White Pizza
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This white pizza is loaded with creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and freshly grated Parmesan — no tomato sauce needed! Brushed with garlicky extra-virgin olive oil and baked until golden, it’s a rich, satisfying twist on classic pizza night. Easy to make, endlessly customizable, and ready in under an hour.
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 (PIZZA BIANCA)?
Also known as pizza bianca and traditionally associated with Roman cuisine, white pizza is made without tomato sauce. It’s typically topped with olive oil, garlic, and a blend of cheeses like mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan, making it a rich and flavorful alternative to classic red sauce pizza.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS WHITE PIZZA RECIPE
- 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 FOR WHITE PIZZA
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.
PRO TIPS FOR THE BEST WHITE PIZZA
- 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.
HOW TO STORE AND FREEZE WHITE PIZZA
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.
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MUST-HAVE KITCHEN TOOLS FOR HOMEMADE WHITE PIZZA
A hot surface is key, use a pizza stone for a crispier crust or a baking sheet for convenience.
Pizza stone or baking sheet
White Pizza: Frequently Asked Questions
Also known as pizza bianca, white pizza is made without tomato sauce and gets its name from the use of white cheeses like mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan.
While a pizza stone gives you a crispier, more evenly cooked crust, a baking sheet works well too, just make sure it’s preheated for best results.
Yes, we do! You can find our go-to homemade pizza dough recipe 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 skips the tomato sauce to let the rich flavors of olive oil, garlic, and cheese take center stage. It’s perfect for those who want a lighter, more savory pie.
A combination of mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan delivers the best flavor and texture. Freshly grated cheeses melt better and taste richer than pre-shredded varieties.
Yes! Store-bought pizza dough works great. Just make sure it’s room temperature before rolling it out for the best results.
Absolutely. Crumbled sausage, prosciutto, or even pepperoni make great additions to a white pizza for extra flavor and protein.
Yes. Par-bake the crust for 3–5 minutes, cool completely, add toppings, and freeze uncovered until solid. Then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
Wrap leftover slices in plastic wrap or foil and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in a 375°F oven until warmed through for the crispiest crust.
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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