Best Thin Crust Pizza Recipes

THIN-CRUST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in hot water in a bowl. Let stand until yeast forms a creamy foam, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Mix 1 3/4 cup flour and salt in a large bowl. Pour in yeast mixture; mix well until dough comes together.
• Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth, adding remaining 1/4 cup flour if dough is too sticky, about 2 minutes. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a greased pizza pan.

BREAD MACHINE THIN CRUST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Pour the warm water into the pan of the bread machine, and add the flour on top of the water. Sprinkle with salt and sugar, and top with the yeast. Set the machine on the dough setting, and push the start button. When the machine signals that the dough is finished, transfer to a well-floured work surface.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Roll or stretch the dough out into thin crust about 14 inches across. Leave dough thick at the edge. Place the dough onto a 14-inch pizza baking sheet, and brush the dough with the olive oil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes before removing to top with desired ingredients for final baking.

SUPER CRISPY THIN PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat pizza stone in oven at 500°F.
• Warm water for 20 seconds in microwave.
• Dissolve yeast and sugar in water; allow to rest for 8 minutes.
• In the meantime, combine flour, salt and Italian seasoning.
• Pour yeast over flour mixture and mix well with a heavy spoon.
• Add 1 tbsp flour if needed.
• Turn dough on to a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes.
• Dust more flour on surface if needed .
• Using a rolling pin, roll dough into a 12" circle of even thickness (about 1/4") flipping over to roll each side (don't press too hard when rolling or dough may stick to surface).
• Cut off any excess edges to make a neat circle.
• Palm down, slide your hands under dough and lifting carefully place on to a hot pizza stone.
• Bake at 500°F for 4 minutes.
• Remove from oven and top with your favorite toppings (don't go too crazy with the toppings, a little goes a long way).
• Return to oven for 6-8 minutes.
• Helpful hint: Top pizza in this order to prevent the crust from getting soggy:.
• chopped basil.
• minced garlic.
• pepperoni.
• cheese.
• (6-8) 2 tbs dollops of pizza sauce evenly spaced.

NEW YORK STYLE THIN CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. If you have one, place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven.
• Divide the dough in half and roll into a 12-inch circle, about 1/2-inch thick.
• Dust pizza peel or baking sheet with cornmeal. Place rolled out dough on peel. Brush pizza dough with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spread 1 cup tomato sauce evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border along the edges. Sprinkle 1/4 cup basil leaves on top of sauce and then top with 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. Finally, top with 1/2-pound mozzarella slices. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and the edges are golden brown. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 2 pizzas.
• In an electric mixing bowl, whisk the yeast, sugar, water and lard together to make a paste. Add the flour and salt and mix, using a dough hook, until the dough comes away from the sides and crawls up the dough hook. Remove the dough from the bowl. Grease the bowl with olive oil and place the dough back in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide dough in half. Roll the dough into balls, cover, and let the dough rest for 15 to 20 minutes. The dough is ready to be shaped.

THIN CRUST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Mix warm water and sugar together in a bowl; add yeast. Set aside until yeast mixture becomes foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Pour yeast mixture into a large bowl; add flour, olive oil, and salt. Knead dough for 6 to 8 minutes, adding more flour to keep dough from sticking to your hands if needed. Cover bowl and let sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Grease 2 pizza pans or baking sheets.
• Divide dough in half. Make each half into a ball shape and roll each into a flat, circular crust using a rolling pin.
• Place 1 piece dough over your hands with your knuckles turned upward directly underneath the center of the dough. Using your knuckles and backs of your hands, toss the dough into the air in a circular motion, spinning the dough. This thins the center of the dough and forms the padded edge of the pizza. When the edge of the dough is about 1/4-inch thick, place the dough onto the pan. Pizza diameter will be about 10 inches. Repeat with other piece of dough.

FAST, THIN, AND CRISPY CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• In a small bowl or glass measuring cup dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water, stir and set aside for 10 minutes. Mixture should begin to bubble and foam at the end of the time (indicating that the yeast is activated & alive.).
• In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt, set aside.
• Add the liquid yeast mixture (and olive oil if using) to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
• Flour a work surface and knead dough for a couple of minutes until smooth and elastic.
• Shape the dough into 1 large, 2 medium, or 4 small pizzas using whatever method you prefer; rolling pin, stretching or off the board between your two hands, in the air.
• If you have a pizza peel, sprinkle lightly with corn meal and build your pizza. If not, lightly grease a flat cookie sheet (or inverted jelly roll pan) and build your pizza.
• I brush the formed dough very lightly with olive oil (optional), then pizza sauce (not too generously), cheese then any other other ingredients. Keep toppings rather sparse if you want a really crispy crust.
• Bake in hot oven until as crispy as desired. Usually 8 to 12 minutes, but this will vary depending upon pizza stone vs. pan and the toppings you have chosen.
• You can also make this in a food processor ~ Mix the water, sugar and yeast as directed in a small container. Place flour and salt in bowl of processor and pulse a few times to mix. Add the liquid yeast mixture (and olive oil, if using) and pulse until blended; adding more flour until mixture just forms a ball and the dough follows the blade around the bowl. (Additional flour is needed when using food processor method, because you are not hand-kneading on a floured board). To remove from food processor bowl, flour your hands well, form dough into a ball (or balls) and shape as directed.

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN THIN-CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• In food processor fitted with metal blade, process flour, sugar and yeast until combined, about 2 seconds. With machine running, slowly add water through feed tube; process until dough is just combined and no dry flour remains, about 10 seconds. Let dough stand for 10 minutes.
• Add oil and salt to dough and process until dough forms a satiny, sticky ball that clears sides of workbowl, 30-60 seconds. Remove dough and knead briefly on lightly oiled countertop until smooth, about 1 minutes. Shape dough into tight ball and place in large lightly oiled bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 3 days.
• Process tomatoes, oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, oregano and pepper in food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds. Transfer to medium bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
• One hour before baking pizza, adjust rack in oven to second highest position, about 4-5 inches below broiler. Set pizza stone on rack and heat oven to 500 degrees. Remove dough from refrigerator and divide in half. Shape each half into smooth, tight ball. Place on lightly oiled baking sheet, spacing them at least 3" apart. Cover loosely with plastic wrap coated with non-stick spray; let stand for 1 hour.
• Coat 1 ball of dough generously with flour and place on well floured countertop. Using fingers gently flatten into 8" disk, leaving 1" of outer edge slightly thicker than center. Using hands, gently stretch dough disk into 12" round, working along edges and giving disk quarter turns as you stretch. Transfer dough to a well floured peel and stretch into 13" round. Using back of spoon or ladle, spread 1/2 c tomato sauce in a thin layer over the surface of dough, leaving 1/4" border around edge. Sprinkle 1/4 c Parmesan evenly over sauce, followed by 1 c mozzarella. Slide pizza carefully onto stone and bake until crust is well browned and cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown, 10-12 minutes, rotating pizza halfway through. Remove pizza and place on wire rack for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Repeat this with second ball of dough.

PIZZA DOUGH FOR THIN CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• Mix a little sugar into the warm water.
• Sprinkle yeast on top.
• Wait for 10 minutes or until it gets all foamy.
• Pour into a large bowl.
• Add flour, salt, olive oil.
• Combine.
• Knead for 6-8 minutes until you have a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (add a bit more flour if you need to).
• Cover and let rest for 20-30 minutes.
• Lightly grease two 12-inch pizza pans.
• Sprinkle with a little bit of cornmeal.
• Divide dough in half.
• Place each half on a pizza pan and pat it with your fingers until it stretches over the whole pan.
• Try to make it thicker around the edge.
• If desired, pre-bake at 425 F for 10 minutes (I don't always do this).
• Then spread with pizza sauce and use the toppings of your choice.
• Bake at 425 F for 10-20 minutes longer or until bubbly and hot.
• Makes 2 12-inch pizzas.
• If you don't want to use all the dough, you can freeze it.
• Take a portion of dough, form into a ball, rub olive oil over it and place it in a freezer bag (the oil makes it easier to take out of the bag).
• When you want to make a pizza, take dough out of freezer and allow to thaw before using.

THIN CRUST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Place flours, yeast and salt in a food processor; pulse until blended. Add honey. While processing, gradually add water until a ball forms. Continue processing 60 seconds to knead dough., Turn dough onto floured surface; shape into a ball. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into quarters. Use immediately or securely wrap and freeze for later use. Freeze option:Wrap each portion of dough in plastic wrap and place in resealable freezer bags; freeze up to 1 month. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Proceed as directed.

HOMEMADE THIN CRUST PIZZA (CRISPY DOUGH AND SWEET BALSAMIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Pre-heat your oven to 500 degrees. If you have a baking stone, put it on a rack in the lower-middle part of the oven.
• In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, heat the water until it feels barely lukewarm when you test it with your finger (if the water is so hot that you can't leave your finger in it, wait for it to cool down). Add the yeast to the water and use a fork or whisk to stir it into the water. Set this aside for a few minutes and allow the yeast to dissolve.
• Measure out the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and use your hand or a whisk to combine.
• Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the water-yeast mixture. Use your fingers or a wooden spoon to combine everything together.
• When it comes together into a cohesive ball, turn it out onto the counter along with any extra flour in the bowl that hasn't yet gotten worked inches.
• Knead the dough until all the flour is incorporated and the dough is smooth and elastic to the touch--about five minutes.The dough should still feel moist and slightly tacky. If it's sticking to your hands and counter-top like bubble gum, work in more flour one tablespoon at a time until it's smooth and silky.
• Use a bench scraper to divide the dough in two. Shape each half into a smooth ball. Set aside while preparing sauce.
• Heat olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper olive oil (or a little extra olive oil, plus red pepper flakes).
• Saute 2 minutes, or until garlic is golden. Add half of the white sugar, and allow to melt (it might start to look clumpy, don't worry and keep going).
• Add drained tomatoes and the rest of the white sugar. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the rest of the ingredients (prepared sauce, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, basil, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper). Lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes. You can break up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon, or use an immersion blender if you prefer.
• Work one piece of the dough in your hands and form it into a large disk. Working from the middle of the dough outwards, use the heel of your hand to gently press the dough outward until it's about 1/4 of an inch thick or less. You can also use a rolling pin for this part.
• Repeat with the second piece of dough (or freeze it for later).
• Place pizza dough on baking stone or baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Spoon a few tablespoons of sauce into the center of each pizza and use the back of a spoon to spread it out to the edges. Pile on all of your toppings except the cheese.
• Bake for about 5 minutes and then rotate the pizza 180-degrees (most ovens have 'hot spots' your pizza will bake unevenly if it's not rotated). Bake for another 3 minutes and then sprinkle the cheese over the top. Bake for another 2-3 minutes until the edges are golden brown and crispy.
• Remove your pizza from oven and let it cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before cutting.

THIN-CRUST CAPRESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Mix the flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Stir in 1/3 cup water and 2 tablespoons olive oil until a shaggy dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead into a smooth ball, 1 to 2 minutes. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside for 15 minutes at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, toss the beans, giardiniera and brine, basil, parsley and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper; set aside. Slice the tomatoes, place on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with salt; set aside.
• Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly oiled piece of parchment paper. Slide the parchment with the dough onto an inverted baking sheet. Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil and the garlic all over the dough. Sprinkle the parmesan on top. Slide onto the hot stone and bake until browned and crisp, about 8 minutes.
• Remove the crust from the oven and top with the mozzarella, tomatoes and basil leaves. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Serve with the bean salad.

THIN-CRUST CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough into two 1-pound balls; wrap one ball in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Make the pizza sauce: Combine the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, sugar and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl; season with more salt and sugar if needed. (Makes about 1 1/2 cups.)
• Make the pizza: Preheat the oven to 500˚ F (use the convection setting, if available) with a pizza stone, baking steel or inverted large baking sheet in the lower third of the oven. Working on a lightly floured surface, cut the other ball of dough in half. Cup your hand around each piece and gently roll each into a small ball. Transfer 1 ball of dough to a lightly floured piece of parchment paper and roll into a thin 12-inch round with a rolling pin (keep the other ball of dough covered; this recipe makes 2 thin-crust pizzas). Top the dough with 1/4 cup pizza sauce and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, going all the way to the edge.
• Transfer the pizza (on the parchment) to the hot stone and bake until the crust is set, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with 1 1/4 cups grated mozzarella, going all the way to the edge. Return the pizza to the stone, then slide out the parchment from under it. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Repeat to make another pizza.

FLAKY THIN CRUST CHICAGO INSPIRED PIZZA

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the cubed, chilled butter and using your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture until it is mostly incorporated, you want to have small butter lumps. Add the chopped garlic. In a large measuring cup, combine the warm water and instant yeast. Add to the flour mixture and, using a fork, combine until the mixture is evenly moistened. Knead the dough in your hands or on a lightly floured surface for one minute or so until the dough is smooth. Divide the dough in two, shape into balls, cover with a damp kitchen towel, and let rest for at least 30 minutes.
• While the dough sits, you can start on the tomato sauce. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring for about 30 seconds. Add the herbs, salt, and both black and red peppers, and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, wine and sugar, and bring it all to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it thickens, usually 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sauce cool before using.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (or as hot as your oven will get). Seriously, the hotter the oven, the better. If using a pizza stone, preheat it along with the oven.
• It's time to shape the dough. Take one piece of dough and shape into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. I use a rolling pin to make it completely even, but you can also just use your hands (use a light touch). With a fork, prick the entire surface of the dough and bake for approximately 8-10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, and let it cool for 5 minutes. Top with tomato sauce, and add your favorite toppings. Going TOO thick on toppings may result in a soggy crust so be careful. Return to the oven and bake for another 8-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and begins to brown. Repeat with the second half of dough or store it in your fridge for later!

EASY AS PIE 10-MINUTE NO-RISE THIN-CRUST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Proof the yeast in the warm water with the honey or sugar for 8-10 minutes or until foamy.
• Add the remaining ingredients together and knead well, about 2-5 minutes.
• If the dough seems a little sticky, dust your hands with some flour and knead again.
• Grease a pizza pan or pie pan with cooking spray, and place the dough into it-- entire thing if a 12" pie, or half for an 8" or 9" pan.
• I prefer to bake these crusts ahead of time-- but if you want to eat it now, you can put the sauce, cheese, toppings, etc. on it and use the same baking instructions.
• Bake at 500F for 8-12 minutes or until the edges are nice and brown.

THIN AND CRISPY PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Blend all ingredients till dough forms. It might be a little sticky
• 2. Add more flour to counter for rolling. Roll out dough nice and thin. It should cover a 16" pan.
• 3. Par bake for about 5 mins then top with your favorite toppings and place directly on the rack for the remaining time.

THIN PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in hot water.
• Let sit for 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile mix flour and salt.
• Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture and mix well with a heavy spoon.
• Turn onto floured surface and knead for 2 minutes.
• Spread into a 12-14" circle.
• (I do this directly onto a pizza stone with a marble rolling pin).
• If you roll it out on a counter top, transfer to a greased pizza pan, stretching to edges.
• Cover with sauce and desired topping.
• Bake at 500 degrees for 8-12 minutes or until edges are golden.

GONDOLA'S THIN PIZZA CRUST RECIPE - (3/5)

Steps:

• Combine first five ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir in warm water. In a separate bowl combine remaining ingredients. Add 1/2 cup at a time to the dough. Knead for about 5 minutes and let rest for about 20 minutes in a warm room. On a well-floured surface, roll dough into a very thin sheet. Cut to fit a pan. Make sure the pan is dry and floured. Freeze for at least three hours. To prepare pizza, place toppings on top of your favorite sauce and frozen crust. Make sure the crust is completely frozen. Thawing the crust will result in a soggy or thicker crust. The crust should not be exposed for more than 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature. Bake at a high temperature of about 450F to 550F for about 25 to 30 minutes or until done.

AMAZING THIN CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• DOUGH: In the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the plastic dough blade, pulse the flour, yeast, and salt to combine; about five 1-second pulses. With the machine running, slowly add the oil, then the water through the feed tube; continue to process until the dough forms a ball, about 15 seconds. Generously dust the work surface with flour. Using floured hands, transfer the dough to the work surface and knead lightly, shaping the dough into a ball. Lightly oil a 1-quart measuring cup with cooking spray, place the dough in the measuring cup and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Set aside in a draft free place until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 - 1/2 hours.
• PIZZA SAUCE: Mix this up while the dough is rising, giving the flavors some time to meld.
• Preheat the oven to 550 degrees F. This may take as long as 30 minutes, so allow enough time for the oven to get hot. Remove all racks except the one holding your baking stone, for easier positioning of pizza onto the stone.
• BUILDING: When the dough has doubled, grease hands with olive oil and remove it from the measuring cup, placing into the middle of a lightly floured board. (A silpat placed on the work surface makes cleaning up easier.) Being careful not to deflate all the air in the dough, roll dough into a ball and set aside. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut parchment paper and set aside. Do NOT cut parchment larger than your pizza stone, to mimimize risk of the paper catching fire.
• Oiling hands again, gently stretch the dough, shaping it into a large rectangle on the parchment paper. With palms, stretch and flatten the dough until it takes the shape you want it to have, keeping a slightly thicker edge for the crust. Dock the surface of the dough with your fingers to "texture" the surface and hold the toppings. Oil the dough before building the pizza.
• Place finely cut (or dried) basil across the top of the dough. Add Mozzarella and Provolone cheese slices on top of the basil. Spread a thin, even layer of the pizza sauce, adding pork sausage, shredded Mozzarella and mild cheddar over the top of the dough. (You can really use any toppings you'd like.).
• BAKING: Position the baking stone on the bottom rack of your electric oven, or on the floor of your gas oven. Lift the parchment paper and slide onto the bottom of a sheet pan, then quickly slide pizza onto the baking stone. Shut the oven door, and reset your oven for 500 degrees. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges of the crust are browned. Check the bottom of the pizza for doneness before removing from the oven. Using tongs, transfer pie onto oven rack and set aside to cool a few minutes. Cut with a pizza cutter and enjoy!

THIN-CRUST FATHEAD PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a bowl. Set aside for about 5 minutes.
• Place mozzarella cheese into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds until cheese is completely melted. Stir in yeast mixture and egg and stir to combine; mixture will not incorporate well at this point.
• Stir in almond flour, xanthan gum, and salt. If mixture is difficult to mix, reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to soften the cheese. Stir again until well incorporated. Using your hands, knead the dough for 2 minutes.
• Place dough on baking sheet and press with your fingers into a thin crust, approximately 11-12 inches in diameter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, top with your favorite pizza toppings, and return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

GLUTEN FREE - THIN PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Combine yeast, sugar and 1/2 cup of water.
• Let rise till doubled in size.
• Combine flours, shortening and optional seasonings.
• Combine with risen yeast and remaining 1/2 cup of water.
• With oiled fingers, spread dough on pizza stone sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Bake in oven for 15 minutes.
• Remove and add pizza toppings; Return to oven and bake 10 minutes more.
• ***Be generous with the flours as you measure and DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE DOUGH BEING RUNNY! THIS WILL PRODUCE A SOFTER, LIGHTER CRUST *** (I have been known to even add more water that was is called for).