Pizza is a culinary masterpiece that has emerged from its humble beginnings in Naples to become the favorite dish of many, with so many topping variations. In this article, we bring you 12 must-try pizza recipes, from classic to gourmet, so you can up your pizza game and satisfy your cravings all at once.
Margherita Pizza: An All-Time Classic
The Margherita pizza is a classic, famous for its simplicity and fresh ingredients. This pizza is named after Queen Margherita of Savoy, with toppings of tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves on it. One secret behind an excellent Margherita is the use of very good quality tomatoes and mozzarella. Bake in a hot oven until the crust is crispy and the cheese is bubbly.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce (preferably San Marzano tomatoes)
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness.
- Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough.
- Place mozzarella slices on top of the sauce and season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and add fresh basil leaves.
- Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
Pepperoni Pizza: The Crowd-Pleaser
Pepperoni pizza is indeed the favored pizza in most pizzerias. Its spicy, flavorful topping greatly contributes to that. The tangy tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, and slices of pepperoni melt together, combining into one piece of savory delight. If you would like an extra bite, just add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 20 slices pepperoni
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface.
- Spread tomato sauce evenly across the dough.
- Top with shredded mozzarella and arrange the pepperoni slices evenly.
- Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes for added heat (optional).
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
BBQ Chicken Pizza: Sweet and Savory
BBQ Chicken pizza is somewhat a departure from the usual pizza offerings. It has barbecue sauce slathered over its crust as its base and cooked chicken, red onions and cilantro laid on top. The sweet and smoky barbecue sauce marries very well with the tender chicken resulting in a hodgepodge of flavors that are bold but yet very satisfying.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and spread the BBQ sauce evenly over the base.
- Top with shredded chicken, red onions, and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh cilantro before serving.
Veggie Supreme Pizza: A Garden Fresh Delight
For the health-conscious, the Veggie Supreme is topped with a host of fresh veggies such as bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, and spinach. The pizza offers different textures and flavors, providing gooey cheese across the top, which is healthy and delicious at the same time.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup bell peppers, sliced
- 1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 1/4 cup red onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup spinach leaves
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and spread the tomato sauce on top.
- Add the cheese, followed by all the vegetable toppings.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Hawaiian Pizza: A Sweet and Savory Controversy
Among connoisseurs, the sweet Hawaiian pizza is a subject of much dispute due to the odd combination of ham and pineapple. I mean, this sweet-and-savory pizza kind of works, as in the addition of sweetness from the pineapples cuts through the saltiness of the ham and cheese oh so perfectly.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cooked ham, diced
- 1/4 cup pineapple chunks
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and spread tomato sauce over the base.
- Add cheese, ham, and pineapple evenly across the pizza.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.
- Serve hot.
Four Cheese Pizza: The Cheese Lover’s Dream
The Four Cheese pizza is a rich and indulgent option for lovers of cheese. Mozzarella, cheddar, gorgonzola, and Parmesan combine on this pizza to give it a flavor that is creamy and tangy. Each cheese provides its own flavor and texture, making it one really decadent pie.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and evenly distribute all four cheeses on top.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and serve hot.
Pesto Chicken Pizza: Fresh and Flavorful
The pesto sauce replaces tomato sauce in this Fresh ‘n’ Flavorful Pesto Chicken pizza. Piled on top, one will find grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella for a pizza that is overall fresh with flavor. The pesto imparts an herby depth that is hard to resist, paired with tender chicken and cheese.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup pesto sauce
- 1 cup grilled chicken breast, sliced
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and spread the pesto sauce over the base.
- Top with grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Serve fresh and enjoy!
Mediterranean Pizza: A Taste of the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Pizza has its roots inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean: olives, feta cheese, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes. This pizza is full of flavors and good-looking—a fine balance with salty, tangy, and savory notes.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup artichoke hearts, quartered
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and spread the tomato sauce evenly.
- Add the feta cheese, olives, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Truffle Pizza: A Gourmet Indulgence
A posh pizza experience would be a slice of this truffle pizza. It comes with toppings of truffle oil, mushrooms, and a combination of gourmet cheeses. Truly earthy and luxurious in flavor, the addition of the truffle oil takes the taste to another level.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tbsp truffle oil
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and top with mozzarella and mushrooms.
- Drizzle with truffle oil.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parmesan, and serve.
Buffalo Chicken Pizza: Spicy and Tangy
This is a spicy and tangy pizza which brings in the classic taste of buffalo wings to the t-top-on-pizza mix. This pizza is just that, shredded chicken on a base of spicy buffalo sauce with a final drizzle of ranch or blue cheese dressing to provide all the creaminess, tang, and zing your heart desires.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tbsp ranch or blue cheese dressing
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and spread the buffalo sauce over the base.
- Add shredded chicken and mozzarella.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden.
- Drizzle with ranch or blue cheese dressing before serving.
Fig and Prosciutto Pizza: The Sweet Meets Savory
Fig and Prosciutto pizza really is quite balanced with the sweet flavor from the figs and savory from the prosciutto. A sprinkle of arugula and balsamic reduction on top really make this a pretty pizza.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/4 cup fig jam
- 6 slices prosciutto
- 1/4 cup arugula
- 2 tbsp balsamic reduction
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and spread the fig jam evenly.
- Top with prosciutto slices and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and top with arugula and balsamic reduction.
Carbonara Pizza: Creamy and Comforting
The signature base of a Carbonara Pizza is a creamy sauce, crispy pancetta with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese over the top. The different textures here are combined into a comforting and lavish pizza.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/2 cup Alfredo sauce
- 1/2 cup pancetta, cooked and diced
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 egg (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough and spread Alfredo sauce evenly over the base.
- Top with pancetta and parmesan cheese.
- Crack an egg in the center (optional) and bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and the egg is set.
- Serve hot.
Conclusion
With a mix from the timeless classics to the inventive gourmet options, these 12 recipes for pizza will serve you all on any occasion: from hosting a pizza night to simply having the urge to explore more—these recipes will be sure to impress. Do not hesitate to experiment with different sauces and toppings to make them totally your own. Enjoy your pizza adventure!