This easy Italian flatbread pizza recipe makes pizza night a breeze! The dough is made with no yeast and comes together in just 5 minutes for a quick appetizer or dinner.
This post was originally sponsored by Margherita Meats, published in February 2020 and has been updated for content.
Pizza night is a fun thing that we like to do together as a family. A few years ago, we started making these Italian Flatbread Pizzas and they are one of our favorites. They are thin and crispy and a little bit smaller, so they are great as appetizers or as a personal pizza.
Serve these easy flatbread pizzas with pepperoncini dip, melon prosciutto caprese, bucatini cacio e pepe or fried goat cheese balls!
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🍕 Ingredient notes
- Dough - The dough for this Italian flatbread pizza recipe just consists of 4 ingredients. Flour, olive oil, warm water and salt is all you need to achieve a perfectly simple, crispy crust.
- Toppings - Toppings for these flatbread pizzas can be whatever you like! Pick your favorite sauce, cheese and toppings and mix and match as you please. See below for some of our favorite combinations
🍅 Pizza topping ideas
- Sauce - I love using my old school italian gravy for flatbread pizza, but your favorite store bought marinara will also work. Homemade alfredo sauce, pesto or even olive oil also work as alternative sauce choices.
- Meat - Pepperoni, Italian sausage or salami are some of our favorites to add to these pizzas. Grilled chicken strips, bacon or even prosciutto are other great options.
- Vegetables & Fruit - Tomatoes, peppers, figs, olives, pineapple spinach, mushrooms, pears or garlic are all fun toppings to add.
- Herbs - Herbs such as Italian seasoning, basil, oregano or thyme are great to add to pizza. Dried herbs should be added before cooking and fresh herbs should be added after.
- Cheese - Mozzarella is typically the cheese of choice for pizza, however pecorino romano, ricotta, parmesan, asiago, provolone, gouda or manchego are other great alternatives.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Dairy Free - Use a dairy free cheese alternative or omit the cheese all together when topping your pizza.
- Gluten Free - Use a cup for cup gluten free flour instead of all purpose flour.
🔪 Step by step instructions
Combine the flour, warm water, olive oil and salt in a food processor and pulse until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead till it comes together completely. Let it rest while you prepare your toppings and preheat the oven.
Once the oven is preheated, cut the dough into four equal pieces and roll them out into long ovals that are about a quarter to a half inch thick. Place them on sheet pans that have been sprinkled lightly with the cornmeal and top with your desired toppings.
Bake the pizzas in the preheated oven for about 5-7 minutes until the edges are browned and crispy. Serve pizzas whole or slice into smaller slices for easy serving.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
⭐ Expert tips
- When pulsing the dough in the food processor, make sure to scrape down the sides if needed so that all of the ingredients are incorporated.
- If the dough is too sticky, flour may be added a little bit at a time. Alternatively, if the dough is too tough and dry, add a bit of water or olive oil to soften it up.
- Let the dough rest while the oven is preheating and you are gathering your ingredients so it's easier to roll out.
- Don't top the pizzas with too many topping or toppings that are heavy and bulky. They are thin and will not support the weight.
🥘 Alternative cooking methods
Pizza Stone - These Italian flatbread pizzas can be cooked on a pizza stone instead of a baking sheet. Cooking time will be a few minutes less, so keep an eye on them so they don't burn.
Grill - Cook the flatbread pizzas on a pizza stone or baking sheet on the grill, instead of the oven, for a slightly smoky flavor to the pizzas.
⏲️ Make ahead instructions
The Italian flatbread pizza dough can be made up to 8 hours ahead of time. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Take the dough out about 30 minutes prior to use so that it's easier to roll it out. Dough may also stored this way in the freezer for up to 2 months. Frozen dough should be thawed completely in the refrigerator.
🥡 Storage suggestions
Leftover Italian flatbread pizza can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
🍕 More pizza recipes
If you loved this Italian flatbread pizza recipe, check out these other pizza recipes that I know you will love too!
📖 Recipe
Italian Flatbread Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ⅔ cup warm water
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- cornmeal
- assorted pizza toppings
Instructions
- Combine flour, water, olive oil and salt in a food processor and pulse until the dough comes together into a ball.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a couple of minutes until the dough is smooth. Leave the dough on the counter to rest while the oven preheats.
- Preheat the oven to 500˚ and sprinkle two baking sheets lightly with cornmeal.
- Once the oven is preheated, cut the dough into four equal pieces and roll each piece out thinly into a long oval shape that is approximately a quarter to a half inch thick.
- Place two of the pieces of dough on each prepared sheet pan and add desired pizza sauce and toppings.
- Bake the flatbread pizzas in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes until the edges are lightly browned and crispy.
Notes
- When pulsing the dough in the food processor, make sure to scrape down the sides if needed so that all of the ingredients are incorporated.
- If the dough is too sticky, flour may be added a little bit at a time. Alternatively, if the dough is too tough and dry, add a bit of water or olive oil to soften it up.
- Let the dough rest while the oven is preheating and you are gathering your ingredients so it's easier to roll out.
- Don't top the pizzas with too many topping or toppings that are heavy and bulky. They are thin and will not support the weight.
Pizza Topping Ideas
- Sauce - Old school italian gravy, homemade alfredo sauce, store bought pizza sauce, pesto or olive oil are all great sauces for pizza.
- Meat - Try pepperoni, Italian sausage, salami, grilled chicken strips, bacon or prosciutto.
- Vegetables & Fruit - Tomatoes, peppers, figs, olives, pineapple, spinach, mushrooms, pears or garlic are all fun toppings.
- Herbs - Herbs such as basil, oregano, thyme or Italian seasoning, are great to add to pizza. Dried herbs should be added before cooking and fresh herbs should be added after.
- Cheese - Mozzarella, pecorino romano, ricotta, parmesan, asiago, provolone, gouda or manchego are all great cheeses to use for pizza.
Substitutions and Variations
- Dairy Free - Use a dairy free cheese alternative or omit the cheese all together when topping your pizza.
- Gluten Free - Use a cup for cup gluten free flour instead of all purpose flour.
YtheWait
It looks so hearty and satisfying.
Amanda | Saporito Kitchen
Thank you! We love them for pizza night!