How to Make Thin Crust Pizza

Co-authored by Alex Hong

Last Updated: May 2, 2022 References Approved

Not only is thin crust pizza a delicious meal, but it is also quick to make because you don’t have to wait for the dough to rise. Mix the ingredients for the dough by combining yeast and water, before adding flour and salt. Then begin kneading the dough until it’s slightly springy. Add pizza sauce, your favorite toppings, and cheese, before baking the pizza for 8-12 minutes.

Ingredients

¾ cup (177 ml) of lukewarm water
1 tsp (3.15 g) of active, dry yeast
2 cups (256 g) of all-purpose flour, and extra for kneading
¾ tsp (4.27 g) of salt
2 tsp (9.9 mL) of olive oil
½ cup (115 g) of pizza sauce
2 cups (250 g) of shredded mozzarella, parmesan, or romano cheese, or a combination
4 cups of your preferred toppings, such as a combination of sliced onions, mushrooms, red peppers, cooked sausage, or pepperoni

Makes 4 servings

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Mixing the Dough

1
Preheat the oven to 450 °F (232 °C). Turn the oven on, and choose the bake setting. Place the oven rack in the bottom third of the oven, with a baking tray on top.^{[1]
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- The bake setting is the conventional heat setting, rather than the fan bake setting. The symbol for this is 2 lines, with 1 at the top of the square and the other at the bottom.
2
Sprinkle 1 tsp (3.15 g) of yeast over ¾ cup (177 ml) of lukewarm water. Pour the water into a bowl. Add the yeast to the bowl.^{[2]
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3
Let the yeast and water stand for 3-5 minutes. Keep an eye on the yeast and water mixture. Wait until the yeast has dissolved, and the mixture has become foamy.^{[3]
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- You don’t need to stir the mixture during this time.
4
Mix 2 cups (256 g) of flour and ¾ tsp (4.27 g) of salt into the yeast mixture. Use a wooden spoon or a stiff spatula to mix the dough together. Continue mixing the dough until it looks rough and floury.^{[4]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Kneading and Shaping the Dough

1
Sprinkle a light dusting of flour over a clean work surface. Clean the surface with hot soapy water and then dry it. Scatter flour over the surface to create a light coating.^{[5]
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2
Knead the dough on the work surface for 5-8 minutes. Gather the dough in a pile on the surface, and push the heels of your hands forward into the dough. Continue this motion as you work your way around the dough, and fold it in half whenever it gets too thin.^{[6]
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- Make sure that you wash your hands before you touch the dough.
- Stop kneading the dough when it is slightly springy.
- If you find that the dough sticks to your hands too much as you are kneading, add 1 tbsp (9 g) of flour at a time until it’s easier to work with.
3
Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel for 10 minutes. Form a pile with the kneaded dough, and place a kitchen towel over the top. Slice and prepare the pizza toppings if required during this time.^{[7]
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- Alternatively, you can place an upside-down bowl over the dough.
4
Break the dough into 2 equal parts. Divide the dough down the center with your hands. Make sure that the parts look roughly the same size.^{[8]
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5
Stretch the dough into 10–12 in (25–30 cm) circles. Press on the dough with the heel of your hand, and push it outwards to begin creating a round shape. Aim to get the dough 0.25 in (0.64 cm) thick, or slightly thinner.^{[9]
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- Use a rolling pin instead of your hands if you prefer.
- If the dough continues to shrink back as you try and stretch it, let it rest for a further 5 minutes.
- Work with each half of the dough individually.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Cooking the Pizza

1
Place the rolled dough onto the preheated baking tray. Remove the baking tray from the oven. Carefully transfer the dough onto the center of the tray.^{[10]
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- Work with just 1 piece of the dough at a time.
2
Spread 1 tsp (4.95 mL) of olive oil over the dough. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat the dough in olive oil. Spread it out evenly over the whole circle.^{[11]
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3
Use a knife to spread ¼ cup (57.5 g) of pizza sauce on top of the dough. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough. Leave a border of around 0.5 in (1.3 cm) around the edge.^{[12]
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- You can also use the back of a spoon to spread the pizza sauce.
4
Sprinkle on 2 cups of your preferred toppings, and 1 cup (125 g) of cheese. Arrange the toppings and cheese over the whole pizza. Spread out the toppings and cheese using either your hands or a spoon.^{[13]
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5
Bake the pizza in the oven for 8-12 minutes. Keep an eye on the pizza as it cooks, and remove it from the oven when the cheese has melted and started to brown slightly. The crust will be golden brown.^{[14]
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- Use oven mitts when taking the pizza out of the oven to protect your hands from the heat.
- Remove the pizza from the tray using a spatula.^{[15]
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6
Cook the second half of the dough after adding the sauce, toppings, and cheese. Repeat the same process of spreading out the sauce and the toppings. Then bake the pizza again until the crust is golden brown.^{[16]
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- If you don’t want to use the other half of the dough straight away, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.^{[17]
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- You can store leftover cooked pizza in an airtight container, or wrapped in foil, in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can also store pizza in the freezer in an airtight container or in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.^{[18]
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Expert Q&A

Question

What is the secret to a crispy pizza crust?

Alex Hong
Executive Chef & Restaurant Owner
Alex Hong is the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Sorrel, a New American restaurant in San Francisco. He has been working in restaurants for over ten years. Alex is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and has worked in the kitchens of Jean-Georges and Quince, both Michelin-starred restaurants.

Alex Hong

Executive Chef & Restaurant Owner

Expert Answer

If you're making thin-crust pizza at home, get your oven extremely hot, and use a pizza stone to get the bottom nice and crispy. Then, while the pizza is cooking, toss a couple of ice cubes in the oven to make it a little steamy.
Question

How long does this take?

Community Answer

Between prepping, letting the dough rise and cooking, it will take at least one hour, maybe more.
Question

Can I stuff this crust?

Community Answer

It may be too thin, but you can certainly give it a try.