Focaccia Pizza
focaccia pizza outta my oven n had to share this recipe ASAP! If ur tired of same old pizza but still want that comfort food vibe, this focaccia bread pizza is total gamechanger. Been obsessed with this combo since my neighbor brought it to our block party last summer. It’s that perfect mashup – got that airy, olive-oily focaccia base but topped like ur fav pizza. The texture is insane – crispy edges, chewy inside, n all those dimples catch little pools of flavor. Made this focaccia using pizza dough 3x this month already n my fam keeps begging for more! Gonna break down my super easy method so u can wow ur crew too.
Why This Focaccia Pizza Will Be Your New Obsession
Tired of pizza dough that never gets crispy in home oven? Sick of focaccia that’s tasty but not filling enough for dinner? This hybrid fixes everything!
Started making focaccia pizza dough recipe when I was craving something special but had zero time or energy. Found some store-bought dough in fridge n thought “what if…” The results blew my mind! Even my teenager who normally just grunts at dinner was like “can u make this again tmrw?” Actual words! Miracle!
What makes this recipe so clutch is how flexible it is. Got random stuff in fridge bout to go bad? Throw it on top! Need somethin for potluck? This focaccia with tomato sauce travels great n tastes amazing room temp. Want something super indulgent? Load it with cheese n pepperoni. Watching calories? Go light on cheese n heavy on veggies.
Seriously life-changing recipe n WAY simpler than u might think! Let’s dive in!
What You’ll Need for Amazing Focaccia Pizza
For That Perfect Focaccia Base:
- 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough (from grocery store or homemade)
- 4 tbsp good olive oil (don’t use the cheap stuff here!)
- 4-5 cloves garlic, smashed or roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary or 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp kosher salt or chunky sea salt
- Few cranks fresh black pepper
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes for kick
The secret to transforming regular pizza dough into focaccia bread from pizza dough is all in how u handle it n the olive oil situation. Legit don’t use fancy ingredients elsewhere if u need to save $ but splurge on decent olive oil. Makes HUGE diff! The dimpling technique plus oil is what creates that signature focaccia texture we’re after.
For Epic Pizza Topping Action:
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce or marinara (not too much or gets soggy!)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella
- 1/3 cup mix of parm n pecorino if u have it
- Toppings of choice: try caramelized onions, cherry tomatoes, prosciutto, roasted garlic, thinly sliced potato, fresh basil
Pro tip for sauce – if using jarred, simmer it for 10 mins w/ extra garlic n pinch of sugar to concentrate flavors. Legit tastes homemade! For cheese, grating ur own makes MASSIVE diff in melt factor but totally get if u need pre-shredded for convenience. We’re all busy!
How To Transform Pizza Dough Into Epic Focaccia Pizza
Step 1: Prep Like A Pro
- Take dough outta fridge at least 1 hr before (SUPER important for stretchy dough!)
- Heat oven SUPER hot – 475°F with rack in middle position
- Grab a rimmed sheet pan (15×10 works perfect) n drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil all over
- Plop dough on oiled pan n just gently press outward – DON’T roll or stretch yet!
- Cover w/ clean kitchen towel n let chill 20-30 mins (this step makes HUGE diff)
Dough needs to relax or it’ll fight u every step. If u see it shrinking back immediately, it’s telling u it needs more time to chill. Be patient!
Step 2: The Dimple Magic
- Once dough relaxed, stretch it gently toward edges of pan
- Now for the fun part – press ALL ur fingers straight down into dough making divots everywhere
- Don’t be shy – push deep enough to almost touch pan but don’t tear dough
- Mix 2 tbsp olive oil with chopped garlic n herbs
- Drizzle this magic mixture ALL over, making sure it pools in those dimples
- Sprinkle generously w/ salt n pepper
Those dimples r literally what makes this focaccia bread pizza not just regular pizza. They catch all that garlicky oil n create flavor bombs in every bite. Best part of the whole recipe IMO!
Step 3: Pre-Bake The Base (secret step!)
- Slide just the focaccia base into oven for ONLY 7 mins
- This pre-bake ensures bottom gets crispy not soggy
- Remove n let cool 5 mins before adding toppings
Most recipes skip this step but it’s legit game-changer for perfect texture! Gets u that authentic focaccia vibe before adding heavy toppings.
Step 4: Load It Up
- Spread thin layer sauce over pre-baked focaccia (less is more!)
- Sprinkle cheese evenly but not too heavy
- Add toppings strategically – don’t pile in center
- Finish w/ light drizzle olive oil n pinch more salt
Resist urge to overload! Focaccia pizza shines when it’s not weighed down. Think quality over quantity w/ toppings.
Step 5: Final Bake
- Return to oven for 10-12 more mins
- Watch carefully in last few mins – focaccia browns FAST
- Perfect when edges r deeply golden n cheese has brown spots
- Let sit 5 mins after baking so it sets up
Hardest part = waiting those 5 mins without diving in! But trust me worth it so all flavors can settle. If bottom needs more color, next time start w/ preheated sheet pan.
5 Mind-Blowing Focaccia Pizza Combos To Try
Potato Rosemary Focaccia Pizza (my fam’s fav!)
Skip tomato sauce completely! Brush base w/ garlic butter, add super thin-sliced yukon gold potatoes, lots of mozz, fresh rosemary, n finish w/ honey drizzle after baking. Sounds weird but TRUST ME! My 8yr old requests this weekly!
Spicy Honey Pepperoni Focaccia
Light tomato sauce base, thick-cut pepperoni (the kind that cups when cooked), hot honey drizzle after baking, fresh basil. That sweet-spicy-salty combo is RIDICULOUS good.
Farmer’s Market Focaccia with Burrata
Olive oil base (no sauce), thinly sliced zucchini, cherry tomatoes halved, corn kernels, n red onion. After baking tear cold burrata over top n sprinkle w/ fresh herbs n lemon zest. Perfect summer dinner!
Breakfast Carbonara Focaccia Pizza
Mix ricotta w/ black pepper n spread on pre-baked base. Top w/ crispy pancetta/bacon bits, shredded mozz, n make little wells for 4-5 eggs. Bake till eggs set but yolks still runny. Finish w/ parm n chives. Literally breakfast goals!
Buffalo Chicken Focaccia Pizza
Mix shredded rotisserie chicken w/ buffalo sauce. Spread light layer ranch or blue cheese dressing on pre-baked base, add buffalo chicken, mozz n cheddar mix. After baking drizzle w/ more buffalo sauce n sliced green onions. Perfect for game days!
Focaccia Pizza Recipe
Equipment
- Rimmed sheet pan (15×10 inch)
- Clean kitchen towel
- Oven
- Mixing bowl
- Garlic press or knife
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- For Focaccia Base:
- 1 lb refrigerated pizza dough
- 4 tbsp good olive oil
- 4-5 garlic cloves smashed or chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary or 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp kosher or sea salt
- Fresh black pepper to taste
- Optional: pinch red pepper flakes
- For Pizza Topping:
- ¾ cup pizza sauce or marinara
- 1½ cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan + pecorino mix
- Toppings of choice: cherry tomatoes caramelized onions, prosciutto, roasted garlic, sliced potato, fresh basil
Instructions
- Prep the Dough
- Remove dough from fridge 1 hour ahead to relax.
- Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C), rack in middle.
- Drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil on sheet pan. Place dough and gently press outward.
- Cover with towel and let rest 20–30 mins.
- Dimple + Flavor
- Gently stretch dough to pan edges.
- Dimple with fingertips across surface.
- Mix remaining 2 tbsp olive oil with garlic and herbs.
- Drizzle over dough and sprinkle salt and pepper.
- Pre-Bake Base
- Bake focaccia base alone for 7 minutes.
- Cool 5 mins before topping.
- Top It
- Spread thin layer of sauce.
- Sprinkle cheese and toppings evenly.
- Drizzle with olive oil and extra salt if desired.
- Final Bake
- Return to oven for 10–12 mins until golden and bubbly.
- Cool 5 mins before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Burning Questions About Focaccia Pizza Answered!
Is focaccia the same as Sicilian pizza?
Nope but they’re def related! Sicilian pizza = super thick, rectangular, usually has lotsa sauce n cheese baked right in. Traditional focaccia = flatter Italian bread w/ olive oil, salt n maybe herbs/simple toppings. My focaccia pizza recipe = that perfect sweet spot between them! Gets u the dimpled, olive-oily bread texture but with pizza toppings. Best parts of both worlds without having to make two separate things!
Is focaccia and pizza dough the same thing?
Technically different but close enough that u can hack it! Traditional focaccia dough has extra olive oil mixed right into dough plus longer rise time. Pizza dough usually leaner n designed for faster cooking. BUT the genius hack is u can 100% use regular pizza dough for focaccia bread from pizza dough by adding oil later + dimpling technique! When u press all those divots n add oil, magic happens – regular pizza dough transforms texture completely. Way less work, same amazing results!
Is focaccia pizza healthy?
Compared to greasy delivery pizza? WAY healthier! U control exactly what goes into it n on it. The olive oil in focaccia = heart-healthy fats unlike mystery oils in commercial pizza. Go wild w/ veggie toppings n u basically got salad on bread lol. My neighbor who’s super into nutrition actually recommended focaccia pizza as better option for family pizza night cuz of olive oil benefits n how it’s less dense than regular pizza. All bout what u put on it tho – load it w/ processed meats n tons of cheese, obvs not as healthy.
What are the best toppings for focaccia?
After making focaccia with tomato sauce like 50 diff ways, here’s what works amazingly:
- Caramelized onions (sweet+savory BOMB)
- Thinly sliced potato + rosemary (sounds weird but TRUST)
- Cherry tomatoes that burst in oven
- Roasted garlic cloves (just smash n scatter)
- Broccoli rabe for slight bitterness
- Calabrian chili paste for heat lovers
- Artichoke hearts + lemon zest
- Crispy prosciutto (add AFTER baking tho!)
- Fresh corn kernels in summer Pro tip: whatever u choose, slice/chop smaller than for regular pizza so they cook fully!
What cheese goes well with focaccia?
Been experimenting w/ cheeses for months n here’s the real deal on best focaccia cheese combos:
- Mozz + parm = classic reliable base (but boring alone)
- Fontina + taleggio = melty Italian heaven
- Burrata torn over top AFTER baking = life-changing
- Smoked scamorza if u can find it = insane depth
- Blue cheese + honey drizzle = sweet-funky perfection
- Pecorino Romano for salty punch that stands up to toppings
- Ricotta + lemon zest + black pepper = simple perfection Secret weapon = mix of cheeses not just one type!
Make-Ahead & Leftover Hacks
Real talk – this focaccia pizza might be even BETTER next day! Weird but true. Store leftovers uncovered till completely cool then wrap in foil or container. Keeps 3-4 days in fridge.
For reheating, avoid microwave at all costs! Turns it into sad rubber. Instead:
- 350°F oven for 6-8 mins = perfect crispy reheat
- Air fryer 3 mins at 375°F = even better texture
- Skillet w/ tiny splash water, covered on low heat = steam-crisp method
- Room temp pieces = surprisingly amazing for lunch box
MEGA time-saving hack: on Sunday, make 2 bases through pre-bake step. Freeze one after cooling completely. Then on crazy weeknight, thaw in morning n just add toppings n final bake when ready. Literally saves an hour!
Real Life Focaccia Pizza Story
So last month had my super picky Italian in-laws over for dinner. Was legit nervous bout serving this focaccia pizza recipe cuz they’re snobby bout Italian food. My mother-in-law watched me make it n kept giving me side-eye bout using store-bought dough.
But then… she took one bite n got totally quiet. Then asked for recipe! Said it reminded her of the “pizza al taglio” from her hometown outside Rome. VICTORY! Now she tells everyone bout her daughter-in-law’s “authentic focaccia” lol.
What makes me happy is how this recipe connects ppl. My teenager n husband argue over everything but both agree this focaccia pizza dough combo is best thing coming outta our kitchen. When food brings peace to family dinner, that’s the real win!
Give this recipe a try n tag me with ur creations! Dying to see what topping combos u come up with!
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- FAJITAS DE POLLO – weeknight Mexican that’s legit good
- FROZEN HASH BROWN PATTIES – breakfast game-changer
- KUNG PAO BEEF – better than takeout srsly
- MARRY ME CHICKEN PASTA – the name says it all!
- SMOTHERED CHICKEN AND RICE – pure comfort in a pan
- CRAWFISH FETTUCCINE RECIPE – when u wanna feel fancy
- BAGEL DIP RECIPE – be the hero of the potluck
- RONZONI BAKED ZITI RECIPE – classic done right