The perfect harmony of flavors, this Caprese Pizza features ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil. Top it off with balsamic glaze to really take it over the top!
Fan of anything Caprese? Check out this Open Face Caprese Steak Sandwich, this Caprese Pasta Salad, and these Mini Caprese Tartlets.
When it comes to pizza, I’m an anything goes kind of girl. I like to get creative, but also, I like to take it back to basics.
And a simplified pizza night calls for a Caprese Pizza.
Only a few ingredients, but it is not lacking in flavor.
Creamy mozzarella. Juicy tomatoes. Fresh basil. It really doesn’t get better than this.
Add on a drizzle of balsamic glaze, and this pizza is anything but basic.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil: I use extra virgin olive oil.
- Garlic: The garlic gives the pizza lots of flavor, so I like to use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor.
- Pizza Dough: I like to use my homemade pizza dough recipe, but feel free to use store bought if that is easier for you.
- Mozzarella: I like to use fresh mozzarella for this pizza. Do note, though, if you are using fresh mozzarella, it is wetter than grating mozzarella, so you may have to watch for extra moisture on your pizza.
- Tomatoes: If I don’t have any garden fresh tomatoes, I’ll choose romas or tomatoes on the vine. No matter what tomatoes you choose, you just want to make sure they have lots of flavor.
- Basil: You need fresh basil – dried basil will not have the same outcome.
- Balsamic Glaze (optional): The glaze is optional, but highly recommended. You can make it from scratch, but I usually have some store bought on hand. You only need a small drizzle.
How to Make Caprese Pizza
- Combine the olive oil and garlic in a small bowl and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Roll or stretch your dough out, then top it with the oil and garlic mixture.
- Add the cheese to the top of the pizza, followed by the tomatoes.
- Bake the pizza until the dough is browned and the cheese is melted. Top the finished pizza with the basil.
Change It Up
This is a pretty basic pizza, but it’s still easy to make it your own!
- Instead of using oil and garlic, spread a thin layer of pesto over the dough before adding the cheese and tomatoes.
- Add some Italian seasoning and/or garlic to your pizza crust for extra flavor.
- If you don’t have fresh basil, drizzle some pesto onto the pizza.
- Add bacon or prosciutto to the pizza.
Tips and Tricks
Make sure to read my pizza dough post for all of my pizza making tips.
If the tomatoes are extra juicy, I like to let the slices drain on a paper towel for 10-15 minutes before adding them. That way you don’t have a ton of extra moisture on top of the pizza.
I usually like this pizza with a thinner crust. These photos show the pizza using my pizza dough, but I had used part bread flour which gave the pizza a fluffier crust. But I do typically try to make this one with a thin crust.
More Pizza Recipes
White Pizza Recipe
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Breakfast Pizza
Hawaiian Pizza
Margherita Pizza
Taco Pizza
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
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Caprese Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1-2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella sliced
- 2-3 ripe tomatoes sliced
- Fresh basil chopped
- Balsamic glaze optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450ºF. (If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven and preheat for at least 30 minutes.)
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil in a the minced garlic. Let it sit for a few minutes while you prepare the dough.
- Stretch of roll the pizza dough into a 12” circle. (See my pizza dough post for all of my pizza dough tips.) Spread the garlic oil over the dough.
- Top the pizza with the mozzarella, then the tomatoes. Transfer the pizza to the oven and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted, about 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and top with the basil. Drizzle with the balsamic glaze, if desired.
Sophia says
I've seen so many recipes lately for pizzas! So far, I think yours must be the best! The other one I really like is Mexican Pizza. What do you think? Thanks again for sharing this delicious pizza recipe!
Barbara says
You've used some great toppings; after my experience with crunchy proscuitto with my gnudi, I might try that instead of bacon.
Monet says
What an interesting idea! I love making homemade pizza crust…but I've surely had my share of challenges with finding that perfect crust. This looks like a simple and delicious way to make pizza magic happen!
Abby says
I've had something similar, maybe with cornmeal in the crust? Like you say it's interesting and good, just different!
Cassie says
This looks SO good!
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says
I've been wanting to make a pesto pizza!!! This looks great!