If you’ve never tried a white pizza before, you’re in for a wonderful surprise. 🧀 Skipping the traditional tomato sauce entirely, white pizza (sometimes called pizza bianca) instead relies on a rich, garlicky olive oil or creamy ricotta base, layered with multiple cheeses and finished with fresh herbs. The result is a pizza that’s indulgent, deeply savory, and absolutely irresistible for anyone who loves cheese just as much, if not more, than tomato sauce.
Below you’ll find everything you need to make an incredible white pizza at home, including step by step instructions, my favorite tips for the creamiest, most flavorful base, fun variations to try, storage advice, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this indulgent classic. Let’s get baking. 🧄✨
🧀 What Is White Pizza?
White pizza is a style of pizza that skips traditional red tomato sauce in favor of a base made from garlic infused olive oil, ricotta cheese, or a light bechamel style sauce. It’s typically topped with a generous blend of cheeses, most commonly mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan, along with fresh herbs like basil or oregano, and sometimes additional toppings like spinach, mushrooms, or roasted garlic.
This style of pizza has roots in Italian American cuisine, particularly popular in pizzerias throughout the northeastern United States, though similar tomato free pizzas can also be found throughout various regions of Italy. Without the acidity and brightness of tomato sauce, white pizza leans fully into rich, creamy, savory flavors, making it a comforting, indulgent alternative to the classic red sauce pizza. 🧄🧀
💛 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rich, creamy flavor. A wonderful alternative for anyone who loves cheese forward dishes.
- No sauce simmering required. The garlic oil base comes together in just a few minutes.
- Customizable toppings. Easily dressed up with vegetables, herbs, or extra cheese blends.
- Vegetarian friendly. A satisfying, meatless main that still feels hearty and complete.
- Great for cheese lovers. Perfect for anyone who always wishes their pizza had a little more cheese.
🧄 Ingredients You’ll Need
For the pizza dough:
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (one standard packet)
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose or bread flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the bowl
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
For the garlic oil base:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- A pinch of salt
For the cheese topping:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg (helps bind the ricotta and prevent it from becoming watery when baked)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- A drizzle of olive oil, for finishing
- Flaky sea salt and black pepper, to taste
👩🍳 How to Make White Pizza
Step 1: Activate the yeast. In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for about five to ten minutes, until foamy and bubbly on top.
Step 2: Mix the dough. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture along with the olive oil. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
Step 3: Knead the dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about eight to ten minutes, until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook on medium speed for about six minutes.
Step 4: Let it rise. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about one to one and a half hours, or until doubled in size.
Step 5: Prepare the garlic oil. While the dough rises, combine the olive oil, minced garlic, red pepper flakes if using, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Let it sit at room temperature to allow the flavors to infuse.
Step 6: Prepare the ricotta mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ricotta cheese, egg, half of the Parmesan cheese, and the dried oregano until smooth and well combined. The egg helps keep the ricotta from becoming too watery once baked.
Step 7: Preheat your oven. Preheat your oven as hot as it will go, ideally 500 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, with a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet inside to preheat as well.
Step 8: Shape the dough. Once risen, punch down the dough and divide it in half if making two smaller pizzas, or keep it whole for one large pizza. On a lightly floured surface, stretch and shape the dough into a round, leaving a slightly thicker edge for the crust.
Step 9: Assemble the pizza. Transfer the shaped dough to a piece of parchment paper or a floured pizza peel. Brush the garlic oil evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edge. Dollop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture evenly across the top, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan cheese.
Step 10: Bake the pizza. Carefully transfer the pizza, along with the parchment paper if using, onto your preheated pizza stone or baking sheet. Bake for about ten to fourteen minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned in spots.
Step 11: Finish and serve. Remove the pizza from the oven and top with fresh basil leaves, a drizzle of good olive oil, and a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt and black pepper. Slice and serve right away while hot. 🧄
🔥 Tips for the Best White Pizza
- Use the hottest oven possible. A very hot oven, along with a preheated pizza stone, helps create that classic crisp, blistered crust.
- Don’t skip the egg in the ricotta. This small addition helps prevent the ricotta from releasing too much liquid as it bakes, keeping your pizza from becoming soggy.
- Watch your garlic closely. Since there’s no tomato sauce to balance things out, garlic flavor really shines here, but be careful not to let raw minced garlic burn directly on the crust, since it can turn bitter.
- Use a mix of cheeses. Combining ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan creates layers of flavor and texture that a single cheese alone can’t achieve.
- Add fresh herbs after baking. Fresh basil is best added after the pizza comes out of the oven, since high heat can cause it to wilt and turn bitter.
🌈 Fun Variations to Try
Spinach and Garlic White Pizza 🌿 Add a layer of sautéed, well drained spinach beneath the cheese for a boost of color, flavor, and nutrition.
Mushroom White Pizza 🍄 Top with sautéed mushrooms before baking for an earthy, savory addition that pairs beautifully with the creamy cheese base.
White Pizza with Caramelized Onions 🧅 Add a layer of slowly caramelized onions beneath the cheese for a touch of natural sweetness that balances the richness of the dish.
Chicken and Bacon White Pizza 🥓 Top with cooked, diced chicken and crispy bacon pieces for a heartier, protein packed version of this indulgent pizza.
Truffle White Pizza 🍄 Finish the baked pizza with a light drizzle of truffle oil for an elegant, restaurant style upgrade.
🧊 How to Store White Pizza
While pizza is always best enjoyed fresh from the oven, leftovers store well for future meals.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover pizza slices in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in foil for up to three days.
- Freezer: Fully baked and cooled pizza can be frozen, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil, for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: For the best texture, reheat slices in a hot oven or air fryer at around 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about five to eight minutes, which helps recrisp the crust far better than a microwave.
- Dough storage: Pizza dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to three days, or frozen for up to three months, making it easy to have fresh dough on hand whenever the craving strikes.
🧄 Perfect Occasions for White Pizza
This rich, indulgent pizza fits beautifully into all kinds of meals and gatherings:
- Family pizza night at home, for a fun change from the usual red sauce version 🏠
- Casual dinner parties where a cheese forward option is sure to impress 🍷
- A satisfying vegetarian main course for mixed dietary gatherings 🥗
- Cozy comfort food on a cold evening 🍂
- Date night at home with a bottle of white wine 🥂
Its rich, creamy flavor makes it feel like a special treat, perfect for whenever you want pizza night to feel just a little more indulgent.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About White Pizza
What’s the difference between white pizza and regular pizza? The main difference is the base. Traditional pizza uses a tomato based sauce, while white pizza replaces it with garlic infused olive oil, ricotta cheese, or a light bechamel style sauce, leaning into rich, creamy, savory flavors instead.
Why does my ricotta topping turn watery when baked? This usually happens when the ricotta isn’t well drained or when the egg is left out of the mixture. Whisking in an egg helps bind the ricotta and prevents excess liquid from pooling on top of the pizza as it bakes.
Can I use a store bought pizza dough instead of making it from scratch? Absolutely. A good quality store bought dough works wonderfully if you’re short on time, and the toppings and baking method remain exactly the same.
Can I make this pizza without ricotta cheese? Yes, if you prefer, you can use just the garlic oil base topped generously with mozzarella and Parmesan for a simpler, ricotta free version of white pizza.
Why is my crust turning out soggy in the middle? This is usually caused by too much liquid from the toppings or an oven that isn’t hot enough. Make sure your ricotta mixture includes the egg for binding, and preheat your oven and pizza stone as hot as possible.
Can I add vegetables to white pizza? Definitely. Spinach, mushrooms, roasted garlic, and caramelized onions are all popular additions that pair beautifully with the rich, cheesy base of this pizza.
🧄 Final Thoughts
White pizza proves that you don’t need tomato sauce to create a truly satisfying, flavorful pizza night favorite. With a rich garlic oil base, creamy ricotta, and a generous blend of melted cheeses, this indulgent classic delivers deep, comforting flavor in every single bite. Whether you’re a devoted cheese lover or simply looking to switch things up from your usual red sauce pizza, this recipe is guaranteed to become a new favorite in your pizza night rotation. 🧀✨
Give this recipe a try for your next pizza night, and enjoy every rich, cheesy, garlicky bite. Happy baking! 🧄🎉