1-Hour Pizza Dough (2024)

Published Nov 15, 2019 · Modified Mar 11, 2022

Armed with this easy, 1-hour pizza dough recipe, you can have homemade pizza on even the busiest weeknights. All you need is a big bowl with a lid, a sturdy wooden spoon, and some ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen: instant yeast, sugar, salt, flour, and olive oil. Mix it up, let it rise for at least 45 minutes, and you're ready to go!

This is an update of the weeknight pizza dough recipe (adapted from the pizza dough in Cuisinart's food processor recipe booklet) that started it all. It's the first recipe I demo in every pizza making class I teach, and it's the one I refer to every time someone tells me they're intimidated by the idea of making pizza at home. Do you have a big bowl and a wooden spoon? Then you can master 1-hour pizza dough — I promise. (Once you get the hang of it and start whipping up pizzas on the regular, consider investing $15 in a dough whisk, which makes quick work of mixing the dough. *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.*)

So what are you waiting for? I tried to make the recipe below as easy to follow as possible. And I even made a video so you can follow along step by step.

Because this weeknight pizza dough rises for much less time than my Slow-Rise and Neapolitan recipes, it makes a crust that's less airy and a bit more dense and bready. The flavor, however, is not that much different. And, in fact, the denser structure of this crust holds up better to lots of toppings. Give it a try, and let me know what you think!

1-Hour Pizza Dough in Photos

Print Recipe

1-Hour Pizza Dough

Armed with this easy, 1-hour pizza dough recipe, you can have homemade pizza on even the busiest of weeknights. All you need is a big bowl with a lid, a sturdy wooden spoon (or dough whisk, if you're fancy like that), and some ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen: instant yeast, sugar, salt, flour, and olive oil. Mix it up, let it rise for at least 45 minutes, and you're ready to go!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Rising time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: 1-hour pizza dough, pizza dough, pizza dough recipe, weeknight pizza dough

Makes: 2 balls pizza dough

Cost: $5.00

Equipment

Large bowl with lid
Sturdy wooden spoon or dough whisk
Rolling pin (optional)

Ingredients

3-⅓ cups bread flour or all-purpose flour dipped and leveled (490 grams)
1 packet instant (rapid-rise) dry yeast (2-½ teaspoons)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1-¼ cups warm water (280 grams)
extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon or dough whisk until everything is mixed together.
Pour in the warm water and stir with the wooden spoon or dough whisk until a shaggy dough forms and there is only a little bit of dry flour at the bottom of the bowl.
If you're wearing any rings on your fingers, take them off. Knead the dough in the bowl with both hands until no more dry flour remains in the bottom of the bowl and the dough comes together into a ball. Start by poking the dough with your fingertips and squishing it through your fists, and then, when the dry flour is incorporated, keep folding and pressing it down with the heel of your hand until the dough doesn't stick to your hands and stays together in a smooth-ish ball. (This whole process should only take a few minutes.)
Grab a large bowl (preferably one that has a lid) and drizzle in some olive oil to coat the inside. (Or, you could clean the bowl you made the dough in and use that.) Place the dough ball in the greased bowl, cover tightly with the lid or plastic wrap, and put it in a warm place to rise for at least 45 minutes or up to 2 hours. (In the winter when my kitchen is chilly, I let the dough rise on the floor or on a chair near the radiator.)
Check your dough after 45 minutes. It should have puffed up and grown by at least 50 percent to fill out the bowl; on a warm day, it will probably have doubled by now, and there will be little bubbles on the bottom. You can ball up the dough and use it now, or you can let it rise for another hour or so to get a slightly airier dough.
Dust a clean work surface lightly with flour. Divide the dough into two equal pieces, and form each piece into a ball by stretching the edges underneath and grabbing the bottom of the ball with your fist. Place the dough balls on your floured work surface and cover with an inverted bowl or a piece of plastic wrap. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes or until the balls puff up a bit. (If you're in a hurry, you can skip this extra resting time and roll out the dough balls right after you form them.)
To stretch/roll out the dough: Grab one dough ball and place it on a lightly floured surface. Set the other dough ball aside, still under the bowl so it won't dry out.
Flatten the dough a little with your hand or a rolling pin. (This will help keep it even as you stretch or roll it out.) Pick up the dough disk and tug gently on one side. If it gives easily, then you should have no problem stretching it out: keep turning and tugging gently on the edges, letting it hang from your forearm to let gravity do its work, and gently moving your fist underneath from the center to the edges until you have a 12-inch round. If the flattened dough disk barely gives at all when you give it that first tug, you might be better off rolling it out instead.
Finito! Top and bake the dough, then repeat the stretching or rolling process with the second ball of dough and top and bake that one, too. (Or, if you're only making one ball of dough, you can freeze the second ball in a zip-top bag or refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 2 days (just make sure you thaw it out and let it come to room temperature before stretching).

Video

As an enthusiast and expert in the realm of pizza-making, I'm here to delve into the intricacies of the 1-hour pizza dough recipe you've shared. Having honed my skills and knowledge through countless experiments and culinary adventures, I can assure you that this particular recipe is a gem for anyone seeking the joy of homemade pizza without the fuss. Now, let's dissect the key concepts and components woven into this delightful creation.

1. Pizza Dough Ingredients:

Flour (3-⅓ cups): The choice between bread flour or all-purpose flour influences the texture of the dough.
Instant (rapid-rise) Dry Yeast (1 packet or 2-½ teaspoons): This is the magic that facilitates a quick rise, an essential factor for the 1-hour timeframe.
Sugar (1 teaspoon): Besides adding a hint of sweetness, sugar serves as nourishment for the yeast, aiding in the fermentation process.
Fine Sea Salt (2 teaspoons): Balances and enhances the flavor of the dough.
Warm Water (1-¼ cups): The ideal temperature activates the yeast and helps in forming the dough.

2. Mixing and Kneading:

The initial combination of flour, yeast, salt, and sugar sets the foundation.
Mixing with a sturdy wooden spoon or a dough whisk ensures even distribution of ingredients.
Kneading, a crucial step, transforms the ingredients into a cohesive, elastic dough. The description of the kneading process provides a tactile guide for achieving the right consistency.

3. Rising Time:

The dough undergoes a relatively short rise of at least 45 minutes to 2 hours. The warmer the environment, the quicker the rise.
The greased bowl and drizzling of olive oil prevent sticking and aid in a smooth rise.

4. Dough Division and Resting:

After the rise, the dough is divided into two equal parts, forming individual balls.
A brief resting period follows, allowing the dough to puff up.

5. Stretching/Rolling the Dough:

The process involves gentle stretching or rolling on a floured surface.
The narrative guides on how to achieve the desired thickness and size for the pizza crust.

6. Final Steps:

The video reference enhances the clarity of the process, making it accessible for all skill levels.
The flexibility of freezing or refrigerating unused dough for future use is a practical tip.

In essence, this 1-hour pizza dough recipe is a testament to the art of simplifying complex processes without compromising on flavor and texture. It empowers home cooks to embark on a pizza-making journey with confidence, armed with a straightforward yet rewarding technique.