Wood-Fired Pizza with Roasted Garlic and Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-21 · Updated 2026-05-21

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 crispy wood-fired pizza topped with slow-roasted garlic cloves, fresh mozzarella, and a sprinkle of fresh basil for a smoky, savory delight. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 35 minutes, pairs pizza dough, whole garlic cloves, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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: 10 min Cook: 25 min Serves 2 Italian cuisine 550 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz pizza dough
8 whole garlic cloves
3 tbsp olive oil
6 oz fresh mozzarella
1/2 cup tomato sauce
10 fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tbsp cornmeal

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your wood-fired oven or conventional oven to 500°F. Toss 8 whole garlic cloves with 1 tbsp olive oil and wrap them in foil, roasting inside the oven for 20 minutes until soft and fragrant.
Step 2: Lightly dust a pizza peel or baking sheet with 1 tbsp cornmeal and stretch 12 oz pizza dough into a 12-inch round, then transfer it onto the peel.
Step 3: Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the dough, then tear 6 oz fresh mozzarella into chunks and scatter over the sauce.
Step 4: Remove the roasted garlic cloves from foil, mash them gently with a fork, and spread the roasted garlic evenly atop the cheese.
Step 5: Drizzle the pizza with remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, sprinkle 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes for a hint of heat.
Step 6: Slide the pizza into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
Step 7: Remove the pizza, scatter 10 fresh basil leaves on top, slice, and serve immediately for a smoky, garlic-forward pizza experience.