Sal's Pizza Classic Thin-Crust Margherita

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-06 · Updated 2026-08-06

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 thin-crust pizza topped with fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce, baked to golden crisp perfection. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 27 minutes, pairs pizza dough, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, 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 4 Italian cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb pizza dough
1/2 cup tomato sauce
8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

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 with a pizza stone or baking sheet inside for 30 minutes to get it very hot.
Step 2: On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 lb pizza dough into a 12-inch thin circle.
Step 3: Transfer dough to a pizza peel or parchment paper. Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border.
Step 4: Distribute 8 oz sliced fresh mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes if using.
Step 5: Slide pizza onto the preheated stone or baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 6: Remove pizza and immediately scatter 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves on top. Drizzle with 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil before slicing and serving.