Rustic Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil and Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A simple, hand-stretched pizza topped with tangy tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil leaves, baked to a golden crust. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 27 minutes, pairs pizza dough, olive oil, tomato sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 12 min Serves 2 Italian cuisine 650 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz, room temperature pizza dough
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup tomato sauce
8 oz, sliced fresh mozzarella
1/4 cup whole fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp salt
optional, for garnish crushed red pepper flakes

The pizza stone or steel we’d bake this on → Best Pizza Stones and Steels for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 475°F and place a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet inside to heat for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: On a lightly floured surface, stretch 12 oz pizza dough into a 12-inch round, keeping edges slightly thicker for the crust.
Step 3: Transfer dough to a piece of parchment paper. Brush dough lightly with 1 tbsp olive oil and spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the surface, leaving a 1-inch border.
Step 4: Distribute 8 oz sliced fresh mozzarella evenly over the sauce, then sprinkle 1/2 tsp salt over cheese.
Step 5: Slide pizza on the parchment paper onto the preheated stone or baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese bubbles.
Step 6: Remove pizza from oven and immediately scatter 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves on top. Optionally sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes.
Step 7: Let pizza rest for 2 minutes, then slice and serve warm.