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This overnight pizza dough recipe is the answer to your thin-crust pizza prayers. So easy to prep, all you have to do is dream about what toppings to use!

Pizza dough on a floured surface

For the past few years, I’ve relied heavily on my quick pizza dough recipe to make tasty pies with super fluffy crust. However, when my family took a trip to Italy recently we fell in love with thin pizza crust.

To get that signature thin, Northern Italian-style pizza crust, look no further. By letting the dough rest overnight in the fridge, you slow the fermentation process and create a perfectly delicate crust. The kicker? It only takes 25 minutes to prep and works for a host of other recipes besides homemade pizza.

How to Make Overnight Pizza Dough

Making overnight pizza dough is as simple as it gets. Below, find a quick hitter overview of the recipe before you dive in.

  • Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and yeast.
  • Mix in the Water & Olive Oil: In small portions, stir the water into the dry ingredients. Next, stir in the olive oil.
  • Knead the Dough: Using your hands (or stand mixer with dough hook), knead the dough on a lightly floured work surface until it becomes elastic. Next, roll it into a dough ball.
  • Pop Dough in the Fridge Overnight: Place the dough ball into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow it to rise overnight or up to 24 hours. Use it within 3 days for your favorite pizza recipes.
Flour, salt and yeast placed together in one bowl
Dough mixture being combined in a large bowl with a wooden spoon
Pizza dough in a large bowl
Dough being kneaded on a floured cutting board

Tips & Tricks

Below, find a collection of pro tips & tricks to help you make the best pizza dough possible.

  • Use very cold water. Using very cold water to make your pizza dough is key to slowing the fermentation process. This is crucial since you’ll be letting your dough rise overnight in the refrigerator.
  • Use a stand mixer if you have one. Kneading the dough will be so much easier and take a fraction of the time if you use a stand mixer.
  • Use high-quality olive oil. There are a lot of bogus olive oil blends sold at the grocery store. When it comes to pizza-making, opt for 100% pure extra virgin olive oil. It’s worth it for the full-bodied flavor!
  • Use high-quality flour. Opt for a flour that has a higher protein content and you won’t be disappointed with the texture of your crust. Bob’s Red Mill makes a great all-purpose flour that works great!
round shaped pizza dough

Pizza Topping Ideas

Below, find a couple of suggestions for different pizza toppings to help you create your perfect pie. Keep in mind these are simply suggestions! Feel free to get creative as you want and use your favorite pizza toppings.

Pizza Sauce

Meats, Cheeses, & Veggies

  • Meats: Salami, pepperoni, hot soppressata, prosciutto, ham, shredded chicken, meatballs, anchovies, Italian ground sausage
  • Cheeses: Mozzarella, parmesan, herbed goat cheese, feta, romano, gorgonzola, blue cheese
  • Veggies: Mushrooms, bell peppers, onion, marinated artichokes, pepperoncini, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, olives

Hot Tip: Make any pizza breakfast pizza by cracking an egg on top 5-7 minutes before you’re ready to take it out of the oven. Dipping a slice in the runny yolk is an absolute game-changer!

How to Bake Your Pizza

After you’ve selected your toppings and you’re ready to bake your dough into a perfect pizza, find a quick rundown of the process below:

  • Prepare the Baking Sheet: Drizzle some olive oil or dust flour on a baking sheet. Next, dust it with some cornmeal and set it aside.
  • Prepare the Dough: Using your hands, stretch the dough into your desired shape. (Never use a rolling pin to shape your pizza dough. It will remove all the air and prevent your pizza from bubbling up.)
  • Add the Sauce & Cheese: Spread your desired sauce across the dough, leaving about an inch of space along the rim to account for the crust. Next, sprinkle on the cheese.
  • Add Meat, Veggies, & More Cheese: Evenly distribute the meat and veggies across your pie and top with another layer of cheese. Sprinkle the crust with sesame seeds.
  • Bake the Pizza: Bake the pizza in a preheated oven to 425°F for about 12 minutes or until it’s golden brown. Slice, serve immediately, and enjoy!

Hot Tip: If you want an even more authentic pizza texture, invest in a pizza stone and pizza peel.

Storing Pizza Dough

  • Refrigerator: You can store raw pizza dough in the fridge by keeping it in a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Use it within 3 days or freeze it.
  • Freezer: To freeze raw pizza dough, roll it into a ball. Next, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, allow it to sit in the refrigerator overnight.

FAQ

Can I leave my pizza dough overnight at room temperature?

You should not leave your pizza dough out overnight at room temperature. If you do, it will over-ferment and have a strong, yeasty flavor.

Do I let the pizza dough rise before refrigerating it?

You do not need to let pizza dough rise before refrigerating it. Alternatively, it will rise in the fridge overnight.

What is 00 flour?

00 flour refers to ultra-finely ground Italian flour. It yields super silky dough and is commonly used in combination with bread flour to make pizza and pasta.

Why is my pizza crust so chewy?

Your pizza crust likely turned out too chewy if you used too much flour. To properly measure your flour, loosely pack the measuring cup with spoonfuls of flour until full. Despite popular belief, you should never measure flour by tightly packing it.

How do I fix overworked pizza dough?

If your pizza dough is overworked and too difficult to handle, allow it to rest on a floured surface for 10-15 minutes

Recipes that Call for Pizza Dough

Recipe

round shaped pizza dough

The Best Overnight Pizza Dough Recipe

Print Pin
Servings
6 Units
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This overnight pizza dough recipe is the answer to your thin-crust pizza prayers. So easy to prep, all you have to do is dream about what toppings to use!

Ingredients

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and yeast.
    Ingredients on table including; a large bowl with flour, a measuring cup with water, and 3 measuring spoons one with oil, another with yeast and third with salt
  • In small parts, add water to the flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.
    Water added to the flour mixture and combined using a wooden spoon
  • Add olive oil to the mixture and stir to combine.
    Pizza dough in a large bowl
  • Dust a flat working surface with whole wheat flour and knead the dough with your hands until it turns elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook to speed up the process.
    Dough being kneaded on a floured cutting board
  • Place the dough in a bowl in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Leave the dough to rise overnight in the refrigerator and use it within three days. Enjoy!
    Pizza Dough on a floured cutting board
Nutrition Facts
The Best Overnight Pizza Dough Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 427 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Sodium 588mg25%
Potassium 120mg3%
Carbohydrates 72g24%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 17mg2%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted October 26, 2021

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.