White Pizza
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Made with 3 different cheeses (no tomato sauce here!) and drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil, garlicky goodness. Yes, please!
I absolutely love a good margherita pizza, but sometimes I just crave a white pie like nothing else. It’s so simple with a few different white cheeses but my goodness, it’s really something else. It could be the dollops of ricotta. The melted mozzarella. Or the garlicky-olive-oil goodness with a hint of heat from the crushed red pepper flakes. Maybe it’s all of the above.
what is white pizza
Also known as pizza bianca and traditionally associated with Roman cuisine, white pizza is made without tomato sauce, topped with olive oil, garlic and cheese.
reasons to make white pizza
- Fun twist from traditional pizza made with tomato sauce
- Huge win for those with tomato allergies
- Best kind of family-friendly recipe
- Quick, fast and easy, perfect for busy weeknights and lazy weekends
- So customizable, adding different cheeses and toppings to taste
fun topping ideas
Arugula
Tossed with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Simple, yet so so good.
Spinach and artichoke hearts
Think spinach and artichoke dip in pizza form – yes, please!
Meat
Crumbled Italian sausage, pepperoni or meatballs are all great options.
tips and tricks for success
- Homemade pizza dough goes a long way. Some of the best pizzas are made with good homemade dough, yielding a chewy, flavorful crust. The best part? Homemade pizza dough can be frozen up to 2 months. If using store-bought, opt for a pound of pizza dough at your favorite local pizza joint. It will make all the difference here.
- For a crispier crust, use a hot pizza stone. While a baking sheet can certainly do the trick, a pizza stone will allow for even cooking, mimicking a traditional wood-fired pizza oven and resulting in a far more superior crust due to its high heat retention.
- Use good quality extra virgin olive oil. With its short ingredient list of mainly olive oil, garlic and cheese, good quality extra virgin olive oil is best. Poor quality olive oil can lead to bland white pizza.
- Use freshly grated cheese. Although pre-shredded cheese can save a few minutes in the kitchen, pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents to prevent clumping – this can hinder its ability to melt properly. Freshly grated cheese will not only have a better flavor profile, but it will also melt more smoothly and evenly, yielding a far more superior pizza.
freezing and storage
Make ahead
To make ahead, par-bake the crust at 450°F for 3-5 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack; cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 48 hours. To bake, remove plastic wrap, add toppings and bake as directed.
Storage
Leftover pizza can be cut into slices, wrapped tightly (to prevent drying out) in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheating
Reheat in the oven at 375°F, covered in aluminum foil until warmed through, about 7-12 minutes, baking longer for a crispier crust.
more favorite pizza recipes
Tools For This Recipe
Pizza stone or baking sheet
White Pizza: Frequently Asked Questions
White pizza is typically made without tomato or marinara sauce, topped with white cheeses such as mozzarella and ricotta cheese.
While a pizza stone is ideal for a crispier crust, a baking sheet can also be used.
Yes, we have a recipe for that here.
We personally love California Olive Ranch. It’s our go-to bottle that we always have on hand, perfect for grilling, marinades, drizzling and even baking.
Leftover pizza slices can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
White Pizza
Ingredients
- ¼ cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
- 6 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn into small pieces
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Fresh basil leaves
for the olive oil mixture
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely grated
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly coat a pizza stone with olive oil.
- Working on a surface that has been sprinkled with cornmeal, roll out the pizza into a 12-inch-diameter round. Transfer to prepared pizza stone.
- Spread olive oil mixture over the surface of the dough in an even layer, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with mozzarella and dollops of ricotta; sprinkle with Parmesan.
- Place into oven and bake for 20-24 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheeses have melted.
- Serve immediately, garnished with basil, if desired.
for the olive oil mixture
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
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