Rustic Italian Pizza

Rustic Italian Pizza: A Cozy Slice of Comfort 🍕

If you love pizza (and who doesn’t?), this Rustic Italian Pizza is about to become your new favorite! It’s packed with big, bold flavors thanks to savory Italian sausage, garden-fresh broccolini, and gooey melted cheese. Plus, it has a fun mix of herbs like basil and mint that make every bite taste fresh and exciting.

The best part? You don’t need a fancy pizza oven—just your trusty baking sheet and a hot oven will do the trick. This recipe is perfect for a weekend dinner, a cozy night in, or any time you’re craving something cheesy and satisfying with a little kick.

We’ll start with soft pizza dough, then load it up with creamy ricotta, shredded mozzarella, and a quick homemade tomato topping. The sausage brings the heat, and the broccolini adds just the right amount of crunch and green goodness. It’s kind of like your favorite pizza and your favorite Italian dinner rolled into one amazing meal.

Ready to make your kitchen smell amazing? Let's get going!

Ingredients:

(This recipe makes 4 servings)

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil – for brushing and cooking (Any of these will do nicely!)
• 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough, brought to room temp so it's easier to work with
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained well
• 1/3 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped for that classic herby flavor
• 2/3 cup ricotta cheese – creamy and dreamy
• 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella (about 8 oz) – melty, stretchy goodness
• 3 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped, for a fresh pop
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 4 Italian sausages (hot or sweet, about 12 oz), casings removed
• 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced for garlicky goodness
• 1 bunch broccolini, chopped into florets – tender, green, and slightly crunchy
  

Shopping done? Let's get cooking.

Instructions:

Act 1: Get Your Oven Ready
First thing's first—grab a baking sheet and flip it upside down. Pop it on the lowest rack of your oven and preheat to 475°F. This helps the bottom of your pizza get extra crispy (yum!).

While that’s heating up, take another baking sheet, flip it over too, and line it with parchment paper.

Drizzle on 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Act 2: Shape That Dough
Take your pizza dough and gently stretch it into an 8-inch oval right on the parchment paper. Flip it once so both sides get coated in the olive oil.

Cover it loosely with plastic wrap and let it hang out while you prep the toppings.

Act 3: Make the Saucy Goodness
In one bowl, mix together your drained diced tomatoes and chopped fresh basil.

In another bowl, combine the ricotta, shredded mozzarella, and fresh mint.

Add about ½ teaspoon of salt and a few twists of black pepper. Give it a stir until it’s creamy and dreamy.

Act 4: Cook Up the Toppings
Heat your last tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the sausage and garlic and cook it for about 5 minutes, breaking up the sausage with a spoon as it browns.

Scoop everything out with a slotted spoon and set it aside.

Now toss the broccolini into the same pan along with ½ cup of water. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, just until it’s tender but still bright green.

Act 5: Assemble the Pizza!
Take your dough and stretch it a little more so it’s about 11 by 14 inches.

Spread the ricotta mixture on top like a fluffy, cheesy blanket. Then add the tomato-basil mixture, sausage, and broccolini.

Act 6: Bake to Perfection
Carefully slide the whole pizza—still on the parchment—onto the hot baking sheet in the oven.

Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and everything’s bubbly and delicious.

Act 7: Slice & Serve
Once it’s done, move the pizza to a cutting board, slice it up, and get ready to enjoy every bite!