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Super Easy Homemade Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

This Super Easy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough comes together in minutes. A simple healthy dough you can use to make all your favorite pizzas – make it thick or thin, personal size or whole, bake it or grill it. Just make it!

If you’re family does pizza night like us and looking for a fun way to change up the flavors you’ll love my Thai Chicken Pizza or this Grilled Chicken Margherita Pizza.

Homemade Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

We typically have pizza at our house about once every two weeks. Basically, ever since I came to the light about doing pizzas “the right way”, and by “right way” I mean making pizzas on the grill.

For the longest time I use to make dough, but it would always be with regular all-purpose flour because I could never get the whole wheat dough to rise correctly. So annoying! I think one day I made like 3 or 4 dough balls experimenting in the kitchen. But alas, I have solved the whole wheat dough problem! Just substitute one cup of whole wheat flour for all purpose flour and voila! It has risen!!!

So ignore the ease of take out pizza and have a “family pizza night”  instead! Where you actually MAKE the pizza! This recipe for Homemade Whole Wheat Pizza Dough is just as easy and you can put whatever kind of toppings you want (without the extra up charge) and have it ready when you want. (instead of waiting on some delivery guy)

Plus, the best part is the kids can help make the dough and help with the toppings. (unless you are a clean freak who does not allow your children to get messy in which case I say… I’m sorry)

Enjoy, and I promise you this Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe will rise!

process of how to make whole wheat pizza dough

Ingredients you’ll need for Whole Wheat Pizza Dough:

There are all kinds of whole wheat pizza dough recipes out there. I have tested this recipe a couple of times, varied the ingredients, and the best results for texture, flavor and rise was when I did a combination of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Water. You’ll need warm water (105°F – 115°F) to mix with the yeast. Anything over 120°F will kill your yeast.
  • Yeast. If you want your pizza dough to rise and be fluffy and light you’ll need yeast. I use Red Star yeast, but any yeast will do if you can’t find red star.
  • Whole Wheat Flour. For this recipe, I’ve used 100% whole grain, whole wheat flour. I have also used white whole wheat flour and that works pretty well too.
  • All Purpose Flour. Just one cup of all purpose will do. I haven’t tried this recipe with gluten free flour or 1:1 gluten free baking flour so I’m not sure if it will work with either of those options yet.
  • Sugar. You’ll need a small amount of sugar. Sugar increases the yeast’s activity – and will actually help tenderize your dough as well so you aren’t left with a flavorless board for crust. 
  • Salt. Salt gives your pizza dough a little flavor and helps control the yeast. 
  • Oil. In my opinion, extra virgin olive oil gives the best taste. Just pay attention to the recipe instructions because you’ll use some olive oil in the dough itself and then also brush olive oil on bowl as you prepare for the dough to rise. 

process of whole wheat pizza dough rising in a bowl

pouring olive oil into mixer for pizza dough

Why is my pizza dough bland?

If you’re pizza dough is tasting a little bland I’d recommend adding more salt or more olive oil. Those are the two “flavor” enhancers for your dough.

Flavor Variations on Whole Wheat Pizza Dough:

The best part of making your own dough is you can change up the flavor if you want but adding just a few simple ingredients to the dough as you’re mixing. Here are my favorite ways to change up the dough flavor.

  • Garlic Herb – add 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dry basil and 1 teaspoon dry oregano to the dough. 
  • Garlic Parmesan – add 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder (or 1 teaspoon of minced garlic) and 2 tablespoons of parmesan to the dough. Sometimes I like to add 1 tablespoon to the rolled out dough before I add the toppings.
  • Cinnamon Sugar – for a “dessert pizza” simply add 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon and an extra tablespoon of sugar to your dough.

hands rolling out whole wheat pizza dough

How to Make Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

This is a pretty straight forward pizza dough recipe that should only take 5 minutes to make and then you’ll let it sit to rise for 1 hour. 

  1. Pour warm water  (105°F-115°F) into small bowl with yeast, stir.
  2. Let stand until yeast is completely dissolved, about 3-5 minutes.
  3. Brush large bowl with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  4. In stand mixer (using a knead hook) or food processor; mix all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar and salt until combined.
  5. Now, add yeast mixture and 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the mixing bowl. Continue to mix dough until it forms a sticky ball, usually 2-3 minutes.
  6. Remove dough and place on a flat floured surface. Knead the dough until smooth, continue to add flour to dough until it is no longer sticky. (about 1 minute)
  7. Place dough in prepared olive oil brushed bowl. Lightly brush the top of the pizza dough ball with olive oil as well. Now, cover bowl with plastic wrap so it is completely sealed and place in warm draft-free area.
  8. Let sit for 1 hour, until it has doubled in size.
  9. Remove plastic wrap and punch down the dough.
  10. Roll out dough on floured surface to desired size. (makes 1 large pizza, 2 medium or 4 personal size)

Can I use almond flour instead of whole wheat flour?

I have not tested this recipe with almond flour yet. However, if you’d like to try it the typically with all purpose flour it’s a 1:1 ratio. Please note that almond flour does require more wet ingredients than regular flour so you might need to alter the recipe a bit to make sure it comes out. For best results, just make the recipe as is because I have not tested the almond flour.

rolling out whole wheat pizza dough on a counter

Can you make whole wheat pizza dough without yeast?

Yes, you can make pizza dough without yeast. The three best substitutes for yeast are baking powder, baking soda + an acid (like buttermilk, yogurt or lemon juice) or you could even use a sourdough starter!

Can you freeze whole wheat pizza dough?

Yes, after the dough has risen. Lightly spray all sides of the pizza dough ball with cooking spray or coat with olive oil. The place in a a sealed ziplock bag, that has all the air removed and store in freezer for up to 3 months. 

How long to bake whole wheat pizza dough?

Preheat oven to 475°F. Place prepared pizza on a baking stone, baking sheet or pizza stone. Bake for 10-12 minutes until dough is cooked and slightly browned. Another way to cook this pizza dough is on the grill, which is our favorite way to make pizzas. Just follow these instructions for How to Grill Pizza.

Pizza Topping Ideas and Inspiration:

  • Classic Margherita Pizza: Tomato sauce, freshly sliced mozzarella, beef steak tomatoes and fresh basil leaves.
  • Chicken Margherita Pizza: Olive oil, minced garlic, shredded mozzarella, grilled chicken, roasted tomatoes and fresh basil.
  • BBQ Chicken PizzaHomemade BBQ sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, rotisserie chicken and sliced red onion.
  • Supreme Pizza: Homemade Tomato Sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage, sliced tomato, bell peppers, sliced red onion and sliced mushrooms.
  • Thai Chicken Pizza: Creamy Peanut Sauce, shredded mozzarella, rotisserie chicken, shredded carrots, green onions and fresh cilantro
  • Meat Lover Pizza: Homemade Tomato Sauce, shredded mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and Canadian bacon.
  • Chicken Pesto PizzaHomemade Pesto Sauce, shredded mozzarella, grilled chicken, roma tomato slices and red pepper slices.
  • Classic Hawaiian Pizza: Tomato Sauce or BBQ Sauce, shredded mozzarella, Canadian Bacon, pineapple chunks and sliced red onion. 
  • Vegetarian PizzaHomemade Tomato Sauce, shredded mozzarella, sliced mushrooms, sliced tomato, sliced bell peppers, sliced red onion and spinach.

overhead view of the best grilled pizza recipe ever

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A hand punching down a ball of whole wheat pizza dough in a bowl

Super Easy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

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  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 large pizza, 2 medium pizzas, 4 individual pizzas 1x
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: Italian

Description

This Super Easy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough comes together in minutes. A simple healthy dough you can use make all your favorite pizzas – make it thick or thin, personal size or whole, bake it or grill it.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)
  • 1 envelope active dry yeast
  • 1 cup of All-Purpose flour
  • 1 cup of Whole Wheat flour
  • 1 tsp. of sugar
  • 3/4 tsp. of salt
  • 3 T. of Olive Oil

Instructions

  1. Pour warm water  (105°F-115°F) into small bowl with yeast, stir.
  2. Let stand until yeast is completely dissolved, about 3-5 minutes.
  3. Brush large bowl with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  4. In stand mixer (using a knead hook) or food processor; mix all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar and salt until combined.
  5. Now, add yeast mixture and 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the mixing bowl. Continue to mix dough until it forms a sticky ball, usually 2-3 minutes.
  6. Remove dough and place on a flat floured surface. Knead the dough until smooth, continue to add flour to dough until it is no longer sticky. (about 1 minute)
  7. Place dough in prepared olive oil brushed bowl. Lightly brush the top of the pizza dough ball with olive oil as well. Now, cover bowl with plastic wrap so it is completely sealed and place in warm draft-free area.
  8. Let sit for 1 hour, until it has doubled in size.
  9. Remove plastic wrap and punch down the dough.
  10. Roll out dough on floured surface to desired size. (makes 1 large pizza, 2 medium or 4 personal size)

Notes

(adapted from Giada De Laurentiis)

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