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Fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and basil are the stars in this easy Tomato Pizza recipe.
Looking for more vibrant tomato recipes? Don't miss my recipes for Tomato Bruschetta, Corn and Tomato Salad, Caprese Pasta Salad and Cucumber Tomato Salad.
My Personal Favorite Pizza Recipe
From Buffalo Chicken Pizza to Spinach Pizza to Taco Pizza, we love creative spins on pizza at our house.
But my all-time favorite pizza recipe is a simple tomato mozzarella pizza with basil. Using the simple, yet classic flavors of a Caprese Salad on a tender, garlic-infused pizza crust, this tomato mozzarella pizza is a tomato lover's dream pizza.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Tomato Pizza Ingredients
Because this easy Tomato Pizza is made with just a handful of ingredients, it is crucial to select the best ingredients possible.
- Pizza Dough: You will need one pound of store-bought or homemade pizza dough.
- Olive Oil: Select a good-quality extra virgin olive oil, as it will add a nice fruity, nutty flavor to the pizza.
- Seasonings: To amp up the flavor, a bit of dried oregano or Italian seasoning, and minced garlic go a long way to season the pizza dough. I also recommend seasoning the tomatoes with kosher salt and pepper to enhance their flavor.
- Mozzarella: For this pizza, fresh mozzarella is the classic choice. It melts beautifully and compliments the flavor of the fresh tomatoes.
- Parmesan Cheese: Add freshly grated parmesan, along with the fresh mozzarella cheese will add a nice sharp, salty finish to this pizza. Keep in mind that only freshly grated parmesan will work. This is not the time to use parmesan cheese from a canister.
- Tomatoes: I love using a combination of Roma tomatoes, vine-ripened tomatoes, and grape or cherry tomatoes, for both flavor and presentation. When tomatoes are not in season, stick to using grape tomatoes, which have good flavor year-round.
- Basil: Basil is the classic choice to complete this pizza. The freshness of the basil helps to cut the richness of the cheese and olive oil. Arugula is a good substitute.
How to Make the Best Tomato Pizza
Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities used and detailed instructions. The following tips are meant to help you achieve perfection.
- Season the Pizza Dough. In order to infuse this simple pizza with incredible flavor, you want to brush the pizza dough with olive oil and then sprinkle with oregano and minced garlic. An alternative, untraditional (yet delicious) option, would be to spread the dough with a thin layer of basil pesto.
- Top with cheese. It is best to add a thin layer of cheese on top of the prepared pizza dough prior to adding the tomatoes, as this will help to prevent the crust from becoming soggy.
- Deseed the Tomatoes. One of the secrets to this delicious fresh summer tomato pizza is the fresh tomatoes. However, vine-ripened and heirloom tomatoes are full of seeds and if the seeds are not removed, your pizza can easily become soggy. It is best to remove the majority of the seeds from the tomatoes, by slicing them open and using a spoon or melon baller to gently scoop out the seeds. Then slice.
- Season Tomatoes. After arranging the tomatoes on the prepared pizza dough, be sure to sprinkle them with kosher salt and pepper. This will help to bring out their natural flavor.
- Top with Cheese. Adding more mozzarella on top of the tomatoes will create a nice, cheesy pizza.
- Bake. Bake the pizza until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden. Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil leaves.
Tips on Serving & Storage
- For Serving: Fresh Tomato Pizza is best served immediately, as the tomatoes will release juices as they sit and your pizza crust can become soggy.
- Make it a Meal: Pair with a BLT Salad or Spinach Avocado Salad, for an impressive, yet simple dinner.
- Storage + Reheating: Store leftover sliced pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the tomato pizza on a baking sheet or pizza stone in a 350℉ oven for 10 minutes or in the basket of an air-fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350℉.
More Homemade Pizza Recipes
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Tomato Pizza
Fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and basil shine in this simple tomato pizza recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 pound sliced fresh mozzarella cheese, divided
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1 pound vine-ripened, Roma, or heirloom tomatoes, or a combination
- salt and pepper to taste
- 6-10 fresh basil leaves, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450℉ (230℃).
- Brush a 16-inch pizza pan or cookie sheet with a bit of olive oil or non-stick spray. or line with parchment paper that is safe to heat up to 450℉. Roll the pizza dough out in a thin ¼-inch circle to cover the pan.
- Brush the pizza dough with 1 tablespoon olive oil, leaving a 1-inch border along the edges to form the crust. Season the dough evenly with 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 1 teaspoon dried oregano.
- Evenly spread half of the sliced mozzarella cheese over the pizza dough, leaving a ½-1 inch border along the edges. Top with parmesan cheese.
- Prepare tomatoes by slicing the top off the tomato and then use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out the seeds gently or give the tomato a gentle squeeze over the sink/trash bin. Slice all the tomatoes into ¼-thick slices and then arrange them evenly over the cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Top with the remaining slices of mozzarella cheese and then bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is nicely browned and the cheese is fully melted.
- Allow the pizza to cool for 5-10 minutes. Top with 6-10 fresh basil leaves if desired. Slice and serve.
Notes
Cheese: While fresh mozzarella cheese is best, grated mozzarella can be substituted in a pinch.
Tomatoes: Feel free to use only one variety of tomatoes, rather than a mix. Keep in mind seasonal tomatoes are best.
Using Grape/Cherry Tomatoes: If tomatoes are not in season, only use grape/cherry tomatoes and there is not need to deseed them, simply cut in half.
Add Spice: If you like spice, you may want to add ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes, along with the salt and pepper.
Storage: Fresh Tomato Pizza is best served immediately. However, you can store leftover sliced pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350℉ oven for 10 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 443kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 23gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 1023mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 930IUVitamin C: 6.5mgCalcium: 394mgIron: 2.5mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Wonderful flavor and presentation. Putting cheese layer both above and below tomatoes, as well as de-seeding and seasoning tomatoes, made this a winner in texture as well.
Thanks, Laurie! Those steps are key and I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the pizza and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
This was really good! I thought the tomatoes would make it soggy but it doesn’t.
Removing the seeds from the tomatoes is key! So happy you enjoyed Alicia!
LOVE this simple pizza recipe! The tip about the tomatoes seriously changes the entire pizza! I love, love, love this recipe!
YAY! I am so glad you found that tip for the tomatoes helpful and that you enjoyed this Pizza Jenni!
I love that you added arugula, it's one of my favorite things in life - especially on pizza.
Arugula just adds the right bite doesn't it Erica? So glad you enjoyed!