Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil and Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-13 · Updated 2026-05-13

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 developed and reviewed.

A classic Neapolitan-style pizza featuring a blistered wood-fired crust topped with fresh mozzarella, bright tomato sauce, and aromatic basil leaves. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs pizza dough (12-inch round), San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh basil leaves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 700 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: 20 min Cook: 10 min Serves 2 Italian cuisine 700 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 ball pizza dough (12-inch round)
1/2 cup San Marzano tomato sauce
6 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
10 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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Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

HENCKELS Statement Razor-Sharp 20-Piece Knife Set with Block, Chef Knife, Bread Knife, German Engineered Knife Informed by over 100 Years of Mastery, Natural
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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 500°F with a pizza stone inside for at least 45 minutes to mimic a wood-fired oven.
Step 2: On a floured surface, stretch 1 ball of pizza dough into a 12-inch thin round, leaving a slightly thicker edge for the crust.
Step 3: Spread 1/2 cup San Marzano tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border untreated.
Step 4: Arrange 6 oz sliced fresh mozzarella evenly on top of the sauce.
Step 5: Bake the pizza on the preheated stone for 8-10 minutes, or until the crust is blistered and cheese is bubbling and slightly browned.
Step 6: Remove from oven and immediately scatter 10 fresh basil leaves over the hot pizza. Drizzle with 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes if using.
Step 7: Slice and serve hot.