This authentic White Pizza Recipe (aka Pizza Bianca) features soft and chewy homemade pizza dough, a garlic olive oil “sauce,” and four types of cheese for the cheesiest pizza! This recipe couldn’t be easier to throw together any night of the week. All you need is some fresh pizza dough, garlic oil, and all your favorite cheeses!
Table of contents
What Is Pizza Bianca, Anyway?
If you’ve ever been to an upscale pizza restaurant, you’ve probably come across the white pizza phenomenon (aka Pizza Bianca, pizza bianco, or pizza blanco). Instead of a pie laced with tomato sauce and topped with cheese and toppings, a white base pizza has a simple sauce of garlic olive oil or sometimes pesto.
The backbone of the pizza really relies on the different cheese varieties for a unique flavor profile. You’ll often see white pizzas topped with arugula or basil after baking for a bit of a peppery, green element. Sometimes you’ll even see a white pizza topped with fresh tomatoes or meats like spicy salami.
So what makes this the BEST white pizza recipe? First, this recipe uses my Same Day Pizza Dough, which is exceedingly easy to make and it’s full of flavor with great texture. Second, we make our own garlic oil for the pizza which only takes a few minutes but makes a huge difference.
Finally, I’ve discovered the best ever cheeses to use on a white cheese pizza! They’re a mix of flavorful, melty, and creamy cheeses that make up the perfect blend. This truly is a restaurant-quality pizza recipe!
Here’s What’s on a White Pizza
You can find the full list of ingredients, quantities & method in the recipe card at the end of the page.
- Pizza dough. If you don’t make your own pizza dough, I recommend buying pizza dough from a local pizza parlor, Trader Joe’s, or Whole Foods. You’ll need 2 pounds of fresh pizza dough in total (split into two 1-pound balls). Do NOT use the refrigerated pizza dough that comes in a tube!
- Cheese. I opted for whole milk mozzarella, provolone, ricotta, and parmesan for the best ever cheese blend. Shred the cheeses yourself using a box grater or food processor for maximum meltability.
- Garlic. Make sure to grate your garlic so that it really blends into the olive oil.
- Olive Oil. Choose a quality, flavorful olive oil. I like using an extra virgin olive oil here.
- Sesame seeds. I love adding some sesame seeds to the crust for extra flavor, but they’re totally optional!
- Red pepper flakes or Calabrian chile. To add a bit of spice, sprinkle your pizza with crushed red pepper flakes or a bit of chopped Calabrian chile.
- Arugula. After your pizza is finished cooking, top with fresh arugula for a peppery contrast. Don’t add the arugula before baking or else it will wilt.
Special Equipment You’ll Need
How to Make White Pizza at Home
- Make the pizza dough. I love that you can make this same-day pizza dough and a couple of hours later have pizza on the table! You’ll still get tons of flavor in the dough and this recipe makes enough to have a pizza party while still having some leftover dough to freeze for next time.
- Make the garlic oil. It’s as simple as mixing together a little grated garlic and olive oil. That’s it!
- Stretch the dough. On a lightly floured surface, stretch your dough into an 11- to 12-inch circle and place it on a pizza peel (if using a pizza oven or stone) or directly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Top. Brush the crust all over with the garlic olive oil and sprinkle with red pepper flakes or chopped Calabrian chile. Top with cheese and freshly grate some pepper all over.
- Cook. You’ll know the pizza is done baking when the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and browned. Once you pull the pizza out of the oven, top it with fresh arugula and more Parm.
Pick One of These 3 Cooking Methods!
Now that you have the pizza assembled, what’s the best way to cook a pizza? There are so many ways, but here are my favorites.
Pizza oven (my top choice!). Obviously not everyone has a pizza oven, but my husband got me one for our anniversary and I am OBSESSED. We have the GOZNEY ROCCBOX and it truly makes the most superior pizza. It’s an investment for sure, but if you love pizza it’s a great one!
Pizza stone. If you don’t have a pizza oven, the next best option is a pizza stone or steel! Make sure to preheat the stone in the oven for at least an hour before baking.
Baking sheet. Stretch your dough out onto a greased baking sheet, top, and bake at high temperature (we’re talking 500ºF!) for a rustic and delicious pizza.
Ways to Customize Your Pizza
Think of this white base pizza as a loose blueprint that you can adjust to suit your tastes and whatever you have on hand!
- Add meat. You can keep your pizza vegetarian, but you can also add cooked meats like sausage, meatball, pepperoni, or spicy salami to mix it up.
- Swap cheeses. I picked my favorites, but you can mix in different cheeses like fontina, feta, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, burrata, etc.
- Add some veggies. If you want to add some veggies and texture, vegetables like mushrooms, artichoke hearts, onions, peppers, etc would all be great additions!
Jenny’s Tips and Tricks for Making Pizza at Home
Use fresh pizza dough. Whether you make your own pizza dough or buy it, make sure the dough is fresh! Don’t buy pre-baked crusts or pizza crust from a can. There are so many better options to make your pizza excellent!
Shred your own cheese. Store-bought shredded cheese is coated with cellulose with keeps it from clumping, but also keeps it from melting well. Take the couple extra minutes to shred your own cheese (a food processor fitted with a grater attachment makes quick work of this!).
Don’t go overboard with toppings. When topping the pizza, top in an even layer but don’t go overboard. Otherwise, you’ll end up with soggy pizza.
Side Dish Suggestions
This is a rich and cheesy pizza, so I like to keep things simple by pairing it with roasted veggies or a leafy green salad for freshness.
- Kale Caesar Salad or Little Gem Caesar Salad
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Roasted Carrots (skip the whipped feta since the pizza is already so cheesy)
- Sweet and Savory Glazed Brussels Sprouts
- Lemony Grilled Asparagus
- Garlic Green Beans with Almond Gremolata
If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!
More Homemade Pizza Recipes to Try
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White Pizza Recipe (Pizza Bianca)
Ingredients
- 2 (16 oz) pizza dough balls*
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves , grated
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)
- 1 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella
- 2/3 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- arugula
- red pepper flakes or chopped Calabrian chilies
- flaky sea salt
- freshly cracked pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat an oven to 500ºF with a pizza stone or steel inside at least 40-45 minutes before cooking.
- Make the garlic oil. Mix your grated garlic into some olive oil and stir until well combined and then set aside.
- Grate your cheese. Please do not use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe! Shredded cheese is coated in cellulose to keep it from clumping and it doesn't melt as well. Grate your cheese by hand or in a food processor with a shredding attachment. Mix the mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan together.
- Stretch the dough. On a lightly floured surface, stretch your dough into an 11-12" circle and place it on a pizza peel (if using a pizza oven or stone) or directly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Top the pizza. Brush the crust all over with the garlic olive oil and sprinkle with red pepper flakes or chopped Calabrian chile. Top with shredded cheeses, leaving a bit of crust exposed. Dollop the top with ricotta. Sprinkle the crust with sesame seeds if desired, and freshly grate some pepper all over.
- Bake. Bake the pizza until the crust is browned and the cheese is hot and bubbly and browned (10-15 minutes in the oven). Remove and top with arugula and more parmesan cheese.
Rate & Review This Recipe
This was so good! I used a tortilla wrap instead and added chicken. Delicious ?