Skip the tomato sauce and let the cheese do the talking with this flavorful White Pizza topped with creamy ricotta, mozzarella, caramelized onions, and herbs.
Not every pizza needs tomato sauce to be delicious. Some of the most delicious pizzas I’ve ever tried were little more than dough topped with olive oil, fresh herbs, and a generous amount of cheese. Like them, this white pizza is rich, full of flavor, and easy to put together for a casual dinner or appetizer.
The sweet caramelized onions add so much flavor, while creamy ricotta and mozzarella make it feel hearty and comforting. A pinch of crushed red pepper adds a little kick, and a quick sprinkle of oregano gives it that classic pizzeria feel. It’s balanced and simple, with great flavor in every bite.
This recipe has a lot in common with pissaladière, a well-known recipe from Provence that also features caramelized onions. The Provence version skips the cheese and uses anchovies and olives instead, but the foundation is similar. Both start with a simple dough and build up the flavor with slow-cooked onions and herbs, no tomato sauce in sight. Try it with a nice green salad for dinner with a bottle of crisp, chilled white wine. Or cut it into bite-sized pieces for appetizers!
Recipe Snapshot: White Pizza
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Stovetop/Oven
Primary Ingredients: Pizza dough, onions, cheese, basil, red pepper flakes
Skill Level: Easy
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What You’ll Like About This Recipe
- This white pizza skips the tomato sauce, offering a simple, no-fuss option.
- It’s packed with flavor from caramelized onions, fresh herbs, and a blend of melty and creamy cheeses.
- With just 20 minutes of prep and half an hour in the oven, it comes together quickly and is perfect for a busy weeknight.
Ingredient Notes
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- Pizza Dough – Store-bought pizza dough works just fine, especially if you’re short on time. If you have a little more flexibility, my Homemade Pizza Dough has a lovely texture and flavor.
- Onions – Use either yellow onions or sweet onions, thinly sliced. Yes, caramelizing the onions takes a little time, but it brings out a deep, savory-sweet flavor that sets the tone for the whole pizza. You’ll be glad you did it!
- Olive Oil – Choose a good quality extra virgin olive oil with a mild, fruity flavor. Since it’s used both for cooking and drizzling, you’ll really taste it here.
- Mozzarella – Shredded whole milk mozzarella melts nicely and gives you that familiar, stretchy texture.
- Ricotta – Adds a creamy, slightly tangy contrast to the mozzarella. It gives the pizza a little richness without feeling heavy. Use full-fat ricotta for the best texture.
- Fresh Basil & Oregano – If you don’t have fresh oregano, dried works just fine, but don’t skip the fresh basil if you can help it.
- Italian Seasoning – A blend of dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, and marjoram that gives that familiar pizza aroma.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – A small sprinkle goes a long way. It adds just enough heat to cut the richness without overpowering the other flavors.
- Chives (optional) – A fresh garnish that adds a pop of color and a very mild onion flavor. It’s especially nice to add if you’re serving this as an appetizer.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Recipe Variations
- If you want to skip the pizza dough, this recipe can also be made using pita bread!
- A few thinly sliced cloves sautéed with the onions take this up a notch.
- Switch up the herbs with thyme or rosemary for a different flavor profile.
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How to Make White Pizza
STEP 1. Start the oven preheating to 400°F while you prep the pizza.
STEP 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and onions.
STEP 2 (cont’d). Sprinkle the onions with the kosher salt and cook until the onions are soft, golden brown, and caramelized. It’s worth it to take your time with this step.
STEP 3. Lightly spray a pizza pan with cooking spray, then place the prepared dough in the pan. Drizzle olive oil generously over the surface of the dough.
STEP 4. Scatter the mozzarella and caramelized onions evenly across the dough. Then sprinkle with basil, oregano, and Italian seasoning.
STEP 5. Drop spoonfuls of ricotta across the pizza, using about a tablespoon at a time so you get little pockets of creamy cheese in each slice.
STEP 6. Sprinkle the top with crushed red pepper flakes and just a pinch more kosher or sea salt. Brush the edges of the crust with a bit more olive oil for a nice golden finish.
STEP 7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Once it’s out of the oven, you can top it with fresh chopped chives if you like.
STEP 8. Let the pizza sit for a few minutes, then slice it into eight pieces and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Take your time with the onions. Don’t rush the caramelizing process. Cook them low and slow until they’re soft and golden. It’s worth every minute.
- Let the dough rest. If the dough has been refrigerated, give it 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature before stretching. Cold dough tends to spring back and resist shaping.
- Don’t overload the toppings. It can be really tempting to pile on more cheese, but too much can weigh down the crust and keep it from crisping up properly.
- Finish with a drizzle. A quick drizzle of olive oil around the edge of the crust before baking gives it a golden, crisp finish. You can also drizzle a little more on top right before serving if you like.
- Prep ahead. You can prepare the dough and caramelize the onions ahead of time for faster assembly.
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers of this pizza keep well! Store slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a toaster oven or skillet to keep the crust crispy.
Questions About White Pizza
If you don’t have ricotta, you can try using mascarpone or even cream cheese. Just be sure to use something creamy to balance the melted mozzarella.
Of course! Feel free to make it your own. Sautéed mushrooms, thinly sliced zucchini, or cooked crumbled sausage would all be delicious additions.
Look for golden brown edges on the crust and bubbly cheese. Those indicators tell you the pizza is ready!
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Recipe
White Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 2 large onions halved and sliced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- cooking spray
- 1 pizza dough (recommend: my Homemade Pizza Dough or a purchased crust)
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella
- 4 large basil leaves chopped or cut into chiffonade
- 2 teaspoons fresh oregano chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¾ cup ricotta
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and onions. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Cook until onions are tender, brown and caramelized.2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 large onions, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Coat a pizza pan with cooking spray. Place the prepared pizza dough in the pan. Drizzle dough generously with olive oil.cooking spray, 1 pizza dough
- Evenly distribute the mozzarella and caramelized onions over the dough. Add the basil, oregano and dried Italian seasoning.3 cups shredded mozzarella, 4 large basil leaves, 2 teaspoons fresh oregano, 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- Drop the ricotta in tablespoonful-sized dollops evenly over the pizza.¾ cup ricotta
- Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes. Salt lightly with kosher or sea salt. Brush with additional olive oil around the edges of the pizza.¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, salt to taste
- Bake 25-30 minutes at 400 or until golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh chives if desired.2 tablespoons fresh chives
- Cut into 8 equal portions to serve.
Notes
- Caramelize the onions slowly over medium heat until soft and golden for the best flavor.
- Brush the crust edges with olive oil before baking for a crisp, golden finish.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
I saw this episode too. I couldn’t believe the croutons she made with pizza dough. Great idea.
Your pizza looks so good.
Btw, I would make my own dough, which I do in the ABM. I follow Mario Batali’s recipe (either the one in Italian Grill or Molto Gusto) and refrigerate until ready to use.
White pizza is such a reminder of the best pizza in NY. It’s great with broccoli and lots of red pepper flakes. Or at least as many as you can stand. :)
I just watched her make it this morning! I am so glad to know that someone else shares that with me. I love waking up on the weekend and lying in bed watching food network until I am ready to get up. The problem is the sunday line up tends to keep me in bed until at least 10:30. :) and caramelized onions sounds like a wonderful addition.
I would name it yummy, caramelized onion, goodness. Pizza baking isn’t one of my strength but when it looks that good I gotta give it a go.
Sweet. Thursday is pizza night in our house and I do believe mine will have some caramelized onions on it tonight.
Looks delish!
Have you tried grilling this also? I bet it would be fantastic. I’ve become addicted to grilled pizza dough.
My husband would love this version with the carmelized onions.
I haven’t thought of grilling it, but that would be a great idea! I bet that smoky grill flavor with this pizza would be awesome.
What a delicious looking pizza! Yum!
Oh yum! Caramelized onions on pizza is one of my favorite things in the world! And I love white pizza too; this looks lovely :)
Nice idea to add the caramelized onions. This is a very tempting pizza.
I like your version much better! Love the caramelized onions.
I do like the addition od the caramelized onion. Simple pizzas are the best for a good weeknight meal. Yum!!
YUMMY! Those caramelized onions are about enough to make me want to jump into my screen! :) Sounds divine!