Soft and Chewy Pizza Dough

Ingredients (2 dough balls)

• 1 3/4 cups warm water (~110F)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
• 5 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt

How to Activate Yeast

Combine the active dry yeast, honey, and warm water together in your stand mixer bowl, then give the mixture a quick stir; allow 5 minutes for foaming.

After 5 minutes, the yeast mixture should appear foamy.

If the mixture does not show any signs of foaming after 10 minutes, it is likely the yeast has died and must be replaced with a new packet of yeast.

Prepare to Knead and Mix Your Dough

Combine the yeast mixture with all-purpose flour, salt, and olive oil in the stand mixer bowl.

Using the dough hook attachment, knead the dough for 8 to 9 minutes at a low mixing speed until the dough is smooth and elastic, and pulls away from the edges of the bowl.

If the dough is sticky and is resting on the bottom of the bowl, add flour, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the dough forms a ball.

Let the Dough Rise

Form the kneaded dough into a ball, and place it inside an oiled bowl; cover the bowl securely with plastic wrap.

Allow the dough to rise in a warm spot for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.

Shape and Bake Your Dough

Once the dough is fully risen, gently punch it down to release the excess air.

Cut the dough into two equal pieces; using a clean, floured countertop, roll each piece to the thickness you desire, and add your toppings before placing both pieces in the oven to bake.

The ideal baking temperature is 475°F for 12 to 15 minutes.

Soft and Chewy Pizza Dough

This pizza dough recipe is a straightforward method that doesn't require special flours or a long fermentation period. The dough uses active dry yeast and honey and comes together in a stand mixer in ~60-90 minutes. The result is a crust that's crispy on the bottom but soft and chewy on the inside.

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Rise Time: 40 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 3/4 cups warm water ~110F
• ▢ 2 tablespoons honey
• ▢ 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 standard packet
• ▢ 5 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 1 tsp table salt)

Instructions

• Combine warm water, honey and yeast in stand mixer bowl. Let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
• Add flour, olive oil, and salt to bowl. Knead with dough hook on low speed 8-9 minutes until smooth and pulls away from sides.
• Form dough into ball, place in oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm spot 60-90 minutes until doubled.
• Punch down dough and divide in half.
• Roll each piece to desired thickness, add toppings and bake at 475F for 12-15 minutes.

Notes

If yeast mixture doesn’t foam after 10 minutes, start over with fresh yeast. If using instant yeast, blooming isn’t necessary.

Add AP flour 1 tsp at a time if dough is too sticky.

Update 4/1/2026: A previous version of this dough recipe listed 4 1/2 tsp of active dry yeast (2 packets) – this ensures a fast rise in ~30-40 minutes. BUT you can just use 1 packet, I find the flavor to be better but the rise is slower. If you do need Pizza dough FAST, use 2 packets.

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below & let me know!