Homemade Caprese Pizza Recipe

Caprese pizza is the perfect marriage of two Italian classics: pizza and Caprese salad. The fresh ingredients, sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil leaves, and olive oil, combine to create a delicious and healthy meal. The perfect summer pizza!

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Why you’ll love this easy balsamic glaze pizza recipe

• Caprese pizza is an easy classic dish that is simple, yet so delicious.

• The combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and balsamic vinegar is unbeatable.

• If you’re an outdoor cook looking for an alternative to the grill, then this Caprese recipe is for you!

• Perfect for a summer night dinner, pizza night, cookout, or weeknight dinner.

• All the ingredients are 100% vegetarian.

What ingredients do I need?

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

This really is the best Caprese pizza recipe, we love firing up the pizza oven for a summer party!

How to cook a Caprese pizza with step by step instructions

Making our homemade Caprese pizza recipe is easy if you follow our simple instructions.

A full printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.

If you are using a pizza oven

Preheat your pizza oven for 15 minutes and then bring it down to 650°F/340°C.

Lightly dust your pizza paddle with flour, then place your pizza crust on the flour.

Brush the pizza crust with olive oil, leaving a half inch border.

Then add mozzarella slices, tomato slices, fresh basil leaves, and optional kosher salt, and pepper.

Place your pizza in the pizza oven and cook for approximately 2 – 3 minutes, turning every 20 seconds to ensure an even cook.

Cook until the crust is charred, and the cheese is melted.

Remove your pizza from the oven, drizzle it with balsamic glaze or balsamic reduction, sprinkle it with additional fresh basil leaves, and serve immediately.

Enjoy your pizza Caprese!

If you are cooking in a kitchen oven

Preheat oven to 500°F/260°C.

Lightly dust your baking sheet, pizza pan, or pizza stone with flour.

Brush the pizza crust with olive oil, leaving a half inch border.

Then add mozzarella slices, sliced tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, optional kosher salt, and pepper.

Place your pizza in the oven and cook for approximately 8 – 10 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure an even cook.

Cooked until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Remove your pizza from the oven, drizzle with balsamic glaze or balsamic reduction, sprinkle a few additional fresh basil leaves, and serve immediately.

Enjoy your homemade Caprese pizza!

Recipe notes and expert tips

• None of your favorite pizza dough?
  Try making it with naan bread, and bagels, or make a cauliflower crust.

• Homemade pizza dough
  Try our easy pizza dough recipe – it’s SO good!

• Flour
  Try making it with naan bread, and bagels, or make a cauliflower crust.

• Watch closely
  Different pizza ovens, pizza stones, or pans all cook in different ways. Watch your pizza as you may have to increase or reduce the cooking time.

What do you serve with pizza?

Pizza is delicious when served with a fresh green Italian salad with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Want a themed appetizer for your pizza?

Try a Caprese skewer, Caprese bites, or light Caprese pasta salad!

If you’re hungry and want to spice your dinner up, then try peri peri fries or masala fries.

Dipping sauces are always great to dunk a slice of pizza in, we love garlic dip, ranch dressing, pesto aioli, or sour cream and chives dip.

Caprese or Caprice?

It’s Caprese, named after the Italian island on the Amalfi coast.

It’s often mistaken for Caprice or even Capri, so you can be mistaken for thinking it was either of these two.

What is a Caprese pizza?

An easy Caprese pizza is a pizza that is made with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar, similar to a Caprese salad.

The ingredients are layered perfectly on top of the pizza crust in order.

The name “Caprese” comes from the little Italian island of Capri, on the Amalfi coast, where this delicious type of pizza was first created.

Which is best, a kitchen oven or a pizza oven?

If you want the crunch of an authentic tasting pizza, then it has to be a pizza oven all the way!

Cooked in just 3 minutes, you’ll get that delicious crispy charred pizza dough crust that a kitchen oven struggles to get.

If a pizza oven is not feasible for you right now, you can use a pizza stone.

A pizza stone retains its heat and will then heat the crust, so while you don’t get the exact same finish or speed, a pizza stone is a great middle ground for you.

What kind of crust to use?

The choice is yours.

You can make your own fresh pizza dough if you have the time.

Pizza dough is made from flour, salt, yeast, sugar, and extra virgin olive oil.

Try our ooni pizza dough recipe!.

Homemade pizza dough makes a delicious pizza, but you don’t always have time – right?

You can also buy store bought pizza dough, all you’ll need to do is to roll the dough out.

But if you don’t have time for either of those options, then there’s nothing wrong with buying a good quality pizza crust.

Do what’s right for YOU!

What are the best tomatoes to use?

Fresh tomatoes that are in season are the best.

Try to avoid any overly watery tomatoes as you don’t want to make your pizza crust soggy.

Roma tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and sweet tomatoes are perfect.

How do I store leftover pizza?

Your pizza will store for up to 3 days when kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

It will also freeze for up to 3 months.

More easy recipes for you to try

If you love our pizza recipes, then check out these easy recipes

• Margherita pizza – it’s foolproof!

• Cheese pizza – the ultimate guide to the best ever!

• Olive pizza – if you love olives then you are in for a real treat!

• Marinara pizza – so simple but SO full of flavor!

• Vegan pizza – a pizza everyone can enjoy, you won’t miss the meat!

We hope you enjoy making and eating our Caprese pizza recipe and would love to hear how you got on with making it.

Please leave a comment below or feel free to ask any questions you may have.

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