Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (2024)

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This delicious Pesto Pizza is topped with pesto, loaded with veggies, and is all on a whole wheat crust! You’ll love these flavors together!

Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (1)

Pesto Pizza | Vegetarians Rejoice!

Made with three types of cheese, a whole wheat crust, and a ton of different veggies, this Pesto Pizza is a winner for any weeknight. It’s a vegetarian recipe but that doesn’t mean it’s not filling. The best part about all of it? You can customize it with all of our favorite toppings!

  • Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (2)
  • Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (3)

Main Ingredients Needed

Scour your fridge for any veggies you need to use up, or scour the produce section at the store the next time you go grocery shopping. Either way, here’s what you’ll need to make Pesto Pizza:

  • Pizza Dough – I used my own Whole Wheat Pizza Dough. But feel free to use the store-bought stuff.
  • Pesto – I totally bought a huge jar of pesto at Costco over the weekend and plan to use it all up! Or you could make my homemade pesto!
  • Spinach, Zucchini, Olives, Artichoke + Green Peppers – all the veggies that go onto the pizza and into the oven! Lot’s of green goodies here.
  • Mozzarella, Cheddar Cheese + Parmigiano Reggiano – cheese overload! How could you go wrong with this blend? So yummy!
  • Tomatoes + Green Onions – these are the cold veggies that top the pizza after it’s done baking. I love the hot and cold combination.

Variations

Feel free to use whatever veggies you like on your pesto pizza. Here are a couple of ideas:

  • broccoli
  • bell peppers
  • red onions
  • mushrooms
  • asparagus
  • yellow squash
  • kale
  • brussel sprouts

Need Some Protein?

And if you absolutely need some meat with your pizza I’d say go with chicken for this recipe. It’s subtle enough that you still get all of the great flavors of the veggies.

Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (4)

How to Make Pesto Pizza

For full details on how to make pesto pizza, see the recipe card down below!

Step 1: Pizza Dough and Pesto

Start out with some pizza dough. Once the pizza dough is ready to go, grab some pesto. Spread some over your pizza to cover the dough in a thin layer.

Step 2: Toppings

Add on some spinach and fresh mozzarella and a bunch of other veggies! I added zucchini, olives, artichoke hearts, and green peppers.

Grate over top some cheddar and parmesan to finish it off.

Take a step back and contemplate how amazing this is going to taste in approximately 7 minutes.

Step 3: Bake and Serve!

Cook the pizza in a screaming hot oven and then top with green onions and tomatoes. Slice and serve!

Hot cheese + pesto + veggies + cold tomatoes = happy tummies. Enjoy, folks! 🙂

Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (5)

More Pesto Recipes to Try!

Be sure to check out all my other pesto recipes while you’re at it!

  • Amazing Pesto Recipe
  • Vegetarian Burrito Recipe
  • Spinach Pesto Recipe
  • Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Consider making this Pesto Pizza this week! It’s a good one!

The printable recipe card is down below, enjoy 🙂

Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (6)

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5 from 1 vote

Pesto Pizza

This delicious Pesto Pizza is topped with pesto, loaded with veggies, and is all on a whole wheat crust! You'll love these flavors together!

servings 3 servings

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1/2 recipe Fail Proof Pizza Dough
  • 1/3 cup prepared pesto
  • 1 cup baby spinach loosely packed
  • 6 oz sliced fresh mozzarella
  • 1/3 zucchini sliced very thin
  • 1/4 cup sliced green olives
  • 1/3 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts
  • 1/2 large green bell pepper sliced
  • 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated parmigianno reggiano cheese
  • 1 tomato sliced
  • 1 green onion chopped

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Line pizza pan with parchment {if desired} or lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.

  • Spread pizza dough out to be 12-14 inches in diameter. Spread pesto over dough.

    Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (7)

  • Top with spinach, fresh mozzarella…

    Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (8)

  • zucchini, olives, artichokes, green pepper…

    Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (9)

  • cheddar, and parmesan cheeses.

    Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (10)

  • Bake 7-10 minutes or until edges are brown and cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes. Top with tomato slices and green onion. Slice and serve.

    Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (11)

Nutrition

Calories: 639kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 1741mg | Potassium: 335mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2988IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 692mg | Iron: 3mg

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: pesto pizza

Pesto Pizza Recipe (Vegetarian) - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

What is the name of the Italian pizza with pesto? ›

Pizza pesto Genovese is a variety of Italian pizza that is traditionally topped with pieces of mozzarella and the famous pesto sauce. The pizza is typically finished off with a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

Is there a vegetarian pesto sauce? ›

Is Pesto Vegetarian? Traditional basil pesto is not vegetarian because animal rennet is used in the production of the cheeses it contains. However, it is perfectly possible to create vegetarian pesto using cheese substitutes such as tofu or nutritional yeast.

What is pesto pizza sauce made of? ›

This fresh sauce made from basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and a salty hard cheese might possibly be the oldest Italian sauce. You may also see it called Pesto alla Genovese after the town of Genoa, where it originated.

Is pepperoni good on pesto pizza? ›

This Pesto Pepperoni Pizza is the ultimate easy Summer dinner! It's fresh, seasonal and so delicious thanks to an extra drizzle of hot honey at the end!

Do Italians put pesto on pizza? ›

Now there are many gourmet pizzerias and pizza with pesto can be eaten all over Italy. Sure. Obviously it is not a traditional topping but above all in Liguria, where pesto was born and where I have been going on vacation since I was a child, pizza with pesto is very common.

What cheese goes with pesto? ›

What Kind of Cheese Should I Use? I used fresh mozzarella because I love the way it melts, but you can use block or grated mozzarella in its place (that's usually more affordable as well). Other types of cheese that would work great with pesto are: smoked mozzarella, gruyere, swiss, brie, or white cheddar.

What is a good substitute for Parmesan in pesto? ›

“I just find that sweet white miso is the best substitute for Parmesan.” Miso Master is her brand of choice because of its mild flavor and aerated texture, which keeps the sauce light and creamy. “You get a little sweetness and a ton of umami,” she says.

Why is Parmesan not vegetarian? ›

So Why Isn't Parmesan Cheese Vegetarian? This answer is encapsulated in one word: rennet. Specifically animal rennet, collected from slaughtered cows, goats or other young, milk-fed ruminant animals.

Does all pesto have animal rennet? ›

Unfortunately, most supermarket pesto brands aren't vegetarian. Parmesan, a key ingredient in pesto, contains rennet which is an enzyme found in the stomach of a goat or calf.

Does pesto go on pizza before or after cooking? ›

To me, a good pesto pizza should have bold pesto flavor. I don't want it to taste faintly of basil, garlic, Parmesan and olive oil—I want those flavors to bowl me over. The key is to spread a generous layer of pesto over the pizzas before baking, and then top them with more pesto when they come out of the oven.

What's the difference between tomato pesto and pesto? ›

Any red pesto will have a cheese, olive oil, garlic, and nut base. Those nuts can be pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds, but they perform the same function, adding body to what would otherwise be a thin sauce. The difference between red pestos is in which fruit provides the signature coloration — peppers or tomatoes.

Which meat is best with pesto? ›

Pesto Meat Recipes
  • Pesto Pork Chops. This is our ultimate weeknight comfort food.
  • Pesto Meatloaf. Traditionalists with balk at the idea of a pesto meatloaf, but that's only because they haven't tried ours.
  • Pesto Meatballs. ...
  • Pesto Schnitzel. ...
  • Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts. ...
  • Pesto Lamb Shank Tagine.

What does pesto taste like on pizza? ›

Tell Me About This Pesto Pizza

Flavor: Cheesy, garlicky, herby, salty, and a little spicy if you add some red pepper flakes.

What can I put on pizza instead of pepperoni? ›

The 6 Best Alternatives Meat Toppings to Pepperoni
  • 1) Ham. When you think of ham, your mind probably drifts off to a large holiday main course. ...
  • 2) Sausage. Sausage is another pizza classic–the second most popular when compared to pepperoni. ...
  • 3) Ground Beef. Ground beef? ...
  • 4) Bacon. ...
  • 5) Chicken. ...
  • 6) The Ultimate Meat Lover's Pie.
Apr 20, 2023

What is the popular Italian pizza called? ›

Whether in its simple version with mozzarella fiordilatte or mozzarella de bufala (in which case it would technically be called a Bufalina pizza), the Margherita pizza is undoubtedly the favourite pizza of Italian people.

What is a Sicilian pizza called? ›

Sicilian pizza is also known as sfincione (Italian: [sfinˈtʃoːne]; Sicilian: sfinciuni, Sicilian: [sfɪnˈtʃuːnɪ]) or focaccia with toppings. This type of pizza became a popular dish in western Sicily by the mid-19th century and was the type of pizza usually consumed in Sicily until the 1860s.

What is the name of the Italian dessert pizza? ›

But long before cheese pizza took the world by storm, there was another, more widely known dish in Italy called “Neapolitan pizza.” This was a baked dessert pie stuffed with almond custard.

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