Easy Thin Crust Pizza Dough Recipe

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Thin Crust Pizza Dough Recipe

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Thin-crust pizza seems like the new kid on the block, and it’s a different kind of pizza altogether.

This dough is a skinny, light, and airy pizza dough. Yet it yields the amount of stretch and chewiness you want in a high-quality pizza.

And guess what? 

I will teach you the EXACT same thin crust pizza dough recipe you see in restaurants in five simple steps.

Don’t worry; it doesn’t require hard-to-get or expensive ingredients.

Key Takeaways

  1. This recipe makes two medium thin crust pizzas, perfect for a quick and crispy homemade pizza night.
  2. The dough requires a short rise time of 1 hour, ensuring a speedy preparation process.
  3. Baking at a high temperature of 475°F ensures a golden, crispy crust in just 10-12 minutes.

Thin Crust Pizza Dough Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup water, lukewarm
  • 1½  teaspoons instant yeast.
  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour —I’d recommend the King Arthur Unbleached 
  • ½  to ¾ teaspoon salt
  • One teaspoon of baking powder
  • Three tablespoons olive oil

How To Make Thin Crust Pizza Dough Recipe

Step 1

If you’re using a pizza stone, preheat the oven to 450°F. Then in a bowl, dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water.

Step 2

Measure the flour by spooning it lightly into a cup, then tapping and leveling off the surface or weighing.

Add the remaining ingredients to the liquid/yeast mixture, stirring until you’ve formed a cohesive but slightly sticky dough.

The dough should be soft and slightly tacky. If it sticks to your fingers, add more flour until the dough no longer feels sticky.

See Also: Easy Chicken Shawarma Salad Recipe

Step 3

Divide the dough into two equal parts and shape each portion into a disk. Then place it on a floured piece of parchment or waxed paper.

Let the dough sit for 30 minutes while your oven preheats.

Step 4

To make rolling easier, place a piece of lightly greased parchment under the dough and on top. And work on one piece of dough at a time.

Step 5

Spread a thin layer of sauce over the crust, then top with your favorite toppings.

Transfer the pizza to a baking stone and bake for about 8 minutes until the crust is browned. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

If you’re not using a stone, remove the pizza from the oven and transfer it to a baking sheet.

Please place it in the center of a preheated oven. 

Next is to bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the pizza crust is browned and the toppings are cooked.

Remove from oven, cut into slices, and serve immediately with desired garnishes.

Extra Tips

  • Parchment paper is a handy tool for moving pizzas from the oven to the counter and table.
  • If you don’t have parchment, lightly flour your rolling surface and roll the dough.
  • Transfer the pizza crust to a hot pizza stone or baking sheet using either a peel or sliding it off the back of your rolling pin—Bake as directed above.
  • Thinness is a matter of personal preference. A dough about 1/8″ thick will bake into a crust from 1/4″-3/8″.
  • And the longer dough is allowed to sit, the thicker its crust will become.
  • For the thinnest possible crusts, shape and bake your pizza immediately—there’s no benefit in resting your dough.

What to Serve With Thin Crust Pizza

Here are some delicious options to serve with Thin Crust Pizza:

1. Caesar Salad

A classic Caesar salad, with its crisp romaine lettuce, creamy dressing, crunchy croutons, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, complements the pizza well. The fresh, tangy flavors and crunchy texture provide a great contrast to the warm, cheesy pizza.

2. Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is a beloved side dish that pairs perfectly with pizza. The rich, buttery garlic flavor and crispy texture of the bread enhance the pizza experience and can be used to scoop up extra sauce or toppings.

3. Antipasto Platter

An antipasto platter, featuring a variety of cured meats, cheeses, olives, roasted peppers, and marinated vegetables, offers a variety of flavors and textures that complement the pizza. It’s a great way to start the meal and adds an element of sophistication.

4. Caprese Salad

A Caprese salad, made with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic glaze, offers a light and refreshing side that balances the richness of the pizza. The fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors are a delightful match.

5. Minestrone Soup

A warm bowl of minestrone soup, with its hearty vegetables, beans, and pasta in a savory broth, makes a comforting and nutritious side dish. The soup adds variety to the meal and helps round out the dinner.

6. Bruschetta

Bruschetta, with its toasted bread topped with a mix of diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil, is a flavorful and easy-to-make appetizer. The fresh, garlicky topping complements the pizza and adds a burst of flavor.

7. Roasted Vegetables

Roasted vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms, provide a healthy and tasty side dish. The caramelized flavors of the roasted veggies pair well with the pizza and add a nutritious element to the meal.

8. Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms, filled with a mixture of cheese, garlic, herbs, and breadcrumbs, are a savory and elegant side dish. They add a gourmet touch to the meal and are easy to prepare.

9. Wine or Beer

Pairing your pizza with a good wine or beer enhances the dining experience. A light, crisp white wine or a robust red can complement the flavors of the pizza, while a craft beer can add a refreshing element.

10. Tiramisu or Gelato for Dessert

End the meal on a sweet note with a classic Italian dessert like tiramisu or gelato. The rich, creamy flavors of these desserts provide a delightful contrast to the savory pizza and round off the meal perfectly.

These sides and beverages not only complement the thin crust pizza but also help create a well-rounded and enjoyable meal experience.

See Also: Texas Roadhouse Green Beans Recipe

FAQs

Does Thin Crust Pizza Use Yeast?

Yes, Thin Crust Pizza uses yeast! Yeast is a little like magic because it turns simple sugars into complex flavors. It’s also what gives bread its rise, so the yeast can be used to help create a thicker, crunchier crust on your thin-crust pizza. Although, we recommend using regular dry yeast and not instant.

What Is The Best Flour For Thin Crust Pizza?

Many different types of flours can be used in making thin-crust pizzas. But they’re all pretty cheap, easy to find at any grocery store, and can be used with almost any kind of food.

Here is the list of flours that NEVER fails for anything crust pizza recipe:

  • Caputo 00 Flour
  • All-purpose flour
  • Bread flour
  • Semolina

The lower gluten content of Caputo 00 Flour makes it your best bet, but bread flour or even all-purpose will work. Your crust will be a little puffier but still chewy and delicious! And If you substitute semolina flour for all-purpose flour in your pizza crust, the protein content of the semolina will provide more structure and make it hold up better under high heat.

What Are The Best Types Of Pizza Crust?

The best types of pizza crusts can be used to make various kinds of pizzas. And I get it: you have options, whether you want a thick or a thin crust. You want a crust that allows you to customize it to your unique pizza.

And here are the crusts that work just right: 

  • Cheese-Stuffed Crust
  • Pizza Bagels
  • Flatbread
  • Chicago Deep Dish
  • Neapolitan Crust
  • Thin Crust
  • Sicilian Style
  • NY Style Pizza

What Flour Makes The Crispiest Pizza Crust?

We all know that a crispy pizza crust is one of the best parts of pizza, but what makes it so crisp?

Using suitable flour.

To make a crispy pizza crust, you need to use light-colored flour with high gluten content, like 00 Flour.

This flour has about 12% protein or 12% gluten.

For this reason,  it will stand up to the oven’s heat and resist becoming soggy when exposed to moisture from other ingredients or steam from your sauce.

It also means that it won’t absorb too much liquid or become sticky when baked—which can cause your crust to collapse and end up tasting dry or tough.

And in the end, you’ll get a crispy and chewy pizza crust.

Does Thin Crust Pizza Need To rising?

Not necessarily! To achieve the best thin-crust pizza, skip raising the dough. The popular method I don’t use myself but am happy to recommend as an option if you prefer it is to take the dough from kneading directly into shaping. Besides, skipping the rise saves time.

Why Does Restaurant Pizza Taste Better?

Nothing too special! You may have heard this before: dough is the difference between a good pizza and a bad one.

And it’s true: the quality of your pizza depends on the quality of your dough.

And that is where restaurants capitalize on.

Besides, their pizza dough is handled by a professional.

But there’s more to it than that.

You have to put the amount and quality of ingredients, toppings, top-notch equipment, and cooking time into consideration as well.

If everything about your pizza is right, nothing will compromise the heavenly flavors from striking the right notes.

There are a few things that you can pair with thin-crust pizza dough, and I’ll tell you the best of those.

  • Soup
  • Ratatouille
  • Italian Bruschetta Bar
  • Caesar Salad
  • Spinach Artichoke Dip
  • Potato Salad
  • Garlic Cheese Bread
  • Coleslaw
  • Mozzarella Sticks
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Zucchini Fries
  • Jalapeno Poppers
  • Onion Rings
  • Pasta Salad
  • Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dip
  • Meatballs
  • Tiramisu
  • Sorbet
  • Cannoli
  • Fruit

Thin Crust Pizza Dough Recipe

Recipe by Nnamdi Mbanefo
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

1

hour 
Cooking time

12

minutes
Calories

150

kcal

This recipe makes two medium thin crust pizzas, perfect for a quick and crispy homemade pizza night.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)

  • 1 cup warm water (110°F or 45°C)

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)

  • 1 tsp sugar

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1 tbsp olive oil (plus more for greasing)

Directions

  • In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
    Add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the flour mixture.
    Stir until a dough forms.
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
    Knead for about 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  • Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
    Let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
  • Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while preheating.
  • Punch down the risen dough to release the air.
    Divide the dough into two equal parts.
    Roll each part out on a floured surface to your desired thinness, shaping into a circle or rectangle as preferred.
  • Place the rolled-out dough on a piece of parchment paper or a floured pizza peel.
    Add your favorite pizza toppings.
  • Carefully transfer the dough with toppings onto the preheated pizza stone or a baking sheet.
    Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed our Thin Crust Pizza Dough recipe and will give it a try the next time you want some delicious pizza! As you’ve seen, this recipe is relatively easy to make and stored in the refrigerator for up five days.

And like the original, the final dough is soft, sticky, stretchy, and pliable. It’s versatile and can pair amazingly well with many appetizers, sides, and desserts. Everything still works beautifully, like regular chubby pizza.

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