Crusted Tomahawk Recipe 

A gloved hand holding a crusted tomahawk steak sliced open to reveal the delicious crust and the juicy interior of the meat

This Spanish garlic crusted tomahawk recipe is just really fun — because we’re cooking the steaks hanging over an open…

The post Crusted Tomahawk Recipe  appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

A gloved hand holding a crusted tomahawk steak sliced open to reveal the delicious crust and the juicy interior of the meat

This Spanish garlic crusted tomahawk recipe is just really fun — because we’re cooking the steaks hanging over an open fire! I know it’s not the most realistic way to grill, but we’re supposed to be having fun here, right? Plus, that crust on the steak is so freakin’ delicious. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my post on how to get a good crust on steak for the best results! 

A gloved hand holding a crusted tomahawk steak sliced open to reveal the delicious crust and the juicy interior of the meat

What makes this recipe even more fun: cooking the hanging tomahawk steaks over our Breeo fire pit. Hands down, no question, Breeo makes the best smokeless fire pits in the world. Not only does it produce some incredible steak, but cooking with the Breeo is a really enjoyable experience. 

Post sponsored by Breeo.

Why You’ll Love Spanish Garlic Crusted Tomahawk Steak

Steaks with a mouthwatering, crispy crust but tender juicy center are seriously irresistible. The crust in this Spanish garlic crusted tomahawk recipe is based off my recipe for Spanish garlic shrimp, but without the shrimp (of course). Because of the chorizo, manchego cheese, Parmesan cheese and melted butter, this thick steak is spicy, cheesy and buttery all at once. You’ll definitely want to bust out this recipe for all your special occasions. 

Want more tips on how to cook steak? Check out my roundup of my favorite grilled steak recipes

Spanish Garlic Crusted Tomahawk Ingredients

  • Steak: A tomahawk steak is a massive caveman cut, so because of the size of the steak, we’ll just need one here. We’ll season it with your favorite steak rub. 
  • Crust: This nice crust takes the recipe to the next level. It doesn’t get much better than chorizo, garlic, manchego and Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, chopped parsley and kosher salt. 

Easy Steak Rub

If you don’t have a favorite steak rub, I’ve got a great mix for you! Mix together 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 tablespoons black pepper, 1-2 tablespoons of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, 1 tablespoon paprika and a couple pinches of red pepper flakes. You can store this rub in an airtight container in your spice drawer for up to three months. 

Alternatively, you could use one of my premade rubs. Bourbon Prime and Gaucho Steakhouse are my absolute favorites for beef.

Add flavor to everything you’re cooking

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How to Cook Spanish Garlic Crusted Tomahawk

Preparing the Steaks

First, we’ve got to get the power tools out! Using a 1/4” drill bit, drive a hole into the top part of the bone of your whole tomahawk steak. Using some trussing string, wire or a butcher hook, truss the tomahawk so that it will hang nicely over your fire, about 5-6 inches away from the coals.

Two photos showing the process of preparing the tomahawk steak for grilling, using a drill on the left and seasoning the steak on the right

Next, slather your steak with a little canola oil. Thoroughly season your steak on all sides with 2.5 tablespoons of your favorite steak rub. Once you’ve finished seasoning the steak, set it in the fridge for 1 hour. 

Next, build a large fire in your Breeo Fire Pit. Wait until the fire is about medium to medium-high heat (around 350 degrees F). Set up your hanging device over the pit. 

Grilling the Tomahawk

Once you’re ready to cook, pull out your steak and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Hang your tomahawk steak over the fire, then cook for about 30 minutes, until the internal temperature is 100 degrees F. Because we want to maintain the temperature of the fire, keep adding charcoal and wood as needed. 

Two photos showing the steak during the cooking process, hanging over an open Breeo fire pit

Right when the steaks are close to hitting temperature, get your fire very hot. Place your steak on the grill and continue cooking them, flipping every 1-1.5 minutes until the temperature of the meat reaches 120 degrees F internal for medium rare (about 4 minutes more cooking, depending on your desired doneness). Once you’ve finished cooking the steaks, pull them off and let the meat rest for 10 minutes.

This is where the beauty of the Breeo comes into play. In this recipe alone, I use it in three different ways. We just hung the tomahawk, but now we’ll add on the grill grate to the outpost attachment so that we can sear the steak. Then we’ll finish by broiling the crust using Breeo’s pizza oven! Check out all the cool things you can do with Breeo on their website!

Making the Crust

To make our herb crust, first place a cast iron skillet on the grill. Then, add 1/2 cup ground chorizo to the skillet and cook until it’s done. Right at the end, drop in 2.5 tablespoons of minced garlic and brown. Once this piece is done, pull the skillet off the grill and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.

Two photos showing steps in making the Spanish garlic crust for the steak, with cheese, chorizo, panko breadcrums and chopped parsley

Next, add the chorizo and garlic to a small bowl, along with the rest of the crust ingredients — 2 tablespoons grated manchego cheese, 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and kosher salt to taste — until you have a wet, sand-like texture. Then, place the crust mixture on top of your steak.

Searing the tomahawk steak on the grill and adding the Spanish garlic crust to the top of the steak

Finishing the Crusted Tomahawk

Put the Breeo Pizza Oven attachment onto the grill and add the tomahawk steak with the crust into the oven. The goal here is to broil the crush. The steak is already done cooking, so we’re just trying to merge the crust together. Let the crust turn a golden crispy brown color and then remove it from the oven. Let rest for 2 minutes.

Serve up your steaks and slice. Enjoy!

Broiling the Spanish garlic crusted tomahawk steak in the Breeo pizza oven, with a hand holding the long rib bone on the steak

What to Serve with Spanish Garlic Crusted Tomahawk

Because this is such an epic steak, I love famous steakhouse classic sides here. Think baked potatoes or mashed potatoes, creamed spinach or a wedge salad. 

For More Tomahawks

Leftovers and Reheating

I doubt you’ll wind up with leftovers, but if you do, then go ahead and store your tomahawk steak in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. To reheat your leftovers, arrange them on a baking sheet covered in a sheet of parchment paper. Then, place them in the oven at 375 degrees F until warm.

FAQs

What makes a steak a tomahawk cut? 

A tomahawk steak, also known as a tomahawk ribeye, is basically a ribeye with the bone left long. This presentation makes the steak look like a tomahawk axe, which is where it gets its name. Because tomahawks are cut thick and are super fun to cook, they’re great steaks for this recipe. 

What’s the best way to make sure the crusted tomahawk steak is perfectly cooked over an open fire?

Here’s the secret: consistent rotation. Hang the tomahawk over the flames and make sure to rotate it throughout the cooking process. This approach gets us even cooking and that smoky flavor we all love.

Where can I find a Breeo Fire Pit?

Breeo has built a stellar reputation thanks to its high-quality fire pits and innovative construction. The company makes its fire pits in the U.S. and you can get free shipping through the website! You can also check out this dealer locator to find a store near you. 

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

A gloved hand holding a crusted tomahawk steak sliced open to reveal the delicious crust and the juicy interior of the meat
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Crusted Tomahawk Recipe

Thanks to an epic cut and freakin' delicious crust, the flavor in this Spanish garlic crusted tomahawk steak is off the charts.
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American, Spanish
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 297kcal
Author Derek Wolf

Ingredients

Tomahawk Steak:

  • 1 Whole Tomahawk Steak
  • 2.5 tbsp Favorite Steak Rub
  • Canola Oil as needed

Spanish Garlic Crust:

  • 1/2 cup Cooked Ground Chorizo
  • 2.5 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 2 tbsp of Manchego Cheese grated
  • 2 tbsp of Panko Crumbs
  • 2 tbsp of Melted Butter
  • 1 tbsp of Parmesan grated
  • 1 tbsp of Chopped Parsley
  • Kosher Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Using a 1/4” drill bit, drive a hole into the top part of the bone of your tomahawk steak. Using some trussing string, wire or a butcher hook, truss the tomahawk so that it will hang nicely over your fire about 5-6 inches away from the coals.
  • Lather your steaks with a little canola oil. Thoroughly season your steaks on all sides. Make sure to season the sides with your favorite steak rub. Once the steaks are seasoned, set in the fridge for 1 hour to set.
  • Build a large fire in your Breeo Fire Pit. Wait until the fire is about medium to medium high heat (around 350F). Set up your hanging device over the pit.
  • Pull out your steak and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
  • Hang your tomahawk steaks over the fire and cook for about 30 minutes until the internal temperature is 100F. Keep adding charcoal and wood to maintain the temperature of the fire.
  • When the steak is close to hitting temperature, get your fire very hot. Place your steak on the grill and continue them, flipping every 1-1.5 minutes until they reach 120F internal for medium rare (about 4 minutes more cooking).
    The goal here is to sear the steak while also hitting the perfect internal temperature (120F)
  • Once the steaks are done, pull them off and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Add a cast iron skillet to the grill. Add your loose chorizo and cook until done. Right at the end, drop in the minced garlic and brown. Pull off once done and let cool for 10 minutes.
  • Add the chorizo and garlic to a bowl along with the rest of the crust ingredients until you have a wet sand like texture. Then place on top of your steak.
  • Put the Breeo Pizza Oven attachment onto the grill and add the tomahawk steak with the crust into the oven. Let cook until golden crispy brown. Pull off when done and let rest for 2 minutes.
  • Serve up your steaks and slice. Enjoy!

Notes

Easy Steak Rub
If you don’t have a favorite steak rub, I’ve got a great mix for you! Mix together 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 tablespoons black pepper, 1-2 tablespoons of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, 1 tablespoon paprika and a couple pinches of red pepper flakes. You can store this rub in an airtight container in your spice drawer for up to three months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 180mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 526IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 267mg | Iron: 5mg

The post Crusted Tomahawk Recipe  appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Steak with Tennessee Onions

Steak with Tennessee onions, ready to eat.

I’ve lived most of my life in Tennessee and I had never heard of steak with Tennessee onions, but this dish…

The post Steak with Tennessee Onions appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Steak with Tennessee onions, ready to eat.

I’ve lived most of my life in Tennessee and I had never heard of steak with Tennessee onions, but this dish is so freakin’ delicious. I’m glad we can claim it for the Volunteer State! What’s not to love about juicy steak and sweet onions coated in Cajun seasoning and lots of cheese? The flavor profile is off the charts.

Steak with Tennessee onions, ready to eat.

You can make our steak with Tennessee onions recipe loads of different ways. It’s super simple and you can easily cook it in a pizza oven if you don’t want to use the smoker. You can also pair this Tennessee onions dish with chicken or pork chops (even hot dogs!) if that’s what you have on hand for your summer BBQ. I wish I knew about these cheesy onions sooner! 

Why You’ll Love Steak with Tennessee Onions

Tennessee onions make the most of simple ingredients — melty cheese, butter and seasoning — to bring a unique flavor to a humble ingredient. When you pair a fabulous Tennessee onion bake with a tender grilled steak, like the filet we use in this recipe, you can’t go wrong. We take this dish up a notch with the great addition of garlic butter (steak and garlic butter, a match made in heaven), which brings fresh herbs into the mix. Who would have thought an onion dish could bring so much to the table?

For more steak and cheese recipes, check out Steak Sliders with Beer Cheese, Grilled Steak with Lobster Mac and Cheese, Blue Cheese Crusted Steaks and Pizza Cheesesteak.

Steak with Tennessee Onions Ingredients

  • Steak: Filets, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder. Enough said. 
  • Tennessee Onions: Behold, the mighty onion. We’ll slice two yellow onions and pair them with unsalted butter, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded Monterey Jack cheese and Cajun seasoning. The doubter at your table will become the most ardent onion fan with one bite.
  • Garlic Butter: Tennessee onions traditionally use fresh herbs, so we’ll combine chopped parsley, butter, garlic, chili flakes and Dijon mustard to add a real punch of flavor to this dish.
Steak with Tennessee onions, finished outside a pizza oven.

Simple Whiskey Sour

Tennessee is known for lots of great things, but we do take great pride in our whiskey. If you want to sample another Tennessee flavor while you’re cooking, look no further than the whiskey sour. First, combine 2 ounces of your favorite Tennessee whiskey, 1 ounce of simple syrup and 1 ounce of lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Then, add a few ice cubes, shake it all together and strain into a glass. Sip while you’re grilling and start humming along to Chris Stapleton

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How to Make Steak with Tennessee Onions

I’m stoked to introduce you to my new favorite way to cook onions. Let’s get after it!

Cooking the Tennessee Onions

First up, preheat your pizza oven or grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for indirect cooking. While the oven or grill is heating up, slice your 2 yellow onions into onion rings. Add those onions to a cast-iron skillet, then top the onions with 4 tablespoons cubed unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Put that skillet in the oven or grill to cook for 20 minutes, or until the onions are softened and browned.

Tennessee onions sliced and with butter on top.

Make sure to stir the onions every 3-4 minutes because we want to keep them from burning! Right at the end, top the onions with 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese and cook until the cheese is melted. Finally, pull the onions out of the oven and keep them warm.

Tennessee onions, browned and topped with melted cheese.

Prepping the Steaks

Next, slather 3-4 steak filets with oil or beef tallow. Generously season the steaks with salt, pepper and garlic powder or your favorite steak rub. 

Filets seasoned, then cooked in cast iron on the grill.

Making the Garlic Butter

In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the garlic butter: 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon red chili flakes, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Then, set aside the mixture. We’re doing this now because we want to make sure the butter is ready when we finish grilling the steaks.

Ingredients for garlic butter in a bowl.

Grilling the Steaks

Add a cast iron skillet with oil to preheat in the oven. Once that skillet is nice and hot, add your steaks and cook for 4 minutes per side or until they reach 120 degrees internal temperature. Right at the end, top the steaks with some of the garlic butter and finish cooking. Finally, pull off the steaks and let the meat rest for 10 minutes.

Adding the butter to the filets and getting the onions ready on a serving plate.

Finishing the Steak with Tennessee Onions

To finish, add the Tennessee onions to a plate with the steak. Slice, serve and enjoy!

What to Serve with Steak with Tennessee Onions

​A simple green salad or vegetable, like steamed broccoli with lots of lemon juice, would be great here. 

For More Oniony Recipes

Leftovers and Reheating

Place any leftover steak tightly wrapped in aluminum foil inside an airtight container for 3-5 days. To reheat grilled steak, keep it in the aluminum foil and take it back to your grill. Feel free to add some butter, seasonings, and some beef broth or beer for moisture while it heats up again.

For the Tennessee onions, store them in an airtight container for 3-5 days. When you’re ready to eat, put them in an oven-safe dish and reheat in a 250-degree oven for about 15-20 minutes.

Diving into a plate of steak with Tennessee onions.

FAQs

Why are they called Tennessee onions? 

​The best answer I can give you (since I’m not totally sure) is that it’s a nod to the great BBQ culture we have here in Tennessee. These onions would be at home at any summer barbecue spread!

How do I stop my eyes from watering with all these onions?!

​Tennessee onions can make us all very emotional! Use a sharp knife while you’re cutting, since that will release fewer enzymes into the air. You can also soak the onion in cold water before cutting or wear kitchen goggles. 

Can I use a different cut of steak?

Sure! Honestly, it’s easy because Tennessee onions work with any type of meat. A ribeye, T-bone or whatever steak you have on hand would be great here.

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

Steak with Tennessee onions, ready to eat.
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Steak with Tennessee Onions

Steak with Tennessee onions is a simple, delicious barbecue recipe that combines filets with cheesy, buttery yellow onions.
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 people
Calories 886kcal
Author Derek Wolf

Ingredients

Steak:

  • 3-4 Filets
  • 1 tbsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tbsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • Beef Tallow as needed

Tennessee Onions:

  • 2 Yellow Onions sliced
  • 4 tbsp Cubed Unsalted Butter
  • ¼ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • ¼ cup Shredded Jack Cheese
  • 1 tbsp Cajun Seasoning

Garlic Butter:

  • ¼ cup Chopped Parsley
  • ¼ cup Melted Butter
  • 1 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 1 tsp Red Chili Flakes
  • 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tsp Kosher Salt

Instructions

  • Preheat a pizza oven or grill to 400F indirect cooking.
  • Slice your onions into rings.
  • Add the onions to a cast iron skillet topping with butter and cajun rub.
  • Add to the oven to cook for 20 minutes or until softened and browned. Make sure to stir every 3-4 minutes to prevent burning. Right at the end, top the onions with your shredded cheese and melt. Pull off and keep warm.
  • Next, slather your steaks with oil and generously season with salt, pepper and garlic powder or your favorite steak rub.
  • In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the garlic butter and set aside.
  • Add a cast iron skillet with oil to preheat in the oven.
  • Add your steaks to the skillet once hot and cook for 4 minutes per side or until 120F internal. Right at the end, top the steaks with some of the garlic butter and finish cooking.
  • Pull off and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Add the Tennessee Onions to a plate with the steak, slice, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Simple Whiskey Sour
Tennessee is known for lots of great things, but we do take great pride in our whiskey. If you want to sample another Tennessee flavor while you’re cooking, look no further than the whiskey sour. First, combine 2 ounces of your favorite Tennessee whiskey, 1 ounce of simple syrup and 1 ounce of lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Then, add a few ice cubes, shake it all together and strain into a glass. Sip while you’re grilling and start humming along to Chris Stapleton

Nutrition

Calories: 886kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 126g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 364mg | Sodium: 2912mg | Potassium: 3127mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2437IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 275mg | Iron: 4mg

The post Steak with Tennessee Onions appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Perfect Neapolitan Pizza Recipe

Master the art of authentic Italian pizza with this Neapolitan pizza recipe! This recipe unlocks the secrets of the perfect…

Master the art of authentic Italian pizza with this Neapolitan pizza recipe! This recipe unlocks the secrets of the perfect dough, simple yet flavorful sauce, and quick high-heat cooking for a pizzeria-worthy pie in your own oven.

Neapolitan pizza on pizza peel with basil and fresh mozzarella.

When you’ve had the best pizza in Naples Italy, it’s hard to go back. You know in the movie The Matrix when Neo is allowed to pick the blue and red pill, a choice between blissful ignorance or truth? Eating pizza in Naples, the place where pizza was invented, is like choosing the red pill.

Once you’ve tasted Neapolitan pizza, you’ll never go back. Then you’ll spend the rest of your life trying to recreate it at home! Luckily, we did that for you. Here are all our tips and tricks for the best homemade Neapolitan pizza!

“Awesome recipe. It is really authentic and so easy! Since we have young kids we decided to add a teaspoon of sugar and it was just perfect.” -Michael

What is Neapolitan pizza?

Neapolitan pizza is pizza made in the style that originated in Naples, Italy. Like any famous dish, there many opinions on what it means to be “authentic.” After eating some of what is considered the best pizza in the world on the ground in Naples, here’s what we found are characteristics of Neapolitan pizza:

  • Simple flavors: The best Neapolitan pizza restaurant we’ve been to, Da Michele, served only two flavors: Margherita and Marinara. Pizza margherita is tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, and pizza marinara is simply tomatoes and garlic.
  • Soft, thin crust, cooked in a very hot oven: Most Neapolitan pizzas are baked in a wood fired pizza oven that’s around 800 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. The crust is typically blackened by the fire, with puffed edges and very thin towards the middle.
  • Simple tomatoes: The crust on Neapolitan pizzas is typically spread simply with tomatoes, usually San Marzano variety. The recipe below uses a simple pizza sauce that mimics the flavors we had in Naples.
  • Mozzarella: The cheese in Italy is top notch. Neapolitan pizza often uses fresh mozzarella or buffalo mozzarella cheese.
Neapolitan pizza with basil.

How to make Neapolitan pizza: step by step

Here is an overview of how to make Neapolitan pizza. For all the details, jump to the full recipe!

Step 1: Make the pizza dough

Step 1: Make the pizza dough. You’ll need 15 minutes to make it, then allow it to rise for 45 minutes. You can also make it ahead and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Go to this Pizza Dough recipe.

Step 2: Stretch the pizza

Step 2: Stretch the pizza dough and place it into a pizza peel. Go to How to Stretch Pizza Dough for our tips. Top the pizza with pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into small pieces.

Step 3 Bake the Neapolitan pizza

Step 3: Bake the pizza on a pizza stone in a 500°F oven for 6 to 7 minutes, or in a pizza oven for 1 to 2 minutes. Go to the full recipe for the tutorial.

Tips for the pizza dough

The essential part of Neapolitan pizza is the pizza dough. Alex and I have been working on our pizza dough recipe for over 10 years. In the process, we’ve learned a few things from some of the premiere pizza restaurant chefs in America, who themselves have studied the pizza in Naples!

  • Use Tipo 00 flour. Tipo 00 flour is the type of Italian flour that Neapolitan pizza restaurants use. It makes for a supple and fluffy dough. You can find it at your local grocery or online. If you can’t find it, you can use all-purpose flour: it will still make great pizza!
  • Rest the dough for 45 minutes. This is key to the best fluffy pizza dough.
  • Or, refrigerate the dough 2 to 3 days before baking (optional). If you can, we recommend placing your pizza dough in a sealed container and refrigerating it for 2 to 3 days. This naturally ferments the dough and brings a nutty, complex flavor to the dough.
  • Review our dough stretching tips. When ready to make the pizza, go to How to Stretch Pizza Dough for our comprehensive guide.
How to stretch Neapolitan pizza dough

Do I need pizza oven?

No, you don’t need a Neapolitan pizza oven for this recipe. You can cook it in a standard oven at 500°F along with a preheated pizza stone. But if you want those beautiful black char marks on your crust like in these photos, you’ll need a pizza oven (and use this pizza oven dough).

  • A pizza oven can get much hotter than a regular oven. Your standard oven can get only to 550°F, but a pizza oven reaches temperatures of up to almost 1000°F!
  • What pizza oven to buy? Alex and I use this portable pizza oven. It’s small, transportable, and heats up to 1000°F in just 10 minutes! It’s powered by wood pellets. Using it takes a bit of practice, but it’s revolutionized our homemade pizza.
Neapolitan pizza oven

Toppings for Neapolitan pizza: the tomatoes

🍅 Most Neapolitan pizza recipes call for placing tomatoes right onto the dough. The San Marzano variety of tomato is a type of Italian tomato that is most often used on Neapolitan pizza. You can find canned San Marzano tomatoes in many grocery stores in the United States these days.

We discovered a trick for making a sauce for Neapolitan pizza: this pizza sauce recipe uses just 5 ingredients to make a flavor-popping sauce that reminds us of the best pizza in Naples, Italy. It uses fire-roasted tomatoes, which taste sweet and smoky right out of the can.

Tips for using fresh mozzarella cheese

Fresh mozzarella cheese has a lot of moisture in it, which can sometimes result in a watery pizza! The moisture varies based on the brand. If you’re using fresh mozzarella cheese for this Neapolitan pizza recipe, do the following:

  • Slice the mozzarella into ¼ inch thick pieces for topping your pizza. Using huge chunks causes a water build up after baking.
  • If the brand seems extra watery, let it sit on a towel for about 15 minutes, then blot away the extra moisture.
  • We like to top the mozzarella with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to tie it all together before baking.
Neapolitan pizza recipe | Best pizza in Naples Italy | Neapolitan pizza oven
Here’s a snapshot of eating the best pizza in Naples Italy at Da Michele. It goes down as our favorite pizza experience ever, immortalized here and in the pizza section of our cookbook!

Should Neapolitan pizza have basil?

🌱 Like any famous recipe, there are lots of opinions on what makes an authentic Neapolitan pizza recipe. If you’re making a Margherita pizza, we’d say basil is a must. When we had Naples pizza a few years ago, the pizza had one leaf of fresh basil on it. One leaf! Somehow, it brought in just the right basil flavor.

Should you put the basil on a pizza before or after baking? If you’re using a Neapolitan pizza oven, the bake time is only 1 minute. You can place the basil on before baking since it’s such a short cook time. But if you’re baking pizza in a standard oven, fresh basil turns black in the 6 to 7 minute cook time. If you’re using a standard oven, add the basil after baking.

Video with step by step instructions

Perfecting real Neapolitan pizza can be tricky. It’s easiest to learn by watching. Since we can’t come to your kitchen to show you ourselves, here’s the next best thing! This step-by-step video shows exactly how to make the pizza, from kneading to shaping to baking. We highly recommend watching this before you start the recipe!

More artisan pizza recipes

This Neapolitan pizza is one of our favorite artisan pizzas we’ve ever made at home! Here are a few of our other favorite homemade pizza recipes:

Dietary notes

This Neapolitan pizza recipe is vegetarian.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to make authentic Neapolitan pizza at home without a wood-fired oven?

While a wood-fired oven is ideal, you can achieve a very good Neapolitan pizza at home with a standard oven using high heat. This recipe will guide you through adjustments for achieving a crispy crust despite the limitations of a home oven.

What makes Neapolitan pizza different from other pizzas?

Neapolitan pizza is known for its simplicity and focus on high-quality ingredients. It features a thin, airy crust with a slight char, a simple tomato sauce, and minimal toppings.

What type of flour should I use for Neapolitan pizza dough?

“00” flour, a finely-ground Italian flour, is traditionally used for Neapolitan pizza dough. It contributes to the characteristic light and airy texture. However, bread flour or all-purpose flour can be a suitable substitute.

My dough seems too sticky. What can I do?

Neapolitan pizza dough is on the wetter side. Add flour a little bit at a time until the dough comes together and is no longer sticking excessively to your hands.

How hot should my oven be for Neapolitan pizza?

The key to a Neapolitan pizza is very high heat. Aim to preheat your oven (ideally with a pizza stone) to its maximum temperature, which is usually around 500°F (260°C) or higher.

What if my oven doesn’t get that hot?

Don’t worry! You can still achieve a good result. Preheat your oven to the highest setting and preheat a pizza stone or baking sheet for at least 30 minutes to maximize heat retention.

How can I transfer the pizza to the hot oven without a pizza peel?

You can use a parchment paper “peel.” Slide the pizza onto a large piece of parchment paper dusted with flour. Then, carefully slide the parchment paper with the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven.

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Margherita pizza

Neapolitan Pizza Recipe


  • Author: Sonja
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6 slices

Description

Master the art of authentic Italian pizza with this Neapolitan pizza recipe! This recipe unlocks the secrets of the perfect dough, simple yet flavorful sauce, and quick high-heat cooking for a pizzeria-worthy pie in your own oven.


Ingredients

  • 1 ball Homemade Pizza Dough*
  • ⅓ cup Easy Pizza Sauce**
  • 2 to 3 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese (or about ¾ cup shredded mozzarella)
  • Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 basil leaves
  • Semolina flour or cornmeal, for dusting the pizza peel

Instructions

  1. Make the pizza dough: Prepare the dough using this pizza dough recipe. (This takes about 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to rest.)
  2. Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500°F (or preheat your pizza oven).
  3. Make the pizza sauce.
  4. Slice the mozzarella into ¼ inch thick pieces. If it’s incredibly watery fresh mozzarella (all brands vary), allow it to sit on a paper towel for 15 minutes, then dab the mozzarella with the paper towel to remove any additional moisture.
  5. When the oven is ready, stretch the dough into a circle (see How to Stretch Pizza Dough for instructions). Sprinkle a pizza peel with semolina flour or cornmeal, then carefully place the dough on top. Spread the pizza sauce across the dough. Top with mozzarella cheese. Top with a thin layer of fresh grated Parmesan cheese and a few pinches of kosher salt.
  6. If you’re baking in a pizza oven, add the basil leaves. For baking in a standard oven, skip this step.
  7. Transfer the pizza to the pizza stone on the pizza peel, then bake until the cheese is melted, about 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 minute in the pizza oven). Allow the pizza to cool for a minute or two before adding the basil on top (whole leaves, lightly torn, or thinly sliced). Slice into pieces and serve immediately.

Notes

*Make the pizza dough 1 hour in advance (for day of preparation), or you can make it in advance and refrigerate up to 3 days. Refrigerating the dough actually adds to the flavor! Allow refrigerated dough to come to room temperature before using by letting it stand for about 30 to 45 minutes.

**Make the pizza dough up to 1 week in advance and refrigerate.

  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: Neapolitan Pizza, Neapolitan Pizza recipe

Quattro Formaggi Pizza

This Quattro Formaggi pizza is irresistible! It’s topped with a tangy red sauce and the classic Italian combination of four…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This Quattro Formaggi pizza is irresistible! It’s topped with a tangy red sauce and the classic Italian combination of four cheeses.

Quattro formaggi pizza

Here’s a pie that’s one of the Italian greats: Quattro Formaggi! This classic Italian combination of four cheese is popular for a reason: combine each flavor and texture and it makes one completely irresistible slice! There’s the melty mozzarella, sharp and salty Parmesan and Pecorino cheese, and the subtle funk of gorgonzola. Combine it all on pillowy pizza crust with zingy pizza sauce and it’s a match made in pizza heaven.

What is quattro formaggi?

Quattro formaggi means four cheese in Italian, and refers to a popular style of pizza featuring a combination of four cheeses, with or without red sauce. The types of cheeses vary based on the pizzeria, but the most common combination is mozzarella, gorgonzola, Parmesan and fontina cheese. Other variations include swapping out the Parmesan and fontina with pecorino romano, asiago, ricotta, taleggio, robiola, or other Italian cheeses.

For this spin on quattro formaggi pizza, we used Pecorino Romano in place of the fontina cheese to bring a salty intensity to this pie. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this pie:

Quattro formaggi

Pizza dough options

How to make a Quattro Formaggi pizza that tastes like you’re in Italy? Make homemade pizza dough! We’ve honed our dough recipes to perfection over a decade of recipe testing. Each one of the recipes below works perfectly in a standard oven or pizza oven to make next-level artisan pizza:

  • Best Pizza Dough: The standard! This is our best oven pizza dough and works best on a pizza stone.
  • Thin Crust Pizza Dough: This variation is easy and you can roll it out instead of stretching it.
  • Pizza Oven Dough: Got a pizza oven? This is the dough recipe for you.
  • Best-Ever Sheet Pan Pizza: This simple recipe makes the equivalent of two pizzas in a sheet pan: and you don’t need any special tools!
Pizza sauce

The best sauce for quattro formaggi (or go without)

Quattro formaggi pizza can be served with a red tomato-based pizza sauce or without sauce, called Pizza Bianca (white pizza). They both taste great, but we like bit of red sauce to really make this pie shine. Here are a few notes:

  • For a red pizza, spread a bit of tomato sauce for a bold, saucy pie. Try this best homemade pizza sauce recipe, which you can whip up in just 5 minutes, no cooking required.
  • For a white pizza, make sure to brush the dough with olive oil before layering it with cheese. It’s a little more cheese forward and dryer. To add a little more moisture, you could consider spreading a ricotta as a base like in this Pizza Bianca.
Quattro formaggi pizza

Pizza making tools

If you’re making our best pizza dough or thin crust pizza, you’ll need a pizza stone and peel for this recipe. If you’re using a pizza oven, it typically comes with its own pizza peel that can withstand the high temperatures. If you don’t have these tools, consider making the sheet pan pizza dough or a pan pizza! Here are some notes on these tools:

  • Pizza stone: Baking on a pizza stones makes the crust crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. Here’s the pizza stone we recommend.
  • Pizza peel: This paddle slides the pie onto the hot stone in the oven. We recommend this standard pizza peel or this conveyor pizza peel, which makes transferring to the oven a breeze.
  • Pizza oven (optional): An outdoor pizza oven makes next level pizza! We have experience with both the Ooni pizza oven and the ROCCBOX (the ROCCBOX is our preference). We used a pizza oven to get the charred crust you see in the photos.

Let us know if you try this Quattro formaggi pizza and what you think in the comments below!

More pizza recipes

There are infinite ways to top a pizza! Here are a few of our favorite pizza recipes:

This quattro formaggi pizza recipe is…

Vegetarian.

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Quattro formaggi pizza

Quattro Formaggi Pizza


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 7 minutes
  • Yield: 1 medium pizza

Description

This Quattro Formaggi pizza is irresistible! It’s topped with a tangy red sauce and the classic Italian combination of four cheeses.


Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Best Pizza Dough 
  • ½ cup Homemade Pizza Sauce
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (whole milk if possible)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons gorgonzola crumbles

Instructions

  1. Make the pizza dough: Follow the Best Pizza DoughThin Crust Pizza Dough or Pizza Oven Dough recipes to prepare the dough. (This takes about 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to rest.)
  2. Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500°F. OR preheat your pizza oven (here’s the pizza oven we use).
  3. Make the pizza sauce: Make the Homemade Pizza Sauce. (You’ll use about ½ cup for the pizza; reserve the remaining sauce and refrigerate for up to 1 week.)
  4. Bake the pizza: When the oven is ready, dust a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you don’t have a pizza peel, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet. But a pizza peel is well worth the investment!) Stretch the dough into a circle; see How to Stretch Pizza Dough for instructions. Then gently place the dough onto the pizza peel.
  5. Spread a thin layer of the pizza sauce over the dough. Add the mozzarella cheese, then sprinkle with the Pecorino Romano, Parmesan and gorgonzola cheese. 
  6. Use the pizza peel to carefully transfer the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are nicely browned, about 5 to 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 to 2 minutes in a pizza oven).
  7. Allow the pizza to cool for a minute or two before slicing into pieces. Serve immediately.

Notes

*Or, try our Thin Crust Dough or Pizza Oven Dough!

  • Category: Pizza
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Pizza
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Quattro Formaggi, quattro formaggio, Quattro Formaggi pizza

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.