Flatbread Pizza Margherita

Name: Flatbread Pizza Margherita
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: About 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 red onion, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; Fresh basil, stems for the sauce, left whole so you can scoop them out after and leaves for decorating; 1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1 tsp balsamic vinegar; 1 tsp dried herbs, such as basil, oregano or mixed herbs; 2 flatbreads or naans; Olive oil; Sea salt flakes; Dried herbs, such as basil, oregano or mixed herbs; 1 ball of mozzarella, drained and torn into slices; 1 ripe large tomato, thinly sliced; A handful of cherry tomatoes, halved (optional – could just stick with large tomatoes); Parmesan or vegetarian-friendly Parmesan-style cheese

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We have all been there… You are tired, hungry and want something super simple, but also delicious, for supper. Well I am here to tell you I have found the solution with this quick and easy Flatbread Margherita Pizza recipe - your new go-to weeknight dinner. I promise you, it will be on the table faster than the time it takes to order a takeaway and is much more satisfying (and nutritious).

margherita pizza flatbread on a wooden board

No need to spend ages kneading pizza dough or waiting for it to rise thanks to the shop-bought flatbread base (there are some really good options out there these days), then all you have to do is top with my ridiculously simple homemade tomato sauce and your choice of toppings, before popping in the oven until the cheese goes all molten and gooey for the ultimate Flatbread Margherita Pizza. Did I mention it is also the ultimate crowd-pleaser and can easily be upscaled for larger groups? If you are after an easy pudding to follow the pizza, I can highly recommend my simple Sfingi Doughnuts. They aren’t too heavy, nice and fluffy.

Why you will love this Flatbread Margherita Pizza

It’s super quick to put together meaning you can get this on the table in less time than it takes to order a takeaway
It’s delicious and customisable; get creative and add whatever you like to pimp up the margherita
It’s easy to upscale and make this for a crowd and everyone can get involved, adding their own favourite toppings.

You will need the following ingredients:

Flatbreads - you can use any flatbreads you like, naan works really well.
Olive oil - this adds a lovely flavour, you could use rapeseed oil if you prefer.
Flaky salt - I recommend Maldon Salt for the best flavour.
Dried herbs - I like dried basil and oregano but you could also use dried mixed herbs
Tinned chopped tomatoes - opt for chopped tomatoes instead of plum tomatoes. Mutti are my favourite but they can be expensive so you can also use whatever you usually buy.
Red onion - this has a slightly milder flavour than white onion, but you can use whichever you prefer.
Garlic cloves - this adds a subtle garlic flavour. You can also use roasted garlic or a sprinkle of garlic granules.
Fresh basil - adding the stalks to the base heightens the basil flavour and helps reduce food waste. The basil leaves look beautiful as a garnish. If you want to increase the basil flavour further, drizzle with homemade basil pesto just before serving.
Balsamic vinegar - this adds a subtle tang. You will only need a small splash but you can leave it out if you aren’t keen.
Mozzarella - always use fresh mozzarella, not the ready-grated version. You could also use mozzarella pearls or burrata, or experiment with different cheeses.
Tomato - opt for plump, ripe plum tomatoes and slice thinly.
Cherry tomatoes - these are entirely optional but add a juicy burst of flavour. You could also use baby plum tomatoes.
Parmesan - a generous grating of fresh Parmesan is the perfect way to finish off the pizza. Opt for a vegetarian-friendly alternative, if needed.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements

Substitutions and Variations:

Flatbread: Any kind of flatbread or naan is ideal for this cheat’s pizza. However, you could also make your own pizza base, use a ready-made pizza base or experiment with all sorts of bread. Why not try a bagel pizza, tortilla pizza, pitta pizza or even a toast pizza?

Tomato sauce: If you are pressed for time, you can use a ready-made tomato pasta sauce or pizza topping (obviously not ketchup!) - although I really recommend trying your own as it is so quick and simple. It is ideal for batch-cooking and freezes really well.

Toppings: There are so many different pizza toppings you can add. It really is up to you. In fact, this is a great recipe to make with children to encourage them to get interested in cooking and enjoy experimenting with their own toppings. You can try sliced pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, peppers, chilli, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, different cheeses (brie, Gorgonzola, Gruyère…), prosciutto, the possibilities are endless. I also love finishing with a drizzle of fresh basil pesto before serving.

Making it vegan: If you want to make an easy vegan pizza, this type of recipe is ideal. Just make sure your flatbread base is vegan-friendly and opt for plant-based pizza toppings. I would add lots of vegetables and some vegan cheese, there are some good ones out there if you look online (or you could try making your own if you fancy a challenge).

Here's how to make a Flatbread Pizza Margherita

The full recipe is below but here are a few helpful steps to make this easy and quick recipe.

ONE: The tomato sauce is very simple. Fry onion, garlic and basil stalks, then add a tin of tomatoes, dried herbs, balsamic, salt & vinegar. Leave to bubble.

TWO: Brush the flatbread with olive oil then add salt, pepper and dried herbs.

THREE: Spread some of the sauce onto the flatbread using the back of a spoon, palette knife or spatula.

adding fresh tomatoes to flatbread pizza margherita

FOUR: Scatter over the tomato slices.

adding fresh mozzarella to flatbread pizza margherita

FIVE: Top with torn mozzarella and halved cherry tomatoes. Pop in an 180c oven for 10 minutes.

SIX: Add fresh basil and slice. Yum!

Cooking Tips

How to use leftover tomato sauce: You will have plenty of tomato sauce leftover to make even more of these delicious Flatbread Pizza Margheritas (keep any leftovers in tupperwares or sealed jars in the fridge for up to 5 days). You can also stir it through spaghetti and top with lots of cheese for a simple tomato spaghetti, or use as the tomato element for egg-based brunch dishes like shakshuka… the list goes on. Pretty much any recipe that requires chopped tomatoes, you can add this flavour-packed tomato sauce instead.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a Pizza Margherita?

A Margherita is one of the most famous types of pizza, originally created in Naples, Italy. Traditionally, it has a round-shaped base with raised edges (made from a simple dough using water, salt, flour and yeast) and is topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil. The colours are supposed to represent the red, white and green found in the Italian flag.

Can I freeze the homemade tomato sauce?

Yes. Simply pour into tupperwares, label and pop in the freezer ready for when you need it.

Is Parmesan suitable for vegetarians?

No. This is a common misunderstanding. Lots of people assume all cheeses are suitable for vegetarians, but some contain animal rennet which means they are not. Since Parmesan is a DOP, its method and origins are protected so it must be made in a particular way in a particular place - which includes the addition of animal rennet. Other cheeses that also use animal rennet include Grana Padano, Gorgonzola, Gruyère, Taleggio and Manchego. It is always best to double check the ingredients before serving to vegetarian guests. There are plenty of vegetarian-friendly cheeses you can use instead (Gran Moravia is a good vegetarian substitute for Parmesan).

Other recipes you may enjoy:

If you have quick and simple recipes, you’re in the right place! I suggest trying my simple Salsa Verde Chicken Burgers or my Chicken Flatbread with Tomatoes and Herbs. Whilst tomatoes are in season and delicious, you obviously add them on top of this flatbread pizza but also you can use them to make my Tomato Butter Pasta. So delicious and luxurious. My weekly newsletter is a helpful email that pops into your inbox on a Sunday morning with an easy, weeknight friendly newsletter recipe that has as many tips and tricks as possible within the recipe to make it totally user-friendly and adaptable to what you like and what you might have in the kitchen.

Made this recipe and loved it?

I would love love LOVE if you could leave a review in the comments… I love hearing what you thought, any changes you made, the stories behind what made you try my recipes. Also, if you share a photo on Instagram, please tag me @desertislanddishes, it makes my day to see you making my creations!