No-Knead Sheet Pan Pizza

4.6

Published Apr 08, 2020•Updated Mar 15, 2022

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No-Knead Sheet Pan Pizza uses a simple no-knead dough and sheet pans (any size will work) coated with olive oil for a crisp, golden crust and soft, chewy interior. Add your favorite toppings!

Homemade sheet pan pizza is my favorite no-fuss way to do pizza night at home. It all starts with the basic recipe for my No-Knead Everyday Bread. There’s no pizza peel or pizza stone needed and the pizzas come out with crisp / chewy crusts. Perhaps best of all, this dough gets even better over time. Make it early in the week and let it age in the refrigerator for up to 5 days! (See below for more on making the dough ahead.)

With everyone at home all day now, I’ve been encouraging my soon-to-be six-year-olds to be more involved in making dinner each night. They’re almost always eager to help, though less eager when the task is roasting cauliflower and more so when the task is making pizza.

This recipe is great for our family of four. We make one pizza kids choice (marinara + mozzarella) and one pizza adults choice (in this case, caramelized onions, rosemary, and gruyere). In the end, we all eat a bit of each.

Here’s how to do your own no-knead sheet pan pizza night!

Ingredients for No-Knead Sheet Pan Pizza

All-Purpose Flour – No special flour needed here – just regular all-purpose. Any brand is fine.
Kosher Salt – This recipe was tested with Kosher salt (Morton’s or Diamond Brand), so use that for the right balance of saltiness. (If using table salt, reduce the amount you use by about half.)
Sugar – Use regular granulated / white sugar. Don’t skip this – the dough needs sugar in order to rise.
Fast-Acting or “Instant” Yeast – No-Knead Sheet Pan Pizza uses a dough that rises quickly (making it a go-to for new bread bakers or those of us who want this ready fast) and requires Fast-Acting (not “Active Dry”) yeast. See the original post for No-Knead Everyday Bread for more details on this yeast.
Warm Water – The water should feel warm, but not too hot to touch. Check the package on the yeast for the recommended temperature range. I usually heat tap water in the microwave for about 90 seconds until it reaches about 120°F / 49°C.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Use a generous amount of olive oil to brush the sheet pans and the surface of the dough as it bakes. This adds flavor and gives the dough a golden crust.
Toppings – Add your favorite toppings to finish the pizzas! (If you want to be sure to keep the crust super crisp, take a tip from Serious Eats and use low moisture mozzarella cheese. Fresh mozzarella has more flavor but can release a lot of moisture as it cooks.)

Tools for Sheet Pan Pizza

These simple pizzas require just a few tools that you already have in your kitchen.

Large Mixing Bowl – This is the bowl in which you’ll mix the dough and let it rise. Any large bowl is fine.
Large Sheet Pan – A Half Sheet Pan is the right size for baking one large pizza or two small pizzas side-by-side. As shown in the photos, I also sometimes make two smaller pizzas using Quarter Sheet Pans.
Kitchen Scale – This is not necessary, but it’s easiest (and most accurate) to just measure the flour by weight right into the mixing bowl.
Parchment Paper – This is optional, but parchment paper can make it easier to spread the dough out and to remove it from the pans. (Note: Many brands of parchment paper have a recommended upper temperature limit, but there should be no issue with baking it above that temperature.)

Aging Pizza Dough

Perhaps the best thing about this pizza dough is that, while it’s great baked right away, it gets even better if you wait to bake it. Leaving the dough in the refrigerator “ages” the dough and helps the dough to develop flavor and texture. Dough that has been aged will start to take on some of the characteristics of sourdough and will get a very subtle tangy flavor that tastes like pizza from a great pizzeria. It will also have even more of a chewy texture to balance the toppings.

Wondering how to age the dough? All you have to do is transfer it to a bowl or plastic bag that has been rubbed on the inside with a generous amount of olive oil. Cover the dough (or seal the bag) and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to bake, let the dough come back to room temperature before continuing with the recipe.

Note: All of the photos in this post were taken with pizza dough that was aged for the full 5 days. If using fresh dough, it typically spreads out more easily and is much more wet. The pizza is great either way!

Freezing Pizza Dough

To freeze: The best way to freeze the dough is to make the pizzas up through the first 5-minute bake (step 10). Allow the crust to cool completely and then freeze flat on sheet pans until solid (about 1 hour). Transfer pre-baked crusts to freezer-safe bags.

To bake: When you’re ready to bake the pizzas, defrost completely at room temperature for about 1 hour. Preheat the oven, add toppings, and bake according to the recipe instructions.

More Pizza Recipes

Deep Dish Pizza – Homemade pizza makes always feels like a special meal, but this deep dish pizza might be a new favorite. This recipe makes two 8-inch deep dish pizzas that can be customized with any toppings you’d like. The pizza crust takes an hour to make, and is easy to freeze and reheat for a DIY pizza night anytime.
Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, and Goat Cheese Pizza – Mix up pizza night with this white pizza topped with garlic oil, shredded Brussels sprouts, crisp bacon, and creamy goat cheese.
Sweet Corn, Pesto, and Goat Cheese Pizza – Making homemade pizza with sweet corn is sort of a beautiful thing – a bit sweet and slightly caramelized from the high heat of the oven. And the fresh pesto and goat cheese make me pretty happy as well.
Greek Pizza with Feta, Spinach and Olives – These Greek pizzas are made complete with feta, roasted red pepper, and tons of marinated olives.

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