This easy margherita pizza recipe is made of a simple homemade pizza dough with fresh tomato, mozzarella, and basil for a fun and casual meal you can make at home.

It's the ideal meal for a busy weeknight or a low-key movie night on the weekend, and it's beyond simple to make from scratch with minimal ingredients.

Margherita Pizza Recipe

Pizza night is a favorite night in our house because it means we get to eat a casual meal that the kids love to help make. And a classic margherita pizza is almost always on the to-make roster because you just can't go wrong with freshly sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and just-picked basil. It's a combination that everyone loves and that you can make again and again without fail.

And I'll always adore this dough recipe because it's a cinch to make a couple hours before dinner and let it rest while you pick the kids up from school or get other things done around the house. If you've never made your own dough, this is the perfect recipe to start with because it's no-fuss and so delicious. It's a game changer for homemade pizza, too.

You can treat this recipe like a template if you like, and next time around, add more of your favorite things. A few black olives or thinly sliced red onion would be amazing on this pizza, or some pepperoni with a pesto sauce underneath the layers of toppings. Have fun making it your own and getting the whole family involved in pizza night!

What cheese is on margherita pizza?

Traditionally, mozzarella cheese is used on margherita pizza (and it is SO good).

Is margherita pizza healthy?

In some ways, certainly! The fresh vegetables add some great nutritional value, and you could always use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose in the dough to make it more health-conscious.

Does margherita pizza have meat?

Margherita pizza doesn't typically have meat, but if you'd like to add some then I say go for it! Pepperoni, cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, or prosciutto would all be tasty.

Do you put basil on pizza before cooking?

I do not add the basil before cooking because it's so thin and fragile that it can easily burn. For a fresher taste, add basil after you bake your pizza!

How to make margherita pizza:

Stir the yeast and water together, mix in flour and the salt.
Pour in dissolved yeast and remaining water; mix until dough pulls together.
Form a ball when dough does not stick to your fingers, and place in an oil coated bowl.
Cover the bowl with a towel and let it rise for 2-plus hours.
Punch dough down, and let it relax 10 minutes.
Roll and stretch firmly to desired shape, and place on a greased baking sheet.
Brush the top with olive oil. Top with sliced mozzarella, then sliced tomatoes.
Bake in a 450 degree F. oven about 15 minutes.

See! Just a few simple steps to get some amazing homemade pizza on the table.

Easy Margherita Pizza Recipe

Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Yield: Serves 6-8 1x

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Description

This easy margherita pizza recipe is made of a simple homemade pizza dough with fresh tomato, mozzarella, and basil for a fun and casual meal you can make at home.

Ingredients

Scale

For the crust:

1 cup warm water
1 package dry yeast
3 ½ cups flour (more or less for rolling)
1 teaspoon salt
Oil to coat the bowl

To top the pizza:

Good olive oil
Fresh mozzarella, about 8 ounces
Thinly sliced fresh tomatoes, about 2 medium
Fresh basil, about ¼ cup or 2 stems
Balsamic glaze for drizzling, optional

Instructions

In a small bowl, stir the yeast and ¼ cup water together, and let it sit until yeast starts to bubble.
In mixer, mix 2 cups flour and the salt.
Pour in dissolved yeast and remainder of water, and mix until dough pulls together.
Switch to dough hook, and add 1 cup flour. When the dough does not stick to your fingers, form a ball and place in an oil coated bowl, turning it to coat evenly.
Cover the bowl with a towel and let it rise for 2-plus hours. Punch dough down, and let it relax 10 minutes.
Roll and stretch firmly to desired shape and thickness (¼ inch is good), and place on a greased baking sheet
Brush the top with good olive oil. Top with sliced mozzarella, then sliced tomatoes.
Bake in a 450 degree F. oven until the top is brown and bubbly, and the crust is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven, top with sliced basil, and enjoy hot.
You can drizzle it with a bit of balsamic glaze before serving if you like.

Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 15 min
Category: dinner
Method: bake
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Pizza Margherita Recipe, homemade pizza dough, basil

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This post was originally published in 2010, and has been updated and rephotographed in October 2019.

Margherita pizza is a classic pizza recipe that is so easy to make for a casual and comforting dinner that everyone will enjoy!