This cornmeal pizza crust recipe will give you a crust that’s crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside, with a generous slathering of butter on top for a truly delicious finish. The garlic salt takes it to the next level!
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This pizza crust with cornmeal is so good that it could easily be its own main course. But the best part? It’s surprisingly simple to make, requiring just minutes of active time, and you can make it all in the same bowl from start to finish. That means less time cleaning up and more time enjoying your homemade pizza!
If you’re a fan of homemade pizza, you’ll also love my easy pizza dough recipe which is perfect for pizza night. And you can make this roasted cherry tomato pizza sauce to top it.
This is a tried and true family recipe that I’ve been making for YEARS. Pizza night is a staple in our home each week and this crust is part of that experience.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Flavor-Packed: The combination of cornmeal, garlic salt, and olive oil in this recipe gives the crust a rich, savory flavor that’s simply unbeatable.
- Family Favorite: This recipe always gets a thumbs-up from the entire family. It’s a great way to switch up pizza night and add some extra crunch to your crust.
- Comfort Food: There’s something so comforting about a thick, hearty crust, and this recipe delivers exactly that. It’s perfect for cozy nights in.
- Easy to Customize: While this recipe is delicious as is, it’s also easy to customize. Add your favorite herbs to the dough for even more flavor, or switch up the toppings to suit your preferences.
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Key Ingredients
- Yeast: This is what will make our pizza crust nice and fluffy, giving it that perfect rise.
- Warm Water: The water activates the yeast, helping it to do its job in making the dough rise.
- Olive Oil: This will add a delicious, rich flavor to our crust and help to make it nice and crispy on the outside.
- Garlic Salt: It will give our crust a savory, garlicky flavor that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients in the recipe.
- Sugar: This will help to feed the yeast, giving it the energy it needs to do its job in making the dough rise.
- White Flour: It provides the base for our dough, giving it structure and a soft, chewy texture.
- Whole Wheat Flour: This will add a nutty flavor to our crust and a slightly denser texture. It’s a great way to sneak in some whole grains.
- Cornmeal: It will add a delicious, slightly crunchy texture to our crust and a sweet, nutty flavor.
- Your Favorite Pizza Toppings: Be creative with your favorite toppings, like pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, or whatever else you like. And don’t forget a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese to finish it off!
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl: You’ll need this to combine the yeast, water, olive oil, garlic salt, sugar, flours, and cornmeal to make the pizza dough.
- Pizza Stone or Pan: This is essential for baking the pizza. It ensures that the crust cooks evenly and gets crispy.
How to Make Cornmeal Pizza Crust
Preparation
To start, activate the yeast by combining it with warm water. Let it sit until it’s bubbly, then add olive oil, garlic salt, and sugar. Next, mix in the flours and cornmeal to form the pizza dough.
Step 1 – Activate the Yeast
In a large bowl, add the yeast and pour warm water over it. Stir and let it sit until bubbly.
Step 2 – Add Olive Oil and Flavors
Once the yeast is bubbly, add olive oil, garlic salt, and sugar. Stir to combine.
Step 3 – Mix in the Flours
Add the white flour, whole wheat flour, and cornmeal directly to the bowl. Stir until the mixture reaches a dough consistency.
Step 4 – Knead the Dough
Add more flour to your hand and knead the dough for about 30 seconds until you get a soft ball that leaves indentations with the touch of your finger.
Step 5 – Let the Dough Rise
Cover the bowl with a damp towel and place it in a cold oven with the oven light on. Let the dough rise for 1 hour.
Step 6 – Roll Out the Dough
After the dough has risen, flour your fingers and spread the dough evenly on a large pizza pan that has been greased with olive oil.
Step 7 – Add the Pizza Toppings
Next, add the pizza toppings. Start with the sauce, then the veggies, cheese, and pepperoni. Make sure to leave the edges of the crust free to butter it up.
Step 8 – Bake the Pizza
Preheat your oven to 425˚ F. Once it’s hot, bake the pizza for about 20 minutes. Your delicious cornmeal pizza is ready to serve.
Expert Tip
When making your cornmeal pizza crust, consider using stone-ground cornmeal instead of the typical finely ground variety. We’ve found that stone-ground cornmeal, such as Hodgson Mill, makes a real difference in both the texture and the flavor of the crust.
Recipe Variations
- Thin Crust: If you prefer a thin and crispy pizza crust, simply roll the dough out more thinly before baking. This will give you a delicious, crunchy base for your favorite toppings.
- Seasonings: Feel free to add extra seasonings to the dough to give your pizza a flavor boost. Try mixing some dried Italian herbs or a little extra garlic salt into the dough before letting it rise.
What to Serve With
- For a classic pizza night, top your cornmeal pizza crust with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings like pepperoni, bell peppers, and onions.
- If you’re in the mood for something different, try a white pizza. Skip the tomato sauce and instead, top your cornmeal crust with a mixture of ricotta cheese, garlic, mozzarella, and a sprinkle of parmesan.
- You can also get creative with your toppings. Try barbecue sauce, chicken, red onions, and cilantro for a delicious barbecue chicken pizza. The smoky barbecue sauce pairs perfectly with the slightly sweet cornmeal crust.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can. Instant yeast doesn’t need to be proof, so you can mix it right in with the other dry ingredients. However, if you’re using rapid-rise yeast, you may need to reduce the rise time by 10-15 minutes.
No, you can use all white flour if you prefer. You can also use a different type of flour, like spelt or gluten-free flour, but the texture of the crust may be slightly different.
The dough is ready when it has doubled in size. This usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. You can also use your fingers to press into the dough – if it springs back, it needs more time to rise.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: After enjoying your delicious homemade pizza, you can store any leftovers in the fridge. Simply place the slices in an airtight container. They will keep well for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: If you’d like to save your cornmeal pizza crust for longer, you can freeze it. Once the crust has cooled completely, wrap it in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: When you’re ready to use your frozen crust, just remove it from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature for about 2 hours.
- Reheating: You can reheat your pizza in a preheated 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can reheat it in a skillet over medium heat for a crispy crust.
More Pizza Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This cornmeal pizza crust recipe yields enough for one 12-inch pizza crust.
- How to Scale: If you want to make more than one pizza, you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure your food processor or stand mixer is large enough to accommodate the increased quantity of dough. Follow the rest of the instructions as directed.
Cornmeal Pizza Crust
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ tsp yeast
- 1 Cup warm water
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 Cup white flour
- ¾ Cup whole wheat flour can substitute white here
- ½ Cup cornmeal
- Pizza Toppings mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and all your favorites
Instructions
- Mix warm water and yeast in a bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until bubbly.
- Add yeast, olive oil, garlic salt, and sugar to the bowl and stir. Add white flour, whole wheat flour (can sub white flour), and cornmeal directly to the bowl. Stir until you reach dough consistency.
- Grab some flour with your hands and knead the dough for about 30 seconds until you get a soft ball that leaves indentations with the touch of your finger. Cover the bowl with a large towel soaked in hot water and wrung out. Place the bowl in a warm place to rise for one hour.
- Preheat your oven to 425˚ F. Grease a large pizza pan with olive oil.
- Flour your fingers again and spread the dough evenly on a large pizza pan.
- Top your pizza with sauce, veggies, cheese, and pepperoni, in that order. Make sure to leave naked crust at the edges.
- Bake in a preheated 425˚ F for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the bottom is golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2014. It has been updated with more detailed instructions. The recipe remains the same.
