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a slice of pepperoni pizza on a white plate next to a block of mozzarella cheese and a red napkin
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5 from 21 votes

Personal Pizza Dough

Simple personal pizza dough recipe that's perfect for making one small pizza with a soft homemade pizza crust. A perfect pizza for one or two people to enjoy!
Prep Time40 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Diet: Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword: personal pizza, personal pizza crust, personal pizza dough, pizza crust, pizza dough, pizza dough for one, pizza dough for two, single serving pizza, small pizza, small pizza dough
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Joanie Zisk

Ingredients

  • cup warm water (between 100-110°F)
  • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast * see notes below if using instant yeast
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil , plus 1-2 teaspoons more for greasing the bowl and brushing over the top of the pizza dough before baking
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • Add warm water to a large bowl.
    Pro Tip: An instant-read thermometer is an accurate way of checking water temperature. The water should be between 100-110°F. If the water is too warm (over 130°F), it will kill the yeast. If you don't have a thermometer, feel the water with your fingertips. Water should be comfortably warm, not at all hot.
  • Add yeast to the water. Wait about 2 minutes until you see bubbles forming. The mixture should look slightly foamy.
  • Stir in the sugar, salt, garlic powder, and olive oil.
  • Add in the flour and mix the dough with a spoon until the dough comes together. If necessary, add a bit more flour so the dough can be worked without feeling too wet.
    Your dough will be shaggy and lumpy, but will become smooth after kneading.
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With lightly floured hands, knead the dough for 3 minutes. Add more flour, a teaspoon at a time, if the dough remains too sticky to knead. After kneading the dough should feel soft and smooth.
  • Lightly grease a large bowl with oil. Place the ball of dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or a clean towel. Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free place until it has doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
    Pro Tip: Dough won't rise if the room you're using is too cold. I often put the dough in my oven to rise. To do this, preheat your oven for 1 minute, turn it off, then place the bowl of dough inside. Ensure the oven doesn't get too hot or you'll need to wait for it to cool off. Sometimes, just leaving the light on in your oven will provide enough warmth without turning on the oven.
  • Punch the dough down to release the trapped air. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. With lightly floured hands or a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 12-inch circle or press it into a lightly greased small rectangular pan.
    Pro Tip: If you're having trouble getting the dough to roll out as thin as you'd like, let the dough rest under a kitchen towel for 10 minutes, then continue to roll out.
  • Pinch the edges or fold them over to form a crust.
  • Use a fork to poke holes over the dough to prevent any bubbles from forming while it bakes.
  • Brush the top of the crust lightly with olive oil. Add sauce and your desired toppings and bake the pizza at 400° F (200°C) for about 18-20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the crust has browned to your liking. Slice and enjoy!

Notes

 
  • Check Your Yeast Viability: To get that perfectly risen dough, make sure your yeast is active. You’ll know it’s good to go if it dissolves in water and produces bubbles.
  • How to Bake and Freeze Your Pizza Crust: If you’re planning to enjoy your pizza later, simply bake the crust, let it cool, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and freeze. When you’re ready to feast, thaw the crust as your oven preheats, add your toppings, and bake for about 15 minutes.
  • Choosing the Ideal Pizza Toppings: Selecting the right toppings can make or break your pizza experience. Opt for ingredients you adore, but be mindful of their moisture content. Excessive liquid from wet toppings like olives or marinated veggies can make your crust soggy. The same goes for using too much sauce—it could turn your perfectly crisp bottom crust into a mushy mess. Choose your toppings wisely to maintain that ideal crust texture.
The instructions in this recipe are for making pizza dough with active dry yeast. If you are using instant yeast the mixture will come together a little differently. To use instant yeast, combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar, salt, and garlic powder in a large mixing bowl. Next, stir warm water and olive oil into the flour/yeast mixture. Then, continue with the recipe as written.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 72mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 3mg

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