Caprese Pizza
This post may contain affiliate links. As Amazon Associates and through other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a link – at no extra cost to you. We only promote products we actually use and truly love!
A fresh and flavorful caprese pizza inspired by the classic Italian combo of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Make it when you’re craving a unique spin on a margherita or cheese pizza!
We’ve always loved taking our favorite dishes and turning them into something else – it’s one of our favorite ways to come up with new recipes. We love caprese sandwiches, so it only felt fitting to turn this classic Italian sandwich into a pizza!
With a basil pesto sauce, fresh slabs of mozzarella cheese, and juicy roasted tomatoes, this pizza is bursting with the bright flavors of summer. It’s the perfect date night dinner when you want an upscale yet comforting dish you can pair with a cocktail or your favorite bottle of wine.
What This Recipe Entails
This pizza is super simple to make. All you have to do is roast some cherry tomatoes, assemble the pizza, and bake.
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
A caprese salad is made with simple high quality ingredients, and we didn’t do anything different here. Mozzarella, tomato, and basil (pesto) create a light, bright, and delicious pizza.
- Pizza dough – Store-bought pizza dough is always a good, easy option for making pizza at home. However if you enjoy making your own pizzas, we highly recommend purchasing a copy of Marc Vetri’s Mastering Pizza cookbook. It’ll help you take your pizza creations to the next level by making all your own doughs.
- Roasted cherry tomatoes – We like the sweetness cherry tomatoes add to this pizza. You could also use grape tomatoes or any other small tomatoes you prefer.
- Basil pesto – The pesto sauce makes for a flavorful base. If you want to make this pizza nut free, try using our nut free basil pesto!
- Mozzarella – We recommend sliced fresh mozzarella for this recipe just as you’d expect in a caprese salad or sandwich.
Equipment Spotlight: Mastering Pizza Cookbook
Marc Vetri expertly teaches the art of making your own pizza dough at home. With many dough styles and variations, there is plenty in this cookbook for all pizza lovers to enjoy.
How To Make Caprese Pizza
Homemade pizza is one of our go-to date night dinners because they are so easy, fun, and unique. We are able to put our own personal touch on each pizza, and constantly customize them to our tastes. Plus, pizza is an amazing template for trying out new flavor combinations or transforming much loved classic recipes. Just like we have here with the caprese!
- Roast the tomatoes – Roast the tomatoes until they are blistered and lightly charred. Then smush them with the back of a spoon to gently flatten them out.
- Assemble the pizza – Spread an even layer of pesto onto the dough, topping with sliced mozzarella and the tomatoes.
- Bake – Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is nicely melted.
Serving Suggestions
I have always loved having a side with pizza nights. So in case you enjoy that too, here are some suggestions!
Or if you prefer a cocktail to go with your pizza, then give our rosemary vodka lemonade a try! The light and bright Italian flavors pair perfectly with our caprese pizza.
No matter how you choose to enjoy it, homemade pizza nights are always special. Let us know in the comments your favorite pizza night traditions and don’t forget to rate and share the recipe if you found it helpful!
Expert Tips
- Smushing the tomatoes before putting them onto the pizza helps to both flatten them out and release some of the juices. As tempting as it may be, you don’t want all of the tomato juice on the pizza because it will make the sauce too liquidy and keep the crust from crisping properly.
- Making your own pizza dough makes homemade pizza taste even better and makes for a more special night. There’s nothing like enjoying a delicious meal you’ve made from scratch.
- If you don’t already have a round pizza pan, we recommend getting one. It tends to be easier to shape your dough into a circle than to fit it to a rectangular sheet pan. Plus a round pizza fits make-at-home takeout night so much better!
Love this recipe? You may also enjoy these fun pizza recipes:
To browse more of our latest recipes and seasonal dishes, visit our homepage here.
Like this recipe? Don’t forget to share it and follow us on Pinterest!
Caprese Pizza
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 425 grams pizza dough
- 3 ounces basil pesto
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced
- Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- First, roast the tomatoes. Add the tomatoes, whole, to a small baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, then roast under the broiler on low (~425 degrees F) until blistered and lightly charred, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Switch the broiler off and preheat the oven to 525 degrees F. Oil and flour a 14-inch pizza pan, then flour your hands and stretch the dough into a roughly 12 to 14 inch circle to fit the pan.
- Now, top the pizza. Spread the pesto evenly over the dough, leaving about a quarter inch crust around the edges. Top with sliced mozzarella.Gently smush the tomatoes with the back of a spoon to release some of their juices, then top the pizza with them, making sure to get some of the juices onto the pizza (but not all – see Notes section for details).Finish with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly, about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you have any questions regarding the information presented in this post, please refer to our Nutrition Disclaimer here.
Looking for kitchen inspiration? Head over to our shop to see what we cook with every day, plus recommendations for foodie gifts and eco-friendly products.