White pizza, or Pizza Bianca, owes its creation to the Romans, where it’s made on a thinner crust and swaps the tomato sauce in favor of a drizzle of olive oil and garlic or smeared ricotta beneath its other toppings.
It’s evolved over the years as different regional pizza chefs expanded on it, from New England’s White Clam Pizza to New York’s Pizza Bianca, or the white BBQ sauced version Alabama boasts. White sauce pizza offers up lots of cheesy, delicious potential for your next pizza pie. Explore with a hungry belly!
The Classic Pepperoni Pizza, White Sauce Style
1. A dazzling homemade crust with a creamy white base and a classic topping from the queen of hospitality herself, Martha Stewart.
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Quick enough for a weeknight meal, simple enough to please even the pickiest of palates, and decadent enough to dazzle, this white pizza loaded with pepperoni recipe is a keeper. A simple homemade crust layered with a delectable lemon and garlic-infused ricotta beneath oozing mozzarella and pepperoni ensures happy bellies all around.
2. A delectable classic bursting with umami flavor awaits you with this white mushroom pizza topped with crispy pepperoni.
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In just 35 minutes, you can have this delicious pizza prepped, baked, and ready to serve. The recipe calls for a premade dough, store-bought is fine, and provides a flavorful recipe for creamy, savory white sauce. With mushrooms, pepperoni, and Parmesan, it’s loaded with umami and will delight your taste buds.
3. You can’t beat the classics, especially loaded with three types of cheeses. Tangy Parmesan, oozing mozzarella, and creamy ricotta top this pepperoni white pizza.
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Starting with a base of a thick, fluffy calzone dough, this three-cheese pizza is a sinfully decadent concoction layered with a thick, creamy white sauce seasoned with garlic, lemon zest, and Parmesan, layered with melted mozzarella, topped with pepperoni, and dolloped with ricotta. The author recommends trying it with the simple-to-make homemade ricotta, but store-bought is fine.
Veggie Lovers White Pizzas
4. With enough roasted garlic to make a vampire weep, this spinach and garlic white pizza is as pretty as it is tasty.
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Garlic lovers rejoice; this white pizza recipe boasts whole cloves of roasted garlic just waiting to burst with flavor in a hungry mouth. Loaded with fresh spinach and basil, this vegetarian-friendly pizza balances the rich white sauce with the sharp tang of garlic and vibrant greens.
If you aren’t looking for a strictly vegetarian pizza, diced chicken makes an excellent addition to the toppings. Plus, it’s a pretty pie to serve up.
5. Looking for creative ways to tempt your picky eater into loving veggies? Try this white pizza with broccoli florets.
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Ready in just 35 minutes, this broccoli-loaded pizza pie may be just the thing to convince your reluctant veggie eaters to try the often maligned broccoli. Here it pairs perfectly with all the creamy, cheesy goodness of a white sauce loaded with ricotta, a hint of lemon zest, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. What a delicious way to learn to love broccoli.
6. Elegant enough for a dinner party and loaded with flavorful bites, this white pizza with shaved vegetables and pesto is a stunning pie worthy of the weeknight rotation.
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A thin crust is layered with thinly shaved zucchini, leeks, and asparagus alongside sweet peas, watercress, and torn basil. This pizza-ready salad enjoys added crunch and a hint of saltiness with the chopped roasted pistachios and shaved Pecorino cheese that top it.
The creamy white sauce gets a tricky addition of herby, bright pesto to amplify its flavor and balance the richness of the cream and cheeses.
Mushroom Lovers White Pizzas
7. Well worth the wait, this caramelized onion, and mushroom pizza comes on a fermented dough base that sends each bite through the roof.
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Creamy, buttery, garlicky white sauce, and bread are always a winner. This pie is elevated to new heights with the fermented homemade pizza dough, slowly caramelized onions packing plenty of flavor pair perfectly with the sauteed onions. It’s not a particularly hard pizza recipe to make, but it does take time, so plan to start the night before.
8. The OG white sauce is bechamel, and Chef Andres Barrera demonstrates this classic sauce in a mushroom and goat cheese bechamel pizza.
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Rustic and flavorful, this pie looks pretty on the plate and tastes even better. The dough is layered with a classic bechamel formed with butter, flour, and whole milk until a delicious, thick white sauce is formed. The bechamel does double duty as the pizza’s cheesy layer with a touch of freshly grated nutmeg and goat cheese.
Over this, a collection of earthy mushrooms seasoned with thyme and garlic are spread. Come hungry.
9. A forager’s bounty pizza pie, wild mushrooms, and white pizza.
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If you are a forager or fortunate enough to know one, use the yearly bounty of wild mushrooms with this simple white pizza with homemade dough. If you aren’t lucky enough to know a forager, check out your local farmer’s market for fresh wild mushrooms to add to the pie.
Plenty of garlic, fresh oregano, and a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses enhance the earthy, umami flavor of wild mushrooms.
BBQ White Pizzas
10. White bbq sauce brings a kick to the salty prosciutto and sweet caramelized onion pizza.
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A chewy, flavorful crust form the base of this unique take on a white sauce pizza. Tangy, tasty white bbq sauce pairs perfectly with the salty, crispy strips of prosciutto and slowly caramelized sweet onions that dot the melted mozzarella layered above. Be warned, this is additively tasty.
11. An Alabama BBQ classic in a bbq white sauce chicken pizza.
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While this technically doesn’t qualify as a white pizza, as it has a tomato sauce base, I think we can forgive this single flaw as the white sauce is layered on top. Grilled chicken breasts, thinly sliced red onions, green onions, and spicy pepper jack complement the tangy mayo-based Alabama BBQ white sauce drizzled generously over the top.
12. Simple, tangy, delicious, and ready in 30 minutes, the grilled chicken Alabama BBQ white pizza is a great weeknight rotation choice.
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Starting with a thin crust, this simple pizza is slathered with Alabama white BBQ sauce and layered with mozzarella, diced chicken breast, and quartered cherry tomatoes for a simple, tangy, and super-fast dinner delight. The simple toppings allow the unique Alabama BBQ sauce to shine through. Top with thinly sliced ribbons of fresh basil for a perfect bite.
13. Simple and delicious, this bacon and basil white pizza is a quick and easy weeknight meal.
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Starting with a crust grilled over fire (or lacking fire, grilling pan over high heat), a layer of ricotta and mozzarella forms the cheesy white base of this simple but tasty pie. Crispy bacon amps up the flavor with its salty crunch, and sweet, freshly-torn basil balances every bite. Ready in just 30 minutes with minimal effort, especially if you bake your bacon.
White Chicken Pizza
14. Deliciously cheesy and flavorful, this roasted garlic, grilled chicken, and spinach white pizza is sure to become a household favorite.
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Though not as quick or simple as some of the recipes in this list, this pizza is so flavorful that it’s worth the hour and 20 minutes it takes to get prepped and on the table. Roasting a whole head of garlic offers up plenty of flavorful garlic to blend into the white sauce, which is seasoned with thyme, oregano, and basil as well for an herby kick.
Paired with diced chicken and wilted spinach, this flavorful pizza is a hearty, well-balanced meal on its own.
15. Swapping in alfredo sauce for the typical white sauce makes this chicken, bacon, spinach pizza a weeknight winner.
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While most white sauce is reminiscent of alfredo to a degree, creamy and decadent with a hint of garlic, this one goes straight to the punch with an actual layer of homemade alfredo. Heavy cream, butter, cream cheese, garlic, and Parmesan form the saucy layer. While the recipe suggests garlic powder, you could certainly use fresh garlic if you prefer.
Top with mozzarella, diced chicken, chopped spinach, and crispy bacon, and be ready for the subsequent food-induced naptime after your delicious meal.
16. While not a traditional white pizza, chicken bacon ranch is such a perfect combo that we can’t resist offering up this technically white pizza for your dinner plans.
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Layered over a chewy crust, this delicious pie starts with a generous layer of ranch dressing. Make your own or pick your favorite store brand for ease. Top with a heap of shredded mozzarella, diced or shredded chicken, and crispy bacon. It’s a perfect combination and will please even the pickiest of eaters. For even easier prep, use a rotisserie chicken.
Seafood White Pizza
17. Popularized by Frank Pepe, this take on white clam pizza comes from Pasquale Jones and adds vibrant broccoli rabe for a delightful pizza.
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Fresh bottleneck clams are steamed in garlic, olive oil, shallots, parsley, thyme, and white wine. The liquid is reduced and folded in whipped heavy cream for a decadent and airy white cream layer beneath the garlicky, bright broccoli rabe, chopped clams, parsley, and chile flakes, all atop a perfectly chewy crust.
18. Shrimp scampi is one of life’s great joys, and it goes perfectly atop a rich, white pizza.
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Unlike a traditional white pizza, this scampi version lacks a proper white sauce; the chewy crust is brushed with the reduced scampi sauce of butter, olive oil, garlic, white wine, oregano, and lemon juice. Over this, a generous layer of Italian cheeses is melted to serve as a bed for plump, juicy shrimp. A dusting of fresh parsley gives a fresh bite and adds a little color to tasty pie.
19. A breeze to make and decadent in flavor, this white seafood pizza is a lifesaver for days where you want something extra special without extra labor.
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Using a prebaked pizza crust or flat helps pull this pizza together quickly. Blend softened cream cheese with Italian seasoning, garlic, and onion powder, and a touch of olive oil to serve as the creamy white base. Layer with shrimp, bay scallops, and a pile of mozzarella and Parmesan for an elegant pizza that comes together with minimal effort.
Balance the richness of this seafood pie with a fresh salad, lightly dressed.
20. Can’t decide between an upscale meal and a pizza night? Go with the best of both with this lobster white pizza.
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You can bring this meal together in as little as 35 minutes with premade pizza dough. If you want a splurge without breaking the bank, this pizza uses an 8-ounce portion of lobster tail, so you’ll get the buttery delight of steamed lobster without breaking the bank.
The pie begins with a chewy crust brushed with a buttery, white-wine-based reduction, a blend of mozzarella, fontina, and Parmesan cheese, thick chunks of lobster, and finished with freshly torn tarragon leaves. Spoil yourself.
21. Scallops and bacon are a perfect union of foods and deserve to be served up in pizza form.
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A simple garlic-infused bechamel sauce forms the creamy white layer for this delicious concoction. Seared and sliced sea scallops, rich and buttery, are layered over the bechamel alongside crispy, smoky pieces of thick-cut bacon. Baby arugula helps cut through the richness with its bright, peppery taste.
White Sausage Pizza
22. Crumbled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, vibrant pesto, and an herby, garlic-infused white sauce promise a memorable pizza pie.
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An herby white sauce laden with garlic, parsley, basil, pepper, and parmesan form the base of this delicious pizza. Atop the white sauce, a generous layer of hot Italian ground sausage and sauteed mushrooms are blanketed with a layer of shredded mozzarella.
Dollop this hearty pizza with generous heaps of sun-dried tomato pesto and basil pesto for a treat that will dazzle your taste buds.
Related: 12 Different Types of Pizza Sausage
23. Thin roasted slices of fennel pair with ground Italian sausage on this Mario-Batali-inspired white pizza from A Sweet Pea Chef.
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Using chickpea flour and organic, grass-fed butter brings a healthy touch to the decadent white sauce that serves as the base for this tasty pizza. Thinly sliced fennel is roasted to draw out the mild licorice-like taste. Spiced, nitrite-free Italian sausage is browned and scattered over the layer of fennel while thick slices of fresh mozzarella are melted atop.
The finished product is delightful and pretty enough to serve on a special night.
24. Pairing both smoked and regular mozzarella in this sausage and white sauce pizza elevates this to a great pizza, the honey drizzle? That takes it to phenomenal.
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The pizazz from this pizza comes from the sweet, savory, smoky flavors pulled together to create a truly memorable slice. Herb-infused white sauce is layered with thinly sliced red onion, crumbled and browned hot Italian sausage, and layers of shredded mozzarella and slices of smoked mozzarella.
Once the pizza comes out of the oven, a light drizzle of honey brings the dazzle. If you’ve never tried a honey-drizzled pizza before, give this one a shot and be prepared to fall in love.