12 Best Thick Pizza Dough Recipes for Perfectly Chewy Crusts

Thick pizza dough is a pizza lover’s dream. It’s the type of dough that turns a regular pizza into a feast. The crust is soft, chewy, and sturdy, offering the perfect base for all your favorite toppings.

Whether you’re going for a classic Margherita or piling on every topping imaginable, thick pizza dough gives your creation structure and substance.

If you’ve ever bitten into a slice and loved that satisfying, airy, yet chewy texture, you’re in the right place!

Below are 10 different thick pizza dough recipes, each with its own twist, so you can find the one that works best for your pizza style.

1. Thick Pizza Dough Recipe No Yeast

This recipe is a game-changer when you don’t have yeast but still crave thick pizza dough.

Without yeast, the dough relies on baking powder for leavening. The result is a crust that rises slightly but doesn’t have the same chewiness as a yeasted dough. It’s quicker to prepare and still holds up under your favorite pizza toppings.

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ¼ cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

1. Prepare your ingredients: Preheat the oven to 475°F. Grease a pizza pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the wet ingredients: Slowly pour in warm water and olive oil, stirring with a wooden spoon until a sticky dough forms.
4. Knead the dough: Lightly flour your surface and knead the dough for 2-3 minutes until smooth.
5. Shape and bake: Roll out the dough to your preferred thickness, place it on the prepared pan, add your toppings, and bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and cooked through.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 180
• Fat: 5g
• Carbs: 29g
• Protein: 5g
• Fiber: 1g

Tool recommendation:

Mixing Bowl Set – A sturdy set of mixing bowls is crucial for combining your dough ingredients. Look for a set with non-slip bottoms for stability.

2. Thick Sourdough Pizza Dough

For an extra depth of flavor, sourdough adds a tangy twist to thick pizza dough.

Sourdough pizza dough requires more patience but rewards you with a unique, tangy flavor that’s hard to beat. This recipe takes longer to rise, but the results are worth it.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sourdough starter (active and bubbly)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

1. Mix the dough: Combine the flour, starter, salt, and water in a large bowl. Stir until a sticky dough forms.
2. Knead and rest: Knead the dough for about 10 minutes. Let the dough rest at room temperature for 4-6 hours or until doubled in size.
3. Shape and bake: Roll out the dough into a thick pizza base and bake at 475°F for 12-15 minutes.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 190
• Fat: 5g
• Carbs: 30g
• Protein: 6g
• Fiber: 1g

Tool recommendation:

Digital Kitchen Scale – Precision is key with sourdough. Use a digital scale to measure your ingredients accurately, especially when working with starters.

3. Homemade Pizza Dough Thick

Perfect for a pizza night, this recipe produces a chewy crust with minimal effort.

For a simple but effective thick dough, this recipe requires only a few basic ingredients. The secret is allowing the dough to rise for at least an hour to develop that chewy, airy texture.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 1 packet yeast
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, mix the yeast, warm water, and sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
2. Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Slowly add the yeast mixture and olive oil, stirring with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.
3. Knead and rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8 minutes. Place it in an oiled bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rise for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
4. Roll and bake: Roll the dough into a thick circle or rectangle, depending on your pizza shape preference. Bake at 475°F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 210
• Fat: 6g
• Carbs: 32g
• Protein: 6g
• Fiber: 1g

Tool recommendation:

Pizza Stone – A pizza stone helps you achieve that restaurant-quality crust by evenly distributing heat, giving you a crisp bottom crust.

4. Fluffy Thick Pizza Dough Recipe

Want to feel like you’re biting into a cloud? This extra-fluffy dough rises beautifully.

The trick to making this dough super fluffy is letting it rise for longer and adding a bit more yeast. You’ll end up with a soft and airy dough, perfect for thick, deep-dish pizzas or focaccia-style crusts.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups bread flour (bread flour has a higher protein content, which helps with fluffiness)
• 2 teaspoons yeast
• 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
• 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, mix the warm water with the sugar and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast becomes frothy.
2. Mix the dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.
3. Knead the dough: Knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes, adding flour as needed until it is soft and no longer sticky.
4. First rise: Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise for 1 ½ to 2 hours in a warm area.
5. Punch and shape: Punch down the dough to release air, then shape it into a ball. Let it rest for 10 minutes before rolling out.
6. Bake: Preheat the oven to 475°F, roll out the dough, add your toppings, and bake for 12-15 minutes. After shaping the dough into your pizza base, let it rest for 30 minutes for an even fluffier crust.

5. Thick and Chewy Pizza Dough

For those who crave that classic chewiness, this recipe hits the spot.

Chewy pizza dough relies on a higher gluten content, which means kneading and allowing the dough to rise twice. The extra effort results in a thick crust that has the perfect balance between softness and bite.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 1 packet yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Prepare the yeast: Mix the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a bowl and let it rest for 5 minutes.
2. Combine and knead: Add the yeast mixture to the flour and salt, stirring until combined. Knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes.
3. Let it rise: Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise for 1 hour. After the first rise, punch it down and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
4. Roll and bake: Roll out the dough and bake at 475°F for 12-15 minutes.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 220
• Fat: 6g
• Carbs: 34g
• Protein: 7g
• Fiber: 1g

Tool recommendation:

Stand Mixer with Dough Hook – Kneading dough by hand is rewarding, but a stand mixer can save time and energy. The dough hook attachment does all the work for you.

6. Bread Machine Thick Crust Pizza Dough

Let your bread machine do the hard work!

This recipe is easy to make with a bread machine. Just add the ingredients to the machine, set it to the dough cycle, and let it handle the kneading and rising.

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 packet yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Load the bread machine: Add all ingredients to the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Select the dough cycle: Choose the dough setting on your machine and let it run through the entire cycle.
3. Shape and bake: After the dough cycle is complete, remove the dough, shape it, and let it rest for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 475°F, top the dough, and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 200
• Fat: 5g
• Carbs: 32g
• Protein: 6g
• Fiber: 1g

Tool recommendation:

Bread Machine – A high-quality bread machine takes the hassle out of dough preparation, ensuring your dough is kneaded and risen to perfection.

7. Easy Thick Pan Pizza Dough Recipe

For a deep-dish experience, this recipe creates a thick, soft crust with crispy edges.

Thick pan pizza dough is rich and sturdy, holding plenty of sauce and toppings. This recipe makes use of olive oil in the pan to create a crispy, golden crust.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 packet yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for the pan)
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Prepare the yeast: Combine yeast, warm water, and sugar in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Mix the dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil, mixing until a dough forms.
3. Knead and rise: Knead the dough for about 8-10 minutes. Transfer to an oiled bowl and let it rise for 1-2 hours.
4. Shape and pre-bake: Press the dough into a greased deep-dish pan. Pre-bake for 7-8 minutes before adding toppings.
5. Final bake: Bake at 475°F for 15-18 minutes until crispy on the edges and golden.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 240
• Fat: 7g
• Carbs: 36g
• Protein: 7g
• Fiber: 1g

Tool recommendation:

Deep-Dish Pizza Pan – To get the classic thick pan pizza, a deep-dish pan is essential. Look for one with non-stick coating and high sides.

8. Vegan Thick Crust Pizza Dough

This vegan-friendly recipe creates a delicious, thick pizza dough without any animal products.

Vegan pizza dough is easy to make and just as delicious as its traditional counterparts. This recipe uses olive oil to create a soft, chewy crust.

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 packet yeast
• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Activate the yeast: Combine yeast, warm water, and sugar in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Mix and knead: Add the yeast mixture to the flour and salt. Knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes.
3. Rise and shape: Let the dough rise for 1 hour, then shape it into a thick pizza base.
4. Bake: Preheat the oven to 475°F, add your favorite vegan toppings, and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 190
• Fat: 5g
• Carbs: 30g
• Protein: 6g
• Fiber: 1g

Tool recommendation:

Rolling Pin – A good rolling pin makes it easy to roll out thick pizza dough evenly. Opt for a non-stick rolling pin for better results.

9. Thick Gluten-Free Pizza Dough

For a gluten-free option that doesn’t sacrifice thickness, this recipe delivers!

Gluten-free dough can be tricky to work with, but this combination of gluten-free flour and tapioca starch results in a thick, chewy crust.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups gluten-free flour blend
• 1 cup tapioca starch
• 1 packet yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

1. Activate the yeast: Combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Mix the dough: In a large bowl, combine the gluten-free flour blend, tapioca starch, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil, stirring until a dough forms.
3. Knead and rise: Knead for 5 minutes, then let the dough rise for 1 hour.
4. Bake: Roll out the dough and bake at 475°F for 12-15 minutes.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 180
• Fat: 5g
• Carbs: 30g
• Protein: 5g
• Fiber: 2g

Tool recommendation:

Gluten-Free Flour – Using a high-quality gluten-free flour blend is key to achieving the right texture in gluten-free pizza dough.

10. Easy Thick Pizza Dough

This simple recipe is a no-fuss way to get a thick crust in no time.

This recipe is perfect for when you want to make pizza fast but still crave that thick, chewy crust. There are no complicated steps, just easy, delicious pizza dough.

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 packet yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Activate the yeast: Mix the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Combine and knead: Stir the yeast mixture into the flour and salt. Knead for 5 minutes.
3. Let it rise: Let the dough rise for 1 hour.
4. Bake: Preheat the oven to 475°F, roll out the dough, and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Nutrition (per serving):

• Calories: 190
• Fat: 5g
• Carbs: 30g
• Protein: 6g
• Fiber: 1g

Tool recommendation:

Bench Scraper – A bench scraper is perfect for working with sticky dough, helping you cut and shape it cleanly.

FAQs

Conclusion: Find Your Perfect Thick-Crust Pizza

Making thick pizza dough at home is easier than you think, and these recipes offer something for everyone, whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, or just in need of a quick dough.

With the right tools, such as a stand mixer, pizza stone, or bread machine, you can improve your pizza-making skills.

Enjoy experimenting with these doughs and create the perfect pizza crust for your next family pizza night!

Jesmin

Jesmin Bithi, the co-founder of FoodBears.com, is a culinary maestro who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the platform. Jesmin’s journey in the food world started in her home kitchen, experimenting with different recipes and flavors. Her passion for cooking soon transcended the boundaries of her kitchen, leading her to become a professional chef.