Deep Fried Pizza

Deep Fried Pizza has the most fantastic crust that is buttery and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside! Add your favorite toppings and bake.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Pizza Hut’s pan pizza because of the crispy, buttery crust. And after my family tasted these deep fried pizza they all agreed that they are a copycat Pizza Hut recipe.

How To Make Deep Fried Pizza

This is a yeast based pizza dough recipe. (If you want to make a no yeast version, you can follow this fry bread recipe of mine.) The most important thing is to make sure the hot water is the right temperature. If it is too hot and you’ll kill the yeast. Not hot enough and the yeast won’t activate.

Pour water that is between 110˚F-115˚F into a bowl. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the hot water. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the yeast to proof (which means foam) for 5-10 minutes.

Once the yeast is ready, add the olive oil, salt, and all-purpose flour to the bowl. Next, knead the dough until smooth and elastic. I like to use my stand mixer with the hook attachment because it makes it so easy!

But I’ve also made the recipe kneading the dough by hand and it works that way too. It just takes a little more muscle.

Remove the dough ball from the bowl. Add the olive oil and coat the sides with the oil. Return the dough to the bowl and turn to coat.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm draft-free place for about 1 hour.

Punch the dough down and turn out onto a floured surface.

Can you refrigerate the pizza dough overnight?

Yes, you can refrigerate the dough overnight. Follow the instructions to prepare the dough. After turning it out onto a floured surface, lightly wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

When ready to use the refrigerated dough, remove it from the fridge and let it stand for 20-30 minutes before dividing the dough.

Divide the ball of dough into eight pieces.

Can this deep fried pizza dough be frozen?

Yes! To freeze this yeast fry bread dough, follow the instructions to prepare the dough. After turning it out onto a floured surface, divide the dough into 8 pieces. Form a ball with each piece and wrap the balls of dough in plastic wrap, put them in a ziptop freezer bag. Place the dough in the freezer for up to three months.

Remove the balls of dough from the freezer the day before you plan to use them so that they can thaw. Then, remove the dough from the fridge and let it stand for 20-30 minutes flattening into crusts.

Flatten each piece into a thin circle that is about 6-7 inches across. You can use your hands, your fingertips, a rolling pin or a combination of all three.

Put about a 1/2 inch of oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy pot that is wide enough to fit your circles of dough. Use a thermometer and heat the oil to 365˚F.

Carefully add a dough round to the hot oil. I found that the easiest way to add the dough to the oil was to use these silicone oven mitts that protected my hands but allowed me to pick up the dough.

Deep fry the pizza crust for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown. Always monitor the temperature of the oil and stay close by the skillet.

Drain crusts on a paper-towel lined plate

Can these deep fried pizza crusts be used for other recipes?

Yes, these deep fried pizza crusts are basically a yeast fry bread and can be base for many different recipes from sweet to savory. Here are a few to try:

• Elephant Ears: Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
• Honey Butter: Brush with melted butter and drizzle with honey.
• Indian Tacos: Top with taco meat, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes.
• Flatbread: Brush with garlic butter and sprinkle with rosemary.

Once crusts are ready, preheat the oven and start adding the toppings. Start with pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Top with slices of pepperoni and a sprinkle of oregano. Bake at 450˚F for 7-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

What other toppings can I add to a deep fried pizza?

You can add any toppings to your deep fried pizza that you would add on a traditional crust. Try adding sausage, Canadian bacon, chicken, bacon, black olives, onions, or peppers. Here are a few variations to try:

• Chicken Alfredo Pizza: Use alfredo sauce, shredded chicken, chopped spinach, and mozzarella cheese.
• Hawaiian Pizza: Top with Canadian bacon and pineapple cubes.
• Buffalo Chicken Pizza: Use ranch sauce, buffalo chicken, sliced onion, and mozzarella cheese.

Can deep fried pizzas be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the deep fried pizzas ahead of time! Cover them with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight.

When ready to enjoy, remove from the fridge, discard the plastic wrap and bake at 425˚F for 10-13 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Want more pizza recipes? Try these next:

We love making Grilled Pizza all summer long! It’s so easy to make pizza on the grill and is perfect for families because everyone can add their favorite toppings.

Take pizza night to the next level with Macaroni and Cheese Pizza. This mac ‘n cheese pizza recipe is easy to make for a fun family dinner!

Tater Tot Taco Pizza is a mouthwatering combo of two of your favorite eats: tacos and pizza! The tater tot crust makes this dinner recipe even more fun.

Mini Chicken Taco Pizzas are perfect for parties or make them for a fun family dinner. These mini chicken tacos are bursting with flavor and so easy to make!