Spread it thick on the crust then top with fresh juicy tomatoes and creamy melted mozzarella cheese it’s absolutely delicious and super easy to make. If you’re looking for more fun and exciting pizza recipes be sure to check out my potato pizza with pesto or my fig pizza with butternut squash a creamy goats cheese!
What you need to make this recipe
Pizza dough – I have a step by step guide on how to make pizza dough from scratch it’s super easy! Alternatively, you can use a store-bought crust. Tomatoes – I like to use large, ripe tomatoes but you can use any kind of tomatoes you like such as cherry tomatoes or heirloom. Mozzarella – Use fresh mozzarella cut into slices, make sure to pat it dry on kitchen paper to remove any excess moisture.
How to make Pesto Pizza
Put all the pesto ingredients except the oil in a blender or food processor.
Blitz everything together whilst pouring the olive oil in to create a smooth pesto.
Roll out your pizza dough to fit your baking tray, pizza stone or use parchment paper and spread the crust with pesto.
Top with slices of mozzarella.
Add the tomatoes on top.
Bake the pizza until golden, crispy and melted then top with extra basil.
Tips and ideas for making this recipe
See our step by step guide for making homemade pizza dough. Making your pesto from scratch makes all the difference! You could use jarred pesto but you won’t get the same fresh bold flavors. If you don’t have pine nuts to make pesto you could use cashews, walnuts or pistachios. Pat dry the slices of mozzarella before topping the pizza. This removes any excess moisture when baking. Make sure to pre-heat your oven so it’s extra hot for baking the pizzas this also helps with a crispy crust. You can use a baking tray, pizza stone, or parchment paper to bake your pizzas.
Can I add chicken?
Chicken and pesto is such a great combination and would work so well with this pizza. I recommend adding pre-cooked chicken and sprinkle it on top of the pizza before the mozzarella.
Can I make this in advance?
Yes, you can prepare the pizza dough a day in advance and leave it to proof in the fridge. You can also prepare the pesto 1-2 days in advance and store it in the fridge, it may oxidize slightly but you can add a drop of lemon juice to stop that happening. Don’t assemble the pizza until you are ready to bake otherwise the crust will turn soggy.
Can I freeze this pizza?
This pesto pizza freezes really well, make sure to wrap it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil then thaw completely before reheating. If you’ve tried this Pesto Pizza or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
