Prepare Ingredients: Start by cutting the cold butter into small cubes and placing them in the refrigerator to keep them cold. Measure out the flour and salt.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the flour and salt. Add the cold butter cubes to the flour mixture.
Cut in Butter: Use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. You can also use your fingers, working quickly to avoid melting the butter.
Add Ice Water: Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, to the flour-butter mixture. Gently mix with a fork or your hands until the dough begins to come together. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
Form Dough: Once the dough starts to clump together, form it into a ball. Flatten the ball into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the dough to chill and rest.
Roll Out Dough: After chilling, remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough into a circle slightly larger than your pie dish.
Transfer to Pie Dish: Carefully transfer the rolled-out dough to your pie dish. Gently press the dough into the bottom and sides of the dish, trimming any excess overhang with a knife.
Chill Again (Optional): For extra flakiness, you can chill the prepared pie crust in the refrigerator for another 15-30 minutes before filling and baking.