Sourdough Pizza Dough  

This sourdough pizza dough delivers a perfect balance of a crispy crust and chewy interior, with the rich, tangy flavor that only sourdough can offer. Great for artisan-style pizzas, it’s a delicious way to use your sourdough starter and take pizza night to the next level!

Homemade Pizza is Delicious! 

I don’t know about you, but I’m a true pizza lover. I’ve enjoyed it since I was a kid. I can remember my mom buying those chef-boyardee mixes so that we could make pizza at home. But of course I also have fond memories of some of my favorite pizza joints from childhood: Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Pipe Organ Pizza, and (of course) Pizza Hut. 

I can’t tell you how many hours I spent in pizza restaurants back in those days. In the 70s, they were a favorite hangout with friends and family, (with music playing on the juke box, of course). I have especially fond memories of hanging out with friends after youth group on Sunday evenings.

These days, most folks order pizza to be delivered to their home. But one you see how easy it is to make this delicious homemade pizza crust you’ll probably just want to make it yourself! 

Sourdough Starter in Pizza Dough? Really? 

Yes. . .and amen! If you’re a sourdough baker, you’ve probably got lots of starter or starter discard on hand. If you’re not a sourdough baker and don’t have starter you’ll want to skip this recipe and make a different dough. I do have a terrific recipe for simple sourdough starter which is perfect for this recipe. (Note: It takes days to ferment, so you’ll have to plan ahead.) 

Regardless, sourdough is perfect as a base for homemade pizza. It gives the pizza that extra tang you will love in the crust and it’s a great way to use up some of that starter or discard. 

So, Which Do I Use. . .Starter, or Discard? 

That’s my friends, is up to you. I used a full-bloomed starter but if you want a less airy result, plain discard will do. Regardless, you’re going to love this pizza. 

Sourdough Pizza Dough Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need to bake up a delicious pizza dough. This is similar to my focaccia, but the process of spreading and baking is different. 

• 240 grams active sourdough starter (about a cup)
• 390 grams of water (about 100 degrees (1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons)
• 1 packet (2 ½ tsp) instant yeast
• 550 grams bread flour (about 4 cups)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt 
• 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil 
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or sea salt)

How to Make Homemade Pizza Dough

This comes together so easily! 

Combine active starter, water, sugar, and yeast.

Stir well and let sit for five minutes. 

Add flour and salt.

Use a bread whisk to mix. 

If you prefer, you can knead with the dough whisk for 2-3 minutes or use the bread hook on a stand mixer. There’s no need to over-knead (see what I did there?) Just make sure everything is fully incorporated. 

Cover and place in warm spot (microwave pic) for 30 minutes. (I set mine in the microwave next to a cup of hot water that had heated for one minute alone.) 

After thirty minutes do three rounds of stretch and folds, 15 minutes apart. 

Let dough sit for half an hour to rise.

Spray pizza pan with olive oil spray (or use 1-2 tablespoons olive oil to coat).

Spread the dough, adding a tablespoon or two of olive oil on top. 

(Note: You are welcome to use a pizza stone or cast iron skillet in place of a pan, if you prefer.)

(Depending on the size of your pizza pan you will either get one or two pizza doughs out of this recipe. I made one large pizza and a smaller dessert pizza with cherry pie filling on top. Yum!) 

Set in warm spot to rise for half an hour. 

Preheat oven to 450. 

Par bake the dough for 10 minutes. 

Add your favorite toppings. I chose: 

• pizza sauce 
• mozzarella cheese
• meats/veggies
• parmesan

Next time I might make a meat lover's version, adding ground beef, bacon, and pepperoni. Yum!

Bake at 450 for another 10 - 12 minutes or until crust is golden brown. 

Remove and place on wire rack to cool. 

Slice and serve! 

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for 3-4 days. You can place slices in freezer bags and put them in the freezer up to two months. (For best results, warm up in the toaster oven or air fryer.) 

What to Expect from this Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe

If you like a delicious focaccia (springy and loaded with height and texture) you will flip over this crust. It’s crusty on bottom, filled with air holes inside--a lovely chewy crust. In short, it’s perfect for an artisan pizza. I love the addition of the sauce, meat, and cheese, but I think it would be equally as delicious as a veggie pizza or a full-on meat-lover’s pizza (think sausage, ground beef, bacon, etc.) No matter what you add on top, this is a delicious base for your next homemade pizza. You're going to love this sourdough pizza dough recipe!

Other Sourdough Favorites from Out of the Box Baking

Here are some of my favorite sourdough recipes. Enjoy!

• Homemade Sourdough Bread
• Quick Sourdough Dinner Rolls
• Sourdough Discard Focaccia
• Sourdough Coffee Cake
• Starter Discard Banana Bread

That’s it for this post, friends!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. 

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.