Hungry for the best homemade pesto pizza? This easy veggie pizza calls for just five ingredients and no special equipment. It’s perfect for your next pizza night!
Whether you make your own Basil Sauce or buy store-bought pesto, this is one of the easiest pizza recipes. Try our homemade pizza dough recipe for a delicious crust — and don’t forget to check out our suggestions for what to serve with pizza!
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Making homemade pizza is a perfect way to enjoy a favorite food on a budget. And this pesto pizza recipe is one of the easiest! All you need are five ingredients: raw pizza dough, a jar of pesto, feta cheese, ripe tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.
My first time making this pizza years ago came when a friend tipped me off to the fact that I could buy all the ingredients from Trader Joe. While that might not be the cheapest source of pizza toppings, this recipe continues to be a favorite way to enjoy homemade pizza. It’s seriously the best pizza when you’re pressed for time.
Why Make This
It’s delicious. The crispy crust soaks up a little olive oil from the thick pesto and the cheeses play off the acidity of the fresh tomatoes, making for the ultimate homemade pizza. Your Friday nights just got a lot better!
It’s easy. This is seriously an easy pizza with just five ingredients, many of which you can buy pre-made. It packs a gourmet punch without being fussy to make.
It’s cheaper than other options. Making homemade pizza costs so much less than the pizza place or even the grocery store. Save money and eat well when you DIY!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy pesto pizza:
pizza crust – I typically make my own homemade pizza dough, but you can use a store-bought dough or even a prebaked pizza base. I have a whole wheat pizza dough recipe that you’re going to love.
pesto – Pesto is a great topping for your favorite pizza dough. You can use a homemade pesto sauce, but I find that the fresh basil pesto from Costco gives me the biggest bang for my buck. Don’t let it go to waste, though. Remember you can freeze pesto and we’ve got lots of pesto recipes to help you use it up.
cheese – I like to use mozzarella cheese, but you can also use Monterey Jack or even fresh mozzarella. For best results, shred your own cheese as I’m finding that more and more shredded cheese from the store contains additives that prevent it from melting.
feta cheese – Feta adds a little salt that offsets the different flavors on this pizza. You can use other creamy cheeses, like goat cheese or ricotta if you prefer or if that’s what you have on hand. Love feta on your pizza? Be sure to try our Easy Greek Pizza Recipe!
fresh tomato – I have used tomato slices, halved cherry tomatoes, and diced Roma tomatoes for this pesto pizza. I find that diced tomatoes give it the best texture. In a pinch, I’ll use sundried tomatoes that have been preserved in olive oil.
Variations
There are loads of ways to vary this pesto pizza. You can add fresh spinach, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, leftover rotisserie chicken, red pepper flakes, chopped red onion, sliced black olives, or roasted and chopped garlic clove. You can even top it with fresh basil leaves and freshly ground black pepper for a gourmet twist. We have a great Chicken Pesto Pizza recipe that features fresh avocado. Be sure to try that!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making a homemade pesto pizza doesn’t take a lot of time, and the results are delicious! No need for a pizza stone.
Here’s how to make this:
- Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Spray a 12-inch pizza pan or screen with nonstick cooking spray. Alternatively, you can use a standard baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Fit the pizza dough into the pan, stretching it into a 12-inch circle.
- Spread the fresh pesto sauce across the dough to cover. Sprinkle the cheeses over the top. Distribute the chopped tomato across the pizza.
- Bake the pizza for 8 to 9 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is crisp and golden brown. Remove to a cutting surface to slice. Serve immediately.
Enjoy homemade pesto pizza within 4 days of baking. You can freeze pizza for longer storage, or consider making a pizza freezer meal kit with these ingredients so that next time you make pizza, it’s even easier.
FAQs
Pesto is a great substitute for tomato sauce on a pizza. Top your own pizza dough or a store-bought pizza dough with pesto and then top with cheeses and chopped vegetables. Cooked chicken breasts are also a good touch as well as olives and tomatoes for a homemade chicken pesto pizza.
Pesto pizza sauce is just your standard pesto. You can use it straight from a jar or make your favorite pesto recipe.
More Ways to Use Pesto
Tell us what you think!
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Easy Pesto Pizza Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes & Feta
Ingredients
- 1 12-inch pizza dough
- ½ cup pesto
- 1 roma tomato, seeded and diced
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
- 2 oz feta cheese crumbles (½ cup)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Spray a 12-inch pizza pan or screen with nonstick cooking spray. Fit the pizza dough into the pan, stretching to fit.1 12-inch pizza dough
- Spread the pesto sauce across the dough to cover. Sprinkle the cheeses over the top. Distribute the tomato chunks across the pizza.½ cup pesto, 1 roma tomato,, 8 oz mozzarella cheese,, 2 oz feta cheese crumbles
- Bake the pizza for 8 to 9 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is crisp. Remove to a cutting surface to slice. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on June 9, 2010. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Amy
I can’t wait to try the pesto sauce. That does sound amazing. I usually do garlic olive oil with tomato, basil and chevrie or fresh mozzarella. But I do love feta and I have some.
Thanks for the great idea.
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage
I love that pizza, too, and can get my family to eat it if I add chicken to it- yum!
Jessica Moore
Thanks for hosting this all summer.
Gina
Looks like a great list of recipes! Thanks!
Gina
Alison @ Hospitality Haven
That pizza looks INCREDIBLE!!!
Melissa
Here’s my newly favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe:
http://allrecipes.com/PersonalRecipe/62377850/All-Whole-Wheat-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/Detail.aspx
I came up with it after trying and modifying other peoples “healthier” while wheat cookies. I wanted something that had all great ingredients (freshly ground wheat, coconut oil, organic eggs, butter and sugars) but still tasted great–not too dense or gritty. I wanted them to taste like the treat that cookies are! I think this recipe is a winner!
Melissa
@Melissa,
oops–that should read “whole wheat” NOT “while wheat”!
Camille
That pizza looks amazing!! I just came across your blog and decided to join in the fun. Thanks for hosting!