Description
This Best White Cheese Pizza features a golden, garlicky crust topped with a luscious blend of mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan cheeses. Finished with fresh basil and optional red pepper flakes, it’s a simple yet indulgent homemade pizza perfect for any cheese lover craving a flavorful, cheesy delight.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 1 ball pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
For the Toppings
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¾ cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Handful fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Optional: red pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). Place a pizza stone in the oven if you have one to help achieve a crispy crust.
- Roll out the dough: On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch round shape.
- Prepare garlic oil: In a small bowl, mix the olive oil with minced garlic and let it sit for 5 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Brush dough with garlic oil: Generously brush the infused garlic oil all over the pizza dough, covering edge to edge.
- Add mozzarella cheese: Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the surface of the dough.
- Add ricotta cheese: Place dollops of ricotta cheese distributed across the pizza.
- Top with parmesan: Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese evenly on top. Optionally, add other cheeses like provolone or fontina if desired.
- Bake the pizza: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheeses are bubbly with browned spots.
- Add final toppings: Remove the pizza from the oven and top with freshly chopped basil leaves and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if you like some heat.
- Rest and serve: Let the pizza rest for a couple of minutes before slicing and serving to allow the cheese to set slightly.
Notes
- For a crisper crust, use a pizza stone or preheat a baking sheet in the oven before placing the pizza on it.
- Feel free to add other white cheeses like provolone or fontina for extra complexity.
- You can prepare the garlic oil ahead of time to save on prep.
- Red pepper flakes add a nice spicy kick but can be omitted for a milder pizza.
- Make sure to let the pizza rest briefly before slicing to avoid cheese sliding off.
