixer with a dough hook

kitchen scale

Storage

The dough can easily be made in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to use. Just bring it out to room temperature before rolling it. Store it for a maximum of 24 hours.

Not suitable for freezing.

tips

When it comes to the topping. Less is more. Over crowding the topping can result in under cooked dough.
Only use good quality mozzarella cheese to achieve that stringy, melt in your mouth cheese that we all love on a pizza.
The pizza cooks quickly in the hot oven so check regularly to avoid burning it
Preheat your pizza stone for a minimum of 20 minutes before cooking your pizza on it for best thin pizza crust result.

Make pizza night a regular hit at your house too with this Italian thin crust pizza dough recipe! Your friends and family will thank you for it!

Enjoy your freshly cooked, homemade pizza in no time with this fool proof, delicious recipe!

Looking for other Italian recipes? Try these:

Fluffy Focaccia Bread

One-pan roasted fish with cherry tomatoes

Pasta Boscaiola with oyster mushrooms

Pairing

These are my favorite recipes to go with this thin pizza dough recipe:

Easy no cook pizza sauce

how to cook restaurant style pizza at home with a pizza hot stone

FAQ

What does olive oil do for pizza dough?

Flavor: Olive oil adds a rich flavour that enhances the taste of the pizza. Elasticity: It makes the dough more elastic and easier to work with. Crust: It helps create a golden, crispy crust.

Can you use all-purpose flour for pizza dough?

00 flour, bread flour, all-purpose flour, and whole wheat flour can all be used to make excellent pizza dough

How long should you knead pizza dough?

It's important to knead your dough thoroughly but it's not necessary to knead your dough for long. I recommended kneading your dough for about 4 to 6 minutes! Over-kneading your dough can create a fine, crumb-like texture, giving your dough a bread like texture rather than a light and airy pizza crust