Wood-Fired Pizza with Smoked Mozzarella and Caramelized Onions

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

A rustic pizza featuring sweet caramelized onions paired with smoky mozzarella atop a crisp, wood-fired crust. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs pizza dough, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 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.

Ingredients

• 12 oz pizza dough
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, thinly sliced yellow onion
• 6 oz, shredded smoked mozzarella
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 8 fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp (optional) crushed red pepper flakes

The pizza stone or steel we’d bake this on → Best Pizza Stones and Steels for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat wood-fired oven or conventional oven to 500°F with pizza stone inside for 45 minutes to ensure a hot baking surface.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion with 1/4 tsp sea salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until deep golden and caramelized.
3. Step 3: Roll out 12 oz pizza dough on a floured surface to a 12-inch circle. Transfer onto a pizza peel dusted with flour.
4. Step 4: Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border for the crust.
5. Step 5: Scatter the 6 oz shredded smoked mozzarella evenly on top, followed by the caramelized onions.
6. Step 6: Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone and bake for 8-10 minutes until the crust is blistered and cheese bubbly and slightly browned.
7. Step 7: Remove pizza from oven and scatter 8 fresh basil leaves. Sprinkle 1/8 tsp black pepper and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes if using. Let rest for 2 minutes before slicing.