This quick and easy Herb and Garlic Cheese Pizza combines the best of garlic bread and pizza in one irresistible bite.
Cheesy garlic bread lovers, this one’s for you.
We usually keep Friday pizza night classic—cheese and pepperoni or margherita—but every so often we like to change it up. That’s how this Herb and Garlic Cheese Pizza was born. It’s not just garlic bread on a crust; it’s a true pizza with all the garlicky, buttery, herb-forward flavor of garlic bread and the satisfying texture and vibe of pizza. Serve it with a simple side salad for balance.
What goes on this Herb and Garlic Cheese Pizza?
This recipe is straightforward and relies on quality ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, lots of fresh garlic, fresh herbs, a good shredded mozzarella (or a blend), and grated parmesan or pecorino. There’s no red sauce—olive oil and garlic form the base. Below is what you’ll need.
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- 3–4 large cloves of garlic. Adjust to taste—the more, the better for garlic fans.
- Fresh parsley, basil, oregano, and rosemary. If you need a shortcut, Italian seasoning works in a pinch.
- Good-quality shredded mozzarella. Fresh buffalo mozzarella is lovely, but any good mozzarella or a mozzarella-provolone blend is great.
- Shredded parmesan or pecorino-romano.
How to make it
Homemade dough is my favorite, but a store-bought crust works perfectly when you’re short on time.
- Place an oven rack in the middle and preheat to the highest temperature your oven allows (up to 550ºF). A very hot oven helps produce a crisp, golden crust.
- Stretch or roll your dough out onto a pizza pan.
- Crush the garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife, peel them, and grate or microplane into a small bowl to make a paste. If you don’t have a microplane, mince the garlic finely or use the smallest holes on a grater.
- Stir the garlic into the olive oil, then brush the garlicky oil evenly over the dough, including the crust.
- Scatter the shredded cheese over the center of the pizza, then sprinkle the chopped fresh herbs on top.
- Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the crust is golden. If you want extra golden cheese, broil for a minute or two at the end—watch it closely to avoid burning.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for about five minutes before slicing.
Equipment you’ll need
- Non-stick pizza pan, preferably dark (dark pans brown crust more effectively).
- Microplane or fine grater
- Pastry brush
- Sharp knife for chopping herbs
- Pizza cutter or scissors
More pizzas to try on pizza night
- Grandma Pie Pizza
- Veggie Deluxe Pizza
- Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza
- Easy Caprese Pizza
Did you make it? Did you love it?
I love seeing your versions—snap a photo and tag us on Instagram @killing__thyme.
Herb and Garlic Cheese Pizza
Equipment
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Non-stick pizza pan, preferably a dark pan (dark pans help the crust cook and brown better)
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Microplane
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Pastry brush
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Sharp chopping knife
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Pizza cutter or pizza scissors
Ingredients
- A ball of fresh pizza dough, Find a quick 1-hour pizza dough recipe if desired.
- 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, grated to a paste or minced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, or a mozzarella-provolone blend
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan or pecorino-romano
- 1 TBSP fresh chopped parsley
- 1 TBSP fresh chopped basil
- 1 TBSP fresh chopped oregano
- 1 TBSP fresh chopped rosemary
Instructions
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Preheat the oven with a rack in the middle to its highest temperature (up to 550ºF) for a crisp, golden crust.
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Stretch or roll the dough onto your pizza pan.
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Crush and peel the garlic cloves, then grate or microplane them into a paste. If needed, mince finely with a knife or use the smallest grater holes.
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Mix the garlic with the olive oil, then brush the mixture all over the dough, including the edges.
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Top evenly with shredded cheese and sprinkle the chopped herbs on top.
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Bake about 15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden. Optionally broil briefly for extra browning—watch carefully.
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Let the pizza rest for about five minutes before slicing and serving.
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