Zucchini and Cheese Pizza
Delicious and savory, our Baked Twice Zucchini and Cheese Pizza is made with sautéed zucchini and onions, topped with grated pecorino and shredded mozzarella. The pizza dough is baked first without any toppings, then it is baked again with toppings added to give you the perfect pizza!
This pizza always turns out crispy, crunchy, and totally delicious!
Friday night is occasionally pizza night in our family and I usually make two or even three pies, especially if we’re having company. I always make one pie as a traditional margarita pizza which is a tomato-based pizza along with our broccoli tomato pesto pizza.
Then, the third pie can be a simple pizza topped with vegetables or a totally “gluten-free” one like our zucchini pepperoni pizza boats.
So last weekend, I decided to make a pie like they do in Naples, Italy, known as Zucchini Pizza Rustica!
I don’t have a lot of time to make my own pizza dough, and I prefer to buy already-made pizza dough at my local supermarket. Then I leave it out on the counter for a few hours to allow it to rise.
If you are a newbie here and haven’t seen how easy it is to make the dough rise, just click: How to Make Homemade Pizza, to see how we do it.
I then work with the dough to fit my rectangular baking sheet.
Oh and in case you haven’t noticed, there is no need for any fancy pizza stone or pizza pan, I’ve always made my pizza’s in a large cookie sheet I have on hand.
How to Make Baked Twice Zucchini and Cheese Pizza:
For this recipe, there are 3 basic steps to making this pizza.
1. To make this pizza, we sauté the zucchini and onions for a few minutes.
2. We first bake the pizza dough for the first 10 minutes without anything on it.
3. Then we top it with the zucchini mixture and cheese and bake it again until golden brown.
A QUICK TIP!
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There is one essential kitchen gadget I recommend to get for your kitchen, and that is a very good timer.
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It’s crucial in the kitchen, and if you don’t already have one, find one that is really obnoxiously loud so you can hear it from anywhere in the house.
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Because if you don’t have a loud timer, you could end up with a pizza dough that is burnt to a crisp — like mine! Ugh. Luckily, I had another two pizza doughs going into the oven.
*Follow along with our step-by-step directions, or jump down to the bottom of this post for our full recipe card.
Ingredients for Baked Twice Zucchini and Cheese Pizza:
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4 medium-sized zucchini – rinsed and chopped
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1 medium onion – chopped
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3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
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1 Tbsp. butter
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1 tsp. capers
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dash of crushed red pepper flakes
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salt and pepper to taste
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1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
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1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese
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2 cups shredded mozzarella
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1 pizza dough
Directions to make Zucchini and Cheese Pizza:
1. First, allow your pizza dough to rise for a few hours before working with it.
2. Then, work with your pizza dough on a lightly floured surface until you shape it to fit a
large baking sheet, preferably a 12-inch x 17-inch baking sheet.
3. Lightly drizzle some olive oil over the dough, about 2 to 3 teaspoons. Set aside.
4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
5. Bake the pizza dough only for about 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough has cooked about halfway through, and into a thicker pizza crust.
6. In the meantime, in a large sauté pan, and over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil with 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the chopped onion and sauté onions until they become soft and translucent for about 5 minutes.
7. Add zucchini, crushed red pepper flakes, and capers. Sauté for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the zucchini has become soft and tender to the touch. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Finally, stir in the fresh chopped parsley. Turn off heat.
8. Spread the zucchini mixture over the pizza dough evenly. Scatter Romano cheese over the zucchini, and then spread evenly with shredded mozzarella on top.
9. Bake the pizza for another 10 to 12 minutes, or until the crust is brown on the bottom and around the edges and the cheese is completely melted.
10. Remove and set aside to cool for a few minutes. Transfer pie to a cutting board and cut it into square pieces. Serve warm, or at room temperature.
Yields: 12 to 15 slices
…Thanks for PINNING!
Finally, more pizza recipes you might want to try!
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Fresh Asparagus, Tomato, and Cheese Pizza
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White Pizza with Dried Cherries
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Pear and Roquefort Pizza
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Broccoli Tomato Pesto Pizza
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Best Pizza Sauce (requires No Cooking!)
Yield: 8 to 10
Baked Twice Zucchini and Cheese Pizza Rustica
Baked Twice Zucchini and Cheese Pizza is a delicious pizza topped with sautéed zucchini and onions, pecorino cheese, and shredded mozzarella. Loaded with flavor and veggies for the whole family to enjoy!
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Total Time
35 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 medium-sized zucchini -rinsed and chopped
- 1 medium onion - chopped
- 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 1 tsp. capers
- dash of crushed red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 pizza dough
Instructions
- First, allow your pizza dough to rise for a few hours before working with it. Work with your pizza dough on a lightly floured surface until you shape it to fit a large baking sheet, preferably a 12-inch x 17-inch baking sheet. Lightly drizzle some olive oil over the dough, about 2 to 3 teaspoons. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230. C).
- Bake the pizza dough only for about 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough has cooked about halfway through, and into a thicker pizza crust.
- In the meantime, in a large sauté pan, and over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil with 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the chopped onion and sauté them until they become soft and translucent for about 5 minutes.
- Add zucchini, crushed red pepper flakes, and capers. Sauté for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the zucchini has become soft and tender to the touch. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Finally, stir in the fresh chopped parsley. Turn off heat.
- Spread the zucchini mixture over the pizza dough evenly. Scatter grated pecorino cheese over the zucchini, and then spread evenly with shredded mozzarella on top.
- Bake zucchini pizza for another 10 to 12 minutes, or until crust is brown on the bottom and around the edges and the cheese is completely melted. Remove and set aside to cool for a few minutes. Transfer pie to a cutting board and cut it into square pieces. Serve warm, or at room temperature.
- Yields: 12 to 15 slices
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12 to 15 slicesServing Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 121Total Fat: 8.9gSaturated Fat: 2.6gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 139mgCarbohydrates: 8.1gFiber: 1.2gSugar Alcohols: 1.2gProtein: 3.1g
Made the pizza on a pizza stone baked it for under 15 min total at 550 degrees and came out delicious! Very filling and great flavor! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Thank you Marisa for taking the time to leave a sweet comment! We appreciate hearing from everyone who tries our recipes- thanks again!
I hate when that happens! Sometimes I'll forget the kitchen timer in the kitchen and can't hear when it goes off. Not good 🙂
Love this beautiful take on pizza!
What a great pizza. And I am sorry for your loss! This is a great Friday tradition!
You did it again! Recipes like this (especially pizza) are a direct conduit to my heart (and stomach.) LOVE this one!
Yup I think that crust is a little done! I love using a timer – I would burn everything if I didn't and you know I absolutely love pizza! Great toppings – perfect meal. Have a wonderful weekend sweet ladies!
Thank you Tricia! You too, have a great weekend!
Now I wish we were having pizza for dinner tonight! Love all these toppings!
Thanks Joanne!
Xxoo