Margherita Pizza
This margherita pizza recipe brings the charm of a traditional pizzeria right into your kitchen. It starts with a simple dough that bakes up crisp and chewy, topped with high-quality ingredients like crushed San Marzano tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil leaves. The combination is classic for a reason — fresh, vibrant, and utterly delicious. Bake it on a hot pizza stone or steel for best results, and enjoy a slice of Italy with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 ball homemade pizza dough or 1 pound store bought pizza dough
- 15 ounce can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brushing the crust
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1-2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes or to taste
- 6 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
- fresh basil leave small leaves whole thinly slice or gently tear large leaves into smaller pieces
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and adjust the oven rack so it sits just above the bottom position. This placement helps the crust bake up crisp and golden without burning the top. Lightly coat a pizza steel or a sturdy baking sheet with high-heat cooking spray or a thin layer of vegetable oil to prevent sticking and encourage a nicely browned bottom.
Notes
Pour the crushed tomatoes into a fine mesh strainer placed over a bowl and let them drain for about five minutes. This step removes excess liquid, helping to prevent a soggy crust and giving you a thicker, more flavorful sauce. You can discard the drained liquid or save it for another recipe, such as soup or pasta sauce.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the drained tomatoes with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like a little heat. For a more balanced spice level, try finely chopping the red pepper flakes with a sharp knife before adding them in—this helps distribute the flavor more evenly throughout the sauce.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the drained tomatoes with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like a little heat. For a more balanced spice level, try finely chopping the red pepper flakes with a sharp knife before adding them in—this helps distribute the flavor more evenly throughout the sauce.