A quick and easy Margherita pizza with a simple twist: savory marinara. The sauce keeps the pizza moist and adds a pleasant pop of color to the pie.
Pizza is one of Kim’s favorite dishes, and our site includes a variety of pizza-inspired lunches and dinners. This recipe is a non-traditional take on the classic Margherita.
Why non-traditional? Because it tastes great. Adding a light marinara helps prevent the dough from drying out, and it reduces the need for heavy oil often used on classic Margheritas.
How to make a pizza Margherita:
Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F. Place a 12-inch raw pizza crust onto a pizza pan or stone.
Spoon the marinara sauce over the dough and spread it evenly, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edge for the crust.
Scatter small pieces of fresh mozzarella over the sauce, spacing them so the cheese can melt and spread evenly.
Sprinkle half of the fresh basil over the pie before baking. Slide the pizza into the oven and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
Bake for about 18–20 minutes, though times may vary depending on your dough or oven. Once cooked, remove the pizza, add the remaining fresh basil and an optional drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, slice, and serve.
Recipe Tips:
- We used a homemade pizza dough recipe and halved it to make a single 12-inch crust. You can use store-bought dough or pre-made crusts—just adjust baking time as needed.
- Baking times and temperatures here assume raw dough. If using a pre-baked crust, bake only until the cheese melts and the toppings are heated through.
- For a more traditional Margherita, omit the marinara and top with sliced fresh tomatoes and a couple tablespoons of olive oil instead.
Does Margherita pizza have sauce?
Traditionally, a Margherita does not use a cooked tomato sauce like marinara. Classic toppings are high-quality olive oil, fresh tomato slices, fresh mozzarella, and basil. The pizza is then baked at high temperature until the crust is crisp and the cheese melts.
Why do they call it pizza Margherita?
The name is said to honor Queen Margherita of Italy from more than a century ago.
Easy Margherita Pizza Recipe
10 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
4 Servings
Ingredients
- 12 inch pizza crust, homemade or store-bought
- 1/3 cup marinara sauce
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
- 6 ounces fresh basil (divided)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and place the 12-inch pizza crust on a large pizza pan or stone.
- Spread 1/3 cup marinara sauce over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edge.
- Dot small pieces of fresh mozzarella across the sauce so the cheese has room to melt and spread.
- Cut basil into small strips and sprinkle half over the mozzarella.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly. Remove from the oven, top with the remaining basil and an optional drizzle of olive oil.
- Slice into 8 pieces and serve hot. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- The calorie estimate is approximate and will vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.