White Pizza with Tomato and Basil makes a quick and simple delicious lunch or dinner that never disappoints. With only a few fresh ingredients, this pizza recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes and is perfect for an easy meal on a laid back day.
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This White Pizza with Tomato and Basil is one of my go-to quick, easy, and delicious lunches. It's also my go-to when I am making lunch for visitors, and I always make sure that it's fresh out of the oven for hungry family members when they arrive after traveling to see us.
It's technically a "sauce-less" pizza, with a topping comprised of just mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil. There are no fancy fixings needed: the warm roasted tomatoes and basil give this white pizza with tomato and basil a fresh, robust and summery flair. But if you're in the mood for a fancier pizza, check out this Mediterranean pizza or spinach and feta flatbread pizza.
Ingredients
White pizza with tomato and basil is made with simple fresh ingredient:
- pizza dough: a thin crust is great, as is a traditional NY style crust.
- mozzarella cheese
- tomatoes
- basil leaves: fresh are best
- garlic powder
- black pepper
I love a juicy garden tomato on pizza, and on most things! Not only do garden tomatoes smell amazing, they have a sweet and powerful flavor that is released even more when they are cooked.
My second favorite tomato to use on white pizza is a plum tomato. They aren't as juicy and pulpy as garden tomatoes, so they require less time to soak off the juice than the garden tomatoes.
Make sure that you press the sliced tomatoes between 2 paper towels before putting on the pizza. If you don't, they will release too much juice into the cheese and you'll get a soggy pizza and watery cheese.
Step-By-Step Directions
White pizza with tomato and basil is made in only a few easy steps.
- Preheat the oven to the temperature on your pizza dough instructions (or 500 Fahrenheit for homemade pizza dough).
- Roll the dough onto a baking sheet. Prebake before topping if that is what the package indicates. While dough pre-bakes, slice the tomatoes thinly and press between paper towels for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the pepper and garlic powder onto the dough. Then layer with all but ½ cup of the cheese. Evenly place tomatoes over the cheese then top with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, until crust begins to brown and cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with torn basil leaves.
Then cool, cut, and enjoy your white pizza with tomato and basil!
Storing
This pizza tastes great the next day. Store leftovers in the fridge and warm in a toaster for a few minutes when ready to eat. It can be frozen using freezer-safe storage bags for up to 3 months.
Variations
If you want to play around with the ingredients in my white pizza with tomato and basil recipe, you can try these substitutions or additions:
- add dollops of ricotta on top of the mozzarella
- top with parmesan cheese
- spread ricotta on the dough as the first layer for a more "saucey" pizza
- add fresh basil leaves prior to cooking
Recipe
White Pizza with Tomato and Basil
Equipment
- pizza stone
Ingredients
- 1 package pizza dough or homemade dough
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tomatoes sliced
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Roll the dough onto a baking sheet or pizza stone. If using store bought dough, prebake as the package indicates.
- Sprinkle the dough evenly with garlic powder and black pepper. Top with all but ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. Layer on sliced tomatoes, then the remaining cheese.
- Cook for 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and crust begins to brown. If using homemade dough, increase cooking time to 17-20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and add fresh basil leaves. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
michele h peterson says
This was both easy and delicious - a great meal for the whole family.
Angela says
A great white pizza option. Delicious flavors!
Anonymous says
We make pizza every Friday. Adding this one to our menu.