Treat yourself to this crave-worthy Caprese Pizza recipe ... this Tomato Basil Pizza is full of flavor and ready in minutes!
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I've been keeping a secret from y'all, and I don't quite know why. Over the years, I've shared so many of my go-to recipes with you, but I've kept one of my all-time favorites to myself.
Well, no more. Meet my Caprese Pizza ... my absolute favorite pizza recipe ever!
This yummy pizza has sooo much going for it. It tastes amazing, it's made with fresh, healthy ingredients, and it's ready fast.
You're going to want to make this mouthwatering pizza tonight, so keep reading for all the delicious details!
Are you a Caprese Salad fan? If so, you're going to adore this pizza!
This pizza takes the simple, fresh ingredients that salad is known for—tomatoes, mozzarella, basil—and combines them into one scrumptious pizza. We're talking tomatoes and basil (one the the best flavor combinations ever!), ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese, and a little fresh garlic ... basically, pizza heaven.
Apart from the fabulous flavors of this Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil Pizza though, what I really love about this recipe is that it's so simple and easy to make.
This pizza is ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish! Which means it's quick enough for dinner tonight, but special enough for guests, too. The perfect pizza recipe, if you ask me!
Ingredients
The ingredients for this Tomato and Basil Pizza are simple, fresh, and delicious! Here's what you'll need:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Fresh Garlic
- Tomatoes
- Fresh Basil
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Pizza dough
Because this pizza is so simple, you'll want to use the highest quality ingredients.
This pizza calls for the absolute best tomatoes you can find. Tomatoes fresh from the garden or farmers market are ideal for this recipe. However, I make this pizza all year round (it's that good). In winter, I substitute sweet grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, and they work great.
And then there's the cheese! I used shredded mozzarella cheese here (full-fat is best), but you can use fresh mozzarella if you'd prefer. Use an 8-ounce ball, and slice it really thin. An Italian cheese blend would work, too.
You'll also need a large pizza pan, and a pastry brush comes in handy for spreading the olive oil over the dough.
How to Make Caprese Pizza
This Tomato and Basil Pizza is so quick and simple to make, so let's get started!
Start by spraying a pizza pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray (or brush it with olive oil). Then, use your hands to press the pizza dough out to the edges of the pan.
Next, you'll brush the pizza crust with olive oil, then spread the fresh garlic evenly over the oil.
Top the olive oil and garlic with 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese. The cheese creates a barrier between the dough and the tomatoes, which keeps the crust from getting soggy.
Tip: This pizza has a strong garlic flavor that's perfect for garlic lovers! If you'd prefer not to use raw garlic though, saute the garlic in the olive oil until golden. Then, spread the sauteed garlic and oil over your crust. You could also use roasted garlic if you have it on hand.
The tomatoes are next! Fresh tomatoes are super juicy, and all the that liquid will make your pizza crust soggy.
So before topping your pizza with the tomatoes, we're going to remove some of that juice. Start by slicing your tomatoes about ¼-inch thick.
Next, create a thick layer of paper towels (or dish towels). I usually do about five to six layers. Place your tomatoes on top of that, then place another thick layer of paper towels over the tomatoes.
Press gently on the paper towels to remove the excess juice.
Once you've blotted the tomatoes dry, spread them evenly over your pizza. I used two medium tomatoes for this pie, but depending on the size of your tomatoes, you may need more or less.
Sprinkle the tomatoes with a little salt (I prefer kosher salt). The salt really adds a lot of flavor to the tomatoes and pizza, so don't skip it!
Add a heaping handful of basil over the tomatoes, then follow that with another sprinkle of cheese.
Pop your pizza into the oven, then cook it until the crust is golden, and the cheese is starting to brown. It should take about 15 to 20 minutes.
Tip: I like to keep this pizza pretty light, so I only use 2 cups of cheese. For an extra cheesy pizza, feel free to add another cup of cheese.
Finish the pizza with another sprinkle of fresh basil. The more basil, the better, in my book ... it adds so much flavor!
I usually keep things simple, but you could add a drizzle of balsamic glaze to the pizza for an extra fancy touch.
Wouldn't that look pretty?
So there you have it ... my all-time favorite pizza!
The fresh flavors of the juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil, and bold garlic can't be beat. Plus, it's just so easy to make ... perfect for busy weeknights and dinner parties, too.
Give this Caprese Pizza a try and let me know what you think. I bet you'll love it just as much as I do!
Related Recipes
If you loved this easy Caprese Pizza, then you'll want to try some of my other favorite pizza recipes, too!
- Fresh Plum and Gouda Pizza
- Easy White Pizza
- Gorgonzola Pear Pizza
- Pesto, Feta, and Veggie Pizza
- Summer Veggie Pizza
- Green Pizza with Pesto, Feta, Artichokes, and Broccoli ... my most popular pizza recipe!
- Grilled Pizza
Caprese Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 medium tomatoes
- nonstick cooking spray
- 1 ball pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ⅓ cup sliced basil leaves, plus more for serving
- kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Slice tomatoes about ¼-inch thick.
- Place sliced tomatoes on a thick layer of paper towels, then cover with another layer of paper towels. Press tomatoes gently to remove excess liquid. Set aside.
- Spray a large pizza pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Top with pizza dough, then use your hands to spread dough across pan.
- Drizzle dough with olive oil, then brush evenly over dough.
- Spread garlic evenly over dough, then sprinkle with 1 ½ cups mozzarella.
- Top cheese with tomatoes, then sprinkle tomatoes generously with salt.
- Spread basil over pizza, then top with remaining ½ cup cheese.
- Bake pizza until crust is golden, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Cut pizza into wedges and serve topped with additional fresh basil. Enjoy!
Nutrition
What are your favorite pizza toppings?
[…] This salad can be served warm or at room temperature, which I love. No rushing to get it on the table. I like pairing it with Garlic Bread (you could even grill it!), pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce, or Caprese Pizza. […]
My family LOVED this pizza! We’ve been having a Pizza night each week for about the past 8-10 weeks, and this one topped the rest as our favorite. The basil and garlic smell throughout the house was another huge plus!
Hi, Molly! I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed the pizza. You definitely can't beat that amazing smell as it cooks! 🙂