Lemon Ricotta Sourdough Pizza

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August 20, 2025

Stacked slices of lemon ricotta sourdough pizza topped with fresh basil leaves on a golden crust.

medium

4–6 slices (1 medium pizza)

Afterglow Mains

Lemon Ricotta Sourdough Pizza: A Slice of Sunshine

Zesty lemon, creamy ricotta, and a golden sourdough crust that makes pizza night feel like a celebration.

This Lemon Ricotta Sourdough Pizza is pure joy on a plate. It’s bright, creamy, and tangy with a pop of citrus in every bite. The sourdough crust bakes up with that irresistible chew and golden edge, while the ricotta brings velvety richness, balanced by the pop of fresh lemon zest and herbs. Perfect for spring and summer gatherings, this fresh take on pizza is light, flavorful, and guaranteed to surprise (in the best way!) at your table.

💚 Why You’ll Love This Lemon Ricotta Pizza

🍋 Bright & zesty lemon flavor that feels like sunshine
🍕 Golden sourdough crust with the perfect chewy bite
🧀 Creamy ricotta for rich, velvety goodness
🌿 Fresh herbs that make every slice sing
✨ Light, fresh, and perfect for spring & summer nights

👩‍🍳 A Baker’s Tease

This beauty really shines on sourdough pizza dough (or our stupid simple cast iron sourdough discard crust!), but if you’re short on time, naan, flatbread, refrigerated pie crust, or even a pre-baked crust will do the trick. (Puff pastry? Save that one for tartlets 😉).

The secret is to slice the lemons very thin, rind included. They caramelize in the oven and add tiny pops of citrus to each bite.

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Looking for more comforting, flavor-packed meals? Check out our [other recipes here]!

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Ingredients

Adjust Servings

	1/2 large shallot, chopped
	2-3 cloves garlic, minced
	1 medium to large lemon (regular or Meyer), sliced very thin; cut into quarters and halves
	1-2 tbsp olive oil, drizzle
	8 oz fresh mozzarella, torn into chunks
	Parmesan cheese, sprinkle to taste
	Honey, drizzle
	Paprika, sprinkle
	1/2 tsp fresh thyme
	Salt & pepper, to taste
	1 tbsp sesame seeds, sprinkle across pizza
	1/2 tsp chili flakes, sprinkle to taste
	Fresh basil, generous handful, chopped or torn
	Ricotta Mixture (for topping)
	8 oz ricotta
	2 tbsp powdered sugar
	Generous fresh cracked pepper
	Pinch of salt, to taste

Nutritional Information

300 Calories

17g Carbs

17g Protein

20g Fat

1g Fiber

Directions

Preheat the Oven & Pizza Stone

Preheat your oven to 450°F with a pizza stone inside so it gets hot and ready for that golden, crisp crust.

Overhead view of three stacked slices of lemon ricotta sourdough pizza topped with thin lemon slices and fresh basil leaves.

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Prepare the Dough

Place your sourdough pizza dough (or store-bought dough/flatbread) on a piece of parchment paper. Roll it out evenly, then brush the surface with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Bubbly sourdough pizza dough balls on a wooden board with fresh pizza slices in the background

Almost any crust will do! Sourdough is our favorite, but naan, flatbread, or even a quick store-bought crust can step in without missing a beat.

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Make the Ricotta Mixture

In a bowl, stir together ricotta, powdered sugar, cracked pepper, and salt. Set aside. This will be this will be spooned on after baking.

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Assemble the Pizza Base

Once the dough is ready, sprinkle a layer of parmesan, the chopped shallot, & minced garlic evenly over the dough.

Rolled sourdough pizza dough topped with Parmesan and chopped shallots, with sourdough dough balls in the background.

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Top with Lemon Slices

Scatter mozzarella and a few more sprinkles of Parmesan on top. Add very thin lemon slices (quarters/halves with rind on). Season with paprika, thyme, sesame seeds, chili flakes, salt, and pepper.

Rolled sourdough pizza dough topped with thin lemon slices and cheese, with sourdough dough balls in the background.

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Bake Until Golden

Keeping the dough on the parchment paper, slide it onto the hot pizza stone. Bake for 10–15 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.

Golden edge of lemon ricotta sourdough pizza highlighting the depth and airy rise of the crust.

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Remove from Oven & Finish

Remove the pizza from the oven, then top with creamy dollops or gentle swirls of the ricotta mixture, a drizzle of honey, and a generous sprinkle of fresh basil. Slice and serve warm. 🍋🧀🌿🍯

Whole lemon ricotta pizza topped with chunks of fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, and thin lemon slices, ready to be sliced and served.

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Notes

Light, fresh and surprisingly easy, this lemon ricotta pizza feels like sunshine on a crust. 🍋🍕 The creamy cheese, zesty citrus and bright herbs make it taste fancy, but it comes together without any fuss. One bite and you’ll wonder why every pizza night hasn’t been this bright and breezy. 🌿💛