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This Four Cheese Margherita Pizza recipe is incredibly easy and absolutely delicious! It’s actually become our favorite pizza by far. Lately, we’ve been eating almost nothing but margherita, and while we love a classic margherita, this one is bursting with so much flavor that it’s impossible not to keep making it.

What really stands out is how beautifully the cheeses come together. The first time I added feta on top, I thought, “Is this too much cheese? Am I overdoing it?” But honestly, is there ever really such a thing as too much cheese? Or too much bread? Or too much pizza? Come on, you know the answer.

a photo of a four cheese margherita pizza that has been sliced with two of slices pulled out from the rest of the pizza a little bit.
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Pizza-making might seem overwhelming at first, but I promise it’s way easier than it looks. I get it—yeasty doughs can intimidate a lot of people. Is the warm water too warm? Should it be bubbling? It can feel like a lot to keep track of, but if you stick with me, you’ll have the perfect pizza in no time.

a photo of a whole four cheese margherita pizza with slices of tomato on top, melted golden cheese, chopped basil and chunks of feta cheese.

The Perfect Pizza Pie

The dough is a Neapolitan-style crust, meaning it’s super thin, but don’t worry, it has the perfect texture. Traditional Italian pizza crusts are thin, crispy, and just the right amount of chewy. And the marinated tomatoes? Absolutely life-changing. They take the pizza to the next level! Just a quick soak is all they need. If you leave them too long, they’ll start to break down, but trust me, they’re totally worth it.

Oh! Can you guess which 4 cheeses go into this cheese quadfecta? Yes, that is a word…I just looked it up! Here is the list of the ingredients you will need, ending with the quadfecta…

Ingredients for 4 Cheese Margherita Pizza Recipe

Thin Crust

  • Flour: The best flour for this recipe is baker’s flour or 00 flour for the perfect texture and elasticity. Avoid all-purpose flour, as it doesn’t give the same light, chewy crust that authentic pizza dough needs.
  • Water: Lukewarm water activates the yeast and helps bring the dough together
  • Sea Salt: Adds essential flavor and enhances the dough’s structure without overpowering the delicate balance of ingredients.
  • Sugar: A small amount feeds the yeast and helps the pizza dough rise.
  • Instant Yeast: Provides reliable and fast fermentation to create a light, airy dough with the classic Neapolitan chewiness.

Toppings

  • Olive Oil: A classic topping on a Margherita pizza and used to marinate the tomatoes.
  • Garlic: Adds flavor to the tomatoes and gives an Italian touch.
  • Sea Salt: Enhances the flavors.
  • Roma Tomatoes: Sliced thin.
  • Mozzarella Cheese: You can use shredded or fresh for this recipe.
  • Fontina Cheese: Shredded.
  • Basil: Fresh is best with a nice chiffonade; you could also put whole leaves on top instead.
  • Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated is preferred.
  • Feta Cheese: Buying a block of feta and crumbling it yourself is far cheaper than buying the pre-crumbled.

The full recipe with the measurements and detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

a photo of a whole thin crust margherita pizza topped with slices of tomato, chopped fresh basil and chunks of feta cheese.

What is a Margherita Pizza?

Margherita pizza is pizza in its simplest and purest form… and it’s the best. It is usually made with a San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, salt, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. We are going to jazz this one up with a few more cheeses.

The Cheese Quadfecta

The blend of all these flavors is like actual heaven, but you can omit one or two if you want. It’s totally versatile, but I’m telling you…the quadfecta mixture is magic!

  • Mozzarella: the classic pizza cheese, it’s creamy and mild in flavor, and it gets super gooey when it’s melted. You can use low-moisture or pre-shredded, but it’s even better if you use fresh mozzarella! 
  • Fontina: rich and creamy with a pungent flavor and mild nuttiness, and butter tones
  • Parmesan: a hard cheese that is strong in flavor
  • Feta: a crumbly cheese that is sharp, tangy, and salty

Each one has its role and purpose, and I love the combo of all four!

a photo of a whole margherita pizza that has been sliced into pieces topped with slices of tomato, chunks of feta cheese, chopped fresh basil and golden melted cheeses.

How to Make This Pizza Recipe

While I’m all about a pizza piled high with every topping imaginable (pepperoni, sausage, olives, onions, peppers, mushrooms, you name it!), this simple pizza recipe is truly a game changer. Ready to make it? Here’s a straightforward step-by-step guide, with more detailed instructions available in the recipe card below.

  1. Prep: Make one batch of your favorite homemade pizza crust following the recipe instructions.
  2. Marinate: Mix olive oil, minced garlic, and sea salt. Toss with sliced Roma tomatoes and let sit for 15–20 minutes.
  3. Preheat: Set oven to 400°F (200°C) and place a pizza stone inside about 6 minutes before baking.
  4. Brush: Brush each pizza crust lightly with the tomato marinade oil.
  5. Layer: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and fontina evenly over the crust.
  6. Top: Arrange marinated tomatoes on top, then sprinkle with chopped basil, Parmesan, and crumbled feta.
  7. Bake: Place pizza on the hot pizza stone and bake for 10–12 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

How to Reheat Pizza?

Heat a heavy skillet on the stovetop to medium and add a drop of oil. Place the pizza in the skillet, and cook for 2 minutes, until the bottom is crisp.

Turn the heat to low and add 2 drops of water along the edge of the skillet, not next to the pizza. Cover with a lid for 1 minute, until the cheese is melted.

Of course, if you’re in a pinch and don’t want to go to the effort, just zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds.

a photo of a whole Italian flatbread with golden bubbled crust, slices of tomato, chopped fresh basil and chunks of feta cheese.

How Long Does Margherita Pizza Keep?

Store in an airtight ziploc bag, and this pizza will keep for 4-5 days in the fridge. It also freezes really well. Let it cool completely and then place it on a baking dish in a single layer and freeze for an hour or so. Then place all the pieces in a ziploc bag. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I Make Pizza Dough Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can make pizza dough ahead of time and freeze it. After the first rise, divide the dough if needed, coat each ball lightly with olive oil, and store it in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep in the freezer for up to three months. To use, thaw it overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for 2–3 hours. Once thawed, let it sit at room temperature for 30–60 minutes to make it easier to shape. Roll it out, add your toppings, and bake until the crust is golden. If it’s hard to stretch, let it rest another 10 minutes and try again.

Is it possible to have too much cheese?? No, I say! A margherita pizza is simple, but add some extra cheeses, and you have a margherita pizza recipe that has leveled up. You’re going to absolutely love it!

More PIZZA RECIPES You Must Try:

Four Cheese Margherita Pizza Video

3.83 from 17 votes

Four Cheese Margherita Pizza

By Carrian Cheney
Prep1 hour
Cook10 minutes
Total1 hour 10 minutes
Servings8
This Four Cheese Margherita Pizza recipe is incredibly easy and absolutely delicious! It’s actually become our favorite pizza by far!
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Ingredients 

Thin Crust

Topping

  • 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
  • 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 4 Tomatoes, Roma, sliced
  • 8 Ounces Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 4 Ounces Fontina Cheese, shredded
  • 1/4 Cup Basil Leaves, fresh, chopped
  • 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/3 Cup Feta Cheese, crumbled

Instructions 

Pizza Dough

  • Make one batch of our favorite homemade pizza dough per the instructions in that post.
    1 Batch Homemade Pizza Crust

To make the Pizza

  • Stir together olive oil, garlic, and sea salt; toss with tomatoes, and let marinate for 15 minutes, but no more than 20 minutes.
    1/4 Cup Olive Oil, 3 Cloves Garlic, 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt, 4 Tomatoes
  • Preheat oven to 400.
  • Brush each pizza crust with some of the tomato marinade.
  • Sprinkle the pizzas evenly with Mozzarella and Fontina cheeses.
    8 Ounces Mozzarella Cheese, 4 Ounces Fontina Cheese
  • Place tomatoes on top of cheese, then sprinkle with shredded basil, Parmesan, and feta cheese.
    1/4 Cup Basil Leaves, 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese, 1/3 Cup Feta Cheese
  • Place baking stone in 6 min before and then remove and place pizza on stone and into the oven.
  • Bake 10-12 min or until slightly golden and bubbly!

Recipe Notes

Dough from MangiaBenePasta.com under pizza

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 254kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 612mg, Potassium: 193mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 948IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 336mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!
An Italian flatbread topped with cheese and tomatoes

About The Author

Carrian Cheney

Carrian Cheney is the creative force behind ‘Oh, Sweet Basil,’ a food blog she co-authors with her husband, Cade. She creates fresh, family-friendly recipes that encourage togetherness in the kitchen.

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3.83 from 17 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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33 Comments

  1. Lisa says:

    This is absolutely delicious! We had pizza weekend with this recipe because my husband, who is pizza eater, wanted more.We used your crust recipe on another pizza recipe in which, to me, the crust makes or breaks a pizza. Loved using my baking stone for this! Give us more pizza recipes! Thank you for sharing!

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      Well we can easily make that happen! We love pizza and thank you for the sweet comment!

  2. Michelle says:

    Oh wow oh wow! This is actually my recipe, with a recipe for the crust added. I am just thrilled to see it shared on your site and am glad so many people love it as much as my family does! Thanks for the great compliment!

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      Hi Michelle,
      Is it just really close? We got a similar recipe from a friend (olive oil instead of with garlic in the tomatoes, no feta or salt) and we adjusted it because we needed to use the feta. Dang, I thought I was being so original 🙁 At least great minds think alike!! I’d love to see your recipe sometime, it must be delicious haha!

      1. Stephanie says:

        I made his pizza tonight and have been making it for years, also just without the homemade crust. I found this site bc I was searching for the recipe to pin, but yes, this exact recipe (minus crust) is on allrecipes with 400+ reviews, so def not original just FYI ? I don’t care one by as it is divine pizza and tha is all that counts, just saying since I saw the above comments on the originality. Will have to look around your site, I am sure we have similar tastes ?

      2. Sweet Basil says:

        Well dang! Now I’m googling it! We had changed our friend’s recipe which didn’t use parm or feta so I bet she had changed her’s removing those two! 🙁 Now we feel so lame!

      3. Sweet Basil says:

        In fact, shoot us the link if you get a chance and we will add credit 🙂

  3. Leanne says:

    I really want to make this recipe, it looks so good! I just am a little confused – are the toppings listed supposed to be divided among 4 pizzas, or are the toppings for one pizza?

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      It’s for one pizza. 🙂

  4. Deanna Jones says:

    This four cheese margarita pizza looks superb. I like that you added shredded basil leaves to add flavor and to use it as a decorative topping. It looks really nice with the pepperoni, and it makes it look like more than a typical pepperoni pizza. Tonight is pizza night in my house, so I’m very excited to try this out. Thanks for posting this recipe!

  5. JLS says:

    I must try this next time I’m home cooking!

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      You’ll love it.

  6. Gordon says:

    OK…! I’ve TRIED this pizza!

    I have to say, I was a little skeptical on reading the recipe, because the recipe has no TOMATO SAUCE in it! Just the fresh (albeit marinated) tomatoes. I’d always thought that the tomato sauce was an integral – not to say VITAL -part of a pizza. But tonight I decided to throw caution to the wind and follow this recipe! You only live once! 😉

    Er… FABULOUS!

    Let me say… this is a delicious pizza recipe. I love it. It has the air of one of those “rustic” or “high-end” pizzas that you can get in the pizzerias – not your standard “American Hot” or “Meat Feast” pizzas, that (to my mind at least) give pizzas a bad name. This is tasty, rustic, yummy pizza that I am DEFINITELY adding to my list of favourite recipes!

    The lack of tomato sauce is really not an issue. You get all the “tomato twang” you need from a pizza in the marinated tomatoes that go on the top. This is a real classic that will appeal to discerning pizza enthusiasts who can step out of the “Pizza Hut” fayre and go for something a little bit rustic and which has more character. Very, very nice.

    Two points though…

    1. You don’t mention whether the dough should be rolled out with a rolling pin or stretched by hand. I actually stretched it by hand because that’s the way I always do my pizze.

    2. Any ideas as to what I can do with the left-over marinade? Make a salad dressing perhaps? Marinade some MORE tomatoes? Spread it on a taco?

    Ta for yums!

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      Gordon, thank you for your awesome comment! We loved reading it. Yes, we stretch our dough as well and we’ve been using the leftover marinade for everything. I store it in a jar for a week and whenever I need oil I just use the garlic oil. It’s awesome to brush on bread for paninis, or I’ll start a sauce with it instead of butter. 🙂

  7. Katherine says:

    We made this tonight… it was awesome!! I wish the crust did not take so long but we will be making this again. Thanks

  8. Al says:

    Amy, The Blond Cook, posted this and I had to try it. Thanks for sharing! So easy to make and what a great party pizza!

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      No, way! That’s so fun. I’ll have to go check it out and I totally just had the last slice for lunch so perfect timing 😉

  9. Amy @ The Blond Cook says:

    Pizza is my ultimate weakness! Margherita is one of my faves… yours looks incredible (love the 4 cheeses!) and I’m making it soon. Just pinned & shared! 🙂

    1. Sweet Basil says:

      thank you!!!

  10. Aggie says:

    Oh I love homemade pizza! And margarita is my favorite! Am bookmarking this recipe! Looks delish!