Recipes for Pizza Lovers

Pizza can be a quick snack, an easy way to eat vegetables and fruits, and perfect for any time of day.

Join in the fun and try some of these delicious pizza recipes! These are not your traditional pizza recipes, but rather creative ways to make this crowd favorite dish. Whether you have just a few minutes to whip up a snack or want to make it an evening of fun having a family pizza night, we have the recipe for you.

Rainbow Pizza

This pizza is not only fun to make, but is a great way to eat a variety of colorful vegetables.

Ingredients:

To make the sauce:

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce, no salt added, combined with any or all of the following seasonings:
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon oregano
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon basil

To make the topping:

• 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 red onion
• 1 tomato
• 1 yellow squash
• 1 carrot
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 head broccoli

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Wash hands with soap and water.
3. Gently rub produce under cold running water or scrub firm produce with a clean vegetable brush under running water.
4. Dice bell peppers, squash and broccoli into ½ -inch pieces. Peel and dice onion and carrots in to ½-inch pieces.
5. Organize vegetables by color and put each color into its own small bowl. Set aside.
6. Spread sauce evenly over cooked flatbread, leaving ½ inch around the edge. Top with mozzarella cheese.
7. Arrange vegetables by color in rows on top of the cheese to make a rainbow design.
8. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Slice and serve hot.

Notes:

• This recipe was adapted from a Georgia 4-H favorite pizza recipe using our Yeast Free Skillet Flatbread instead of the traditional dough used in our Homemade Veggie Pizza!
• The tomato sauce is flavorful with the spices and herbs–no need for extra salt! Refrigerate the extra sauce and use it as a dipping sauce later. Refrigerate any leftover vegetables to use later in a stir-fry, omelet or on a salad.

Homemade Veggie Pizza

If you are looking for homemade from start to finish, this is the pizza recipe for you! Try piling on some vegetables for a new favorite way to incorporate veggies in your diet.

Ingredients:

Serves 4

To make the dough:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 envelope (0.25 ounces, about 2 ¼ teaspoons) fast-acting yeast
• 2/3 cup hot water (125-130 degrees Fahrenheit)
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (for steps 3 and 7)
• Cooking spray

To make the sauce:

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce, no salt added, combined with any or all the following seasonings:
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon oregano
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon basil

To make the topping:

• 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Up to 3/4 cup rinsed and diced vegetables like red or green bell peppers, onions, or spinach

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour. Add salt, sugar, and yeast. Mix well to blend.
2. Pour hot water into dry mixture and stir to form a dough. Make sure all flour in the bowl is mixed in.
3. Spread about ¼ cup whole wheat flour on work surface. Place dough on floured surface and knead gently until dough is smooth and elastic. If dough is too sticky, add more flour, about ¼ cup at a time. Kneading usually takes about five minutes.
4. Spray medium-sized bowl with a light coat of cooking spray and place dough in bowl. Turn it over once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a clean dish towel and allow to rise at room temperature until the dough doubles in size, about 10-15 minutes.
5. While dough is rising, clean off work surface with a soapy rag and preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. When dough has doubled in size, punch the dough in the center with your fist to release air bubbles.
7. Spread about ¼ cup whole wheat flour onto clean work surface. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle if using a pizza pan (or a rectangle if using a baking sheet).
8. Spray pizza pan with non-stick spray. Place dough on pan. Clean work surfaces with a soapy rag.
9. Spread sauce evenly over dough, leaving ½ inch around the edge. Top with mozzarella cheese and vegetables.
10. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Slice and serve hot.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

English muffins make this yummy, simple recipe a quick snack or easy meal on the go.

Ingredients:

Serves 12

• 6 English muffins
• 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 bell pepper

 Instructions:

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Heat oven to 450°F
3. Slice English muffins in half and place on ungreased, large cookie sheet.
4. Cut-up bell pepper in 1-inch pieces.
5. Spread barbecue sauce on English muffins to within ¼ inch of edges.
6. Top with chicken, cheese and bell pepper.
7. Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Notes:

• Whole-grain tortillas, round bread thins or a long loaf of bread can be used instead of the English Muffins.
• Pinto beans, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions can be added as an alternative to chicken.

[1] BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

Crispy Tortilla Pizza

Personal pizza, anyone? The tortilla “crust” is what makes this pizza recipe so quick, easy, and fun to eat! If you’re a thin crust pizza fan, you’ve got to try this one.

Ingredients:

Serves 4 

• 4 (6-inch) flour tortillas
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 cups mushrooms
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 red onion
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 cup low-sodium tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese
• 2 teaspoons grated reduced-fat Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place tortillas on 2 large baking sheets.
3. Cook, flipping once, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
4. While the tortillas are in the oven, wash bell pepper and red onion under running water. Wipe down mushrooms with a damp towel.
5. Thinly slice the mushrooms, bell pepper (about 1 cup), and red onion (about 1 cup).
6. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, peppers, onions, and garlic.
7. Cook until all vegetables are soft and tender, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
8. Spread each tortilla crust with 2 tablespoons tomato sauce, 1/4 cup vegetable mixture, 2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese and 1/2 teaspoon of Parmesan cheese to create four personal pizzas.
9. Move pizzas to baking sheets and cook until cheese is melted, and the edges of the tortillas are golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Notes:

• This recipe is originally named Skinny Pizza. [2]  Skinny Pizza Recipe

Blueberry Dessert Pizza

A sweeter twist to pizza that is fast and easy. This pizza can be topped with any fruit for a yummy twist on dessert! Save the rest of the yogurt-cream cheese spread and use it as a fruit dip.

Ingredients:

Serves 1

• 1 (6-inch) whole wheat tortilla
• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1⁄4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 2 tablespoons reduced fat cream cheese (softened)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 cup blueberries

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place tortilla on baking sheet and spray each side with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until crisp. Let cool for few minutes.
2. Mix softened cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Store in fridge until tortilla is cool.
3. Wash blueberries under running water and pat dry with a paper towel.
4. Top tortilla with yogurt-cream cheese mixture and blueberries.

Roll up your sleeves and try making one flavorful pizza recipes. Then pair it with one of our tasty salads, Spinach and Pecan Salad, Kale and Orange Salad or Southern Broccoli Salad.

Written by Melanie Ng, PhD Student and Leslie Davis, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES | Edited by Darci Bell, RDN, LD

[1] Myplate.gov/BBQ_Chicken_Pizza

[2] Myplate.gov/Skinny_Pizza