Stone-Baked Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil and Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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.

Thin-crust pizza baked on a stone with fresh mozzarella, tangy tomato sauce, and fragrant basil for a classic Italian flavor experience. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs pizza dough, olive oil, fresh mozzarella cheese for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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: 20 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 500°F with a pizza stone inside for at least 45 minutes to ensure it is very hot.
  2. Step 2: On a floured surface, stretch and roll out 1 lb pizza dough into a 12-inch round about 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to a pizza peel or parchment paper.
  3. Step 3: Brush the dough lightly with 2 tbsp olive oil, then spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the surface, leaving a 1-inch border.
  4. Step 4: Arrange 8 oz sliced fresh mozzarella evenly over the sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp salt and optional 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper for a slight kick.
  5. Step 5: Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone and bake for 8-10 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbling and slightly browned.
  6. Step 6: Remove pizza from oven and immediately scatter 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves on top. Let rest for 2 minutes before slicing and serving.

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