Just like everyone else out there, one of my guilty pleasures is pizza. I love to order pizza from my iPhone or iPad and have it show up at my door in 30 minutes. But sometimes Homemade Pizza Dough & Sauce is the way to go.
I’ve experimented with different pizza dough recipes over the years and this is one of my favorites. I have variations of this recipe I want to experiment with but haven’t yet because this one is soo good!
Now that I have to cut out carbs as much as possible since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I am going to try and make a Cauliflower Pizza Crust as I am told it tastes great and better for me. More to come at a later date.
One thing I know is that Pizza has been around a lot longer than I have. I was curious about the history of pizza so I looked it up and found this cool article.
Instant Yeast vs Active Dry Yeast
Instant Yeast Does not need to be dissolved in water before use and can be mixed directly into the dry ingredients. On the other hand, Active Dry Yeast has to be dissolved in warm water with a bit of sugar before use to ensure it’s alive.
Does Yeast Go Bad?
Active Dry Yeast can go bad since it’s a living organism. It typically has a shelf life of 1–2 years when stored properly. To check if your yeast is still active, dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in ¼ cup of warm water. Add 1 packet of active dry yeast, stir, and wait for 5–10 minutes. If the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly, the yeast is still good. If not, it’s time to replace it.
Instant Yeast has a longer shelf life than active dry yeast but can still go bad. To test it, Dissolve ½ teaspoon of sugar in ¼ cup of warm water. Stir in 1 teaspoon of instant yeast. Wait 5-10 minutes. If the mixture foams and bubbles, the yeast is still active. If nothing happens, it’s time to replace it.
Our Favorite Pizza Gadgets
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Homemade Pizza Dough recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Active Yeast, Olive Oil, Salt, Bread Flour, White Sugar, Water, Whole Wheat Flour, Cornmeal, Tomato Paste, Parmesan Cheese, Honey, Onion Powder, Ground Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Garlic Powder, Dried Oregano, Basil, Cayenne Pepper and Salt & Pepper.
How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough & Sauce
Make the Pizza Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water (110°F to 115°F). Let sit for about 10 minutes or until the mixture is creamy.
- Add the olive oil, whole wheat flour, salt and 4 cups of bread flour into the yeast mixture. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough is ready.
- Turn it out on a floured surface and knead until it is smooth.
- Place the dough in a mixing bowl and cover with a damp cloth and let rise for about 1 hour.
- Preheat the Oven to 425°F. Make sure to place the pizza stone in the oven while preheating. Place the dough onto a surface lightly covered with cornmeal. This will prevent the dough from sticking. Mold into the desired shape.
Make the Pizza Sauce & Pizza
- In a mixing bowl, combine all sauce ingredients and mix well. Let the sauce sit for at least 30 minutes before using it.
- Spread the pizza sauce over the dough. Add your favorite toppings. Back in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
Printable Recipe Card
Rod’s Homemade Pizza Dough & Sauce
↑ Click stars to rate
Ingredients
DOUGH INGREDIENTS
- 2 ¼ Tsp Active Dry Yeast
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Salt
- 5 ½ Cups Bread Flour
- 1 Tbsp White Sugar
- 3 Cups Water, warm
- ½ Cup Whole Wheat Flour
- Yellow Cornmeal
SAUCE INGREDIENTS
- 28 oz Tomato Sauce
- 6 oz Tomato Paste
- 3 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese, Grated
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- ¾ Tsp Onion Powder
- ¼ Tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ⅛ Tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ Tsp Dried Oregano
- ¼ Tsp Basil
- ⅛ Tsp Cayenne Pepper
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water (110F to 115F). Let sit for about 10 minutes or until mixture is creamy.
- Add the olive oil, whole wheat flour, salt and 4 cups of the bread flour into the yeast mixture. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough is ready.
- Turn it out on a floured surface and knead until it is smooth.
- Place dough in a mixing bowl and cover with a damp cloth and let rise for about 1 hour.
- Preheat Oven to 425°F. Make sure to place the pizza stone in the oven while preheating. Place the dough onto a surface lightly covered with cornmeal. This will prevent the dough from sticking. Mold into the desired shape.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all sauce ingredients and mix well. Let sauce sit for at least 30 minutes before using it.
- Spread pizza sauce over the dough. Add your favorite toppings. Back in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
All of my family love pizza. This time I made my own dough and sauce. It was the first time and it turned out great. Better than store bought. I will use this recipe again. Everyone loved it.