Ingredients
Pizza Base
- 16 ounces pizza dough, store bought or homemade
Toppings
- ½ cup pizza sauce, store bought or homemade
- 6-8 slices fresh mozzarella
- 2-3 tomatoes, sliced
- ½ teaspoon pizza seasoning
- fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- olive oil, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Stone: Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while preheating for at least 15 minutes to ensure it’s thoroughly heated.
- Prepare Dough and Sauce: If making homemade pizza dough and sauce, prepare them in advance. Otherwise, use store-bought versions for convenience.
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to about 14-15 inches in diameter. For a thicker crust, gently fold the edges inward to create a raised border before adding toppings.
- Assemble Pizza: If using a pizza stone, transfer the rolled dough quickly and carefully onto it. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust. Layer with slices of fresh mozzarella, arrange the sliced tomatoes on top, and sprinkle with pizza seasoning.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the pizza in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes. Then rotate the pizza 180 degrees to ensure even cooking and bake for an additional 7-8 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven, garnish with fresh basil leaves, and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
- Using a pizza stone helps achieve a crispier crust by evenly distributing heat.
- You can substitute fresh basil with dried basil if fresh is unavailable, but fresh basil is preferred for authentic flavor.
- Adjust bake time depending on your oven and thickness of your dough to avoid burning.
- For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of garlic powder or crushed red pepper flakes before baking.
- Store leftover pizza wrapped tightly in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
