• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Biting at the Bits logo
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • CONTACT
  • Nav Social Menu

    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • CONTACT
  • FALL
  • Find us on Social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPE INDEX
    • CONTACT
    • FALL
  • Find us on Social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • Homemade pumpkin pasta dough with lasagna sheets and Atlas Marcato 150 pasta machine next to it with 3 pumpkin pasta dough balls covered in the background.
      Pumpkin Pasta Recipe (Easy Homemade Pasta Dough)
    • A serving dish filled with couscous salad made the authentic Mediterranean way.
      The Mediterranean Couscous Recipe Everyone Should Know
    • A serving platter with light green colored Mexican cilantro rice.
      Restaurant-Style Cilantro Lime Rice (Better Than Chipotle w/Video)
    • The best shrimp burger recipe served up in red burger baskets on a vintage carhop tray - crispy shrimp burgers on two potato buns with burger toppings including spicy wasabi mayo, shredded cabbage, pickles, cilantro and shallots with twice-fried french fries for a real classic drive in burger experience.
      Crispy Shrimp Burger Recipe (Homemade Teochew Shrimp Patties + Video)
    • Homemade Asian sesame dressing in a small Weck Canning jar with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chives floating on top, showcasing its rich amber color and smooth texture.
      Asian Sesame Dressing (Easy 5-Minute Homemade Recipe + Video)
    • Creamy blue crab risotto served in a white pasta bowl with whole cooked blue crab garnish, topped with fresh chives and a single fresh red chili pepper.
      Easy Crab Risotto Recipe (Risotto al Granchio Blu Classico + Video)
    • Homemade Mexican dinner plate featuring cheese enchiladas, creamy refried pinto beans topped with melted cheese and authentic Mexican cilantro rice - better than restaurant enchilada plate.
      Easy Authentic Refried Beans Recipe (From Scratch or Canned w/Video)
    • Traditional homemade lasagna bolognese with eight layers, showcasing rich meat sauce and handmade spinach egg pasta noodles in classic Italian culinary style.
      Authentic Lasagna Bolognese (Lasagne alla Bolognese +Video)
    • A tray holding a microplane with blood orange zest filling it up sitting in front of fresh blood oranges, empty blood orange halves, freshly squeezed blood orange juice, and a jar of homemade orange sugar.
      Easy Orange Sugar Recipe (Using Sicilian Blood Oranges)
    • A casserole dish filled with cheese enchiladas covered in sauce, melted cheddar cheese, and minced white onions.
      Cheese Enchiladas with Red Enchilada Sauce Recipe (Authentic Tex-Mex + Video)
    • An All-Clad sauté pan filled with homemade red enchilada sauce with a whisk resting in the pan.
      Red Enchilada Sauce Recipe (Authentic Tex-Mex w/Video)
    • My hand holding a widemouth Mason canning jar filled with bright red glistening homeamde cherry pie filling.
      Ultimate Cherry Pie Filling Recipe (10-Minutes, Homemade)
    Home » Recipes » Pizza

    Best Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe (For Thin Crust Pizza)

    Published: May 16, 2023 · Modified: Jul 7, 2024 by Kelly · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Adapted from my 00 flour pizza dough recipe, this easy whole wheat pizza dough comes together with 6 simple ingredients (5 if you omit the sugar). And it makes a perfect light and crispy thin-crust pizza that bakes up in just 8 minutes every time. In fact, this is one of our favorite pizza dough recipes in terms of flavor and texture. It's SO good no one will know it's healthy and you won't miss traditional pizza crust!

    In this post, you'll learn all my tips for how to make the very best homemade whole wheat thin-crust pizza dough -- even if you only own a toaster oven!

    Super smooth and well-hydrated kneaded whole wheat flour pizza dough
    Closeup of fully assembled whole wheat pepperoni pizza
    whole wheat Supreme pizza with green olives, spicy ventricina salami, salsiccia, prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, red bell peppers, and onions.
    2 slices of perfectly baked pepperoni thin crust pizza with whole wheat crust (one slice turned upside down to reveal the crispy bottom crust

    Why 100% Whole Wheat Flour is Good For Pizza

    100% whole wheat yeasted pizza dough makes some of the BEST thin-crust pizza ever. Seriously. Not to mention it's healthier than using ultra-refined 00 flour, all-purpose, or bread flour.

    I first created this healthy pizza recipe (with even healthier pizza topping options) for my Mom when her health was declining eventually leading up to her brain cancer diagnosis. I reduced her sodium intake and removed any processed foods from her diet while still cooking things I knew she'd enjoy and actually want to eat.

    During this period, I also ate everything she ate because as I saw it, we were a team. And I can honestly say I was genuinely surprised by how delicious this pizza dough was/is! And even though we live in Italy and have great pizza restaurant options (and several other pizza dough recipes), we choose to make this one the most often for its health benefits.

    And I've never looked back! It's super crispy, full of the natural nutty flavor of 100% whole wheat flour and it's better for your body.

    If you love pizza and want to learn how to make any kind of homemade pizza better, check out my Ultimate Guide to Making Better Pizza Dough & Best Toppings post over here before you get started!

    Jump to:
    • Why 100% Whole Wheat Flour is Good For Pizza
    • Why Does Whole Wheat Pizza Have a Bad Reputation?
    • Why You'll Love This Pizza
    • How Long Does It Take To Make Pizza From Scratch?
    • Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Ingredients
    • How to Make Thin-Crust Whole-Wheat Pizza Step-by-Step
    • What's The Dough Point For Pizza Dough?
    • Substitute All-Purpose or Bread Flour for Half of the Whole Wheat Flour
    • What Temperature Should I Bake Pizza?
    • Whole Wheat Pizza Top Tips
    • Pizza Toppings for Healthy Pizza
    • Best Substitutes for a Pizza Stone or Pizza Peel
    • How to Meal Prep Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
    • 3 WAYS TO REFRIGERATE PIZZA DOUGH
    • How to Freeze Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
    • How to Thaw Frozen Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
    • FAQ: Can You Freeze Whole Wheat Pizza Dough?
    • What are The Best Ways to Reheat Leftover Pizza?
    • Looking For More Easy Pizza Recipes?
    • Or Check Out These Unique Pizza Dough Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    Whole wheat flour in a bowl.

    Why Does Whole Wheat Pizza Have a Bad Reputation?

    Historically, whole wheat pizza gets a bad rap for being hard, dense, and generally not chewy enough, but this isn't the fault of the flour. While it's true it doesn't have quite the rising potential of its white flour counterparts, it still makes an awesome thin and crispy or hand-stretched pizza.

    These photos (and the pizza video below don't lie♡).

    With a few simple and practical tips, I can assure you this healthy pizza will please even the pickiest eaters. Plus, it's the perfect yeasted pizza dough recipe for beginner bakers (especially kids) because it's even easier to roll out than regular pizza dough. Let them add their favorite pizza toppings and even make smiley faces if they want! 

    Check out this post for a tutorial with real photos for how to host a kids pizza party.

    Pizza toppings added to the unbaked pizza.
    Super crispy whole wheat Supreme pizza just taken out of the oven.

    Why You'll Love This Pizza

    Don't get me wrong, we love traditional 00 dough pizza dough and dough made with bread flour, but we tend to eat this recipe most often because whole grain flour is the healthiest flour to use (plus I can't stress how good it actually is). 

    In fact, with the entire grain intact it has the most flavor out of any of the 5 or 6 main pizza doughs I make (Neapolitan, 00 pizza dough, bread flour dough, St. Louis-Style (no-yeast) dough, St. Louis-Style Whole Wheat Pizza Dough, and pan pizza dough).

    • It has less refined carbs than 00 flour, bread flour, or all-purpose flour
    • Contains more fiber and nutrients than white flour
    • It bakes up like a traditional thin-crust pizza dough
    • It can be baked in a regular oven or toaster oven
    • It has more protein than white flour
    • Whole wheat flour keeps you feeling fuller for longer

    While you may be skeptical to use whole wheat flour in your pizza crust, I recommend you to give it a try (or use this half and half recipe) because it's better than you might imagine.

    You may even realize you prefer its flavor to that of traditional 00 Flour or Bread flour pizza doughs. Plus, it's a perfect pizza recipe for anyone trying to eat a little healthier and still enjoy comfort food.

    A closeup of a just baked whole wheat thin crust pizza showing how delicious the crust really is.
    Super crispy sliced whole wheat Supreme pizza with green olives, spicy ventricina salami, salsiccia, prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, red bell peppers, and onions.
    Sliced homemade 00 flour thin-crust pepperoni pizza

    How Long Does It Take To Make Pizza From Scratch?

    From start to finish this pizza takes about 2 ½ hours to make. But don't worry, only about 25 minutes is actually hands-on (and that includes measuring, kneading, rolling, and topping the pizza). It's a piece of cake!

    Giving pizza ample time to proof and rise is necessary to get the best flavor and texture. You can read all about why over here in this 00 Pizza Dough post. In fact, I like to make this dough 1 to 3 days in advance and refrigerate it because it just gets better (this is called curing pizza dough).

    If a quick healthy pizza is what you're after, I recommend trying this (no-yeast) St. Louis-Style Whole Wheat pizza dough recipe instead. Like magic, it can be made from start to finish in just 20 minutes. 

    Homemade Pizza Timeline:

    • 5 minutes to measure and mix the ingredients
    • 10 to 12 minutes of kneading the pizza dough (by hand or in a stand mixer)
    • 1 ½ hours for the first rise
    • ½ hour for the second rise
    • 5 minutes to roll, sauce, and top each pizza
    • 8 minutes to bake
    Whole wheat Pizza Dough ingredients on a table: whole wheat flour, yeast, sugar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and water.

    Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Ingredients

    Here’s a quick overview of the 5 to 6 ingredients you need (plus a couple of substitutions). Get the full (printable recipe and watch the whole wheat pizza video tutorial below). 

    Yeast: I use SAF Instant Yeast or Red Star Instant Yeast, but you can substitute active dry yeast as long as you bloom it first -- see recipe notes for instructions).

    Whole Wheat Flour: I've used 100% Whole grain Italian flour with 11.2% protein (Substitute King Arthur's Whole Wheat flour with 13.2% protein or Trader Joe's whole wheat white flour). High-quality flour always equals a better pizza crust.

    Water: Warm water between 110°F-115°F (43°C-46°C). Yeast dies at temperatures of 130ºF (54°C) or higher so if you don't have a thermometer, think of the temperature as needing to be just slightly warmer than milk would be for feeding a baby.

    Salt: Every good pizza dough contains salt because, without it, it won't taste great. That said, if you need to make a low-sodium pizza you can simply use less salt than this recipe calls for (see recipe notes for amounts to use).

    In fact, I did this for my Mom so I know it's still delicious! FYI, I've used Diamond Crystal Kosher salt in this recipe, but you'll use about half the amount of regular salt.

    Sugar: I use a bit of sugar in this pizza dough to help with the color without affecting the flavor of the dough at all. As mentioned above, sugar is not an ingredient found in typical pizzeria dough (which is typically cooked at much higher tempertures than a home oven alleviating the need for it). You don't have to add it, but it does improve the color of the pizza. (Substitute honey or maple syrup if desired).

    Extra Virgin Olive Oil: For baking pizza in the home oven, we add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil for texture. And contrary to what most people think, oil isn't added to pizza dough for extra flavor, but rather to provide the necessary fat for a well-textured dough when cooked in a standard oven.

    In fact, just about any vegetable oil will work if you don't have EVOO. You'll want to only use EVOO for drizzling over the top of the fully assembled pizza before baking because this extra oil is purely to add flavor.

    Slices of whole wheat thin crust pepperoni pizza on parchment paper

    How to Make Thin-Crust Whole-Wheat Pizza Step-by-Step

    Here's an overview of how to make whole-wheat pizza. Find the full recipe instructions in the recipe card or watch the video that shows how easy it is to make!

    whisking to combine the dry pizza dough ingredients
    Adding water to all the whole wheat pizza dough ingredients.
    A very shaggy whole wheat pizza dough ball that hasn't been kneaded yet.

    Step 1. Make the dough: Mix the dough ingredients together by hand or using a stand mixer. Do this in the order described in the recipe card.

    My hand kneading pizza dough on the countertop.
    Super smooth and well-hydrated perfectly kneaded whole wheat flour pizza dough.

    Step 2. Knead the dough: Knead by hand or with your mixer for 10-12 minutes, or until the dough is noticeably smoother and no longer sticking to your finger when you poke it.

    lightly oiled whole wheat pizza dough round in a clear glass bowl ready to be covered and left to rise for 90 minutes.
    Whole wheat pizza dough covered with recyclable cling film after doubling in size.

    Step 3. First Rise: Place dough into a greased mixing bowl, cover tightly, and set aside to rise for about 90 minutes, or until doubled in size.

    My fist punching down the pizza dough after the first 90-minute rise.
    a large dough ball ready to be portioned.
    4 portioned whole wheat dough balls ready to rise for 30 minutes.

    Step 4. Form the dough balls: Punch down the dough to remove air bubbles and divide into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a uniform ball, brush them lightly with a little oil, place them onto a lightly oiled baking pan, and cover with sustainable cling film, OR into a storage bag, removing the air and sealing, OR place them onto a lightly floured baking pan, dust them with a little more flour and cover them with a clean lint-free kitchen towel.

    4 portioned dough balls ready fully risen in an oiled freezer bag.
    A very fluffy whole wheat dough ball after rising for the last 30 minutes.

    Step 5. Second Rise: Let the dough rise for about 30 minutes or until visibly puffier and lighter.

    Super thin rolled out pizza dough on a non-stick mat.

    Step 6. Roll out the dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured work surface or non-stick baking mat to ⅛ inch thick dusting the rolling pin as necessary to keep it from sticking. Transfer the dough to a semolina dusted pizza peel. If you don't have a pizza peel, use the rolling pin to transfer the dough to a piece of parchment paper (like you would with pie crust) and place a cutting board underneath it for support while you top it. 

    Homemade Pizza sauce spread out evenly across the pizza dough leaving a ½ inch border around the edges
    Mozzarella added to the pizza dough.

    Step 7. Top & bake the pizza: Add pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings and bake the pizza in a preheated 482°F/250°C oven (or at its highest temperature) it in the hottest part of your oven for 8-10 minutes. Bake a few minutes longer if you're baking pizza at a lower temperature like 450°F/232°C.

    Pizza toppings added to the unbaked pizza.
    Super crispy whole wheat Supreme pizza just taken out of the oven.

    What's The Dough Point For Pizza Dough?

    A very shaggy whole wheat pizza dough ball that hasn't been kneaded yet.
    Super smooth and well-hydrated perfectly kneaded whole wheat flour pizza dough.

    As discussed in the traditional 00 pizza dough post, the dough point is the time (or stage) when you decide three things: The elasticity, the softness, and the hydration of the dough. Learn more about how to find the dough point over here and why it's important for homemade pizza (or any yeast dough).

    Substitute All-Purpose or Bread Flour for Half of the Whole Wheat Flour

    Feel free to substitute half of the amount of whole wheat flour called for with bread flour, all-purpose flour, or even 00 Italian flour -- it's still delicious!

    closeup of Super crispy sliced whole wheat Supreme pizza with green olives, spicy ventricina salami, salsiccia, prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, red bell peppers, and onions.

    What Temperature Should I Bake Pizza?

    I've baked this pizza at 482°F/250°C and as you can see from the photos and video, it's super crispy and delicious! However, if your oven doesn't reach this temperature or reaches even higher temperatures, just be sure to adjust the baking times accordingly (up or down by 2 to 4 minutes) to account for the varying temps.

    One of the most important things when baking pizza in a home oven is to allow your pizza stone or baking pan to preheat in the oven at the highest temperature it will go, for at least 30 minutes (even better for 1 hour) in the hottest part of your oven (which for me this is the oven floor).

    If you skip this step, your pizza will not look or feel quite like the pizza in this post. It'll still be really good, but it'll be much softer and definitely not crisp like this pizza. (*see DIY pizza stone substitutes down below)

    topdown view of a delicious whole wheat pepperoni pizza slice

    You can even make this pizza in a toaster oven and it's just as good (I've done it many times while living in Chengdu when my home Chinese kitchen didn't have an oven). 

    Slices of whole wheat thin crust pepperoni pizza on a plate

    Whole Wheat Pizza Top Tips

    Less is more when it comes to toppings even if it's really hard to hold yourself back (believe me, I know!). Too much sauce, cheese, and toppings make for a soggy (and often undercooked pizza).

    Slice vegetables as thinly as possible and pat them dry to help remove excess moisture (a mandoline is one of my all-time favorite pizza tools to slice pizza toppings super thin like onions, mushrooms, etc.).

    To achieve the crispiest thin-crust pizza, always preheat the pizza stone or grill pan or ½ sheep pan for at least 30 minutes (or even up to 45 minutes or 1 hr) before baking the pizza. Check out the main post for why you shouldn't skip this step!

    If you're cooking this pizza in a wood-fired brick oven, Ooni pizza oven, or Kettle Weber converter grill kit, you can omit the sugar in this recipe. These ovens bake pizza at much higher temperatures than a standard home oven and therefore, you won't need to add sugar for extra color. Or like I do, cook it in your Ooni Volt-12 at 300°C for 6-7 minutes, max!

    Pizza Toppings for Healthy Pizza

    Below are a few of our favorite healthy pizza toppings that taste great on this pizza, but if you want to look at 30+ homemade pizza photos that show the best pizza toppings (I've actually made), head over here to see that and more!

    Fresh Mediterranean pizza toppings in individual prep bowls including San Marzano DOP tomatoes, grated Grana Padano, whole milk mozzarella, dried oregano, black and green olives, capers, artichoke hearts, red bell peppers, anchovies, heart-shaped pineapple, onions, shallots, fresh mushrooms, canned mushrooms in oil, chives, and paper thin-sliced zucchini.
    • Fior di latte (fresh cow's milk mozzarella), Mozzarella di Bufula (buffalo mozzarella), burrata cheese
    • Ricotta cheese
    • Sun-dried tomatoes or roasted tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs
    • Black Olives and Green Olives
    • Romesco or purple, orange, green, or white cauliflower
    • Pioppini mushrooms
    • Shaved button or cremini mushrooms
    • Sliced onions or shallots
    • Artichoke hearts in oil
    • Zucchini (julienned or shaved ribbons)
    • Roasted Red, yellow, or green bell peppers
    • Fresh Red, yellow, or green bell peppers
    • Fresh basil (add a little before you bake the pizza and just after it comes out)
    • Pesto (basil, spinach, or kale varieties)
    • Sweet fresh pineapple tidbits
    Golden ooey gooey whole wheat thin crust pepperoni pizza
    Super crispy sliced whole wheat Supreme pizza with green olives, spicy ventricina salami, salsiccia, prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, red bell peppers, and onions.

    Best Substitutes for a Pizza Stone or Pizza Peel

    If you don't have a pizza stone or pizza peel, or you're looking for the most useful tools for making homemade pizza, learn more about what you need and get the best pizza tool DIY substitutes over here.

    4 portioned dough balls ready fully risen in an oiled freezer bag.

    How to Meal Prep Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

    Make pizza dough 1 to 3 days in advance and refrigerate it in a lightly oiled bag. To learn each of the 3 different proofing stages at which you can refrigerate pizza dough, check out the full details in my 00 Thin-Crust pizza post over here.

    When you're ready to bake the pizzas remove the dough rounds from the refrigerator (keeping them in the sealed and lightly oiled bag), and allow them to come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before rolling out the dough and proceeding with the remaining steps.

    If the dough is pulling back on itself, cover it and allow it to rest a little longer so it can relax making it easier to roll.

    3 WAYS TO REFRIGERATE PIZZA DOUGH

    Making pizza dough 1 to 3 days in advance and refrigerating it allows it to cure through a process known as cold-fermenting giving it superior flavor and texture to a pizza made the same day.

    • Refrigerate the dough just after kneading it and allow it to fully cold ferment (rise slowly in a cold environment) overnight or for up to 3 days. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, portion it into 4 equal dough balls, brush them lightly with oil, cover them, and allow them to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Then proceed with recipe instructions.
    • Refrigerate the dough just after its first rise (about 1 ½ hours), and place it covered in the refrigerator overnight and for up to 3 days. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, portion it into 4 equal dough balls, brush them lightly with oil, cover them, and allow them to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Then proceed with recipe instructions.
    • Refrigerate the dough balls just after their 2nd rise (after about  2 hours), lightly oil the inside of a large freezer bag being sure to cover the entire surface area inside. Place the dough balls an equal distance apart leaving room in between them as they will slightly expand. Squeeze out all the air, seal them, and refrigerate them for up to 3 days. Bring the dough balls to room temperature (see instructions below for how to temper refrigerated pizza dough balls) Then proceed with recipe instructions. *This is my preferred method for making homemade pizza dough!
    Two meal prepped and frozen homemade pizza dough balls in a freezer bag

    How to Freeze Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

    Lightly oil the inside of a large freezer bag covering the entire inside surface area. Place the dough balls an equal distance apart leaving room in between them. Squeeze out all the air, seal them, and place pizza dough into the freezer for up to 3 months.There are 4 easy ways to reheat leftover cold whole wheat pizza:

    • Emergency: Place it on a paper towel-lined plate and microwave (not recommended, but sometimes you need pizza fast).
    • Oven Broiler Place the pizza in the oven under a preheated broiler for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until warmed through and the cheese is melted.
    • Regular Oven: Place pizza on a baking sheet covered loosely with foil and add it to a preheated 375°F/190°C for about 6 to 8 minutes.
    • Skillet: Place pizza in a dry skillet and cover with a lid or foil and heat over medium-high heat for about 4 to 6 minutes (cast iron & carbon steel pans are my favorite pans for this).
    Side view of frozen pizza dough rounds in the oiled freezer bag placed into a bowl of hot tap water to thaw more quickly.
    Mostly immersed frozen pizza dough in a bowl of hot tap water.

    How to Thaw Frozen Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

    Here are 3 easy ways to thaw frozen pizza dough:

    1. The fastest way to thaw pizza dough (as seen in the photo above) is to place the bag with frozen pizza dough in it, into a bowl with hot tap water. This is my favorite method for thawing frozen dough rounds. The dough doesn't need to be fully immersed in the water.

    After 20 minutes on one side, flip the bag over to let the other side have direct contact with the water and leave for another 20 minutes. After a total of 40 minutes, the pizza dough will be thawed out, but still cold or cool.

    You'll still need to allow 30 to 45 minutes for the dough to come to room temperature before using. As you can see from the photos, the dough is perfect!

    2. Remove the pizza dough from the freezer and place it into the refrigerator overnight to thaw. About 45 minutes to 1 hour before you want to make the pizza, remove it from the refrigerator (leaving it in its sealed oiled bag) and allow it to come to room temperature before proceeding with the remaining instructions.

    3. Place frozen pizza in the bag on the counter at room temperature for about 8 hours, or until it's no longer frozen.

    FAQ: Can You Freeze Whole Wheat Pizza Dough?

    Yes, you can freeze whole wheat pizza dough and it's so easy! Lightly oil the inside of a large freezer bag covering the entire inside surface area. Place the dough balls an equal distance apart leaving room in between them. Squeeze out all the air, seal them, and place the dough into the freezer for up to 3 months. There are no negative effects of freezing pizza dough (in fact the featured image for this post was made using a previously frozen dough ball).

    Super crispy whole wheat Supreme pizza just taken out of the oven.

    What are The Best Ways to Reheat Leftover Pizza?

    There are 4 easy ways to reheat leftover cold pizza:

    • Emergency: Place it on a paper towel-lined plate and microwave (not recommended, but sometimes you need pizza fast).
    • Oven Broiler: Place the pizza under a preheated broiler for 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Regular Oven: Place pizza in a preheated 375°F/190°C oven for 6 to 8 minutes covered loosely with foil.
    • Skillet: Place pizza in a dry skillet, cover with a lid (or foil), and heat over medium-high heat for about 4 to 6 minutes.
    Slices of whole wheat thin crust pepperoni pizza on parchment paper

    Looking For More Easy Pizza Recipes?

    Below are a few of our best pizza recipes we think you may also want to try!

    • Collection of 25 homemade pizza varieties including vegetarian options, meat-vegetable combinations, hawaiian, prosciutto-arugula, marinara, margherita, mushroom, various cheese pizzas, olive, breakfast pizza, capricciosa, zucchini and ham, pepperoni, quattro formaggi, BBQ chicken pizza, and more on different kinds of homemade pizza dough including neapolitan, whole wheat, bread flour, 00 flour, St. Louis Style, pizza fritta, and pinsa Romana.
      Best Pizza Toppings & Pizza Dough Ultimate Guide w/Real Photos
    • Top down view into a mason canning jar filled with homemade pizza sauce and garnished with 3 fresh oregano leaves.
      Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (With Video)
    • Perfect thick-crust pizza dough with pizza toppings (including homemade pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, and mini buffalo mozzarella balls.
      Best Thick-Crust Pizza Dough Recipe (Using 00 Flour)
    • Just sliced super crispy thin-crust sausage and onion pizza.
      Best Thin-Crust Pizza Dough Recipe (Using Bread Flour)
    • St. Louis style thin crust whole wheat pizza cut into squares topped with artichoke hearts, Taggiasche olives, caramelized onions and melted mozzarella cheese - no yeast pizza dough recipe.
      Easy 20-Minute Thin & Crispy St. Louis-Style Whole Wheat Pizza
    • Thin and crispy sausage and onion St. Louis Style Pizza with a crispy cracker crust.
      Best 20-Minute Thin and Crispy St. Louis-Style Pizza (No-Yeast )
    • Homemade 00-thin crust pizza with pioppini mushrooms, pepperoni, shallots, mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella, and large green and black olives.
      Best Thin-Crust 00 Flour Pizza Dough Recipe (+Video)
    • Pepperoni topped pizza in the shape of a heart that's been cut in a zigzag down the middle and slightly separated to reveal a broken heart pizza
      20-Minute Valentine's Day Heart-Shaped Pizza

    Or Check Out These Unique Pizza Dough Recipes

    Easy Pumpkin Focaccia Bread (Focaccia alla Zucca)

    Complete visual guide showing pumpkin focaccia as creative pizza base, from golden dough ball to dimpled sea salt and rosemary-topped focaccia, revealing airy crumb structure, then split and topped with pizza sauce, grana padano, oregano and torn mozzarella, ending with fully baked sausage and onion focaccia pizza.

    Authentic Italian Pizza Fritta (Pizzonte Frittelle Abruzzese)

    6-Photo collage of authentic Italian fried pizza (pizza fritta) process showing preparation steps including the 00 flour dough, frying process, golden-brown crispy light as air texture, and traditional toppings including buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, basil, olives, and extra virgin olive oil.

    Fluffy Whole Wheat Naan Bread Pizza

    6-Photo collage showing naan dough ball, cooking naan dough in cast iron skillet, a crinkled up piece of naan to show how pliable and fluffy it is, a stack of naan ready to be used for pizza, 3 assembled unbaked naan pizzas with ham and vegetables, and fully baked crispy naan pizzas.

    Made this Recipe? We'd love for you to rate ⭐️ it below and tell us how it went for you!🤗

    Plus, I love seeing when you make my recipes, so tag me @BitingAtTheBits on Instagram and I will repost your beautiful pizza!

    Let's get started!

    Print

    📖 Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Super crispy whole wheat Supreme pizza just taken out of the oven.

    Best Thin-Crust Whole Wheat Pizza Dough


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 3 reviews

    • Author: Kelly
    • Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4 (160g each) (12-inch) Thin-Crust Pizzas 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Adapted from my 00 flour pizza dough recipe, this easy whole wheat pizza dough comes together with 6 simple ingredients (5 if you omit the sugar). And it makes a perfect light and crispy thin-crust pizza that bakes up in just 8 minutes every time. In fact, this is one of our favorite pizza dough recipes in terms of flavor and texture. It's SO good no one will know it's healthy and you won't miss traditional pizza crust! Plus, it can even be made in a toaster oven.


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    For the Whole Wheat Dough
    • 480g Whole Wheat Flour (about 4 cups)*
    • up to 300g warm water (between 110°F-115°F) (10 ⅝ fluid ounces)
    • 2 teaspoons Red Star Platinum instant yeast (9g) (sub active dry yeast)*
    • 2 teaspoons sugar (9g) (sub honey or pure maple syrup)
    • 2 teaspoons kosher salt (8g) (or sub half the amount of table salt)
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (30g) (sub other vegetable oil)*
    For Working the Dough
    • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil (for oiling the dough bowl and dough balls)
    • 1 tablespoon of whole wheat flour (for incorporating into the dough while kneading it)
    Toppings
    • ¼ cup pizza sauce per pizza
    • 1 cup to 1 ⅓ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
    • 2 tablespoons grated Grana Padano (sub Parmesan or Parmigiano-Reggiano)
    • toppings of your choice
    • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling over the top of assembled pizza before baking)
    Instacart Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven and pizza stone/grill pan. Turn the oven on to its highest setting (in my case this is 482°F/250°C) and allow it to preheat with the pizza stone or baking pan in (it in the hottest part of your oven) for at least 30 minutes (and up to 45 minutes or 1hr).
    2. Make the pizza dough. In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook) combine the whole wheat flour, instant yeast, and sugar and whisk well to combine. *If using active dry yeast, see recipe notes for instructions. Add the olive oil and salt and slowly start adding the warm water just until the dough starts to come together and you can form a ball that's not wet and sticking to your fingers. *I rarely use all of the water - depending on the humidity of your environment and the absorption potential of the flour you're using, you may not need all of the water, or you may need just a teaspoon or two more if the mixture is too dry. See the video below for what the dough should look like at this stage.
    3. Knead the pizza dough and let it rise (1st rise). Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead it for 10 to 12 minutes until it's soft, smooth, and pliable. Add a sprinkle of flour every now and again if needed to keep the dough from sticking to the countertop as you knead, but be careful not to add too much. Place the kneaded dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and allow to rise for 2 hours in the oven with the light turned on, or at room temperature (70°F/21°C) until doubled in size.
    4. Portion and shape the dough. Punch down the risen dough to remove air bubbles and divide it into 4 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and roll them each on the countertop to seal the bottom and create a uniform dough round.
    5. Let the dough balls rise (2nd rise). Place the dough balls onto a lightly oiled baking pan, brush them lightly with oil, and cover the dough with sustainable cling film, OR place them onto a lightly floured baking pan, dust them with a little more flour, and cover them with a clean lint-free kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes, or until they become puffy and hydrated looking.
    6. Roll out the pizza dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured work surface or non-stick baking mat to ⅛ inch thick. Sprinkle the surface and the rolling pin as needed to keep the dough from sticking. Use the rolling pin to transfer the dough to a piece of parchment paper (as you would with pie crust) and place a cutting board underneath it for support while you top it. *If using a pizza peel, sprinkle a little semolina or cornmeal on it and transfer the pizza dough to the pizza peel.
    7. Top pizza and bake: Top the pizza with sauce, sprinkle with grated Grana Padano (or parm), and top it with grated mozzarella and the toppings of your choice. Drizzle the pizza with a little extra virgin olive oil and transfer it to the oven to bake for about 8-10 minutes. Bake a few minutes longer if you're baking pizza at a lower temperature like 450°F/232°C., and bake it a couple of minutes less if your oven is at 500°F-550°F, and Enjoy!

    Notes

    If you're on a low-sugar diet, omit the sugar in this recipe.

    If you're on a low-sodium diet, cut the salt to ⅛ or ¼ teaspoon (or omit it altogether).

    If desired, substitute half of the amount of whole wheat flour with bread flour, all-purpose flour, or even 00 Italian flour.

    If you want to make only 2 pizza doughs instead of 4, scale this pizza recipe down by half to make just 2 pizza dough rounds.

    If substituting instant yeast with active dry yeast, bloom the yeast first. To do this, add the sugar and about ½ of the warm water called for in the recipe to a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer if using). Sprinkle the yeast over the top and allow it to bloom for about 10 minutes to make sure the yeast is working. You can skip this waiting period and use the mixture right away if you're not concerned about whether the yeast is active or not. It's a gamble some are willing to take. When you see the yeast is active, add the flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture and stir to combine using a fork or your hand. Continue adding water as needed until you have a shaggy, well-hydrated dough that's not sticky and can be formed into a ball (see photos in the main post). Knead the dough as instructed and proceed with the remaining instructions.

    If you don't have extra virgin olive oil, substitute any vegetable oil instead (grape seed oil, canola oil, etc.), but DO NOT drizzle anything but extra virgin olive oil on the top of the pizza before baking because this is solely for adding extra flavor.

    2 teaspoons of yeast is equal to 1 packet of yeast minus ¼ teaspoon. A regular packet of yeast contains 2 ¼ teaspoons of yeast. If you want, you can simply add the whole packet but it's not necessary and the pizza in this post only uses 2 tsp. I use bulk yeast, so I never have to worry about what to do with leftover yeast from individual packets.

    I highly recommend using a scale to measure the pizza dough in grams vs using measuring cups because it's more accurate and it's consistent every time. However, if you don't own a scale, I've provided measurements in approximate cups, etc. For the flour, just be sure to use the "level and scoop" method when measuring flour instead of digging the measuring cup down into the bag of flour and scooping (which will make you end up with way too much flour). Instead, use a spoon or a scoop to add flour to the measuring cup (adding way more than you need to make a mound). Then use the back of a butter knife to level the top and remove the excess flour. This still won't be as precise as using a scale but will get you closer to the correct measurements.

    • Prep Time: 12 minutes
    • Rise or Proofing Time: 120 minutes
    • Cook Time: 8 minutes
    • Category: Pizza
    • Method: Baked
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 pizza

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @BITINGATTHEBITS on Instagram and hashtag it #BITINGATTHEBITS 

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

    More Top-Rated Pizza Recipes

    • A platter with three golden brown fried pizzas topped with burrata cheese, mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, olives, and sun dried tomatoes.
      Crispy Italian Fried Pizza (Easy Abruzzo Pizza Fritta)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Made the Recipe? Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Eva says

      August 23, 2025 at 12:58 pm

      Best whole wheat pizza dough we've ever made!😻 Crispy, chewy, amazing:) I've been trying to cut back on some of the refined carbs our family eats but have always been skeptical of whole wheat flour 'anything'. This pizza proved us all wrong (and now I know exactly what my kids are eating❤️). As a mom this really couldn't be a better recipe because the kids don't know it's healthier, they just know it's pizza night:)

      Reply
    2. Annabette says

      July 12, 2025 at 4:05 am

      Perfect pizza crust! My kids didn't even notice it was "healthy"🤣. I've struggled with making whole wheat pizza (all pizza crusts actually) but your tips on the slow fermentation and explanation for how to make pizza dough more digestible were game-changing. Thanks for making family pizza night affordable, healthier, and damn delicious to boot!❤️

      Reply
    3. Kelsie says

      July 11, 2025 at 12:40 pm

      This has become our go-to pizza crust! We've been trying to cut out refined flour and for most recipes you don't notice the difference. I was worried about how this would taste, but we actually loved the flavor😍! Eating out for our family of 6 has become almost all but impossible the way prices have risen, but we don't even miss it because this pizza is so good (and we can spend a little more on quality cheese and toppings because we're saving so much by not ordering out). Thanks!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Kelly doing a pasta making demonstration at The Broadway Panhandler in NYC, NY.

    Hi, I'm Kelly! A private chef helping busy families cook and enjoy tastier, healthier meals at home. Born and raised in Arkansas, I've lived and worked in NYC, Sichuan China, and now Northeast Italy. Each of these places impacts the diverse way we cook, live, and celebrate life. You'll find a bit of everything here whether you're new to cooking, or you've made it all. If you love to eat, you're in the right place!

    A BIT MORE →

    Fall Comfort Food Recipes

    • Traditional homemade lasagna bolognese with eight layers, showcasing rich meat sauce and handmade spinach egg pasta noodles in classic Italian culinary style.
      Authentic Lasagna Bolognese (Lasagne alla Bolognese +Video)
    • a bowl of warm and slightly creamy turkey and wild rice soup on a vintage pink and gold venetian serving tray
      Maggie's Turkey & Wild Rice Soup (Using Thanksgiving Leftovers)
    • A golden brown turkey pot pie with an extra piece of dough cut into the shape of a turkey baked right in the middle of the pot pie.
      A Better Homemade Turkey Pot Pie (The Ultimate Pot Pie Recipe)
    • A casserole dish filled with cheese enchiladas covered in sauce, melted cheddar cheese, and minced white onions.
      Cheese Enchiladas with Red Enchilada Sauce Recipe (Authentic Tex-Mex + Video)

    Pumpkin Pleasing Recipes

    • Stack of hot pumpkin pancakes with a wedge removed so you can see how tender and fluffy they are.
      Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe (Extra Fluffy + Video)
    • Homemade pumpkin puree in glass mason jar for pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin, etc. (image showing fresh pumpkin puree for making pumpkin pancakes from scratch instead of canned pumpkin).
      20-Minute Pumpkin Purée (100% Homemade)
    • A bottle of McCormick's pumpkin pie spice next to a glass weck jar filled with homemade McCormick's substitute with two spoons filled with the respective spice mixes to show the color of each.
      Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe (Best McCormick Copycat)
    • Beautiful orange crispy-edged pumpkin focaccia with rosemary and dimpled everywhere on top.
      Easy Pumpkin Focaccia Bread (Focaccia alla Zucca)
    • HOME
    • ABOUT
    • Contact

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • PRIVACY & COOKIE POLICY
    • ALL RECIPES

    Newsletter

    • Coming Soon!

    Contact

    • CONTACT

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    COPYRIGHT© 2025 BITINGATTHEBITS.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO IMAGES OR CONTENT CONTAINED ON THIS SITE MAY BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN ANY MANNER WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER.