Easy 4-Ingredient Pizza Dough

Why Make This Recipe

Homemade pizza is a delight for the senses! The aroma of fresh dough baking in the oven and the satisfaction of choosing your own toppings is simply irresistible. Plus, making your own pizza dough ensures that it’s fresh and tailored to your taste. With just four simple ingredients, you can whip up a delicious base that will wow your family and friends. Let’s dive into this easy and fun kitchen project that’s perfect for everyone!

How to Make Simple, 4-Ingredient Homemade Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

• 4 cups (512 g) bread flour or all-purpose flour, plus more for assembly
• 3 to 4 teaspoons (10 to 15 g) kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon (4 g) instant yeast
• 1.75 to 2 cups (400 to 454 g) lukewarm water

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Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and instant yeast.
2. Add the lukewarm water. Using a rubber spatula, mix until the water is absorbed and the mixture forms a sticky dough ball.
3. Pour a drop or two of oil over the top of the dough and rub with your hands to coat it well.
4. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap and set aside in a warm spot to rise for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.
5. (Optional Step): If time allows, do a set of stretches and folds after 30 minutes. Grab an edge of the dough with a wet hand, stretch it up and in, repeating this process 8 to 10 times.
6. If baking the pizzas right away, place a baking steel or pizza stone in the top third of the oven and preheat it to its hottest setting, 550°F. Let it heat for at least 45 minutes once at temperature.
7. Generously flour your work surface. Turn out the dough onto the floured surface and use a bench scraper to divide it into four equal portions.
8. With floured hands, shape each portion into a ball, tucking the edges underneath.
9. If you are baking immediately, let the dough balls sit for 30 to 60 minutes in a lightly floured, covered container.
10. For refrigerated dough, pull out the rounds from the fridge 60 to 90 minutes before you wish to bake. Shape into 10–12 inch rounds.
11. To bake, transfer the dough to a parchment-lined pizza peel. Top as desired and bake until blistered, about 5 minutes.

How to Serve Simple, 4-Ingredient Homemade Pizza Dough

Once your pizza is baked, let it cool for a minute before slicing. Serve it up with your favorite dips or a fresh salad on the side. You can also create a fun pizza night where everyone creates their own personalized pie!

How to Store Simple, 4-Ingredient Homemade Pizza Dough

If you’re not using all the dough at once, you can store it! Place any unused dough in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. If you’d like to store it longer, wrap the dough tightly and freeze it for up to 3 months. Just remember to thaw in the fridge before using!

Tips to Make Simple, 4-Ingredient Homemade Pizza Dough

• Don’t skimp on the flour when shaping the dough; it can be quite sticky.
• For extra flavor, consider adding some dried herbs like oregano or basil into the flour mix.
• Experiment with different toppings once your dough is ready!

Variation

You can easily make a whole wheat pizza crust by substituting half of the bread flour with whole wheat flour. This gives the crust a lovely nutty flavor!

FAQs

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour?

Yes! All-purpose flour works just as well for this recipe, although bread flour will give you a chewier texture.

What should I do if my dough doesn’t rise?

Make sure your yeast is fresh and that the water is lukewarm, not hot. If the dough isn’t rising, find a warmer spot for it to rest.

How do I know when my pizza is done?

The pizza is done when the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

Homemade Pizza Dough

A delightfully simple recipe for homemade pizza dough using just four ingredients, ensuring a fresh and customizable base for your pizzas.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: Italian

Calories: 200

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Dough

• 4 cups 4 cups (512 g) bread flour or all-purpose flour, plus more for assembly Use bread flour for a chewier texture.
• 3-4 teaspoons 3 to 4 teaspoons (10 to 15 g) kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon (4 g) instant yeast Ensure the yeast is fresh for proper rising.
• 1.75-2 cups 1.75 to 2 cups (400 to 454 g) lukewarm water Water should be lukewarm, not hot.

Method

 

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and instant yeast.
2. Add the lukewarm water. Using a rubber spatula, mix until the water is absorbed and the mixture forms a sticky dough ball.
3. Pour a drop or two of oil over the top of the dough and rub with your hands to coat it well.
4. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap and set aside in a warm spot to rise for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.
5. (Optional Step): If time allows, do a set of stretches and folds after 30 minutes.

Shaping the Dough

1. Generously flour your work surface. Turn out the dough onto the floured surface and use a bench scraper to divide it into four equal portions.
2. With floured hands, shape each portion into a ball, tucking the edges underneath.
3. If you are baking immediately, let the dough balls sit for 30 to 60 minutes in a lightly floured, covered container.
4. For refrigerated dough, pull out the rounds from the fridge 60 to 90 minutes before you wish to bake.
5. Shape into 10–12 inch rounds.

Baking the Pizza

1. To bake, preheat the oven to its hottest setting, 550°F, with a baking steel or pizza stone in place.
2. Transfer the dough to a parchment-lined pizza peel, top as desired, and bake until blistered, about 5 minutes.

Notes

If not using all the dough, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before using.