Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (2024)

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  • Breads
  • Pizza Dough

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Elizabeth Yetter

Elizabeth Yetter

Bread expert Elizabeth Yetter has been baking bread for more than 20 years, bringing her Pennsylvania Dutch Country experiences to life through recipes.

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Updated on 04/14/23

Tested byTara Omidvar

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There is no question that pizza can be a satisfying and delicious meal. Making it at home with our simple recipe will put a hot and crispy pie on your table in a little over one hour with very little preparation. Set your table and prepare your toppings, pizza night is on its way. Serve a fun, interactive meal by offering various cheeses, vegetables, and cold cuts so each guest can put on their slices whatever they prefer—there is no wrong combination!

Pizza is a great canvas for a varied and tasty dinner; tomato sauce and mozzarella are only the basics. Garnish this tasty crust with anything you'd like; from prosciutto to spicy cheese sauce and sliced ham, or even chocolate spread and fresh fruit for a decadent dessert pizza.

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Our ingredients yield a 12-inch pizza—8 tasty slices—with which you can feed 3 to 4 people. Double the measurements to serve more pies, or make both crusts and freeze one for later in the week. Roll out the dough onto a greased, 12-inch pizza pan, or press it into a greased, 9- or 10-inch skillet to make a thicker pizza crust. Before you start, be mindful that if the water in your area is heavily chlorinated or has gone through a water softener, the yeast will not bloom and the dough will not rise—it's always best to use bottled spring water instead of tap water for yeast doughs.

"An amazing recipe for a quick pizza dough. It needs no special equipment or skills, and you can easily make it at home. It is actually a fool-proof recipe, and there is no need to worry about the dough, not proofing, etc. Just make sure that you do not use old dry yeast, and you are good to go." —Tara Omidvar

Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (3)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

  • 1/2 cup warm water, 95 to 110 F

  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 1 1/2 to 2 cupsall-purpose flour, divided; plus more for dusting

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (4)

  2. In a medium bowl, stir the yeast into the warm water until dissolved.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (5)

  3. Stir in the sugar, salt, and oil.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (6)

  4. Add in 1 1/2 cups of flour. Mix the dough in the bowl and add additional flour, if needed, so the dough can be worked without it feeling too wet.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (7)

  5. Turn the dough out onto aboard dusted with flour and quickly knead it for 3 minutes. Add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, if the dough remains too sticky to knead. It should feel smooth, and your hands should be clean once you're done kneading it.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (8)

  6. Place the dough into a greased bowl and flip it overso the dough top is also lightly greased.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (9)

  7. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place until it has doubled in size, or about 30 minutes.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (10)

  8. Punch the dough down to release the trapped air and give the crust a better texture. Roll it out and press it intoa greased 12-inch pizza pan or into a well-oiled skillet pan. If using a pan press the dough up on the edges to form thecrust.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (11)

  9. Addsauce and your desired toppings.

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (12)

  10. Bake the pizza at 400 F for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Serve and enjoy!

    Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (13)

Pizzetta Bar

There is a solution for groups that can't come to a consensus on the pizza toppings. Making pizzettas, small individual pizzas, gives each person the chance to make their favorite combinations, without compromising! Divide the dough into 4 small balls, let rise, and roll out. Allow each guest to choose what to put on. Here are some tasty ideas on what toppings to have:

  • Sauce: Most people like tomato sauce, but some can't eat it because of allergies or dietary restrictions. Have white or alfredo sauce at hand.
  • Vegetables: Offer slices of fresh Hairloom tomatoes dressed in olive oil, and a good amount of greens. Peppery arugula or thinly sliced kale make beautiful toppings to any pizza, or perhaps a tray of roasted vegetables.
  • Cheese and charcuterie: High-fat sliced or coarsely grated cheeses melt easily on the pizza. But try other softer cheeses like feta or harder cheeses like Manchego or Asiago. Most supermarkets offer charcuterie plates with a varied selection of salami, prosciutto, and ham, ideal for topping your mini pizzas. Have vegan cheese so people with lactose intolerance or vegan diets can also enjoy some creamy cheese on their pizza.
  • Dessert pizza: Pizza can be a great dessert. Have chocolate spread, dulce de leche, salted caramel sauce, sliced bananas, fresh berries, and powdered sugar. A scoop of vanilla ice-cream on a hot pizza crust with chocolate sauce is the best finale to a fun pizza night.

How to Bake and Freeze the Crust

Need some back-up last-minute meals?

Bake your crust, cool it off, wrap it in plastic wrap, and freeze it. When you're in need of an easy meal or snack, thaw the crust while the oven preheats to 375 F, top with your sauce and toppings of choice, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

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  • Pizza Dough
  • Breads
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
134Calories
2g Fat
25g Carbs
4g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 8
Amount per serving
Calories134
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 0g1%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 134mg6%
Total Carbohydrate 25g9%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 6mg0%
Iron 1mg8%
Potassium 45mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • bread
  • dinner
  • american
  • back to school

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Simple and Quick 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much pizza dough to make a 12-inch pizza? ›

A 12-inch pizza requires about 255 grams or 285 grams of dough. Additionally, it is helpful to have some idea of the dimensions of your pizza pan. A 12-inch pizza will fit nicely in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan, while a 14-inch pizza will fit in a 15 x 10-inch pan.

How long does it take for a 12-inch pizza to cook? ›

As a general rule of thumb, a standard 12-inch frozen pizza typically takes around 10-15 minutes to cook at 425°F (218°C). If you are cooking a homemade pizza or a pizza with a different size or crust type, the cooking time may vary.

How many ounces of dough for a 12-inch thin crust pizza? ›

If you want a good starting point, go with 1-ounce of dough per inch of diameter for any size up to 16 inches.

What is the secret to making good pizza dough? ›

The secret to great dough isn't kneading or throwing . . .

“Pizza dough made at home should be 50 percent water. Pizza needs to cook longer in a home oven, which means the dough needs to be more hydrated.” But don't let it to get soggy . . .“It's important to spread the dough very well and very evenly,” explains Falco.

How much cheese for a 12-inch pizza? ›

If you're looking for a general rule of thumb, we'd suggest starting with about 6 oz for a 12'' pizza or 9 oz for a 14'' pizza. Remember, no one ever regretted putting too much cheese on a pizza—only too little.

What is the best temperature to cook a pizza in a pizza oven? ›

Heat capability – The ideal temperature for a pizza oven is around 750 degrees, with a cook time of about 3-5 minutes. This limited exposure to high heat ensures a crispy crust with chewy, gooey goodness. Heat retention and consistency – Pizza ovens don't just get hot; they stay hot.

Should pizza be at 375 or 400? ›

On an electric stove, a temperature of 400 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for cooking pizza (204 and 232 Celsius). Some individuals like to cook their pizza on a gas stove since it distributes heat evenly. As a result, you'll always get delicious pizzas!

What temperature do you bake homemade pizza at? ›

Generally, the hotter the oven, the better the pizza will be. The best oven temperature for pizza is between 450 and 500 degrees F (250 to 260 degrees C). Pizza ovens cook at temperatures between 800 and 900 degrees F. You can't get that hot in your home oven, but the higher you can go, the better.

What is the secret to thin crust pizza? ›

The secret to making pizza crust thinner is by rolling out as thin as you can without tearing the dough. This can be achieved by using a rolling pin and about ½ to ¾ of 1 dough ball for this recipe.

What is the best flour for crispy pizza crust? ›

For Crispy and Chewy Pizza Crust, Use 00 Flour

00 flour is finely ground Italian flour that contains about 12% protein, or 12% gluten. It's the traditional flour used to make Neapolitan-style pizza.

How to make pizza crust crispy? ›

As you are rolling out and topping your first pizza, switch your oven to broil. Right before you launch, swtich your oven back to bake or convection bake 500F. The idea is to get your Steel even hotter than 500 F for this thin crust bake. It really helps crisp up that bottom.

What not to do to pizza dough? ›

The Most Common Mistakes When Making Pizza
  1. Not Letting the Dough Rest. ...
  2. Not Kneading the Dough for Long Enough. ...
  3. Using a Rolling Pin to Form the Dough. ...
  4. Overloading Pizza Toppings. ...
  5. Not Letting the Pizza Cook for Long Enough.

What is the most important ingredient in pizza dough? ›

Flour is the main ingredient in pizza dough, and the type you use can have a big effect on the end result. All-purpose flour will work fine, but if you want a chewier crumb and a better hole structure, you should consider buying yourself some high protein bread flour.

How much dough for a 12 inch pizza calculator? ›

How much dough for a pizza?
Pizza diameterDough required
10 in (26 cm)6⅔ oz (200 g)
12 in (30 cm)9⅔ oz (265 g)
14 in (36 cm)13.1 oz (380 g)
16 in (40 cm)10¼ oz (470 g)
2 more rows

How big of a pizza does 1lb of dough make? ›

A one pound (454g) ball of dough will make a single large pizza or two smaller thin crust pizzas.

How much pizza does a 12 inch pizza feed? ›

Small pizza (10 inches in diameter): serves one to two people. Medium pizza (12 inches in diameter): serves three to four people. Large pizza (14 inches in diameter): serves three to five people. Extra-large pizza (16 inches in diameter): serves five to six people.

How much pizza dough to use? ›

The dough weight for a personal pizza (about the size of a dinner plate) is usually between 240 and 290 grams. 70% hydration works well, a little more or less depending on whole grain content, and this is modifiable during hand kneading.

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