Best 5 Italian Pesto Pizzas Recipes

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Indulge in the symphony of flavors with our delectable Italian pesto pizzas. Experience the vibrant medley of fresh basil, nutty pine nuts, sharp Parmesan, and extra virgin olive oil, artfully blended into a luscious pesto sauce. This vibrant sauce serves as the foundation for a culinary masterpiece, adorning a crisp and airy pizza crust. In this article, we present three enticing variations of pesto pizzas that will tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the heart of Italy.

1. **Classic Pesto Pizza:** The traditional rendition of pesto pizza showcases the harmony of pesto, succulent tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella cheese, resulting in a timeless classic that embodies the essence of Italian cuisine.

2. **Roasted Vegetable Pesto Pizza:** For an explosion of flavors and textures, embark on a journey with our roasted vegetable pesto pizza. This delightful creation features an array of colorful roasted vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms, harmoniously arranged atop a bed of pesto and melted cheese.

3. **Pesto Chicken Pizza:** Craving a protein-packed delight? Look no further than our pesto chicken pizza. Tender chicken is lovingly marinated in a blend of herbs and spices, then grilled to perfection and nestled amidst a layer of pesto, melted cheese, and a sprinkling of red onions for an irresistible taste experience.

Prepare to embark on a culinary adventure as we delve deeper into the recipes for these captivating pesto pizzas. Let your taste buds rejoice in the symphony of flavors that await you as you explore the art of creating these Italian masterpieces. Buon Appetito!

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

EASY PESTO PIZZA



Easy Pesto Pizza image

Our Test Kitchen kneaded basil, oregano and Parmesan cheese into packaged bread dough for this full-flavored crust. Purchased pesto sauce keeps it big on taste and convenience.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 40m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup prepared pesto
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425°. Place dough on a lightly floured surface; let rest for 10 minutes. Knead in 1/4 cup cheese, basil and oregano. Roll into a 12-in. circle; place on a greased 14-in. pizza pan. Prick with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes., Spread pesto sauce over the crust. Sprinkle with mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake until golden brown, 8-10 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 259 calories, Fat 11g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 17mg cholesterol, Sodium 513mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 12g protein.

PESTO PIZZA PILLOWS



Pesto Pizza Pillows image

Provided by Molly Yeh

Categories     appetizer

Time 35m

Yield 24 pieces

Number Of Ingredients 9

Vegetable oil, for frying
24 square wonton wrappers
1 large egg, beaten
2 cups grated low-moisture mozzarella
4 ounces sweet Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup prepared pesto
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for sprinkling
Kosher salt
Warmed marinara sauce, such as Rao's, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven to 365 degrees F.
  • Lay out the wonton wrappers on your work surface. Brush each entire wrapper with egg wash. Top each with a heaping tablespoon of mozzarella, a crumble of sausage, 1/2 teaspoon pesto and 1/2 teaspoon Parmesan, leaving space around the edges. Fold the corners of each wrapper into the center to make a square. Press to seal.
  • Fry the sealed pockets in 2 batches, turning occasionally, until crisp and golden brown all over, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Season lightly with salt and sprinkle with Parmesan while still hot. Serve hot, with marinara for dipping.

PESTO AND MOZZARELLA FRENCH BREAD PIZZA



Pesto and Mozzarella French Bread Pizza image

Basil is the classic choice for this alternative to red sauce, but blend in any tender, flavorful herbs or greens like parsley, spinach, or arugula depending on what you have around. This pesto recipe doubles easily and freezes well, too: Transfer the finished pesto to an ice cube tray and freeze until firm. Pop the frozen pesto into a resealable bag, and keep it in the freezer for up to three months. Defrost whenever a pasta or pizza craving calls, though you can certainly use store-bought pesto to make things even easier. Fresh mozzarella creates excellent cheese pulls, but feel free to play around with other soft cheeses: A crumbling of feta or goat cheese would make delicious variations.

Provided by Dawn Perry

Categories     pizza and calzones

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 cups lightly packed basil leaves or other tender herbs or greens such as parsley, arugula, baby spinach, or a combination
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup pine nuts or almonds
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 loaf soft French bread, split lengthwise, insides mostly dug out
8 ounces mozzarella, low-moisture and part-skim, or fresh (drained and patted dry, if necessary) thinly sliced
Red-pepper flakes, dried oregano or grated Parmesan, or a combination, for serving

Steps:

  • Make the pesto: Heat the oven to 450 degrees with a rack in the middle position. Combine basil, 1 garlic clove and pine nuts in a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped. With the machine running, stream in the olive oil. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add Parmesan and salt, and pulse to combine.
  • Prepare the pizza: Combine the 1/4 cup olive oil and grated garlic in a small pot over medium. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the garlic starts to sizzle (but doesn't begin to brown), 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Place the French bread cut side up on a baking sheet. Brush cut sides with garlic oil. Bake until edges are golden, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Spread the pesto over the two halves all the way to the edges and top with the cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is evenly melted, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to broil and broil (watch carefully!) until the cheese is bubbly and browned in spots, 1 to 2 minutes more. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Top with red-pepper flakes, oregano and more Parmesan, if you like.

ITALIAN-STYLE PIZZAS



Italian-Style Pizzas image

With prepared pesto and pizza crusts, this recipe comes together in a flash. It makes two, and we love that we each get our own Italian style pizza! I like to complete the meal with a salad and fresh fruit. -Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers     Dinner

Time 25m

Yield 2 pizzas.

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 prebaked mini pizza crusts
1/2 cup prepared pesto
2/3 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sliced sweet onion
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh mushrooms
1/4 cup roasted sweet red peppers, drained
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Place crusts on an ungreased baking sheet; spread with pesto. Layer with mozzarella cheese, onion, mushrooms and peppers; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400° until cheese is melted, 10-12 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 429 calories, Fat 23g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 23mg cholesterol, Sodium 820mg sodium, Carbohydrate 37g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 19g protein.

PESTO PIZZA RECIPE BY TASTY



Pesto Pizza Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: all purpose flour, instant yeast, salt, hot water, olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella cheese, shredded chicken breast, red onion, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves

Provided by Tasty

Categories     Lunch

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 cups all purpose flour
¾ teaspoon instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup hot water
3 ¾ teaspoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
½ cup parmesan cheese
½ cup pine nuts, or other nut of your choice
2 tablespoons lemon juice, optional
⅓ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 ½ cups fresh basil leaves
¾ cup mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded chicken breast
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
5 cherry tomatoes, chopped
4 fresh basil leaves

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425ºF/220ºC and prepare a sheet pan with parchment paper or corn meal.
  • Add flour, yeast, and salt to the Vitamix and pulse at variable 5 several times. Remove the lid plug and slowly add the water and olive oil while pulsing at variable 6. Stop pulsing once all of the water and oil have been added, and the dough forms a ball.
  • Place dough in an oiled bowl and flip it over so both sides get oiled. Rest until ready to use (at least 15 to 20 minutes).
  • In the 16-oz container, blend Parmesan, pine nuts, olive oil, and garlic cloves on variable 4 until smooth.
  • Add basil, then continue blend on variable 2 for 10 seconds, then increase to variable 6 and blend until smooth. If the mixture is not blending, add additional olive oil or a tablespoon of water or lemon juice, then continue to blend until smooth.
  • On the sheet pan, stretch out half of the dough to form a 12-14-inch (30 - 35 cm) pizza crust. Save remaining dough for later. (Tip: Leftover pizza dough makes for great cinnamon rolls!)
  • Spread half of the pesto onto the pizza dough and sprinkle with mozzarella. (Save remaining pesto for another time or freeze for up to 1 month.)
  • Add onions and chicken to the top of the pizza and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese has melted and crust is light golden brown. Sprinkle with chopped tomatoes and a few fresh basil leaves.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1733 calories, Carbohydrate 175 grams, Fat 88 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 59 grams, Sugar 5 grams

Tips:

  • Choose the Right Tomatoes: Select ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the best taste. San Marzano tomatoes are a popular choice.
  • Use Fresh Basil: For the most vibrant flavor, use fresh basil leaves. If you don't have fresh basil on hand, you can use dried basil, but the flavor will be less intense.
  • Make Your Own Pesto: It's easy to make your own pesto at home. You'll need fresh basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Don't Overcrowd the Pizza: When assembling the pizza, don't overload it with toppings. This will make the pizza soggy.
  • Use a Hot Oven: Bake the pizza in a hot oven to get a crispy crust and melted cheese.

Conclusion:

There you have it! These delicious Italian pesto pizzas are sure to be a hit at your next party or gathering. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a flavorful and satisfying meal that everyone will love. So get creative and experiment with different toppings to find your favorite combination. Buon appetito!

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