A freshly baked homemade pizza with melted mozzarella cheese, golden crust, fresh basil leaves, and glossy garlic oil.

Easy Cheesy Basil Garlic Pizza Recipe (15-Minute Crispy Crust)

ByMaria Canilssom
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A freshly baked homemade pizza with melted mozzarella cheese, golden crust, fresh basil leaves, and glossy garlic oil.
Our 22-minute Cheesy Basil and Garlic Pizza recipe—crispy crust, simple toppings, maximum flavor!
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Cheesy Basil and Garlic Pizza: Simple Gourmet at Home

Forget the takeout menu—this Cheesy Basil and Garlic Pizza proves you can create a restaurant-quality pie in your own kitchen with just a handful of ingredients. This recipe celebrates the perfect Italian trio: gooey melted cheese, fragrant fresh basil, and aromatic roasted garlic. It’s the ultimate easy dinner or quick lunch that feels special, delivering a crispy, golden crust and bubbly cheese in under 30 minutes.

Why This Minimalist Pizza Is a Maximum Flavor Win

In a world of overloaded pizzas, this recipe shines through simplicity. By focusing on just a few high-quality components, each one gets to be the star. The garlic-infused oil creates a flavorful base that soaks into the dough, while the fresh basil adds a bright, herbal note that cuts through the richness. It’s a foolproof recipe that teaches the foundational techniques for a perfect homemade pizza: preheating your surface, stretching dough with care, and knowing when it’s perfectly baked.

Endless Ways to Customize Your Pie

While perfect as is, this pizza is a fantastic canvas for your own creations.

  • Cheese Variations: Mix mozzarella with provolone, fontina, or a sprinkle of feta.
  • Add a Kick: Drizzle with chili oil or sprinkle red pepper flakes before or after baking.
  • Extra Indulgence: Add dollops of fresh ricotta or burrata after baking.
  • Make it a Meal: Serve alongside a simple arugula salad dressed with lemon.

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 12 mins | Total Time: 22 mins | Servings: 2-3 (6 slices)

Ingredients

  • 1 ball (about 12 oz) pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
  • 1 ¼ cups (about 5 oz) shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese
  • 6-8 large fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • Cornmeal or flour, for dusting

Instructions

Part 1: Preheat & Prepare

  1. Heat Your Oven & Surface: Place a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet on the middle rack. Preheat your oven to its highest temperature (475°F – 500°F / 245°C – 260°C) for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Make Garlic Oil: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil and minced garlic. Set aside to infuse while you prepare the dough.
  3. Shape the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, gently stretch and press the room-temperature dough into a 10-12 inch circle. Let it rest if it springs back.

Part 2: Assemble & Bake

  1. Build the Pizza: Dust a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet with cornmeal. Transfer the shaped dough. Brush the entire surface, especially the edges, with the garlic oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt.
  2. Add Toppings: Evenly scatter the shredded mozzarella over the dough. Tear the basil leaves and distribute them, then add black pepper and optional Parmesan.
  3. Bake to Perfection: Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated stone or sheet. Bake for 9-12 minutes until the crust is puffed and golden, and the cheese is bubbly with browned spots.

Part 3: Finish & Serve

  1. Rest and Slice: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool on a rack for 2-3 minutes. This allows the cheese to set for cleaner slices.
  2. Garnish and Enjoy: Use a pizza cutter to slice. Tear over a few extra fresh basil leaves, slice, and serve immediately.
A freshly baked homemade pizza with melted mozzarella cheese, golden crust, fresh basil leaves, and glossy garlic oil.
Maria Canilssom

Cheesy Basil and Garlic Pizza

This easy Cheesy Basil and Garlic Pizza is ready in 22 minutes! Featuring a crispy crust, gooey cheese, fresh basil, and garlic oil for a simple, gourmet dinner. For more quick and satisfying dinners, try our Pesto Chicken Sandwich or our One-Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta. This pizza focuses on minimal, fresh ingredients, much like the Cheesy Basil and Garlic Pizza from LadySavor.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 3 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, Italian-Inspired
Calories: 240
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ball (12 oz) pizza dough
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1.25 cups (5 oz) shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese
  • 6 large leaves fresh basil, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • 1 to taste freshly cracked black pepper

Equipment

  • Pizza Stone or Baking Sheet Preheated for a crispy crust.
  • Pizza Peel (optional) Makes transferring the pizza easier.

Method
 

  1. Place a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet on the middle rack of your oven. Preheat the oven to its highest setting (475°F – 500°F / 245°C – 260°C) for at least 30 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil and minced garlic. Set aside.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, gently stretch and press the room-temperature pizza dough into a 10-12 inch circle. If the dough resists, let it rest for 5 minutes and try again.
  3. Dust a pizza peel or the back of another baking sheet with cornmeal. Transfer the shaped dough to the peel. Using a pastry brush, coat the entire surface of the dough with the garlic oil, including the outer crust. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt.
  4. Evenly distribute the shredded mozzarella cheese over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust. Tear the fresh basil leaves and scatter them over the cheese. Finish with cracked black pepper and the optional grated Parmesan.
  5. Carefully slide the pizza from the peel onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet. Bake for 9-12 minutes, rotating halfway, until the crust is deeply golden and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and browned in spots.
  6. Remove the pizza from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Let it cool for 2-3 minutes. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves, slice with a pizza cutter, and serve hot.

Notes

Pro Tips: For the crispiest crust, preheat your oven and baking surface (stone or sheet) for a full 30 minutes. Let your dough come to room temperature for easier stretching. If you don’t have a pizza peel, assemble the pizza on parchment paper on an inverted baking sheet, then slide the paper onto the hot stone. To prevent a soggy center, avoid overloading with cheese. Let the pizza rest for a few minutes after baking for neater slices and more developed flavor.

For more quick and satisfying dinners, try our Pesto Chicken Sandwich or our One-Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta. If you love baking with dough, our Easy Cinnamon Roll Wreath is a sweet treat. This pizza focuses on the beauty of minimal, fresh ingredients, much like the approachable Cheesy Basil and Garlic Pizza from LadySavor, which highlights how a few quality components can create a standout meal.