I wrote yesterday about our pizza adventures here in Juneau, they are similar to our Mexican food adventures.

While we have been able to find some decent pizza, at some point it’s just easier and much more cost-effective to make our own. This pizza crust makes it possible. You don’t need a mixer or bread machine, nor do you need hours of time for it to rise and double and poof and all that crazy stuff most recipes call for. You simply mix everything together knead it a couple of times and let it sit about 10-20 mins and ta-da its done! Easy right?

This recipe has been made three times already at our house and it makes for such an easy pizza night or quick dinner, yes, homemade pizza and quick in the same sentence.

This recipe is highly adapted from Center Cut Cook’s.

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough

Prep Time: 15mn     Cook Time: 20mn    Total Time: 35mn

DOUGH INGREDIENTS:

• 1 packet Rapid Rise Yeast (Very important that it is rapid rise)
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

PIZZA INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning (if you don’t have this, use 1/8 teaspoon basil, 1/8 teaspoon oregano, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Pizza sauce
• Toppings

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 450 degrees and spray a 16 inch pizza pan with non-stick cooking spray
2. In a large bowl, combine water and yeast and stir until the yeast is dissolved.
3. Add in flour, honey, salt, and olive oil and use a wooden spoon to combine. A tip here is to measure out the olive oil before the honey then the honey doesn’s stick to your measuring spoon!
4. Once the ingredients are well combined with the spoon, use your hands to knead the dough for a few minutes. Or if your lazy, your counter top is a mess or you just don’t want to get your counter top covered in flour you can knead it in the bowl. Same concept just using the sides of the bowl instead of the counter.
5. Form the dough into a ball, and let it rest for 10 minutes. I usually make this right before its time to pick up D and then let it rest the whole time we are out which ends up being close to 40 mins, the results are the same either way.
6. Roll the dough out into a 16 inch circle, or a little bigger so you can roll the edges. Again with not wanting to clean the counter I roll it out on the sheet I bake it on.
7. Roll the edges of the dough. If you want to get crazy here cut string cheese into quarters long ways and roll it up in the crust, stuffed crust pizza.
8. I typically pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the middle of the crust and spread it around so that everything is covered then sprinkle the italian seasoning over top, alternately, you can combine the seasoning and the olive oil and brush it on.
9. Place the crust in the oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and add sauce, cheese, and toppings.
10. Return the pizza to the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted. D and I like a softer pizza so after an additional 8 mins I usually put it on the top rack to give the cheese a chance to get warm and melty.

It is that easy. Check out the original recipe, it’s probably easier than my way but even if not, this pizza dough tastes good, is super fast, and really easy. Give it a try, and let me know how your pizza turns out!