The Best Pizza Dough

I know you are looking at this thinking.. why is a barbecue place talking about pizza dough?

We love pizza.

No matter if it is our fav (pepperoni & banana pepper) or if you are traditional or even being bold like our Spicy BBQ Chicken Pizza!

Ingredients

• 2-2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour OR bread flour divided

• 1 packet instant yeast (2 1/4 teaspoon)

• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and/or dried basil leaves optional

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil 

• 3/4 cup warm water 

Instructions

• Combine 1 cup of flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. If desired, add garlic powder and dried basil at this point as well.

• Add olive oil and warm water and use a wooden spoon to give it a gentle stir.

• Gradually sprinkle in another 1 cup of flour. Add any additional flour as you needed (sometimes I have needed almost an additional up to 1/3 cup), stirring until the dough is forming into a cohesive, elastic ball and is beginning to pull away from the sides of the bowl. The dough will still be slightly sticky but still should be manageable. You don’t want it too dry.

• Drizzle a separate, large, clean bowl generously with olive oil and use a pastry brush or paper towel to coat the bowl.

• Lightly dust your hands with flour and form your pizza dough into a round ball and transfer to your olive oil-brushed bowl. Use your hands to roll the pizza dough along the inside of the bowl until it is coated in olive oil, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in a warm place.

• Give yourself 30 minutes for the dough to rise or until doubled in size. If you intend to bake this dough into a pizza, I recommend preheating your oven to 425F so that it will be ready for your pizza to cook. You don’t want delays. Your mouth will be watering by this point.

• Once the dough has risen, use your hands to gently message it getting out all of the air.

• Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until it is smooth; this will take about 3-5 times. 

• Use either your hands or a rolling pin to work the dough into 12" circle. I have even floured up a metal water bottle because I didn’t have a rolling pin.

• Move the dough to a parchment paper lined pizza pan and either pinch the edges or fold them over to form a crust.

• Drizzle additional olive oil (about a Tablespoon) over the top of the pizza and use your pastry brush to cover the pizza (including the crust) with olive oil. 

• Poke holes all over the center of the pizza with a fork to keep the dough from bubbling up in the oven.

• Add in the toppings that make you excited and bake in a 425F preheated oven for 13-15 minutes or until toppings are golden brown. Slice and serve.