Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza with Basil and Fresh 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.

Classic thin-crust pizza topped with tangy tomato sauce, creamy fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil leaves cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven style. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs pizza dough, tomato sauce, 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: 15 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

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

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to its highest setting, ideally 500°F or more. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: On a lightly floured surface, stretch 1 lb pizza dough into a 12-inch round about 1/4 inch thick, leaving a slightly thicker edge for the crust.
Step 3: Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
Step 4: Distribute 8 oz sliced fresh mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp salt and drizzle 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil on top.
Step 5: Transfer the pizza to the hot pizza stone or baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbling.
Step 6: Remove the pizza from the oven and immediately scatter 1/4 cup whole fresh basil leaves over the top. Add crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Step 7: Let the pizza rest for 2 minutes before slicing and serving.