The Best White Pizza with Mozzarella, Garlic, and Ricotta
The best pizza bianca (white pizza) is covered with mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and savory garlic sauce and topped with big dollops of ricotta cheese and ribbons of fresh basil.
I love white pizza. It’s probably my favorite kind of pizza. When made right it can be so delicious, flavorful, and far from boring. Garlicky white sauce with gooey fresh mozzarella I’m telling you you won’t even miss the tomato sauce. This version is delicious, cheesy, golden brown, vegetarian-friendly, and those bites with the creamy ricotta cheese pockets… Mmmm. Yum!
Let’s talk crust for a minute. Store-bought dough is a great option if you’re in a rush and need dinner…NOW. For best results, I do like to make my own dough when I have the time. If you have a favorite recipe you can make your own, or you can try the homemade pizza crust I like, it’s a simple recipe and it’s our favorite pizza dough right now.
Pizza Dough Recipe
Pizza Dough
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 1 tsp active dry yeast HEAPING TSP
- 1 cup flour plus extra for sprinkling when kneading the dough
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 TBS olive oil plus extra for coating the bowl
Instructions
- Combine the water with the yeast to activate the yeast
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and the salt.
- Once the yeast is foamy add the olive oil and gently mix.
- Add the yeast mixture to the center of the flour mixture and mix slowly with a wooden spoon. Once the mixture forms a shaggy ball and becomes hard to mix, move the dough onto a well-floured counter.
- Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes to develop the gluten.
- Coat the inside of a large bowl with olive oil and place the kneaded dough inside the bowl. Turn the dough over to coat with a thin layer of olive oil.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a plate, set aside in a warm place for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
Baking the Dough
- About 30 minutes before you bake your pizza, put a pizza stone or cast iron skillet in the oven and preheat it to 450 degrees.
- Press the dough into whatever pizza shape you'd like until it is consistently about 1/2 inch thick all around.
- Add toppings and transfer the dough to the pizza stone or cast iron skillet.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes – Until they are golden brown on the bottom.
- Remove the pizza from the oven, slide the pizza onto a large cutting board, and allow it to cool for a couple of minutes. Then cut it into slices and enjoy!
A Few Tips:
- If you prefer a thinner crust, roll out your pizza dough as thin as possible. Brushing a little olive oil on the thin crust will help it to get that crunchy chew.
- For a crispy crust, preheat your pizza stone in the oven before baking the pizza.
- You can also add other toppings to your white pizza, such as sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or caramelized onions.
What ingredients do I Need to make WHITE PIZZA?
Just a few basic ingredients are needed to make this delicious pizza:
- Pizza Crust – You can use a store-bought or a homemade pizza dough
- Lots of garlic! This is where so much of the great flavor comes from.
- Olive oil
- Mozzarella and parmesan or a mixture of different cheeses for pizza
- Ricotta
- Fresh Basil (optional but delicious extra flavor and freshness!)
White Pizza FAQs
Where can I find the pre-made pizza crusts or pizza dough at the grocery store? Pre-made crusts can usually be found next to the pizza sauce or even down the bread aisle. The pizza dough is usually in the refrigerated section near the shredded cheese.
Could this pizza work with a different sauce?
Yes! I’ve made this with pesto and it was just as good. Romanesco sauce is also delicious!
Do I have to use whole milk ricotta cheese on my pizza?
My advice? Yes. Definitely yes. Ricotta with less fat just isn’t as creamy, and the dollops become dried out and aren’t as delicious. Stick with the whole milk kind for this one.
Can you make this white pizza recipe without Ricotta?
Of course! I happen to love the big blobs of creamy cheese on my pizza but you can leave them out if that’s not your thing.
If you like things a little spicy you can top the pizza with black pepper or red pepper flakes for a little kick.
For me, this is pizza perfection! Cheesy and full of flavor, it is the ultimate comfort food!
Printable RECIPE CARD
The Best White Pizza with Mozzarella, Garlic, and Ricotta
Ingredients
For the white pizza sauce
- 2 Tbs butter
- 2 Tbs Olive oil
- 3 Cloves garlic minced or grated
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
For the Pizza
- 1 lb pizza dough homemade or store bought
- 1 cup shredded mozzerella cheese
- 1/2 cups parmesean cheese grated or shredded
- 1/2 cup whole milk riccotta cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to the temperature indicated on your pizza dough package or your preferred baking temperature. I typically bake mine around 425°F.
- Melt the butter in a small bowl and add the rest of the white pizza sauce ingredients. Stir.
- Roll out your pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to your desired thickness. Transfer the dough to a pre-heated baking sheet or pizza stone.
- Spread the garlic white pizza sauce sauce evenly over the pizza dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, covering the entire pizza.
- Drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese onto the pizza, spacing them evenly.
- Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake according to the instructions on your pizza dough package or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Once the pizza is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.If you like you can garnish with fresh basil leaves for a burst of freshness and aroma.Slice the white pizza into wedges or squares and serve hot.
This pizza looks amazing! We love making sourdough pizza and I’ll definitely try out this recipe next time! Thanks for sharing!
My mouth is watering. Definitely going to try this!