Basil Pizza bursts with the wonderful, fresh flavor of basil — with both pesto and whole basil leaves throughout. This unique pizza is the perfect recipe for using up your summer basil from the garden, and it can stand on its own as a whole meal.
Basil on pizza is, simply put, dreamy.
While there’s an abundance of basil in the summertime, we’re fortunate that we can typically find it year round.
While a lot of pizza recipes include the beautiful, aromatic fresh herb, in this basil pizza, it's the main ingredient -- and it's amazing!
The Ingredients
(I often suggest brands I love and use — these are only suggestions and this is not a sponsored post.)
- fresh basil leaves - Any variety, but the softer the leaves, the better. Choose perky bunches, and avoid any brown, bruised or yellow leaves.
- toasted pine nuts - Toasted pine nuts will have a deeper flavor than those that are raw.
- Parmesan cheese - If you can, use Parmesan Reggiano, and grate it right before adding it to the pizza. Buying pre-grated cheese is fine, too.
- mozzarella cheese - Again, if you can grate it from a block just before using, that's great -- but, pre-grated is fine, too.
- tomato paste - From a tube or can.
- garlic - Look for firm heads of garlic without any soft spots or green shoots, which is an indication of old garlic. (Raw garlic cloves should be firm without any dark spots.)
- lemon juice - Use Meyer lemons if they're in season. They're a touch less tart and a touch sweeter.
- extra virgin olive oil - I like this one.
- pizza dough or pre-baked crust - I've always had great success with the refrigerated, raw pizza dough from Trader Joe's.
- red onion - Choose onions that are firm, heavy for their size and without bruises.
- red chili flakes - To sprinkle on top for a bit of heat.
- salt -I cook with Kosher salt. I prefer it over other salts for a few reasons: its larger flake size, it's less refined and usually doesn't contain additives, and it does a great job enhancing the flavor of foods without making them taste salty.
- black pepper - Preferably freshly ground.
- sugar - We will only use a pinch.
(See recipe card below for quantities.)
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
Variations
- Lemon Basil Vinaigrette (and Marinade)
- Mango Salad with Basil
- Cold Cucumber Basil Soup
- Sweet Basil Cheesecake with Lemon Crust
How to Make it
- Preheat the oven to 500°F, with a pizza stone on the center rack. If you don't have a pizza stone, place a sheet pan on the rack a few minutes before you assemble the pizzas.
- Make the pesto: Add the basil, pine nuts, Parmesan and garlic to a food processor and blend until the basil is in tiny pieces. Then add the tomato paste, lemon juice, olive oil and pinch of sugar, and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Either shape your pizza dough into approximately 12-inch rounds, or set out your pre-baked approximately 12-inch rounds, on a lightly floured work surface.
- Spread the pesto thinly between the two crusts or dough. Then sprinkle each with equal amounts of the Mozzarella and onion slices, and about half of the basil leaves.
- Once out of the oven, add toasted pine nuts, chili flakes and the remaining fresh basil leaves. Then drizzle with the remaining olive oil, slice and serve.
- Transfer the pizzas to the stone or baking sheet and drizzle about ½ tablespoon of the olive oil along the edges of the crusts. Place in the preheated 500°F oven, and bake until the crust is golden along the edges, about 15 minutes. (For pre-baked crusts, heat just long enough to melt the cheese and heat it through.)
(More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)
What pizza crust should you use?
You should use your favorite crust for this basil pizza.
You can make your own (this recipe is excellent), use a pre-baked crust, or use pre-made dough. Whatever you go with, you will want enough to make two (approximately 12-inch) crusts.
You can also use gluten-free pizza crust (I make this one and love it), or a cauliflower crust. Just be aware that cauliflower crusts are typically softer and you might need a fork and knife to eat the pizza.
I hope you love basil pizza as much as I do!
Basil Pizza Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the pesto
- 4 ounces (approx. 4 loosely packed cups) basil leaves, washed and dried
- ⅓ cup pine nuts, toasted
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 teaspoons garlic, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- pinch granulated sugar
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Remaining pizza ingredients
- 1½ pounds raw pizza dough -- OR, 2 (approx. 12-inch) pre-baked pizza crusts
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, grated
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1¼ ounces (approx. 1 ¼ loosely packed cup) basil leaves, washed and dried
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted (for garnish, if desired)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- red chili flakes (if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and stone/sheet pan. Preheat the oven to 500°F, with a pizza stone on center rack. If you don't have a pizza stone, place a sheet pan on the rack a few minutes before you assemble the pizzas.
- Make the pesto. Add the basil, pine nuts, Parmesan and garlic to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Blend until the basil is in tiny pieces. Then add the tomato paste, lemon juice, olive oil and pinch of sugar, and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Here's How to Season to Taste.)
- Prepare the pizza crust. Either shape your pizza dough into approximately 12-inch rounds, or set out your pre-baked approximately 12-inch rounds, on a lightly floured work surface.
- Assemble the pizzas. Evenly divide the pesto among the two crusts, spreading it thinly. Then sprinkle each with equal amounts of the grated Mozzarella. Now divide the red onion slices between the two, and about half of the basil leaves.
- Bake. Transfer the pizzas to the stone or baking sheet and drizzle about ½ tablespoon of the olive oil along the edges of the crusts. Place in the preheated 500°F oven, and bake until the crust is golden along the edges, about 15 minutes. (For pre-baked crusts, heat just long enough to melt the cheese and heat it through.)
- Garnish, cut and serve. Once out of the oven, add the chili flakes (if desired), pine nuts, and the remaining fresh basil leaves. Then drizzle with the remaining olive oil, slice and serve.
Notes
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Christina C.
Great way to change up the normal pizza, Valentina! Fresh basil is my very favorite herb! SO fresh and always smells of summer!
valentina
Thank you, my friend! FYI, I suggested your mom's favorite pizza dough? Awesome recipe! 🙂 ~Valentina
angiesrecipes
I actually love pesto more than the tomato based pizza. This looks fantastic loaded with fresh basils.
angiesrecipes
valentina
Me too! Thanks, Angie. Have a great weekend. 🙂 ~Valentina
2pots2cook
Oh my goodness me ! Absolutely amazing one ! What a collection of ingredients !
valentina
Thanks, Davorka. Enjoy and happy weekend! 🙂 ~Valentina
mimi rippee
This is fabulous. There's always room for pesto and more basil! And pine nuts!
valentina
I totally agree. Thanks, Mimi! 🙂 ~Valentina
Eha
Shall have to try this whilst my basil pots are still flourishing outdoors. In my part of Australia there is a definite 4-5 months gap in its growing pattern. Find this offering interesting as love pesto and basil on its own . . . want to see whether its three-fold use here makes the flavour too pronounced for my palate . . . may omit the crisped section. Tomato paste in my pesto will also be a new addition . . . shall try . . .
valentina
Thanks, Eha. The tomato paste adds a lovely subtle richness and sweetness. I hope you love it. And lucky you to have it flourishing! 🙂 ~Valentina
Marissa
This pizza looks divine, Valentina! Putting it on the menu for our next pizza night!
valentina
Enjoy! Thanks, Marissa. 🙂 ~Valentina
David Scott Allen
What a delicious combination. Love how you added tomato paste to the pesto. I need to work on my pizza game...
valentina
Thanks, David. I think your food game overall is fantastic, and pizza will be/is no different. 🙂 ~Valentina
sippitysup
I just had a similar pizza at L'Antica in Hollywood. I bet yours is better because it has pine nuts. GREG
valentina
Thanks, Greg! 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
Everything about this recipe is calling my name, Valentina! For starters, I love pizza - all kinds. 🙂 Second, the photo of basil is making me excited for summer - I can't wait to get a big pot of basil growing on the back deck. Then this pizza will become a staple! We have an outdoor pizza oven, and I'm always looking for fun ways to mix up pizza night - I just found one!
valentina
Thanks so much, David! Love summer basil in big porch pots. 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I do love basil and, of course, pizza so I know this would be a hit in our home! So much better than delivery too. Wish I could reach out and grab a slice (or the whole pie)!!
valentina
Enjoy! Thanks, Dawn. 🙂 ~Valentina
Linger, Kristy Murray
This pizza looks fantastic. I love your pesto recipe and that you used it as the sauce. And basil is probably my favorite herb of all time. What a great Springtime recipe. Can't wait to try it.
valentina
Thanks so much, Kristy. Hope you try and love the pizza (or pesto)! 🙂 ~Valentina