Thin-Crust Italian Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A classic Italian pizza featuring a crisp thin crust topped with tangy tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil leaves. This italian-inspired pizza ready in about 27 minutes pairs store-bought or homemade pizza dough, olive oil, crushed tomatoes 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: 15 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 320 cal/serving
Plan a meal with the AI → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 475°F and place a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on the middle rack to heat for 30 minutes. Lightly dust a pizza peel or flat baking tray with 1 tbsp cornmeal.
  2. Step 2: On a floured surface, roll out 1 lb pizza dough into a 12-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer to the prepared peel.
  3. Step 3: Brush the dough edges with 1 tbsp olive oil. Spread 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border.
  4. Step 4: Sprinkle 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp dried oregano over the tomato sauce.
  5. Step 5: Arrange 8 oz sliced fresh mozzarella evenly on top of the sauce.
  6. Step 6: Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone or baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
  7. Step 7: Remove pizza from oven and immediately scatter 12-15 fresh basil leaves over the top before slicing and serving.

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Frequently asked questions

How long does Thin-Crust Italian Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil take to make?

Total time is about 27 minutes (15 min prep + 12 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Thin-Crust Italian Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep olive oil from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Thin-Crust Italian Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Thin-Crust Italian Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Thin-Crust Italian Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil?

Italian pizza like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

Related recipes