Classic Italian Pizza Dough Mix

Like most everything else, homemade is better. No one will care for your pizzas like you will. And you can make pizzas like the pizza shop never dreamed.

• Seven Reasons Why You Should Make Your Own (One of them may even save you money.)
• All Your Questions Answered
• Should I make a thin crust pizza or a thick one?
• How to make a thin-crust pizza in as little as 15 minutes
• How to bake pizzas outside on the grill

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Seven Reasons Why You Should Make Your Own 

1. Make them exactly the way you want, with just the right toppings, prepared just right, on a crust that's thick or thin.
2. Get healthy.  Leave the bacon off if you like. Cut back on the cheese. Or load it up with veggies.
3. Get a little crazy and choose a different sauce—ranch dressing, chip dip, or olive oil.
4. Impress your brother-in-law. Bake them outdoors on the grill at the family party. (See below.)
5. Cruise the recipes. Find something exciting. Make it fun.
6. Save time. It's faster than delivery, and you don't have to tip the driver. And you can still have pizza even if the road is washed out.
7. Save money. It costs less, and (again) you don't have to tip the driver.

This is a better pizza dough than they make downtown. Make the crust as thin or as thick as you like. Use white sauce or your own marinara. Make it exactly as your family likes. Top one half differently than the other. Load it with fresh veggies.

Make pizzas better than you can buy and quicker than delivery. Make a thin-crust pizza in 15 minutes.

All for a tiny fraction of the price of commercial pizzas. Besides, they're more fun.

Questions about making homemade pizza

• How does this compare to Pizza Hut? This makes a great pizza crust. As of 5/9/24, it is 100% five stars with 54 reviews, with some reviewers saying it is "the best ever." And you have a lot more choices than at the Pizza Hut.
• Is it easy to make? Yes. It comes with easy-to-follow instructions.--a few steps and 15 minutes.
• What about the yeast? It comes with a SAF yeast packet.
• Can I mix the dough in my bread machine? Yes. Set it on the dough setting, setting 8 with most machines. Load the dough into a large 15-inch pizza pan for a regular thick-crust pizza, and let it rise.
• I don't have a bread machine. Can I use my stand-type mixer? Yes. Use the dough hook and 110-degree water and let it run on medium-high for a few minutes or until the dough gets stretchy.
• Will it make a large pizza? Actually, it's a lot of dough. It will make a large, thick-crust pizza. It's probably more than what you need, so make two.  
• Can I make it on the grill? Yes, if your grill has a cover to trap the heat. Grills are great and quick for flatbreads. (see instructions below.)
• Can I make breadsticks? Yep, roll the dough out, cut it into strips, put it on a baking sheet, season it, let it rise, and bake.
• Can I make thin-crust pizzas? Yes. (See below.)
• What about "springback. That makes it hard to make a pizza. The springback is minimal. There is a dough relaxer in the flour.
• What about calzones? It's perfect for calzones.
• Can I make two smaller pizzas and freeze one? Yes, put it on a sheet of cardboard to keep it rigid, load it with goodies, wrap it in plastic, and freeze it. Let it thaw for ten minutes before you bake it.
• Do I reheat leftovers in the oven? You can. However, my family prefers an air fryer. It makes the pizza taste like new again.

Dennis Weaver

Should I Make a thin-crust pizza or a thick one?

• This is a large mix. You can make a large thick crust pizza or two thin crust. Debbie, my daughter, makes three medium-thin crust pizzas from one mix.
• It's quicker to make thin-crust pizzas. A thick crust, you need to stop and let the crust rise for 20 minutes. A thin crust, by the time you get the toppings loaded, it's ready to go in the oven. You'll get a little rise in the oven.
• A thick crust is chewy. A thin crust is more cracker-like and crispy. It's more like eating a cracker with spread.  A thick crust can handle more toppings. A thin crust, a spread of olive, and some herbs may be enough.  
• A thin crust lends itself to lighter eating. A thick crust with more toppings is a meal.

How to Make a Thin-Crust Pizza in as Little as 15 Minutes

You'll love the convenience. Preheat the oven. Prep the toppings‚ cut the veggies, and cook the meats. Then you really can have the pizza ready to serve in 15 minutes. We've proven that in our pizza classes.

That includes mixing the dough from a mix, forming the crust, assembling the pizza, and baking it.

Most of the pizzas we make are thin-crust pizzas.

Step 1: Making the Crust

Pizza dough has elasticity and creates "springback". You roll the dough into a circle and it wants to shrink back. We put a dough relaxer in the flour. It makes the dough soft and easy to roll out to a thin, cracker-like crust.

All you add is water. Use the dough hook with your stand-type mixer. Once the dough starts to come together, turn the speed to medium-high and mix for about one minute.

Step 2: Assembling the Pizza

I prefer rolling my pizzas in the pan. Debbie uses a pizza stone. She rolls the dough on a dusted counter and loads it with goodies while it's on the counter. She transfers the loaded pizza to the hot pizza stone with a pizza paddle.

Debbie's pizzas tend to be more rough-hewn than mine. On the stone, they're free-form. Mine are contained within the pan--two 15-inch round pizzas from on e mix.

 

Step 3: Baking the Pizza

You need to bake 'em hot to get 'em crisp. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. How long it will bake will be a function of how high you stack your toppings. If the toppings are sparse, the crust should be crispy, and the cheese melted and bubbly in six to eight minutes.

Discover the delights of thin crust pizzas. They're scrumptious. They're easy.

 "Much better than I expected and pretty easy to make. I've made two calzones so far, and they were as good or better than any I've eaten at a restaurant." --Travis

How to Bake Pizzas Outside on the Grill

Try it. See if you don't make better pizzas. Your family will love it. We guarantee it.