Using a ready-made flatbread for pizza night is genius, especially when you top your flatbread pizza margherita style, simply with tomatoes, seasonings, and fresh mozzarella cheese. This Easy Margherita Flatbread Pizza recipe brings dinner to the table in just 15 minutes!
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It’s not a good week without pizza night. With food costs so high these days, it’s nice to know you can make a homemade pizza without a lot of fuss or cash.
We’ve discovered so many delicious ways to make pizza — grilled pizza, bagel pizzas, sourdough pizza. No matter how you slice it, you can make homemade pizza to suit any flavor preference, any topping, any base.
And, making it at home allows you some extra cash to pocket — or splash out on a fun beverage to go with your pizza.
This Margherita Flatbread Pizza is a combination of a favorite, classic topping with a super simple pizza base that makes for quick pizza nights. Be sure to add it to your pizza-making repertoire.
Why Make This 15 Minute Margherita Flatbread Pizza
It’s easy. This is a pretty simple flatbread recipe: crust, olive oil, spice mix, tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil. Just six ingredients that are easy to keep on hand.
It’s super delicious. The combination of rich olive oil and salty spice mix are a great foil for the creamy cheese, tart tomatoes, and aromatic basil.
It’s quick to make. You can assemble and bake this Margherita Flatbread Pizza in less than fifteen minutes! I’m thinking that’s a world record for quick and easy.
Ingredients
As I mentioned, you just need six ingredients for this margherita flatbread recipe:
flatbread – While homemade pizza dough is delicious and affordable, sometimes you need something quick and easy. Keeping ready-made flatbreads in the freezer is a super convenient way to make your pizza night happen in a snap. They might be a little more expensive, but the convenience pays off. You can get a package labeled flatbread, but naan bread, pitas, or tortillas will all work.
olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil is traditional. Buying it in bulk at Costco helps keep the costs down.
spices – The classic Margherita Pizza features a generous sprinkling of salt and sometimes garlic. I’ve combined the two into Jamie’s Spice Mix. You can use kosher salt and garlic powder or another spice blend if you prefer. You can also add minced fresh garlic to the olive oil for some extra zing.
fresh mozzarella – Fresh mozzarella cheese is a lot different than your standard shredding kind. A bit less salty and it melts differently. It’s also a little more expensive. Use standard mozz if you prefer a gooey mozzarella cheese on your pizza.
fresh tomatoes – There’s no getting around it, fresh tomatoes are a must-have on a Margherita pizza. Use romas and slice them thinly for best results. You can use other varieties like grape or cherry tomatoes if that’s what you have.
fresh basil – Fresh basil is a signature ingredient for this classic Neapolitan pizza. Grow your own for the most affordable pricing. If you’ve got lots of basil, be sure to make this Easy 3-Ingredient Basil Sauce and freeze it for later. It would be tasty drizzled on the pizza in lieu of fresh basil leaves.
optional toppings – Some folks like to add extra toppings to their flatbread pizza margherita. Consider a sprinkling of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Flatbread Pizza Margherita is super simple to make!
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Brush olive oil over the flatbread. Season to taste with the spice mix.
- Distribute slices of the mozzarella around the surface of the flatbreads, then lay tomato slices across the pizza. Fill in any large spaces with chunks of mozzarella.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the crust is crisp and the cheese melted and lightly browned.
- Sprinkle with basil leaves, slice, and serve.
Tips for Success
Serving Suggestions: For a simple but delicious homemade happy hour, you can dish up wedges of the flatbread with Baked Zucchini Fritters and Stuffed Mini Peppers. Serve this classic pie alongside a Quick and Easy Caesar Salad or Italian Salad for a complete meal.
Shop Your Kitchen: There are so many different subs you can consider based on what you have.
- Use bagels, tortillas, French bread, pita, or naan as the base for your pizzas. Or take a few extra minutes to mix up a homemade pizza dough.
- Raid the fridge for bits of cheese, meat, or veg that you can use for toppings.
- Conventional mozzarella or Monterey Jack are great subs for fresh mozzarella if you don’t have it or it’s too expensive.
How to Make a Meal Prep: Divide the flatbreads into four portions for easy lunches this week. Package in single-serve containers with airtight lids. Reheat before serving.
Freeze Extra for Later: You can freeze pizza cooked or uncooked, or as a kit.
If freezing uncooked, lay evenly on a tray in the freezer until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Store for up to 6 weeks. Bake from frozen.
If freezing cooked pizza, cool and wrap for freezing. Chill until cold before transferring to freezer. Store for up to 6 weeks. Reheat in microwave, oven, or air fryer.
If making a pizza kit, place the packages of flatbread, cheese, and a small packet of spice mix in a larger freezer-safe bag in the freezer. Thaw overnight before making the pizza. Add the oil and fresh tomatoes when you assemble the pizza.
Make a Plan for Leftovers: Leftover pizzas are delicious the next day. Be sure to promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven. If you store your leftovers in clear containers, they’re more likely to get eaten.
FAQs
The history of the Margherita Pizza is that some chef invented it to honor a visiting Queen Margherita. The red, green, and white of the toppings were designed to represent the Italian flag.
A Margherita pizza is a Neapolitan pizza made with olive oil and salt spread on the crust and topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil.
A cheese pizza typically has tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese while a Margherita does not have a sauce other than olive oil. The tomatoes are thinly sliced and fresh mozzarella is typically used, which isn’t as melty as other mozzarella.
More Great Pizzas
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Margherita Flatbread Pizza
Equipment
- pastry brush
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- heavy duty sheet pan
- pizza cutter
Ingredients
- 2 ready-made flatbread or unbaked pizza dough
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Jamie’s Spice Mix
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella slices
- 2 roma tomato sliced thinly
- 2 sprigs fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 °. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the flatbreads on the baking sheet.2 ready-made flatbread
- Brush olive oil over the flatbread. Season to taste with the spice mix.2 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon Jamie’s Spice Mix
- Distribute slices of the mozzarella around the surface of the flatbreads, then lay tomato slices across the pizza. Fill in any large spaces with chunks of mozzarella.8 oz fresh mozzarella slices, 2 roma tomato
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the crust is crisp and the cheese melted and lightly browned.
- Sprinkle with basil leaves, slice, and serve.2 sprigs fresh basil
Notes
- Use bagels, tortillas, French bread, pita, or naan as the base for your pizzas. Or take a few extra minutes to mix up a homemade pizza dough.
- Raid the fridge for bits of cheese, meat, or veg that you can use for toppings.
- Conventional mozzarella or Monterey Jack are great subs for fresh mozzarella if you don’t have it or it’s too expensive.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on August 29, 2013. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Sally
Hi! Will using regular mozzarella cheese work? I’m not familiar with fresh mozzarella.
Jessica Fisher
Yes, that will be fine. It melts differently but is still delicious!
Alison
Love this! Friday is our homemade pizza night too. We have 7 kids, and find that 4 large pizzas covers us. I can’t wait to try your pizza Margherita! Thanks!!
Kathy
Delicious! My husband loves Margherita pizza! I’ll have to try this!