Classic Margherita Pizza

Say hello to my best-ever recipe for my favorite-ever pizza… creamy, salty, fresh and SO easy. You’ll go for slice-after-slice of this scrumptious, authentic Margherita pizza!

Classic Margherita Pizza – My favorite, best-ever recipe! You'll go for slice-after-slice of this scrumptious, authentic Margherita pizza! | thecomfortofcooking.com

Simple as it may be, this is my favorite type of pizza. Does my husband share the same affinity for a bubbly, beautiful margherita covered with creamy sliced mozzarella and sprinkled with fresh basil? NO. The man can’t understand why anyone would want anything other than a pizza piled with ham, pepperoni, salami and sausage. All at once. I mean, seriously?

I love a good, greasy slice once in a while myself, but c’mon, dude. Come to the light side. Lemme serve you up a slice of this mouthwatering margherita and change your man-ivore ways!

Classic Margherita Pizza – My favorite, best-ever recipe! You'll go for slice-after-slice of this scrumptious, authentic Margherita pizza! | thecomfortofcooking.com

Shall I count the ways in which margherita pizza is the fairest of them all? Yes, yes, I shall.

ONE: You blend together tomatoes, basil and garlic to make an amazing, flavorful, fragrant sauce that is crazy easy and basically the basis for this amazing pizza. It’s all in the sauce, baby.

TWO: Besides the dough, all you need is four ingredients to be on your way to cheesy, gooey pizza nirvana. If you’re anything like me, all of them are staples in your house, too. High-five for four ingredients? Don’t leave me hangin’.

THREE: Melty mozzarella. That is all.

Classic Margherita Pizza – My favorite, best-ever recipe! You'll go for slice-after-slice of this scrumptious, authentic Margherita pizza! | thecomfortofcooking.com

Let’s just assume there are more reasons. You’re probably tired of the counting by now.

Please tell me those convinced you just a little, hubby?

Classic Margherita Pizza – My favorite, best-ever recipe! You'll go for slice-after-slice of this scrumptious, authentic Margherita pizza! | thecomfortofcooking.com

The first time I made a margherita, (and, hello? why hadn’t I made one ‘til just last month?), my 100% Whole Wheat Pizza Dough was the crisp canvas. I found that it soaked up the tomato sauce a little more than my favorite Homemade Pizza Dough, but was still delicious and a healthy choice!

Like I said, the sauce is what MAKES this pizza, though. If you have a go-to whole wheat pizza dough recipe, go for it. I guarantee it will still taste great. If not, mix up the latter dough and you’ll love it!

Classic Margherita Pizza – My favorite, best-ever recipe! You'll go for slice-after-slice of this scrumptious, authentic Margherita pizza! | thecomfortofcooking.com

So, what are you waiting for? Make it a pizza night!

If whoever you enjoy this pizza with doesn’t exactly *ahem* agree with your pizza preferences, make it a half-and-half with some fun topping options for the other side. Everyone loves pizza, so worry not. An agreeable arrangement can always be made!

I know you’ll love this classic Italian pizza and enjoy a lighter twist on your usual. It’s salty, creamy, and incredibly fragrant and fresh. Like summer on a plate!

Classic Margherita Pizza

Classic Margherita Pizza

Yield: 1 large pizza

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. pizza dough, store bought or homemade
  • 1 lb. (2-3 medium) tomatoes (preferred: Roma)*
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed basil, torn into pieces
  • 8 ounces (about 1 cup) fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F or as hot as it can go.
  2. On a floured surface, shape pizza dough into a 12” round or rectangle. Transfer to a large baking stone or baking sheet.
  3. Quarter each tomato and gently squeeze wedges over sink to remove the excess juices and seeds. Add to the bowl of a food processor or blender, along with garlic and half of the basil. Process until tomatoes break down into a sauce, scraping down sides as needed. If desired, strain to make a thicker sauce. Evenly spread sauce over pizza dough and top with mozzarella slices, leaving some space between pieces of mozzarella.
  4. Bake for 5-10 minutes—exact cooking time will vary depending on your oven temperature. The crust should be golden brown and the cheese bubbling.
  5. Sprinkle pizza with basil and let cool briefly before slicing and serving.
  6. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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Join the Conversation

  1. I don’t eat a lot of pizzas but when I do, I prefer things light myself. Those meat supreme pizzas frighten me. :) This Margherita pizza looks so light and delicious Georgia. And your photos are just gorgeous!

  2. I absolutely love the simplicity of a classic margherita pizza!

  3. my favourite pizza, yummy!

  4. I agree about Margherita being the most awesome pizza out there. Nothing is better!

  5. Gorgeous Pizza Margherita, girl! I am with you…Margherita Pizza is the best for pizza purists. This way you can really taste what matters most in the fresh ingredients. However, I am also with your man-ivore. Ha! When I’m really hungry, nothing but a meaty topping will do for this girl! Beautiful photography as always, my friend! Will be pinning! xo

  6. One of my favs, too…and just the type of pizza for summer! Yum!

  7. Simple is always welcome! looks fantastic

  8. OK now we have to be best friends. I loooooooove pizza, would eat it every day. I especially love simple easy pizza with fresh ingredients.

  9. I spent some of my post-college life (well, six months of it) working in an Italian pizza place with a wood burning oven, and there’s nothing I love more than a good marg. This looks amazing!

  10. A fantastic classic, Georgia. Love pizzas!

  11. It is perfect! Sometimes the classics are all you need!

  12. I’m smiling as I read this. I usually make homemade pizza dough and then hubby takes over and makes the pizza’s. A couple weeks ago I suggested we have a simple pizza with a little alfredo sauce and some grilled chicken on top. You would have thought I’d asked him to take a barrel ride over Niagara Fall’s – lol. It was quite clear he doesn’t agree with my concept that (sometimes) less is more :) Beautiful pizza Georgia!

  13. i 100% agree with you on pizza on the lighter side. I have to try the crust and sauce. Looks soooo good.

  14. Oh hello gorgeous little pizza… come a little closer!!!

  15. Margherita pizza rocks! Love the simplicity!

  16. Oh my husband is the same way. He doesn’t get a veggie pizza either. I love this and get you!!

  17. This is one of my all-time favorite pizzas….I’d eat it any time. It’s clean, simple, and delicious! Yours is just gorgeous!

  18. Whoa! I take the whole pizzzzza pie, please? Gorgeous, Georgia!

  19. I agree – of all the types of pizza out there, the classic margherita is my absolute favorite. Simple, light, and delicious! And your version looks SO wonderful. Now I’m craving pizza for lunch!

  20. I’m totally with you on this Georgia. Sometimes the simplest form of pizza is the finest! I want to try your Whole Wheat Pizza Dough. Looks wonderful!

  21. That’s such a pretty pizza!

  22. I am all for a pizza minus all the cheese. Yours looks so pretty. The first picture is almost 3D..

  23. Love, margherita is always my go to favorite! This looks so fresh!

  24. My hubs isnt a fan of light pizzas like this either, but I could eat it all day! So yum! How about you and I have a party with this pizza?? Sound good? ;)

  25. Really hard to beat a classic Margherita pizza. I could go for a slice or two right now!

  26. Hehe, my hubby is the same. He prefers his pizza all decked out with meat and sausages. I love simple classic pizzas like this and could definitely go for a slice or two of this gorgeous Margherita pizza! The sauce sounds fantastic!

  27. I want this for lunch today! YUM.

  28. My favorite pizza!! I loved seeing yours and reading about how you put together, looks absolutely perfect. Thanks for sharing and reminding me to heat my pizza stone up. Great post!!

  29. Yes I love pizza with all kinds of stuff on, but you really can’t beat a classic margherita! This looks divine :)

  30. Margherita pizza is my fave, can’t wait to try this one!

  31. Ive been looking for a simple pizza sauce recipe. This look very yummy. I will start blending soon and make this. However I think I will have to put pepperoni on half for the man-ivore ;)

  32. It’s hard to beat fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella on anything. Thanks for reminding me of one of my favorite pizzas. I sometimes put too many toppings on pizza and this reminds me that simple is delicious. Thanks for a great post!

  33. This looks like absolute perfection !

  34. Oh my my, what have we here. I think this shall be tomorrow nights dinner. Thank you thank you.

  35. That’s funny, my husband, and kids feel the same way. Fine w me, I get to order/make a pizza the right way, err I mean my way and enjoy it all by myself! Fresh sauce and ingredients are the key!

  36. This looks fantastic and way better than delivery pizza! Yum!

  37. I looooooove a good margherita pizza, and this does not disappoint! Look phenomenal!

  38. When it comes to pizza, less is truly more. Although I enjoy a good pepperoni pizza, truth be told a Margherita pizza with good ingredients is the best pizza of all (but if the ingredients aren’t topnotch, then bring on the pepperoni!). Really nice post – thanks.

  39. I am with you…I like my pizza on the lighter side. This looks incredible and I love how easy it sounds to put together!!!

  40. You’re pizzas always look perfect Georgia! And always make me hungry too :). Pizza is my favorite, we have it every single week.

  41. I love all kinds of pizza but I also tend to go for the simpler ones. I wish I had a slice of this right now!

  42. This is my favorite too! So utterly delicious looking Georgia my mouth is watering like crazy!

  43. I love a pizza piled high with toppings, but sometimes simple is best too! I love a classic margherita. :) You have me craving pizza right now!

  44. This is my idea of a perfect pizza too! Just simple, ‘clean’ and not doctored up with a million toppings. Simpler is better for me with pizza!

  45. Such a gorgeous pizza, I could eat the entire thing!!

  46. This is my all time favorite (I can eat it any time of the day!), but I only like good quality one… :D Yours look PERFECT, Georgia! Still need to try your homemade dough (sorry I keep saying this but it’s always in back of my head).

  47. You have convinced me! Now I want pizza!

  48. 5 stars
    That tomato sauce looks dreamy. I am yet to make my own tomato sauce some day, a basic thing but never got around to it. The pizza looks fresh and yummy :-) Nothing better than homemade pizza!

  49. Did you know that a margarita pizza is what led us to starting our blog?! Basil is kind of a big deal over here. ;)

  50. I agree with you on the Margherita Pizza. I’m absolutely in love with it, but rarely get it (and actually have never made it either!) because the hubby is not crazy over it. “Can’t we at least have pepperoni?” Haha! Anyway, I think I’m going to have to have some soon, you’ve gotten me in the mood!

  51. You can’t beat a classic! This has my tummy growling!

  52. haha my husband is the same way – he gets mad whenever I don’t include sausage or a ton of meat on pizza! Simple and classic is so good though!

  53. Oh Georgia….this is just beautiful in it’s simplicity! And your crust is absolutely perfect. A great, easy, summer meal! : )

  54. 5 stars
    This looks so good! Margherita pizza is like the best kind of grown-up cheese pizza! I’m totally looking forward to trying your homemade dough recipe too.

  55. so fresh.
    did u make the dough or is it store bought?
    if store bought, what brand?
    it looks homemade and so fresh.

    I love greasy pizza too, but c’mon dude, gotta go light!

  56. That is one beautiful looking margherita pizza!

  57. Thanks! The dough is homemade.

  58. Yay! More pizza. :) You can never go wrong with pizza and especially not margherita pizza! Love these pictures. So pretty!

  59. This is one of the few entrees that every.single.family.member loves! Though the boys and hubby would also go for a meat lovers if they had the chance :/

  60. 5 stars
    margherita pizzas will always take me back to my summer in france. this looks so good! and btw i just realized that your blog didn’t transfer over to feedly w/ all my other subscriptions. :( i wondered what was wrong when i saw new recipes of yours on facebook, but it’s back in there now.

  61. Classic margherita pizza is my fave! This looks so yum!

  62. I started off my week with a twist of the margherita pizza…. but the classic is so awesome!! I would eat half a pie. :)

  63. Omygosh! I love margerita pizza. Especially this time of the year :)

  64. This is probably my favorite pizza, although there are plenty of other toppings that tempt me ;)

  65. Nothing beats the classic pizzas. Simple yet really delicious and tasty.

  66. 5 stars
    Sometimes, the simplest is the best – like this pizza! Really perfect for summertime with all of that beautiful basil!

  67. Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.

  68. This Margherita Pizza is a breeze; I’ll give it a try tonight. It’s so juicy and soft.

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