Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (2024)

Published February 3, 2021.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

If you’re a fan of a thinner crust then you will absolutely love this easy to prepare Italian homemade pizza crust recipe.

We obviously eat a lot of Italian food in our house and are always looking to try out new Italian recipes. If you’re in the same boat then definitely check out my Chicken Cacciatore or Spiedini.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (1)

Thin Crust Pizza

Thin crust pizza is innately Italian, and most people who think of thin-crust pizza think of New York style or Neopolitano. This is the pizza that is thin in the center with a thick fluffy crust around the outside. When I think of thin crust, I think of mid-west style pizza which is thin all the way around and may or may not have a little bit of a crust around the outside.

Thin crust pizza is great if you’re looking to consume a lot at one time since there is a lot less dough. This pizza dough recipe is actually very similar to a New York style or Neopolitano except the proof time is much shorter. In a thin crust, you don’t need a full proof which can last several hours, so the shorter time won’t allow the crust to rise that much, making it thin but still fluffy.

How to Make It

To make this tasty thin crust pizza recipe, follow along with these easy steps:

Whisk together some warm water, sugar, and yeast together in the bowl of a stand mixer until combined and let stand for 5-7 minutes until a raft forms.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (2)

Next, add in the flour, semolina, and salt and knead at low to medium speed using the hook attachment for 10 minutes.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (3)

Transfer the dough to a container with a lid and proof in the oven only with the light on for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. Make sure your oven is not on.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (4)

Remove the dough and place it on a clean surface and divide it into 3 dough balls.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (5)

Knead each dough ball for a minute and then cover with a towel and let stand for 15 minutes.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (6)

Next, when you’re ready to use it, flatten out the dough on a clean surface dusted with flour until it’s about 12” to 15” in diameter.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (7)

Feel free to add toppings such as pizza sauce, cheese, meats, etc., and then bake in a preheated pizza stone at 500° for 7-10 minutes or until browned and the cheese is melted and browned.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (8)

How to Get the Crust Crispy

The key to getting a pizza crust crispy is by cooking it on a preheated pizza stone and for the oven to be at high temperatures. It’s important to watch the pizza while cooking because it can burn if not closely monitored. The other option is to brush the outside edge and bottom of crust with a little bit of olive oil.

Can You Make Pizza Crust Thinner?

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. If this is the route you’d like to go then it will also cook more quickly in the oven so start by cooking it for 5-7 minutes.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: Pizza is usually meant to be eaten right when it comes out of the oven. If you want to make it ahead of time, you can make the dough up to 1 day before and keep it in the refrigerator.

How to Reheat: Place your cooked pizza on a preheated pizza stone at 350° and bake for 2-4 minutes or until hot. You can also heat in the microwave until hot.

How to Store: Place the dough balls covered and in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can freeze them covered for up to 1 month. Thaw the dough ball in the refrigerator for 1 day before using. If you have already cooked your pizza, it will last up to 3 days covered in the refrigerator. Cooked pizzas do not freeze that well.

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (9)

chef notes + tips

  • If you cannot find 00 flour, then substitute with bread flour. If you don’t have bread flour you can use all-purpose flour, but you will need to decrease the amount of water by 5%.
  • You can absolutely make this recipe by hand, just use a regular bowl and whisk to active the yeast then mix everything by hand.
  • If you only have instant yeast, you can forgo the procedure of waiting for the raft to form.
  • The pizza stone needs to be preheated for about 30 minutes total.
Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (10)

More Italian Recipes

  • Gnudi
  • Wedding Soup
  • Frittata
  • Minestrone
  • Braciole

Be sure to follow me onFacebook,YouTube,Instagram,andPinterest,and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (11)

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Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe

Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (12)

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4.95 from 17 votes

If you’re a fan of a thinner crust then you will absolutely love this easy to prepare Italian homemade pizza crust recipe.

Servings: 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Proofing Time: 1 hour hour

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cup warm water, 115° to 118°
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons active yeast
  • 3 1/3 cup packed 00 flour
  • 1 cup packed semolina flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • pizza sauce
  • shredded mozzarella
  • sliced mozzarella
  • fresh basil leaves
  • dry oregano

Instructions

  • Add a pizza stone to your oven and preheat to 500°.

  • Add the water, sugar, and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk until completely combined, and let sit for 5-7 minutes until a raft forms on top.

  • Next, add the flour, semolina, and salt to the bowl and knead the dough with the hook attachment on low to medium speed for 10 minutes.

  • Cover the dough and keep it in a warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.

  • Punch the dough down and transfer to a clean surface and divide into 3 dough balls.

  • Lightly knead for 1 minute and form into a ball. Cover with a towel and let sit for 15 minutes.

  • When ready to cook, stretch out a dough ball until it is about 12” to 15” in diameter. Transfer the rolled-out dough to a pizza peel or cutting board dusted with cornmeal.

  • Add on desired toppings and slide onto the preheated pizza stone and bake in the oven at 500° for 7 to 10 minutes. After 3-4 minutes rotated the pizza 180°.

Notes

Chef Notes:

  • Make-Ahead: Pizza is usually meant to be eaten right when it comes out of the oven. If you want to make it ahead of time, you can make the dough up to 1 day before and keep it in the refrigerator.
  • How to Reheat: Place your cooked pizza on a preheated pizza stone at 350° and bake for 2-4 minutes or until hot. You can also heat in the microwave until hot.
  • How to Store: Place the dough balls covered and in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can freeze them covered for up to 1 month. Thaw the dough ball in the refrigerator for 1 day before using. If you have already cooked your pizza, it will last up to 3 days covered in the refrigerator. Cooked pizzas do not freeze that well.
  • If you cannot find 00 flour, then substitute with bread flour. If you don’t have bread flour you can use all-purpose flour, but you will need to decrease the amount of water by 5%.
  • You can absolutely make this recipe by hand, just use a regular bowl and whisk to active the yeast then mix everything by hand.
  • If you only have instant yeast, you can forgo the procedure of waiting for the raft to form.
  • The pizza stone needs to be preheated for about 30 minutes total.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 7gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 53mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg

Course: Main

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

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35 comments

    • Kent Fisher
    • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (14)

    I’ve been trying various pizza dough recipes for YEARS, with completely unappealing results. Until now. Hands down this is the best pizza dough I’ve ever had, let alone made myself. I followed the dough recipe exactly, preheated my stone for close to an hour, and even bought some San Marzano’s to make the sauce. Topped the pizza with mini cup pepperoni, some thin sliced Vidalia onion and freshly grated mozzarella. It was exceptional. The search is OVER!

    • Reply
    • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (15)

        many thanks!

        • Reply
      • Elizabeth Jensen
      • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (16)

      Great thin crust recipe!

      • Reply
      • Paula Mendenhall
      • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (17)

      I make pizza often and have for a long time but this crust is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! Everyone in my family raved and it will now become my norm. I cooked it on a hot cast iron pizza pan. the crust was perfectly crispy on the outside and slightly chewy. Perfect!

      • Reply
      • Kris

      I made this crust for our pizza last night and my family loved it! It’s a repeat in our house!!

      • Reply
      • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (18)

          fantastic!

          • Reply
        • Kathy
        • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (19)

        Loved this recipe, it came together quickly which is what I needed for a busy Friday night. I did have to substitute the semolina flour, I took a chance on wheat and it worked well, a little more sticky from the wheat flour (I think), so I added a little more “00” and it was great. If you’re in a rush this is a great option. Home made is always better!

        • Reply
        • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (20)

            perfect!!

            • Reply
          • Debbie
          • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (21)

          This crust is fantastic! So simple to make and best of all, it’s not time consuming! It’ll definitely be my go-to pizza dough from now on! The only change I’d make is to add a little bit more salt! Other than that…it gets 5 stars!

          • Reply
          • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (22)

              Amazing!

              • Reply
            • Remedios Santos
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (23)

            The best!!

            • Reply
            • Amk
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (25)

            Finally found the perfect recipe!

            • Reply
            • Remedios Santos
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (26)

            Great recipe! First project for my Church Breadmaking Class this month! Rest of the year’s projects based on your recipes Chef Billy!!

            • Reply
            • Jeffrey pilus
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (27)

            I have tried and failed a few thin crust pizzas. It is tricky handling a 500 degree stone. I made two and what I learned was I should have switched top to bottom. Lower crust got a little too brown. Great tips on this, thanks chef.

            • Reply
            • Mervat
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (28)

            Excellent! It really give you confidence to do this all the time! Thank you!!!

            • Reply
            • Angie
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (29)

            Great flavor! I had to use bread dough, but I’ve ordered 00 (Italian) from Amazon for next time. My dough was a bit too, sticky. I am new to the KitchenAid. Maybe I needed it up on 4-5 the entire ten minutes. I love your videos, BP! Thanks for all the inspiration and help!

            • Reply
            • Elizabeth
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (30)

            I just started making pizza dough and I’m trying difference recipes. This is by far the best one so far! I didn’t have 00 flour but did use bread flour and semolina. The dough was very sticky so I think I need less water. I used pink salt and some thought it wasn’t salty enough so may try different salt (kosher or sea salt) next time. Definitely a keeper!

            • Reply
            • Tina Rochha
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (31)

            I first time I made the dough I followed the recipe. My family really enjoyed the texture of the dough – very light and crisp, and thought it needed more salt. The second time I made the dough I added 1 Tbl of salt and 1 Tbl of EVOO … good enhancement!

            • Reply
            • Dawson
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (32)

            Best pizza dough

            • Reply
            • Debi

            When I adjust the servings size on the recipe from 12 to 6, it adjusts all the ingredients BUT when I go to print it for my files, it jumps back to 12 servings.
            Can I print off only the 12 serving size pizza crust recipe ?

            • Reply
            • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (33)

                I don’t think you can print the adjusted version…

                • Reply
              • Elizabeth

              How long should I let the dough sit after removing it from the fridge?

              • Reply
              • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (34)

                  Straight to forming it and baking it.

                  • Reply
                • Norelle

                What flour can I use instead of semolina flour?

                • Reply
                • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (35)

                    You can use all 00

                    • Reply
                  • Suzanne Ray

                  At what point do I put the dough in the fridge to use later ?

                  • Reply
                  • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (36)

                      after the proof

                      • Reply
                    • Deb Richard

                    Hi. My pizza stone recently broke (hubby didn’t know pizza stone rules). It was a gift, so I’ve never purchased one. What stone do you use? I didn’t see it listed in your list of kitchen essentials.

                    Thank you

                    • Reply
                    • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (37)

                        Here is the one that I use, this is an affiliate link that allows me to make a few $$ on the sale: https://amzn.to/3suNES1

                        • Reply
                      • Dave Gaunt
                      • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (38)

                      I have wondered how to get dough to rise in a cold kitchen. Thanks!

                      • Reply
                      • PATRICIA MALICOTT

                      how can i use this same recipe for a little thicker crust that my husband will like?

                      • Reply
                      • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (39)

                          proof it for 4-6 hours or tripled in size. Then after rolling into a ball, proof if for another hour.

                          • Reply
                        • Rehab
                        • Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (40)

                        I love it❤❤❤❤❤

                        • Reply
                      Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Recipe (2024)

                      FAQs

                      What is the secret to thin crust pizza? ›

                      For an extra-thin crust, roll it with a rolling pin. If the dough starts to shrink back, let it rest for 5 minutes and then try rolling again. Carefully remove the preheated baking sheet from the oven and place it upside down on a wire rack. Transfer the dough directly onto the upside-down baking sheet.

                      What is the secret to a crispy pizza crust? ›

                      When building a pan pizza, it's important to apply a liberal coating of olive oil to the bottom of the cold pan before adding your dough. This not only prevents sticking, but further helps the caramelization of the bottom crust, creating that delicious crunch.

                      How do you make pizza dough thinner? ›

                      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 temperature do you bake thin crust pizza? ›

                      How to Use Thin Crust Pizza Dough. Top the crust as desired and bake at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. For topping inspiration, check out these irresistible recipes: Pesto Pizza.

                      How do you get the brown crust on the bottom of a pizza? ›

                      Preheat it thoroughly — at least an hour before baking — and it will still be able to deliver a significant blast of heat to the bottom of your crust, enabling it to brown at a nice rate. If you don't have a baking steel or stone, you can bake your pizza on a preheated metal half-sheet pan.

                      Why is my homemade pizza crust not crispy? ›

                      High heat for quick cooking is one of the best ways to get a good crispy pizza crust, so pre-heating your pizza stone or pan will help a lot. Take care when placing your pizza on a hot surface. Use the wrong type of cheese on a pizza and it can really affect your pizza base.

                      How to make homemade pizza crust crispy on bottom? ›

                      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.

                      Does cornmeal make pizza crust crispy? ›

                      Cornmeal: Cornmeal isn't in the dough, but it's used to dust the pizza pan. Cornmeal gives the pizza crust a little extra flavor and crisp. Most delivery pizzas you enjoy have cornmeal on the bottom crust!

                      What makes pizza crust thin vs thick? ›

                      Thick crust pizza is made in a very similar way to thin crust pizza. The difference is that the dough is set at a thicker depth, especially at the outer edges. Therefore, thick crust pizza takes quite a bit longer to cook. Also, thick crust pizza recipes require different ratios of flour to water.

                      Why can't I get my pizza dough thin? ›

                      Under-proofed pizza dough is hard to stretch and dense. An over-proofed dough will stretch too thin and won't spring up when you put it in the oven. Warm-up your dough: Cold dough is hard to stretch and more prone to tearing. Let your dough warm up to at least room temperature before stretching for best results.

                      What temperature to cook homemade pizza? ›

                      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).

                      How long to cook thin pizza at 450? ›

                      Ultra Thin Pizza

                      Set oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 450°F. Place pizza on middle rack. Do not use a pan or cookie sheet to bake pizza. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until pizza is golden brown.

                      Should I bake pizza at 400 or 450? ›

                      Preheat the oven as high as possible, ideally between 450-500°F. Allow at least 15-20 minutes for the oven to fully preheat before baking.

                      How do you cut a thin pizza crust? ›

                      Many say that the best way to cut your pizza is by square shape. Square-shaped cuts allow you to have the piece you want, either more crust or cheese. However, you can experiment with different ways of cutting pizza to see what fits you best. The first cut should be made about 3 inches from the edge of the pizza.

                      How do I make the bottom of my pizza crust crispy? ›

                      Use a pizza stone or a pan with holes to get a crispy pizza crust. A pizza stone will keep your pizza hot and its porousness will absorb some condensation. A perforated pan has holes that will let the condensation escape, just remember to place it on a rack as it cools so the holes can do their work.

                      What is the point of thin crust pizza? ›

                      Thin-crust pizza is perfect for those who prefer a lighter, less doughy eating experience. It is commonly found in Neapolitan and New York-style pizzas. Size: Thin crust pizzas typically have a larger diameter compared to thicker crust options, making them ideal for sharing or for those who enjoy a larger portion.

                      How do you make thin crust pizza softer? ›

                      On the other hand, you can try adding a layer of oil, or brushing milk instead of water on your crust edge. The fats will not dry off quite so easily, and should make the crust more tender. You could even try an beaten egg or egg yolk around the edges or something, for a thicker coating and more tenderizing effects.

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