Skip to content
A perfect, crispy base for any homemade pizza. 

When a passionate young man named John Schnatter pursued his passion for pizza-making all the way back in 1984, no one could’ve imagined that it would grow to become one of the most well-loved pizza chains in the world!

A dream that started in an oven installed in the broom closet of John’s father’s tavern blossomed into an iconic restaurant chain that’s now one of the top five largest pizza delivery chains in the US!

So, what exactly makes this pizza chain so popular? Perhaps it’s the variations they implement on your favorite flavors, or the huge variety of dishes you can choose from. 

However, there’s one key thing we can all agree on: the iconic dough. 

Made fresh from a few simple ingredients, Papa John’s dough has carried the brand to the Pizza Hall of Fame. Even better news: its simplicity means that it’s easy to recreate at home!

Are you on the hunt for Papa John’s pizza dough recipe? Look no further! Today, we’ll teach you exactly how to make this dough. Read on to learn:

  • Essential recipe details
  • The ingredients to use
  • Important instructions, notes, and tips.

Let’s get baking!

Pizza dough with ingredients on wood

Papa Johns Pizza Dough Recipe pinit
0 Add to Favorites

Unveiling the Papa Johns Pizza Dough Recipe

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 14 mins Cook Time 10 mins Rest Time 30 mins Total Time 54 mins
Cooking Temp: 35  °C Servings: 2 Calories: 1504
Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Description

You’ll get the genuine Papa John’s pizza taste straight from your oven with this quick, easy, and delicious dough recipe!

This pizza dough recipe uses ingredients that are enough for two servings — perfect for pizza parties and dinners!

Instructions

Ready to get your hands on authentic Papa John’s pizza? Grab your mixing bowl, don your apron, and prep those ingredients! When you’re ready, follow the step-by-step guide below to whip up a quick, easy, and flavorful homemade version of Papa John’s pizza:

  1. First, preheat your oven to 450 degrees for about 20 to 25 minutes

  2. While your oven’s heating up, mix together 1 cup of flour with sugar, salt, and undissolved yeasts in a bowl

  3. Slowly add the oil and water to the mixture, blending with a mixer at a low speed until the powders have moistened. Once ready, increase to medium speed for 2 minutes

  4. Continue combining ingredients by hand, gradually adding 1 ½ to 2 cups of flour (as needed) until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl

  5. Flour a clean surface (such as a bench or chopping board) to ensure the dough will not stick. Knead with hands, adding a further ¼ to ½ cups of flour until the mixture has an elastic consistency

  6. Cover and allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes

  7. After resting, gently flatten the dough onto two 12-inch pizza pans and prick evenly with a fork

  8. Let rest in a warm place for another 10 to 15 minutes

  9. Brush oil over the crust before pre-baking for 5 minutes at 450 degrees

  10. Add your desired toppings, then bake for another 5 minutes or until the crust is crisp to your liking

  11. Let it cool, slice it up, and enjoy your homemade Papa John’s pizza!

Note

Want to give this Papa John’s pizza dough recipe a go? Before you start, check out these great tips and tricks to help you achieve that perfect pizza base every time!

Papa johns Pizza Recipe Notes

  • Season the crust. Don’t be afraid to experiment with seasonings! Throw in an extra sprinkle of salt, onion powder, or Italian seasoning, and watch as the flavors pop
  • Rotate while cooking. Nothing tastes better than an evenly cooked pizza! To make sure your pizza comes out of the oven perfectly each time, rotate your tray halfway through the cooking process. Do you have a convection oven or one that’s notorious for having areas that are hotter than others? This tip is even more important!
  • Preheat your oven. If you know your way around the oven, you’ll already know this as a cardinal rule for baking. Make sure to preheat your oven for the best quality pizza! Many people make the rookie mistake of not allowing the oven to preheat properly; with this recipe, you need around 25 minutes of preheating! This way, you’ll have a crust that bakes evenly and gets nice and crisp.
  • Use a pizza peel. Nothing ruins the pizza experience more than having soggy bread. Keep your pizza looking and tasting amazing with a pizza peel! Try dusting the tray with a little flour or cornmeal before popping the pizza in the oven. Not only will it help the base crisp up, but it’ll also prevent it from sticking to the tray!
  • Cook with a pizza stone or tray. Although it’s completely optional, using a pizza stone or tray will give you pizzas that are worlds better than what you get with ordinary trays. These nifty tools spread heat evenly, so your pizza cooks all the way through and has that moreish, crunchy base.
Keywords: Papa John’s Pizza Dough Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:
What is Papa John's pizza dough made of?

The ingredients are simple and natural, and you probably already have them in your pantry somewhere! All you need is flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and oil (and water). No hard-to-get ingredients are required for authentic Papa John’s pizza dough.

What are the 6 ingredients in Papa John's dough?

With just six ingredients, Papa John’s pizza dough creates a magical medley of flavor and texture that’s hard to beat! If you have flour, oil, salt, sugar, yeast, and water, you’re all set to start whipping up high-quality pizzas for dinner.

What is special about Papa John's original crust?

It has everything to do with the simplicity and natural goodness of the ingredients list. The secret behind the soft and crispy texture is the evenly rolled dough for that perfect bite; not too thick, not too thin. It’s the Goldilocks zone for pizza!

How many ingredients are in Papa John's dough?

Using only six ingredients, Papa John’s pizza dough is one of the most straightforward recipes out there. There are no hoops you need to jump through to achieve that high-quality, delicious pizza dough every time.