This is a variation of our pizza base recipe. Have you noticed that most large tomatoes from the grocery store seem to lack flavor? If you don’t have access to a farmer’s market or don’t have a green thumb to grow your own tomatoes, consider buying more flavorful cherry or grape tomatoes! Then, try out this cherry tomato pizza margherita recipe!
Three Must-Know Cooking Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for the Best Cherry Tomato Pizza Margherita
Try making homemade pizza dough! If you don’t have time to make your own, see if you can buy raw dough from your favorite pizza shop or a local grocery store. Look for a true dough ball –not the kind in a tube.
Stretch your pizza dough on a piece of parchment paper for easy transfer to the oven and quick clean-up. You can also use cornmeal underneath the dough to help it not stick to the pan or stone. Use a generous amount of cornmeal if using this method.
You have two options for the basil – either add it before cooking the pizza or after. Adding it after leaves a prettier green color, but both ways taste delicious.
A pizza stone is truly the best way to make a crispy crust pizza. If you are a pizza lover and enjoy making your own, it is definitely worth the investment.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Pizza Dough: substitute a cauliflower crust, gluten-free crust, pre-made crust, etc. Prepare according to manufacturer’s instructions. You can also make a tomato pizza flatbread by substituting naan, pita, or a pre-made flatbread.
- Marinara Sauce: use a classic marinara sauce or substitute crushed tomatoes seasoned with salt, pepper, and fresh or dried basil. Pesto would also be a good substitution.
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese: substitute shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese.
- Cherry Tomatoes: substitute any variety of sliced or diced large tomatoes.
- Basil Leaves: substitute dried basil, but note that it will not taste as flavorful. You could also add some fresh arugula after the pizza is cooked.
Cherry Tomato Pizza Variations
Roast the cherry tomatoes beforehand or sauté in a pan with extra virgin olive oil and garlic for a more complex flavor.
Add more vegetables for more color, nutrition, and flavor!
Want some more pizza recipe inspiration?
Use our homemade pizza base recipe as a guide, or try out these tasty variations!
Equipment Recommendations
Use these kitchen tools for recipe success!
Find all of our favorite kitchen tools here!
Is Pizza Healthy?
Pizza gets a bad rap for being unhealthy, but homemade pizza is nothing like the kind that is delivered. By building your own, you control the ingredients and can create a pizza that is much lower in saturated fat and sodium than popular fast food pizza chains. This pizza features tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a phytonutrient that helps protect against heart disease and prostate cancer. Canned and/or cooked tomatoes are higher in lycopene than their fresh counterparts.
Mozzarella Cheese
Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein which are important for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. While research is currently challenging the belief that full-fat dairy products are harmful, cheese is high in saturated fat, so we suggest trying to limit how much you eat until we know more. Try to stick to the suggested amount in the recipe.
Basil
Green herbs, like basil, not only add a pop of freshness and flavor to a dish, but they add nutrition too! Herbs are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that promote health and help fight diseases.
A Note on Pizza Dough
We make our own homemade Italian pizza dough with 00 wheat flour. Not sure what to think about gluten? Learn all about it in this article!
Learn more about health benefits of different foods in our book, To Your Taste!
Serving Suggestions
Start your meal with a large side salad, and then serve a side of roasted vegetables with the pizza for a beautiful Whole Life Plate.
How to Store Homemade Pizza
If you have leftovers, cool completely, then store in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Leftover pizza can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
To reheat, place your pizza on a pan and place in an oven while it is preheating to 350° F. Once it hits 350° F, your pizza should be warmed and ready!
Looking for a marinara sauce or pizza dough recipe?
Look no further! Try out our tried and true recipes!
Cherry Tomato Pizza Margherita
Ingredients
- 1 pizza dough round (8-10 ounces)
- ¼ cup marinara sauce
- 4-ounces fresh mozzarella cheese ball, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 5-6 large basil leaves, chiffonade
Instructions
Pizza Stone Instructions
- Place pizza stone on bottom rack of oven. Preheat oven to 500° F. Heat one hour before cooking for the crispiest crust.
- Stretch pizza dough into a 12” circle on a piece of parchment paper. Spread marinara sauce onto the crust leaving a 1” border around the rim. Cover with mozzarella cheese slices. Sprinkle cherry tomato halves on top. Garnish with basil leaves.
- Using a pizza peel, slide pizza with parchment paper onto stone. If you don’t have a pizza peel, a baking sheet without a rim or an upside down baking sheet will work. Cook for 6-7 minutes until cheese is bubbly and crust begins to turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before slicing. Enjoy!
If you don't have a pizza stone:
- Preheat oven to 500ºF.
- Stretch pizza dough into a 12” circle on a piece of parchment paper*. Spread ¼ cup marinara sauce onto the crust leaving a 1” border around the rim. Cover with mozzarella cheese slices. Sprinkle cherry tomato halves on top. Garnish with basil leaves.
- Place pizza and parchment paper onto your pan. Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and crust begins to turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool slightly before slicing. Enjoy!
