Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe
Pizza is one of the most beloved foods in the world, and it's pretty easy to understand why. The combination of soft dough, red sauce, cheese, and savory toppings is hard to beat in terms of deliciousness, so it's no wonder that people flock to pizza parlors to enjoy a slice (or a whole pie). But what if you don't have to go to your favorite restaurant to enjoy high-quality pizza? Thanks to this sourdough pizza crust recipe, that question is no longer a question at all, but instead a reality.
Recipe developer Autumn LeAnn came up with this pizza-centric recipe, and we're sure glad that she did. Though the crust may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of pizza, it really is the most important part of any slice. If it's too doughy, you're not going to enjoy the pizza. If it's too thin, it will just taste like you're eating cardboard.
Unlike many pizza crust recipes, this one is specifically for a sourdough crust, and that happens to be one of LeAnn's favorite parts. "My favorite thing about this recipe is the subtle sourdough flavor throughout the crust," she describes. Also, if you're intimidated by making your own crust, don't be! "It is an easy recipe that I believe anyone could make," LeAnn says. So let's get to kneading!
Gather the ingredients for sourdough pizza crust
To make the sourdough pizza crust, you'll need all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, warm water, and olive oil. This recipe also requires already-made sourdough starter, so be sure to have some on hand before diving in.
Of course, no one makes a pizza crust without the intention of adorning it, but the toppings allow room for creativity. LeAnn uses red sauce, fresh mozzarella, spicy pepperoni, red pepper flakes, basil, and honey to top off her pizza, so you could follow her lead. "Other delicious topping combos I suggest are ranch as the sauce [with] mozzarella, chicken, and bacon [for toppings] for a chicken bacon ranch-style pizza," LeAnn says. "Of course, classic pepperoni, or even plain cheese pizza would be delicious, too!"
Make the dough
Set up your stand mixer with a hook attachment, then add in the warm water, sourdough starter, sugar, and salt. Once these ingredients are combined, add the 3 ½ cups flour and 2 tablespoons olive oil, until an even dough comes together. "I used my stand mixer to make the dough, but it can be done by hand as well — it just takes a little more effort that way," LeAnn notes.
When the dough has formed, sprinkle some flour onto a clean work surface, then place the pizza dough down and work it into a ball with your hands. Place the dough ball into a clean bowl, top it off with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then cover it with plastic wrap. Let the dough sit at room temperature for 60 minutes to proof, or 30 minutes in an oven set to 100 F. The goal is for your dough ball to double in size.
Roll the dough out onto a baking sheet
As the dough finishes proofing, go ahead and grease a 13x18-inch sheet pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto the sheet and use your fingers to press it down into an even layer. You can use the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to keep your hands from sticking to the dough.
Then, cover the sheet pan with plastic wrap, and once again allow the dough to proof — this time for 30 minutes at room temperature or 15 minutes in a 100 F oven. "If someone wants a thicker/fluffier pizza crust, they can increase the proofing time for the 2nd round of proofing," LeAnn notes. Just don't allow it to proof for more than 2 ½ hours, otherwise the dough may fall flat.
Decorate your pizza
Now, it's time for the fun part — decorating your pizza! Preheat the oven to 475 F. Then, add a layer of red sauce to your pizza, followed by fresh mozzarella, spicy pepperoni, crushed red pepper, and salt and pepper, to taste. Remember, you can decorate your pizza however you'd like — from sausage to mushrooms to pineapple, feel free to add whatever toppings sound best to you.
Bake the pizza and enjoy
Pop the pizza into the oven for 20-24 minutes, and rotate it halfway through so it bakes evenly. Once it's out of the oven, let it cool for 10 minutes, then top it off with fresh basil and a drizzle of honey. Finally, it's time to enjoy your pizza with a homemade sourdough crust.
"Since pizza is a little bit heavier, I like to pair it with a simple side salad — usually with vinegar and oil or Italian dressing," LeAnn suggests. Of course, pizza is a full meal in itself, and you can savor each bite knowing you made that delectable pizza crust in your very own kitchen.
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour + more for dusting
- ½ cup sourdough starter
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 cup warm water
- 7 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 cup red pizza sauce
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella
- 1 cup spicy pepperoni
- crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
- salt, to taste
- fresh basil, for topping
- 3 tablespoons honey
- Using a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, mix the warm water, sourdough starter, salt, and sugar.
- Once combined, add in the 3 ½ cups of flour and 2 tablespoons olive oil and mix until an even dough forms.
- Dust a clean work surface with flour, then work the dough into a ball. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and place it in a bowl, and cover it with plastic wrap to allow it to proof for 60 minutes at room temperature (or 30 minutes in an oven set to 100 F).
- Use 2 tablespoons olive oil to grease your 13x18-inch (½ sheet) pan.
- After the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto your greased baking sheet and gently press out until the dough is an even layer on the sheet, using the last bit of olive oil to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands.
- Cover the pan with plastic wrap again and allow it to proof at room temperature for 30 minutes (or 15 minutes in an oven set to 100 F).
- Preheat your oven to 475 F and top your pizza as desired. This version features a red pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, spicy pepperoni, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. It's then garnished with fresh basil and honey after baking.
- Bake the pizza for 20-24 minutes, rotating halfway through. Let the pizza cool 10 minutes before enjoying.
| Calories per Serving | 104 |
| Total Fat | 4.1 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.6 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.0 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 14.5 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.5 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.3 g |
| Sodium | 76.6 mg |
| Protein | 2.0 g |
