Pizza Dough

Article by Layla Khoury-Hanold

Homemade pizza dough might seem like the type of culinary project that’s out of reach, but making pizza from scratch is more attainable than you might think. Chef Bobby Flay’s pizza dough recipe calls for just six ingredients, and the steps are easy enough for beginners. You’ll learn the best type of flour for pizza dough, how to adjust flour and water proportions for ideal dough consistency and the one pizza-making step you shouldn’t rush.

How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough Like a Pro

Reach for bread flour. Bobby uses bread flour because it gives pizza dough a much crisper crust (you can substitute all-purpose flour for a chewier crust).

A bread hook jumpstarts the kneading process. Mix all of the ingredients together in the bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook.

Measure the ingredients precisely, but then adjust flour and water as necessary. Depending on the quality of the flour you’re using and the environment’s temperature and humidity, you may need to slightly adjust your water and flour to make the dough come together. If the dough is sticky and looks shaggy, add a little flour at a time until dough comes together in solid ball. If the dough is too dry, add more water.

Knead the dough by hand until a smooth ball forms. Pat the dough into a disk, transfer it to a lightly floured surface and firmly knead the dough several times. Knead it by punching the dough down with your knuckles, folding the dish in half, punching it down again, gathering the edges under themselves and repeating several times until the dough forms a smooth ball.

Allow the pizza dough to rest in an oiled bowl until it has doubled in size. Place the dough ball in a greased mixing bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Ingredients for Pizza Dough

To make homemade pizza dough, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Flour: bread flour or all-purpose flour

• Sugar: Granulated sugar activates the yeast’s fermentation and helps the dough retain moisture, which tenderizes the dough.

• Salt: Salt is essential for a flavorful crust.

• Yeast: Instant dry yeast helps the dough to rise.

• Water: Lukewarm water activates the yeast.

• Olive oil: adds flavor and moisture.

Pizza Recipes Ideas

Once you’ve mastered Bobby’s easy homemade pizza dough recipe, the topping combinations are endless. Make classic pizzas like Bobby Flay’s Margherita Pizza, starring fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, Sheet Pan Sausage and Mushroom Pizza, Hawaiian Barbecue Pizza or Pepperoni Pizza with Hot Honey. Or try one of Bobby’s creative pizza recipes, such as Four Cheese Pizza with Fig and Prosciutto, Red Pepper-Basil Pesto Pizza, Grilled Shrimp and Cilantro Pesto Pizza or Grilled Peach and Cajeta Pizza with Toasted Almonds.

What to Do with Pizza Dough

Pizza dough is versatile and can be used to make dishes such as flatbreads, calzones, stromboli, rolls and savory breads. Try making these recipes using pizza dough including Arugula-Prosciutto Flatbread Pizzas, Supreme Pizza Garbage Bread, Salami-Mozzarella Calzone, Bread Ring Pizza Dip and Bun Giorno! Pizza Rolls.