Have you ever wondered if you can make pizza from frozen bread dough? Well, I did, too, and decided to try it out. After lots of testing (and tasting), I created this foolproof frozen dough pizza recipe. And I’m excited to share it with you!
Homemade pizza with pre-made bread dough is easy and fast to prepare. Simply thaw the frozen loaf, shape it, and add your favorite toppings, and bake to perfection.
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Why This Recipe Works
- It’s effortless! You won’t have to worry about having active dry yeast on hand or measuring ingredients; just thaw, shape and bake!
- Everyone can make their own custom crust! This recipe is one of my family’s favorites. It’s quick to prepare, and the kids love to help assemble it.
- Frozen pizza dough lasts for months in the freezer! Although we regularly have pizza night, sometimes I forget to make the crust beforehand. So, I keep a bag in the freezer just in case!
Over the years, I’ve created many recipes using frozen bread dough, from cinnamon rolls made with frozen bread dough to our favorite frozen dinner rolls. Each one is always a hit!
Ingredient Notes And Substitutions
- Frozen bread dough – I prefer using Bridgford’s Ready-Dough for this recipe.
- Pizza sauce – you can also use our pizza sauce with San Marzano tomatoes as the ideal topping.
- Italian seasoning – If you don’t have Italian seasoning, then fresh herbs, like basil, thyme, or rosemary, will work. Add fresh herbs as toppings after baking.
- Olive oil – Use any other type of oil, such as vegetable or canola oil.
- Shredded mozzarella – is the most commonly used cheese because it melts perfectly for that cheese pull and has a mild flavor. But you can also use any cheese or mix of cheeses for more flavor.
And your preferred toppings!
How to Thaw Frozen Pizza Dough
The first step for making this frozen pizza dough recipe is thawing – I recommend these methods:
- Defrost in the fridge overnight for 8-10 hours. Place the frozen loaves on a baking sheet and cover them with plastic wrap. Spray the baking sheet and underside with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
- Quickly defrost at room temperature in 2-3 hours. Prepare the frozen dough as described above. Then leave it on the countertop to thaw.
Once thawed, separate the loaf in two. Roll each section into a ball and let rise until they are at room temperature (30-60 minutes).
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Warmer dough is easier to shape. If it’s hard to shape, knead it for a minute or two so it’s easier to stretch and shape the crust.
How to Make Frozen Pizza Dough
- Use a rolling pin or clean hands to stretch it into a round shape. Transfer the crust to a baking sheet.
- Pre-bake the crust for 5 minutes in a 450°F preheated oven. Meanwhile, prepare the toppings.
Then, remove the prebaked crust and increase the oven temperature to 500ºF degrees. - Add the toppings. Leave about an inch around the edge of the crust. Brush it with olive oil and sprinkle with salt for extra flavor.
Then, brush on the sauce and sprinkle on dried seasonings, shredded cheese, and your preferred toppings. - Bake for 7-10 minutes. The cheese should be bubbly and the crust light golden.
Remove the baked crust from the oven and let it cool for several minutes before cutting and serving.
Recipe Tips
- Brush a little olive oil or marinara sauce around the crust to create that signature golden crust. Don’t skip this step!
- Remember to add any fresh herbs, like basil, after baking in the oven. If baked, the herbs will turn brown and wilt.
Frequently Asked Questions
The frozen bread dough uses bread flour, so pre-baking the crust first prevents the crust from becoming soggy. Or, if you add a lot of toppings (like my husband does), it ensures an evenly baked crust.
See my sourdough pizza crust, Neapolitan crust pizza, or Bisquick pizza crust recipes for homemade versions.
Cooled leftovers can be kept in the fridge in an air-tight container for 3-4 days.
I prefer reheating pizza in the air fryer at 325º for 5 – 7 minutes.
The second favorite is in the oven. Bake at 350º for 10 minutes. For a crispier crust, place a sheet of foil under the crust.
My least favorite way is in the microwave. Place a paper towel under the crust and cover it with parchment paper to keep it from becoming soggy. Microwave it in 30-second increments to prevent it from overcooking.
Other Recipes to Make with Frozen Dough…
If you tried this frozen dough pizza recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Frozen Dough Pizza Recipe
Equipment
- rolling pin
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 loaf frozen bread dough (there are 3 loaves in a bag)
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella
- 2 cups toppings like pepperoni, salami, diced ham or chicken, pineapple, onions, bell pepper
Instructions
Thaw frozen pizza dough
- Let dough thaw overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter (see notes below). After thawing, let the dough sit at room temperature for 30 minutes up to a few hours before making pizza.
- When you’re ready to shape the dough, preheat the oven to 450ºF.
Shape and stretch the dough
- Divide the thawed dough into two. Shape each half into a ball. Use a floured rolling pin to shape the dough into a round crust. Or, shape it by hand by stretching it with your clean upturned hands to pull the dough from underneath outwardly.
- When the crust is the desired size, transfer it to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
Pre-bake the crust
- Bake the bare pizza crust in the oven at 450ºF for 5 minutes. While it is baking, prepare your toppings.
- Once the dough is pre-baked, take it out and preheat the oven to 500ºF. Add the sauce, dried herbs, cheese, and other toppings to the pizza crust, leaving a 1" edge around. Brush olive oil or marinara sauce around the outer crust of the dough, then lightly sprinkle the edges with salt.
- Bake the pizza at 500ºF for 7-10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the crust are golden. Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before adding fresh herbs, then slice and serve.
Notes
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- Defrost in the fridge overnight for 8-10 hours. Place the frozen loaves on a baking sheet and cover them with plastic wrap. Spray the baking sheet and underside with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
-
- Quickly defrost at room temperature in 2-3 hours. Prepare the frozen pizza dough as described above. Then leave it on the countertop to thaw.
- Warmer dough is easier to shape. If your dough is hard to shape, knead it for a minute or two to warm it up and try stretching it again.
- I prefer reheating pizza in the air fryer at 325º for 5 – 7 minutes.
- The second favorite is in the oven. Bake at 350º for 10 minutes. For a crispier crust, place a sheet of foil under the crust.
- My least favorite way is in the microwave. Place a paper towel under the crust and cover it with parchment paper to keep it from becoming soggy. Microwave it in 30-second increments to prevent it from overcooking.
Nutrition
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Sandra Huskey says
Turned out amazing, thank you , we put a little to much cheese because I didn’t have fresh mozzarella
Anjali says
This is such a game changer for making homemade pizza! I had no idea you could use pre-made frozen bread dough and still get such a great pizza crust out of it! I know I’ll be using this recipe often for pizza night with my family!
Harriet Young says
Absolutely love this idea! We like making our own pizzas and using frozen dough is a game changer. It tastes awesome and is so easy! Thank you