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!

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!" 

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.

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.

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.

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.