My Childhood Favorite Pizza Fritta (Fried Pizza)

A common street food staple in Naples, Pizza Fritta (aka fried pizza) is pizza dough fried until golden and topped with sauce and grated cheese.

For me, Pizza Fritta unlocks a core memory, and I’m transported right back to my grandmother’s kitchen in Jamaica, Queens on a Friday night.

This is a recipe that’s near and dear to my heart — and literally so simple that I can’t keep it to myself.

Pizza Fritta Ingredients

Here’s everything you’ll need to make pizza fritta:

Pizza dough: Feel free to make your own or simply ask your local pizzeria for some dough (most will sell it for a few bucks).

Pizza sauce: I made a simple tomato sauce with extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, crushed tomatoes, salt, and basil — but feel free to buy some at the store!

Locatelli cheese: Grated.

Fresh basil: For topping.

Neutral oil: For frying (plus a drizzle of olive oil)

How to Make Pizza Fritta

Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Prep your ingredients

Add about ½ cup to ¾ cup of neutral oil to a large skillet. Drizzle a bit of olive oil (just a TBS or 2) to the oil. Let that heat up.

While heating, make sure you have your sauce and cheese ready to go.

Step 2: Roll out your dough

You really can make these however large or small you choose.

I tend to cut a dough ball into four and roll each one with a rolling pin to resemble an oval. This is a rustic, old-school street food so you definitely don’t have to be perfect.

Step 3: Fry your pizzas

When the oil is hot, add your dough (it should start immediately puffing up).

Once some bubbles form and it’s beginning to turn golden, flip the dough over and fry the other side. This should all take less than 5 minutes.

Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 4: Top your pizzas

Now take some sauce and pour it over your pizza followed by a generous sprinkling of Locatelli. Top with a piece of fresh basil and enjoy hot!