Neapolitan Pizza
Slice into heaven when you serve this Neapolitan Pizza! You only need pizza dough, plum tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil leaves and some rich extra virgin olive oil to make this masterpiece. Forget about take-out and delivery, because this easy homemade pizza is better than anything else out there!
Neapolitan Pizza
A pizza recipe that only calls for 5 simple ingredients, AND it takes under 30 minutes to make from start to finish? Sign me up! Neapolitan pizza is simply the best, the keyword there being simply.
When it comes to my pizza, I prefer them a little dressed down as opposed to having tons of crazy toppings. This classic pizza is rich with mozzarella, tomato, and basil flavors that don’t need to compete with anything else.
You’re going to be so surprised at the amount of flavor there is in such a basic pizza recipe! And that’s because of one simple rule… Make sure both the basil and mozzarella are nice and fresh. The fresh flavors of those two ingredients are super impactful and stand out nicely, while not fully taking over the delicious flavors of the tomatoes, homemade crust, and olive oil.
Speaking of olive oil, make sure it’s extra virgin and high quality! That’s another great way to ensure the absolute best flavor of this pizza.
You can serve this as the main event at a pizza party, or just surprise your family with this homemade classic pie. I think pizza nights with the family are a must-do in my house, and this recipe has been a lifesaver for those pizza and movie nights!
Instead of spending money on delivery, I can save money by making this 5-ingredient recipe. Also, if I do say so myself, this recipe yields a much tastier pizza than anything from a delivery joint or the frozen aisle at the grocery store.
How to Make Neapolitan Pizza
- Heat. Heat a pizza stone, if using, in a 500˚F degree oven. If using a baking sheet, preheat oven to 500˚F without the baking sheet.
- Prep the dough. Roll or stretch the pizza dough into a 10-12 inch circle. Don’t worry if the circle isn’t perfect. Lightly sprinkle a pizza peel with flour or cornmeal. Place the rolled dough on the peel and shake to be sure the dough doesn’t stick.
- Make it saucy. Make the sauce by adding the plum tomatoes to a food processor and pulsing until almost pureed. The sauce should still be chunky. Alternatively, you can use our Homemade Pizza Sauce for this recipe.
- Spread. Spread about 1/4 cup of sauce over the dough leaving about 1/2 inch edge around the dough.
- Add the cheese and oil. Top with 1/4 of the mozzarella cheese. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Bake. Transfer the pizza to the hot pizza stone or to a baking sheet by gently shaking back and forth until the pizza slides off into the center of the stone. Bake for 6-7 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is slightly charred.
- Repeat! Repeat with the remaining dough.
You can enjoy as is or sprinkle with a little pizza seasoning for a pop of flavor.
Do I have to use plum tomatoes?
I find that plum tomatoes are the best for this sauce for a few reasons. Firstly, they have less seeds and juices than most other tomatoes.
Secondly, they have more of what I guess you could refer to as “meat.” When they’re blended with the other ingredients, the result is thick and delicious!
Other tomatoes might have too many seeds and juices to get that consistency perfect. However, in a pinch, you could certainly use roma tomatoes instead.
How long will neapolitan pizza stay fresh?
In an airtight container in the refrigerator, this homemade pizza will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Do NOT reheat your slices in the microwave though! Your leftovers will become soggy and lose shape.
Instead, pop the cold slices back in the oven for just a few minutes until warmed through. Unless, of course, you’re one of those people who enjoys cold pizza… Then you can just enjoy it as is!
As much as I love a simple pizza, I’ll admit… The more unique ones are fun, too! Here are just a few more of my favorite homemade pizza recipes.
- Grilled Margherita Pizza
- Easy English Muffin Pizza
- Easy Chicken Enchilada Pizza
- Sausage and Giardiniera Pizza
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Get the Recipe: Neapolitan Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ball Homemade Pizza Dough
- 1 14 ounce can whole peeled Plum Tomatoes
- 12 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn into small pieces
- 6-8 whole fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Equipment
- pizza stone
- baking sheet
Instructions
- Heat a pizza stone, if using, in a 500˚F degree oven. If using a baking sheet, preheat oven to 500˚F without the baking sheet.
- Roll or stretch the pizza dough into a 10-12 inch circle. Don’t worry if the circle isn’t perfect.
- Lightly sprinkle a pizza peel with flour or cornmeal. Place the rolled dough on the peel and shake to be sure the dough doesn’t stick.
- Make the sauce by adding the plum tomatoes to a food processor and pulsing until almost pureed. The sauce should still be chunky. (Alternatively, you can use our Homemade Pizza Sauce for this recipe.)
- Spread about 1/4 cup of sauce over the dough leaving about 1/2 inch edge around the dough.
- Top with 1/4 of the mozzarella cheese. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Transfer the pizza to the hot pizza stone or to a baking sheet by gently shaking back and forth until the pizza slides off into the center of the stone.
- Bake for 6-7 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is slightly charred.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Top with the basil leaves and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
- Serve immediately.
2 Comments on “Neapolitan Pizza”
How do you make the pizza dough
You can use your favorite pizza dough recipe or this is the one I love: https://thesuburbansoapbox.com/no-fail-pizza-dough/