White Pizza Sauces

pizza blanca 1A traditional Pizza Bianca, also called Pizza Blanca or White Pizza, generally has no sauce, just a covering of  some garlic, olive oil and herbs, often topped with mozzarella cheese and whatever other toppings you prefer. But you can also put a creamy white sauce, like an Alfredo or bechamel sauce, on your pizza. If you do use a sauce on your Pizza Bianca, be sure to go light with it. These sauces tend to be rich and slightly heavy, making a light spread of sauce better than a too thick coating. Here are some recipes for Pizza Bianca that I’m sure you’ll love!

Traditional Pizza Bianca (White Pizza)

Basic pizza dough
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Roll out your pizza dough and place on a heavy baking sheet. Pierce the dough all over with a fork and drizzle the olive oil over the surface. Spread the garlic over the dough and sprinkle with the thyme and salt. Bake for about 15 minutes in a preheated 450 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Pizza Bianca Sauce (Creamy White Sauce)

This sauce is also great tossed with fettuccini for a quick Alfredo. You can try mixing it into some marinara or red pizza sauce for a “rosa” creamy pasta topping. It is also nice as a dipping sauce for soft Italian breadsticks.

2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup parmesan cheese or shredded Havarti cheese

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook over medium heat, stirring continually for 3-4 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring continually. Simmer and cook the mixture for about 5 more minutes. Blend in the other ingredients and the cheese, stirring until the cheese has melted. The sauce can be used immediately or kept warm over very low heat until ready to use.

Rich and Creamy Alfredo Sauce
This creamy white sauce is very rich with lots of butter, Parmesan cheese, and heavy cream. It is a classic Alfredo sauce that is perfect on pasta. For a special treat, top your pizza with this sauce. 

1/4 cup butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the cheese, cream, salt and pepper and heat through, stirring constantly. The sauce can be used immediately or kept warm over very low heat until ready to use.

Garlic White Sauce
There is no cheese in this sauce, but it is full of garlic that would satisfy any garlic lover. If you’d like, you can add even more garlic to increase the intensity of the flavor.

4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic and sauté for a 2-3 minutes. Add the flour and cook over medium heat, stirring continually for 3-4 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring continually. Simmer and cook the mixture for about 5 more minutes. Add the salt and pepper. The sauce can be used immediately or kept warm over very low heat until ready to use.

Topping Your Pizza Bianca
While Pizza Bianca tastes great without the addition of other toppings, there are some ingredients that work well on this type of pizza. Of course, as with any pizza, the sky is the limit when it comes to picking your toppings. To spark your creativity, try these toppings that work particularly well on a white pizza:

  • Spinach
  • Leeks
  • Caramelized onions
  • Bacon
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Grilled chicken
  • Italian sausage
  • Shrimp
  • Prosciutto
  • Sundried tomatoes
  • Artichoke hearts
  • Broccoli
  • Peas
  • Mozzarella cheese