Treat yourself to the BEST Caprese Pizza! This mouthwatering fresh tomato, mozzarella, and basil pizza features the perfect combination of irresistible summer flavors. Best of all, it couldn't be quicker or easier to make!
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Ginnie's Take
I've been keeping a secret from y'all, and I don't quite know why. Over the years, I've shared many of my go-to vegetarian recipes with you, but I've kept one of my all-time favorites to myself. And, I had to remedy that! This homemade Caprese Pizza is my truly my favorite pizza recipe ever! That may sound dramatic, but this yummy pizza has the best combination of fresh flavors (tomato, basil, and mozzarella) ... it's so simple, yet so tasty. I know you're going to love it just as much as I do!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Delicious, Fresh Flavor - This pizza was inspired by the classic Caprese Salad, and it takes that recipe's simple, yet flavorful ingredients—tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil—and combines them into one scrumptious pizza. Add a little fresh garlic, and soon you'll be in pizza heaven.
- Fresh Ingredients - Make this recipe in summer when juicy tomatoes and fresh basil are at their peak of ripeness and flavor. This is the perfect summer pizza!
- Quick + Easy to Make - Apart from the fabulous flavor, the best thing about this pizza is that it's so simple and easy to make. It's ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish! Which means it's quick enough for dinner tonight, yet it's special enough for guests, too.
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Ingredients
The ingredients for this Tomato Basil Pizza are simple, fresh, and delicious! Here's what you'll need:
- Tomatoes - Use the absolute best tomatoes you can find for this recipe. Heirloom tomatoes fresh from the garden or farmers market are ideal. However, I make this pizza all year round (it's so good that I can't resist). In winter, I substitute grape tomatoes, and they work great.
- Basil - Fresh basil adds tons of flavor to the simple pizza recipe.
- Cheese - This recipe uses shredded mozzarella cheese (shred it from a block for the best results), and I think it works best. You can use fresh mozzarella if you'd prefer (use an 8-ounce ball, and slice it really thin or shred it). An Italian cheese blend would work, too.
- Garlic - The semi-secret ingredient here is fresh garlic! While not used in Caprese Salad, it adds so much zippy flavor to this yummy pizza.
- Olive Oil - This is a white pizza (no red sauce), and the crust gets brushed with extra virgin olive oil, before baking.
- Pizza dough - Use your favorite dough, store bought or homemade.
Because this vegetarian pizza recipe is so simple, make sure to use the highest quality ingredients you can find!
You'll Also Need
You'll also need a sharp knife and some paper towels (or hand towels) to prep the tomatoes, 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 Mozzarella Basil Pizza is quick and easy to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Prep tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes are super juicy, and all the that liquid will make your pizza crust soggy. So before topping your pizza with the tomatoes, you'll press the them between a thick layer of paper towels (or dish towels) to remove the excess juice.
- Top dough with olive oil + garlic. Use your hands to press the dough over your pizza pan. Brush the dough with extra virgin olive oil, then spread the fresh garlic evenly over the oil. Tip: If your dough shrinks and won't hold its shape, let it rest for five minutes, then continue stretching.
- Sprinkle with cheese. Sprinkle about ¾ of the mozzarella cheese over the garlic. Tip: The cheese creates a barrier between the dough and the tomatoes, which keeps the crust from getting soggy.
- Add tomatoes + basil. Layer the tomatoes over the cheese, then top them with a little salt (I prefer kosher salt). Sprinkle the basil over the tomatoes. Tip: The salt really brings out the tomato's flavor, so don't skip this step!
- Top with remaining cheese. Cover the tomatoes and basil with the remaining cheese. 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.
- Bake. Pop your pizza into the oven, then cook it until the crust is golden and crisp, and the cheese is starting to brown. It should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Finish the pizza by sprinkling with more basil. You could also add a drizzle of balsamic glaze over the pizza for an extra fancy touch.
So there you have it ... my all-time favorite Caprese Pizza recipe! Just one bite, and you'll fall in love with the fresh flavors of the juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil, and bold garlic, too.
Variations
This recipe is pretty perfect as-is, if I do say so myself! But it's easy to customize with different toppings. Here are some easy ideas:
- Sauce - Instead of olive oil, top the crust with homemade Basil Pesto or my easy Pizza Sauce.
- Tomatoes - Try using different tomatoes, such as grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes. These Roasted Grape Tomatoes would also be delish!
- Garlic - This pizza has a strong garlic flavor that's perfect for garlic lovers! If you'd prefer not to use raw garlic though, sauté the garlic in the olive oil just until it starts to turn golden. Then, spread the sautéed garlic and oil over your crust. You could also substitute homemade Roasted Garlic for a milder, slightly sweet flavor.
- Cheese - Experiment with different Italian cheeses (or use a cheese blend), like provolone, parmesan, or fontina. You could also crumble some feta or goat cheese over the top.
- Balsamic Drizzle - Many people like to add a drizzle of balsamic glaze before serving.
- Spicy - Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes or dollop on a little Calabrian chili paste just before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this tasty pizza with a simple salad, like this Green Salad or this Garden Salad, and dinner is done. This Watermelon Salad would also be delish and summery! Add some homemade Garlic Bread (or Garlic Cheese Bread) if you're craving carbs.
Storage
Transfer leftover Caprese Salad Pizza to an airtight container, then store in your refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for three to four days. Gently reheat leftovers in your microwave, or for the best results, preheat your oven to 500 degrees, then bake on the bottom rack for about five minutes.
Related Recipes
Craving more tomato-basil flavors? Then you'll love this amazing Burrata Caprese, these party perfect Caprese Salad Skewers, and this unique Caprese Freekeh Salad! Looking for more vegetarian pizza recipes? Check out my other favorites next:
- Summer Flavors - If you're looking for more warm weather pizzas, you'll love these Summer Veggie Pizza, Fresh Plum and Gouda Pizza, Grilled Pizza, and Peach and Ricotta Pizza recipes!
- White Pizzas - Looking for more sauceless pizza ideas? Check out this Easy White Pizza or this Roasted Veggie Pizza!
- Vegetable Lovers - Get your fills of fresh veg with this Mediterranean Veggie Pizza, Green Pizza, Broccoli Pizza, or this Veggie, Feta, and Pesto Pizza.
- Unique Toppings - Searching for something a little different? You'll love this Hummus Pizza and this Gorgonzola Pear Pizza!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Caprese Pizza is a white pizza (no sauce) made with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and garlic. It was inspired by classic Caprese Salad ingredients.
Caprese Pizza and Margherita Pizza are similar tomato, mozzarella, and basil pizzas. However, Margherita Pizza is a traditional Neopolitan pizza made with a crushed tomato sauce. Pizza Caprese, on the other hand, was inspired by the Caprese Salad. It's a white pizza (no sauce) made with fresh sliced tomatoes.
Caprese Salad is thought to have originated on Capri, a small island in the Gulf of Naples. The word Caprese means "from Capri" in Italian.
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 (8 ounces / 227 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ⅓ cup sliced basil leaves, plus more for serving
- kosher salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Slice tomatoes about ¼-inch thick. Place them 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 (or brush with olive oil). Top with pizza dough, then use your hands to spread dough across pan.
- Drizzle dough with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then brush evenly over dough.
- Spread garlic evenly over dough, then sprinkle with 1 ½ cups mozzarella.
- Top cheese with tomatoes, then season tomatoes generously with salt.
- Spread basil over pizza, then top with remaining ½ cup cheese.
- Bake pizza until crust is browned and crisp, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Cut pizza into wedges and serve topped with additional fresh basil. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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! 🙂