Tasty Eats: Best Simple and Easy Pizza Dough Recipe to Make with your Kids

Almost everyday lately Kai has asked if he can help cook a meal. In my “let’s get dinner done ASAP” mode, I’m usually half way done when I realize he probably wanted to be apart. Well not this time! Tonight we used my favorite simple and easy pizza dough recipe and the pizzas were delicious!

One of my personal goals this year has been to start learning more recipes this year. So I’m excited to keep trying new things and include the kids in the process. Family time is so valuable, I don’t want to keep rushing through everything.

Yes it’s simple and easy for kids!

Some of our close friends make incredible pizzas from scratch, but they’re too far away right now (plus social distancing y’all). So I asked for the recipe, which you can find here and an adapted version below.

Though I’ve never made a pizza from scratch, it wasn’t hard, and the kids loved the whole process. We whipped up two pizzas tonight despite all the mess! And there was certainly a mess…

Garlic Bread Pizza Crust

From How Sweet Eats

1 1/8 cups warm water (100-105 degrees)

3 teaspoons active dry yeast

1 1/2 tablespoons honey

1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried basil

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 garlic cloves, pressed or very finely minced

2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Making the dough

In a large bowl, combine water, yeast, honey and olive oil. Mix with a spoon, then let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add in 2 1/2 cups flour, salt, garlic powder and dried basil, stirring with a spoon until the dough comes together but it still sticky.

Using your hands, form the dough into a ball and work the additional 1/2 cup flour (you don’t need to use all if it is not needed) in to the dough, kneading it on a floured surface for a few minutes.

Rub the same bowl with olive oil then place the dough inside, turning to coat. Cover with a towel and place in a warm place to rise for about 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

After the dough has risen, punch it down and place it back on the floured surface.

Prepping the pizza dough

Using a roll pin or your hands, form it into your desired shape (sometimes I use baking sheets and do rectangles or free form pizzas). Yep it’s really that simple and easy for this  pizza dough recipe!

Place the towel back over the dough and let sit in the warm place for 10 minutes.

While the dough is rising again, melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Mix it with the garlic and 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese.

Bring the dough back out and using a spoon or pastry brush, douse the outside edges with the butter and garlic mixture.

Setting up the pizza

You can spread the butter all over, just make sure to focus on the edges. Use it all up! Continue to make your pizza with your desired toppings.

Bake the pizza for 23-25 minutes (or longer if needed, depending on your toppings), or until crust and cheese are both golden. While pizza is baking, melt remaining butter and combine with the last tablespoon of parmesan.