Pre-Baked Pizza Crust
Making Pre-Baked Pizza Crust is super easy at home. And it makes pizza night a snap, even with lots of different top-your-own pizzas.
Iβve wanted to make my own pre-baked pizza crusts forβ¦ well, practically forever. We used to buy frozen commercial crusts, back when they were easy to find. That little step made homemade pizzas so much easier.
And now, beside harder to find, theyβre also more expensive. And not exactly what I want (which for me is cracker thin, but this recipe can go regular too).
Of course, todayβs small wood-fired pizza craze provides even more motivation. How do you not love something that comes in a million mouth-watering varieties! Everyone can have their favoriteβor people can have a little taste of everything!
Yes, I know, I can hear your whispering. I could bake the crust the same time I bake the pizza. But rolling out crust(s) takes just enough extra energy that I canβt seem to make it happen. Yes, I’m weak.
It may all stem back to my 8th grade graduation slumber party. We made our own pizzas that night, but not from Chef Boyardee mix and hamburger βsausageβ. Instead my mom went to Pizza Hut for all the ingredients (including pre-baked crust). That was way cooler. And a big hit.
So βpre-baked pizza crustβ was already on my list when my Sunday blogging group (see below) provided the final push. But would the family think I was crazy?
What to Add for Build Your Own Pizza Night
Once you have the crusts, you just need a few extras to turn it into dinner! Minimum requirements would be pizza sauce and mozzarella and optionally Parmesan cheese . You might even consider trying a homemade Pizza Sauce! After that it’s up to personal taste. Popular toppings include Italian sausage, pepperoni, olives and mushrooms. You can even do white pizza with Alfredo sauce or cream cheese. The sky’s the limit!
Just top and pop back into a 400F oven until golden!
Yes, Hawaiian pizza is something my youngest has been asking for every time we go out, so she was good with that. And Pesto with Fresh Mozzarella is a fave of daughter #1. My husband is a classic Sausage & Pepperoni kindaβ guy and that was easy too.
Do you think Iβll make Mom of the Day if everyone feels catered to?
When dinner was over, everyone was talking excitedly about making pizzas again tomorrow. I have the crust already pre-baked so anything they decide will be a snap. Yes, my youngest even stayed and helped with the dishes.
I did feel like Mom of the Day!
For More Pizza Fun
Pre-Baked Pizza Crust
Ingredients
- 1 envelope or a scant Tablespoon Active Dry Yeast
- 1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
- 1 Cup Warm Water about 110 F
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour or part whole wheat flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- In a large bowl or bowl of stand mixer, mix together the olive oil, yeast, sugar, and warm water and allow to sit until foamy.
- Add salt and 1/2 cup flour to yeast mixture and begin mixing (using stand mixer or by hand). Continue adding Β½ cup at a time until all of the flour has been used and the dough has started to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Adjust flour to water ratio if needed, adding a little more flour if dough is very damp or a little more water if very dry.
- Continue mixing on medium speed, or hand knead, for 3-5 minutes until the dough is smooth (hand kneading will take longer).
- Shape the dough into a ball and cut in half. If you want two regular 12-inch pizzas, you can skip ahead to the next step. For individual sized pizzas (8-10 inch) cut each dough half into two pieces for normal thickness pizzas (total of 4) or into three pieces (total of six) for cracker thin individually sized crusts.
- On floured parchment paper, roll out the first crust to the desired size and thickness. Prick all over with a fork to prevent large bubbles. Transfer crust to the oven rack on the parchment paper using a pizza peel or using a thin cookie sheet like a pizza peel. Bake for 5 minutes or until just getting crispy. Repeat with remaining dough pieces (see note)
- Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
- When cool, cover and use within a few days or freeze. If freezing in a stack (like in my Rubbermaid container), freeze each crust individually before stacking or separate with a couple layers of wax paper.
Notes
Nutrition
Quick and Easy Pizza Recipes
- Air Fryer Pita Pizzas by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Barbecue Chicken Pizza by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Chicken Taco French Bread Pizza by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Easy French Bread Pizzas by Family Around the Table
- Easy Tortilla Pizza by The Freshman Cook
- Pizza Dough from Sour Dough Discard by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Pre-Baked Pizza Crust by Art of Natural Living
We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you’re at it, join our Pinterest board, too!
- Golden Lentils and Rice (One Pot Dal)
- Heirloom Tomato Tart
Question: I froze my prebaked crusts. Now, when I use them do I need to let them thaw first or can I just load them up and head for the pizza oven. ( we have a wood fired pizza oven outside ).
I have been thawing mine first. They thaw out pretty quickly so by the time I’ve assembled my other ingredients they’re usually good to go. Then I don’t need to worry the crust will still be cold when I do a topping that cooks quickly. Hope you enjoy!
I’m needing to do this to take to someone else the next day. I was wondering how long you bake the pizzas after you put the toppings on? For the same amount of time as usual even though they are already partially baked?
You really just need to make sure the toppings are done in that case. So if you do just sauce and cheese it’s done as soon as the cheese is melted and as golden as you like it. But this should be faster than a frozen pizza since it’s not frozen! However, if you do raw sausage, be sure that is cooked through. Have fun!
Thanks so much! Have a nice day.
You too Tamra!
Normally with a yeast dough one has a first rise. and then knock it down. Why didn’t you do this with this dough?
Thatβs because thin crust pizza dough doesnβt need the level of loft that a bread does. And that time savings is nice! Hope you enjoy Michael!
Have you considered, stepping things up a bit by adding the following with the first addition of the flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp black pepper
Well I do usually say more is often better when it comes to seasoning!
This was great for our big family camping trip. We put dough in cast iron skillet added the toppings (I pre cooked the sausage too) put over fire and within 5 minutes we had campfire pizza!
That sounds so much fun Cindy!
I love the idea of prebaked pizza crusts. Ready to go whenever we want pizza!
I love seeing all the air bubbles in that crust! What a great idea to make your own pre-baked pizza crust! It is definitely convenient and so much more economical than getting store bought!
I can’t believe how much they ask for some pre-baked crusts Thao! Plus this way I get them cracker thin like we like them (or could go with thicker on some if we had chewier crust guests…)
This is a super great idea…everyone can top the pizza with their favorite toppings…thanks for the inspiration Inger.
Have a wonderful rest of the week!
It really was a hit. Now if I could just train the family to make them without me. Next step I guess π
No whispering behind your back here! I love the idea!
I can’t believe how many times I moved this to the bottom of my “to do” list. Happy I finally did it!
I love your crusts. They are both beautiful and tasty looking. I canβt wait to try them!
They were actually fun to make. Though the real fun came when we had super easy dinners!
This is a great idea. My son is plain cheese, husband is all about the meats, and both revolt at the thought of vegetables on pizza which I adore. Plus I love the idea of having the crusts ready to go at a moment’s notice for last minute meals or snacks.
I can’t wait to experiment with different topping combinations Audrey!
I also do my pizza bases this way. Much easier all around, especially when I have pizza parties.
That’s so smart Tandy. I am happy the light finally went on for me.
I just love your pizza crusts. They look gorgeous and delicious! I am looking forward to making these!
They’re going to be a regular at our house! I think I may even be able to teach my husband to top and bake one π
Wow, what a smart idea! Can’t wait to make these.
When we had pizza again on Sunday with some of
the remaining crusts, it went so fast!
What a fabulous idea! I’d love having some of these on hand for a pizza emergency!
Pizza emergency–love it!
I LOVE that these are made, baked, and then stored for later. What a time saver!
I made a double batch. We ate them 3 times and now the rest are in the freezer!
These would be great to have on hand. When the Teen comes home she and her friends could just add their toppings of choice and pop them in the oven. Thanks.
Next task–see how high a percentage I can go with adding some white whole wheat flour to make them even healthier. Gotta sneak in the healthy foods for teens π