Easy 12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe

Written by
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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Elizabeth Yetter
Updated 07/05/19
12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe

The Spruce  
  • Total: 65 mins
  • Prep: 45 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Servings: 4 to 8 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
72 Calories
3g Fat
9g Carbs
2g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 72
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 177mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 2g
Calcium 25mg 2%
*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.)

A delicious homemade pizza is easier than you think. This simple 12-inch pizza dough is perfect for last minute lunch or dinner plans and it requires just a few minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to rise. 

The real beauty of this recipe is that you can bake the dough on the weekend when you have more free time. When it's done, simply pop it in the freezer and your family can enjoy pizza night any day of the week.

The dough can be rolled out onto a greased, 12-inch pizza pan. If you prefer, it can be pressed into a greased, 9- or 10-inch skillet to make a thick, pan pizza.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe ingredients
     The Spruce

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

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
     The Spruce

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

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
    The Spruce 

  4. Mix in enough flour to make a dough that can be kneaded.

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Turn the dough out onto a board and quickly knead it for 3 minutes. Add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, if the dough remains too sticky to knead.

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
     The Spruce

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

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
     The Spruce

  7. Cover and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place until it has doubled in size (about 30 minutes).

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
     The Spruce

  8. Press the dough into a greased 12-inch pizza pan or into a well-oiled skillet pan. Be sure to also press the dough up on the edges to form the crust.

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
     The Spruce

  9. Add sauce and your desired toppings.

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
     The Spruce

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

    12-Inch Pizza Crust Recipe
     The Spruce

  11. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • Personal pizza party. You can divide the pizza dough into smaller pieces to make 2 to 4 individual pizzas and have a pizza night with personal-sized pizzas. Let everyone choose their own toppings.
  • Allergic to dairy? If someone at your pizza party cannot eat dairy products, there's no need to skip the cheese. Instead, buy shredded non-dairy cheese to top your pizza.
  • Pre-bake your crust. Pizza shells can be prepared and baked ahead of time. Allow the shells to cool completely, wrap them, and freeze. Whenever you want a pizza, remove the shell from the freezer and add your favorite toppings. Bake it as you normally would for an almost instant, hassle-free pizza.
  • The dough isn't rising! If your pizza dough is not rising, check your water source. Water that is heavily chlorinated or has gone through a water softener can kill off the bread yeast and prevent the dough from rising. It's always best to use bottled spring water instead of tap water for yeast doughs.

Recipe Variation

  • No pizza sauce? If you don't have pizza sauce on hand, use a ripe tomato instead. Simply cut the tomato into slices and lay the slices out on top of the flattened pizza dough. Top with cheese and your other favorite toppings and bake as you normally would.

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