Easy Pesto Pizza with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes: A Flavorful Homemade Delight

Discover the secret to crafting a truly spectacular homemade pizza with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Forget complicated recipes and endless toppings; this Pesto Pizza with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes proves that simplicity can lead to extraordinary results. If you crave a pizza that boasts big, bold flavors and a delightfully crisp crust, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll guide you through making an incredibly satisfying pizza that will become a go-to in your recipe repertoire. For the ultimate foundation, consider our highly recommended easy homemade pizza dough recipe, designed to give you that perfect chewy-crisp base every time.

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Pesto Pizza Recipe

This isn’t just another pizza recipe; it’s a celebration of fresh ingredients and straightforward cooking. Here are the compelling reasons why this pesto and cherry tomato pizza will quickly become a cherished favorite:

• Unrivaled Crust Customization – Your Pizza, Your Way: The foundation of any great pizza is its crust, and with this recipe, you have the freedom to choose what best suits your taste and schedule. For an authentic, chewy yet crisp experience, our dedicated homemade pizza dough recipe is a game-changer. It’s surprisingly simple to make and yields professional-level results. Alternatively, if you’re exploring low-carb options, a cauliflower keto pizza crust makes an excellent, healthy substitute. In a rush, even a store-bought flatbread or naan bread can serve as a quick and tasty base, allowing you to enjoy gourmet pizza without the wait.
• Elegance in Simplicity – Just Three Core Toppings: Who says you need a multitude of ingredients for an unforgettable pizza? This recipe champions the philosophy that less is truly more. By focusing on just three key toppings – vibrant pesto, sweet cherry tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella – we allow each flavor to shine. This minimalist approach not only simplifies the preparation but also ensures a balanced and harmonious taste profile that complex pizzas often miss.
• Explosion of Flavor – A Culinary Symphony: Prepare your taste buds for an extraordinary journey. The star of the show, aromatic pesto sauce, provides an incredible depth of herbaceous, garlicky, and nutty notes that elevate this pizza far beyond a traditional red sauce base. When perfectly paired with the natural sweetness and juicy burst of roasted cherry tomatoes, the combination is simply out of this world. Each bite offers a delightful contrast of textures and a rich, satisfying taste that will leave you craving more. Trust us, you have to experience this flavor pairing!

Essential Ingredient Notes for the Perfect Pesto Pizza

Crafting an exceptional pizza starts with understanding your ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and how to select the best components for this irresistible pesto pizza:

• Pizza Crust – The Foundation of Flavor: As highlighted, your crust choice is paramount. While convenience sometimes calls for store-bought pizza dough or even a flatbread base, we wholeheartedly recommend our homemade pizza dough for its superior texture and flavor. If buying, opt for fresh dough from a local pizzeria or the refrigerated section of your grocery store for the best results. A quality crust will absorb the pesto beautifully and crisp up perfectly in the hot oven.
• Cherry Tomatoes – Bursts of Sweetness: Cherry tomatoes are a true gem, offering a delightful pop of sweetness and juiciness with every bite. Their small size makes them ideal for pizza, as they roast quickly, intensifying their flavor and preventing the pizza from becoming watery. They are readily available year-round, ensuring this pizza can be enjoyed in any season. Feel free to use a mix of red, yellow, or even black cherry tomatoes for added visual appeal and subtle flavor variations.
• Mozzarella Cheese – The Melty Perfection: For that iconic, gooey, stretchy cheese pull that everyone loves, fresh mozzarella is key. We cannot stress enough the importance of grating a block of whole-milk mozzarella cheese yourself. Pre-shredded varieties often contain anti-caking agents like cellulose, which prevent them from melting smoothly and evenly. Freshly grated mozzarella, free from these additives, melts into a creamy, golden blanket, enhancing the overall texture and richness of your pizza.
• Pesto – The Undisputed Star: This pizza truly shines because of its pesto. Pesto replaces traditional tomato sauce, providing a vibrant, herbaceous, and savory base that pairs exquisitely with the sweet tomatoes and creamy mozzarella. The quality of your pesto will undeniably make or break this pizza. Invest in a premium store-bought brand that boasts fresh ingredients, or better yet, make your own! Our homemade pesto recipe is incredibly flavorful and simple to prepare, ensuring the freshest taste possible. A good pesto will infuse every inch of your crust with irresistible flavor.

Crafting Your Masterpiece: Step-by-Step Instructions

Making this pesto pizza is a straightforward process that yields fantastic results. Follow these simple steps for a perfect pie every time:

Preheat Your Oven to Max Power: Before you even think about shaping your dough or adding toppings, it’s crucial to preheat your oven to its absolute highest setting. For most home ovens, this will be around 500-525°F (260-275°C), though some may go as low as 475°F (245°C). A screaming hot oven is key to achieving that coveted crispy crust and perfectly cooked toppings, mimicking a professional pizza oven environment.

1. Prepare Your Pizza Dough

1. If using homemade dough, prepare it the night before or at least several hours in advance to allow for proper fermentation and flavor development.
2. Crucially, bring your pizza dough to room temperature before stretching. This usually takes about 2 hours on the kitchen counter. Cold dough is stiff and difficult to work with.
3. Once at room temperature, gently stretch and shape your pizza crusts. Aim for a 10-12 inch circle, depending on your preference for crust thickness and the size of your baking surface. Work from the center outwards, maintaining a slightly thicker edge for a puffy crust.

2. Assemble and Bake Your Pizza

1. Once your dough is stretched, carefully transfer it to a lightly floured pizza peel (if using a pizza stone) or directly onto a baking sheet.
2. Generously smear the pesto sauce all over the crust, leaving a small border for the crust. This border will puff up beautifully.
3. Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes evenly over the pesto. Then, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. You can add a grind of fresh black pepper now if you like.
4. Carefully slide the pizza from the peel onto the preheated pizza stone (or place the baking sheet into the oven).
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown, puffed, and slightly charred in spots, and the cheese is bubbling, melted, and slightly browned. Baking time may vary depending on your oven and crust thickness.
6. Repeat the process for any additional pizzas.

Reheating Leftover Pizza: Tips for Maintaining Perfection

While it’s highly probable you won’t have any leftovers of this delectable pesto pizza, life happens! Should you find yourself with an extra slice or two, here’s how to reheat it to bring back that freshly baked crispness, avoiding the dreaded soggy slice:

1. The Oven Method – Crispy Perfection: Skip the microwave entirely; it’s the enemy of a good pizza crust. For optimal results, reheat your leftover pizza in the oven. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) with an empty baking sheet inside. Once hot, carefully place the leftover pizza slices directly onto the heated baking sheet. Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and the crust has regained its crispness. This method ensures even heating and a revitalized texture.
2. The Air Fryer – Quick and Efficient: If time is of the essence, or you simply prefer a more hands-off approach, your air fryer is an absolute game-changer for reheating pizza! It crisps up the crust beautifully and melts the cheese without overcooking the toppings. Simply place your leftover pizza slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer (do not overcrowd). Air-fry at 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes, keeping a close eye on it. Air fryers vary, so check frequently until the cheese is melted and the crust is perfectly crispy. This method is incredibly fast and produces excellent results!

Cheesy Roasted Tomato Pesto Pizza

By
Shinee Davaakhuu

Big, bold flavors with minimum ingredients! There’s nothing boring about this homemade pizza. And if you’re into flavorful and crisp crust, go with our easy pizza dough recipe!

Prep:
20 mins

Cook:
12 mins

Bringing dough to room temp:
2 hrs

Total:
2 hrs 35 mins

Servings:
4 servings

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Ingredients

• 1 lb
  pizza dough
  divided Note 1
• ¼ cup
  pesto sauce
• 1 ½ cups (250 g)
  cherry tomatoes
  halved
• 8 oz (250g)
  mozzarella cheese
  grated Note 2
• Ground black pepper
  optional

Instructions

1. Bring the pizza dough to room temperature, about 2 hours on the counter.
2. Place a pizza stone in the oven and heat the oven to 525°F (270°C), or the highest setting for your oven.
3. Stretch out one pizza dough ball into a 10-inch circle on a lightly floured counter. (You can find videos online demonstrating how to expertly stretch pizza dough.)
4. Lightly dust a pizza peel with flour or cornmeal and place the stretched pizza crust on it. (TIP: If you don’t have a pizza stone and peel, then bake your pizza on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.)
5. Smear half of the pesto sauce all over the crust, leaving a small border for the crust. Then top with half of the sliced tomatoes and cheese, reserving a small amount of cheese for sprinkling later. Grind some fresh black pepper on top, if desired.
6. Bake the pizza for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling, golden, and the crust is deeply golden brown with some char. Repeat with the second pizza.
7. As soon as you remove the pizza from the oven, sprinkle the reserved cheese on top. Let the pizza rest for a couple of minutes before cutting and serving. This allows the cheese to set and prevents toppings from sliding.

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Tips & Notes

This recipe is designed to make two delicious 10-inch pizzas.

Note 1: While store-bought pizza dough is convenient, our homemade pizza dough recipe offers a significantly superior taste and texture. Our recipe yields approximately 1.5 lbs of dough, which is usually enough for two generous pizzas. You can easily freeze one portion of dough for a future pizza night, or if you wish to make three smaller pizzas, simply increase the topping ingredients proportionally.

Note 2: For the best melting and authentic pizza experience, we strongly recommend grating a block of whole-milk mozzarella cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that hinder smooth melting and can result in a less satisfying texture.

Storing Tip: Store any rare leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For optimal taste and texture when reheating, always use the oven or air-fryer, as detailed above, to restore that delightful crispness!

Nutrition

Servings:
0.5 pizza

Calories:
519 kcal

Carbohydrates:
59 g

Protein:
23 g

Fat:
22 g

Sugar:
10 g

Sodium:
1326 mg

Course:
Main Course

Cuisine:
Italian

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This delightful recipe was originally shared on September 17th, 2015, and continues to be a favorite for its simplicity and incredible flavor.