This Margherita Pizza Tastes Like it Came Straight from Italy

Pizza Margherita

This margherita pizza echoes back to the classic Italian pie originally created for a visiting queen. Our version uses all of the basic elements of the original, with two big additions: convenience and ease!

Related: The Easy Chef-Approved Way to Make Frozen Pizza Taste Like It Came From a Fancy Pizza Shop

We used a fresh dough for this one, picked up from our local grocer. To that we added cherry tomatoes (which are always available) in lieu of fresh Romas and allowed them to roast in a 500 degree oven. The results: An easy to make, homemade, colorful and mouthwatering pizza, ready to eat from start to finish in about 20 minutes. You can put this together for under $10; at that price you can even afford to pick a nice bottle of red to enjoy with this beauty.

The Best Margherita Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 commercially prepared fresh pizza dough

• 1 (12 oz) can crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, or tomato sauce

• 4 oz fresh mozzarella, torn in small pieces

• 1 small handful fresh basil leaves, coarsely torn

• 1 handful cherry tomatoes

• 1 Tbsp kosher salt

• parchment paper

1. Heat pizza stone in oven, to 500 degrees F.

2. If you are using a metal baking sheet, reduce oven to 425 degrees F.

3. Tear off a piece of parchment paper, approximately the same size as your pizza stone or pan.

4. Lightly flour the parchment paper, then stretch/roll dough out to approximate size of stone or pan.

5. Use the back side of a spoon and evenly distribute canned tomatoes or sauce.

6. Evenly distribute tomatoes and sprinkle with salt.

7. Slice parchment paper (with pizza) on to hot stone place in oven for 15-18 minutes or until crust golden brown.

8. Top with mozzarella cheese, immediately.

9. Allow to set for five minutes, then evenly distribute fresh basil over pizza and serve immediately.