Pesto pizza is so easy to make and perfect with my homemade pesto sauce. You are going to love this great twist on pizza.
Pizza night is a favorite in our house. We could have pizza once a week and never tire of it. While our favorite way to do it is to make many small pizzas with my delicious homemade pizza dough and letting everyone top their own, this large Pesto Pizza is perfect for making for guests.
Made with my homemade pesto sauce, the flavors of the pesto, cheese, tomatoes, and fresh basil combine in a way that makes you feel like you are eating at a high end pizzeria. You will love this delicious twist on pizza.
Pesto on Pizza
Making pizza with pesto replaces the need for a pizza sauce. The bright, fresh flavor of basil in the simple sauce is so delicious. While you can buy a jar of pesto from the store for this recipe, it is easy to make your own and totally worth it. You can control the flavors and keep it in your refrigerator for weeks.
Pesto Sauce Recipe
How to Make Homemade Pesto Pizza
Below is a brief overview of how this pizza with pesto comes together. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Spread the pesto on the pizza crust. Top with mozzarella.
- Bake. The cheese will be melted and crust firm.
- Add remaining toppings. Top with tomato, basil, and shredded parmesan.
Shredding Cheese for Pizza
This recipe uses both mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. I recommend shredding your own cheese from a block for both of these to get the freshest flavor and best melting. Pre-shredded cheese is covered in preservatives to help keep its shape, which prevents it from melting well. And if there is one thing you want on pizza, it is melty and gooey cheese. It is worth it to shred your own.
Pizza Crust
One of the reasons that pizza night is such a hit in my house is because of my homemade pizza dough recipe. It comes from my mom, it is totally fool proof, and absolutely delicious. You will want to check out this recipe for pizza dough recipe, it has so many great reviews. I promise it’s easy to make and tastes so delicious!
Of course if you are tight on time you can use store-bought dough. I highly recommend finding a brand where the dough comes in a bag. It is, typically, a million times better than the dough you roll out from the can.
Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe
The Toppings
The simple combination of basil pesto, cheese, tomatoes, and a little fresh basil is perfect on this pizza. With that being said, just pesto and cheese would be delicious if you don’t like tomatoes.
You could also add some cooked chicken to get some protein and create a chicken pesto pizza! Like in my Chicken Pesto Pasta, chicken and pesto go great together.
Baking Pizza
Whenever we make pizza, we use a pizza stone. We actually own two because that way we can make two pizzas in quick succession. You’ll notice that the dough recipe above makes enough for two 12 inch pizzas, so owning two stones is a must.
You can absolutely make pizza on a regular baking sheet, but I can’t recommend a stone enough. It helps make the crust crispy so that it cooks in equal measure with the cheeses on top.
Pizza Stone
More Great Pesto Recipes
If you can’t get enough pesto in your life try these recipes too! Make a batch of fresh pesto sauce to keep in your refrigerator and dinner is served.
If you make this basil pesto pizza recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Easy Pesto Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pizza dough
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 roma tomato diced
- fresh basil
- 1/4 cup Parmesan shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
- Spread the pesto over your pizza dough.Top with mozzarella. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is firm.
- Remove from the oven and top with tomato, basil, and shredded parmesan.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Pesto pizza is my FAVORITE of all time. Summer …. hmmmm. Not sure how I feel yet, except I’m excited to not have to make lunches every day, lol
Okay . . . but you *do* have to make lunches everyday! LOL!
averie @ averie cooks says
I just made pesto chicken last week but I need to do it with pizza! Looks fabulous!
Sarah E. says
I used to buy a personal size pesto pizza at the store all the time, but I haven’t been able to find it in the last few weeks…so I am SO happy you posted this. It looks just like it! :)
I hope you like it Sarah!
Naomi @ Parenting Pod says
what a great pizza recipe. your family would really enjoy this hearty meal for dinner.
Thanks Naomi!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says
LOVE pesto on my pizza!
Me too!
Alyssa @ Everyday Maven says
Pesto is such a great summer ingredient! Perfect for pizza!
Thank you Alyssa!
Nicole says
I’m obsessed with pesto this year so this pizza is now my latest craving!
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar says
I would totally pesto all the things!! Love it! This pizza is getting made for dinner!
Kim Beaulieu says
This is one amazing pizza. I love pesto pizzas and this is seriously gorgeous.
Sheila says
Enjoyed it, so tasty and irresistible !!!