Homemade Pan Pizza Dough

Homemade Pan Pizza Dough recipe

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Prep: 2 hrs
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 2 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 6 to 12 servings

Who can argue with pizza night? This recipe for a pan pizza dough is soft and doughy and one the entire family will enjoy. It is easy to make and is just waiting for your favorite pizza toppings. The dough is made with yeast and will rise a bit while baking, giving it that signature pan pizza crust. 

You can bake the pizza in a skillet like traditional pan pizza or use just about any oven-safe pan you have in the kitchen. There is no need for fancy pizza pans or baking stones to make a delicious pizza.

The number of ​pizzas you can make with this recipe will vary based on the size of the skillet or pan you choose to use. You may even have leftovers that can be frozen for the next pizza night.

You should be aware that because it uses yeast, this pizza dough needs to rise. This adds time and you will need to plan ahead. Allow yourself about 2 to 3 hours to prepare the dough for the best results. Don't worry, most of that time you don't have to do anything but wait, so it won't ruin your day.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Homemade Pan Pizza Dough ingredients

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  2. Mix water, yeast, and salt in a large bowl and stir until everything has dissolved.

    yeast, water and salt in a large bowl

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  3. Stir in olive oil.

    olive oil added to the yeast mixture in a glass bowl

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  4. Mix in flour.

    flour added to the yeast and oil mixture

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  5. Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead for about 5 minutes.

    kneading dough on a wood board

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  6. Grease inside of a medium-sized bowl and place dough inside. Flip dough over so that top is also greased.

    dough ball in a glass bowl

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  7. Cover and let dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size (about 2 hours).

    dough rising in a glass bowl

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  8. Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured board. Knead out bubbles.

    knead the dough on a wood cutting board

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  9. The dough is now ready to be made into a pizza.

How to Make a Delicious Pan Pizza

There are many ways to make pan pizza and it all begins with choosing the pan.

Traditionally, a pan pizza is baked in a cast-iron skillet, which helps it get that nice, deep crust that's a signature of this style. Other types of pans can be used to make your pan pizza, as well. Use a pie dish, a rectangular pan, a couple smaller pans, or whatever you have.

If you're using a smaller pan, cut the dough in half or thirds before spreading it out (remember that it will rise). Any unused portions can be bagged and frozen for up to a month or placed in plastic containers and refrigerated for the next day.

  1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Grease inside of a large skillet or baking pan with olive oil.

    pizza baking pan and olive oil

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  2. Press dough into pan so that it comes up the sides a little.

    pizza dough on a baking pan

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  3. Add your favorite toppings (make it a family affair and allow everyone to join in).

    pizza dough covered in pizza toppings, sauce, cheese, tomato, and artichoke

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  4. Bake pizza in preheated oven until done. This is usually 12 to 15 minutes, but baking times will vary. The crust should be golden brown and cheese thoroughly melted. Serve and enjoy.

    Homemade Pan Pizza Dough, baked pizza

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Tips

  • For an even better pan pizza with a deeper crust, cover the dough and allow it to rise for another hour or two after spreading it out in the pan.
  • Lift an edge of the risen dough to release any air bubbles trapped underneath. Repeat this as you work your way around the pan and then make sure the dough is spread evenly.
  • To check if the pizza's really done, gently lift the crust with a spatula and peek underneath. You're looking for a crisp, golden brown bottom.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
194 Calories
5g Fat
32g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 194
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 212mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 53mg 1%
*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.)