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Crafting the proper nutritious pizza is all about selecting the most effective wholesome pizza toppings. With over 40 totally different vegetarian and vegan-friendly low cal pizza toppings to select from, plus higher crust and sauce choices, I’ll present you learn how to make a pizza wholesome and scrumptious with only a few easy swaps!
Who doesn’t love pizza? For many people, it’s our favourite meals! I like pizza a lot that I’ve a complete class of pizza recipes!
But, many individuals imagine it’s not possible to place the phrases “wholesome” and “pizza” in the identical sentence—not to mention “scrumptious.” However I’m right here to vary your thoughts. It’s completely attainable to pick out more healthy pizza toppings and nonetheless take pleasure in considered one of your favourite meals.
On this information, I’m going to share all of my favourite low calorie pizza toppings after which discover various kinds of pizza crusts and sauces that you should use to enhance the dietary worth of a typical pizza whereas additionally decreasing fats and energy. Lastly, on the backside of this submit you’ll discover my recipe for the most effective wholesome pizza.
When achieved proper, pizza will be each tasty and good for you, I promise!
Wholesome Pizza Topping Concepts
Relating to selecting the healthiest toppings for pizza, I keep on with vegetarian and vegan choices. By utilizing contemporary greens which are low in energy and excessive in vitamins, together with high-protein toppings like nuts, veggie sausage, and even eggs, I can create a wholesome pizza that I be ok with serving my household.
Greens
Garlic: I like including tons of aromatic garlic to pizza as a result of it provides a lot of taste with none fats and energy. For the most effective, taste I all the time recommend utilizing contemporary finely sliced or minced garlic cloves.
Onions: Onions are one other considered one of my favourite wholesome toppings for pizza. When baked, they add a pleasant candy and savory taste to pizza. You may also add caramelized onions for a good deeper taste. My kale and caramelized onion panini may simply be become a pizza.
Pink Pepper: Pink bell pepper is one other basic topping that provides each colour and a barely candy taste. You should use contemporary or roasted purple peppers. I like to make use of roasted peppers once I’m making Mediterranean model pizza.
Arugula: Arugula is considered one of my favourite mild pizza toppings that provides a contemporary end and a little bit peppery taste.
Mushrooms: Mushrooms add a hearty and meaty layer of umami, but are low in energy! I exploit them instead of processed meats.
Zucchini: Finely sliced zucchini is beautiful on veggie pizza. I recommend sauting it for a couple of minutes first to take away among the water.
Inexperienced Pepper: Similar to purple pepper, inexperienced bell pepper is a basic that goes nicely with nearly every other toppings. In my home, we like it with onion and veggie sausage.
Summer time Squash: Mild and refreshing summer season squash is scrumptious on goat cheese pizza. Add a little bit arugula and it’s the proper starter.
Butternut Squash: Strive including some butternut squash to your pizza this fall season! I like to recommend roasting the squash till it’s caramelized for probably the most wonderful candy and savory taste. You could possibly additionally use pumpkin when you like.
Artichokes: When you’re on the lookout for extra excessive fiber pizza toppings I recommend you add artichokes to your listing! Not solely are they a scrumptious and exquisite addition, they’re low in fats whereas nonetheless being wealthy in fiber, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Spinach: Get your greens by including a handful of contemporary spinach. You’ll be able to sauté the spinach earlier than including it to your pizza or use it as a uncooked topping. I’ve achieved each and spinach pizza tastes nice both means.
Tomato: Though technically a fruit, I’m including tomatoes to the veggie listing. Recent tomato slices or cherry tomatoes on pizza with some contemporary basil and a light-weight quantity of mozzarella creates a easy but extremely scrumptious mixture.
Broccoli: As a broccoli lover, including it to pizza simply is sensible to me. It roasts completely within the oven and gives tons of well being advantages. Broccoli is a superb supply of fiber and protein, and it additionally comprises iron, potassium, and calcium.
Beets: With their vibrant colour and earthy sweetness, beets are considered one of my favourite distinctive wholesome pizza toppings. Strive topping your pizza with roasted beet slices and crumbled blue cheese, after which after baking sprinkle on some toasted walnuts for added crunch.
Black Olives: Olives add a salty, briny factor to pizza that I like to make use of to reinforce the opposite toppings. Plus, I simply discover them scrumptious. You may also use inexperienced olives.
Jalapenos: Who doesn’t love a little bit warmth even on pizza?! If I’m making a Mexican impressed pizza I’ll add some contemporary or pickled jalapeno slices.
Asparagus: Sure, I’ll even use asparagus. You can also make a easy but tasty pizza by topping it with calmly sautéed asparagus spears, mozzarella, and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
Kale: Similar to spinach, kale is one other good inexperienced addition. Nonetheless, as a result of it’s a little bit harder in textures, I like to recommend sautéing it earlier than including it to your pizza.
Eggplant: Eggplant has a really delicate taste, nevertheless it pairs properly with different typical pizza components reminiscent of tomatoes and mozzarella. Nonetheless, I recommend slicing it very skinny or roasting it first.
Candy Potato: Chunks of candy potato add some depth and heartiness. I prefer to pair it with a cauliflower crust and pureed greens for the last word wholesome pizza.
Entire Leaf Basil: Tomatoes, contemporary basil, and mozzarella cheese are a match made in pizza heaven. I by no means get bored with a basic Margherita pizza.
Corn: Corn provides each sweetness and texture. I make a easy Mexican pizza with corn, paired with black beans, salsa, and a Mexican cheese mix! Corn additionally tastes nice on a pizza with contemporary summer season squash and different summer season veggies.
Cauliflower: I don’t simply use cauliflower for crust. Frivolously roasted cauliflower provides a nutty, caramelized style that pairs superbly with any sauce and cheese.
Fennel: Thinly sliced roasted fennel has a candy, licorice-like taste that provides a novel and fragrant contact to any pizza. I don’t recommend utilizing it uncooked.
Sprouts: I typically use contemporary sprouts reminiscent of alfalfa or radish like I do arugula. They add a contact of freshness and one other layer of taste after baking.
Capers: Briny and salty capers add a pop of taste! When you’re an olive lover like me I extremely suggest sprinkling a couple of in your pizza.
Fruits
Figs: When you’ve by no means tried figs on pizza, you’re in for an actual deal with. My children love figs on pizza with a little bit goat cheese and honey.
Pineapple: For these Hawaiian pizza lovers, I couldn’t neglect so as to add pineapple to my pizza toppings listing. The sweetness of the pineapple paired with savory components is tremendous yummy.
Jackfruit: When you’re on the lookout for low fats pizza toppings that may mimic the feel of meat then I recommend you give shredded jackfruit a strive. Each jackfruit carnitas and BBQ jackfruit make a tasty topping.
Avocado: Whereas avocado will not be one of many lowest calorie pizza toppings, typically I like including some slices to a freshly baked pizza so as to add a layer of taste and creaminess. Plus, avocados are full of wholesome fat.
Grilled Peaches: I like to make a fantastic summer season pizza with grilled contemporary peaches, goat cheese, and a drizzle of honey. It’s my model of a seasonal dessert pizza!
Pears: My favourite method to take pleasure in pears on pizza is with gorgonzola and crunchy walnuts. When you’re a fan of savory and candy collectively too, you’ve received to strive my pear gorgonzola pizza!
Pomegranate Seeds: Recent pomegranate seeds make a vibrant and sudden pizza topping, including a burst of juicy sweetness and crunch that enhances the savory toppings. I sprinkle them on after baking.
Veggie Proteins
Tofu: Ever considered crumbling tofu in your pizza? It’s excessive in protein and takes on the flavors of the opposite components. I exploit it as an alternative choice to extremely processed meats like sausage and pepperoni.
Black Beans: I like including black beans to my pizza! Particularly once I’m making a Mexican pizza! With added protein and fiber, this topping is tremendous filling! You may also use pinto beans.
Veggie Sausage: When you simply can’t dwell with out sausage in your pizza, veggie sausage is the proper various. It delivers all of the savory, meaty taste, however in a plant-based kind.
Eggs: Make a breakfast pizza with eggs! I even add eggs to leftover pizza. They’re full of protein and create a satisfying topping that pairs completely with components like veggies and cheese.
Chickpeas: Similar to black beans, chickpeas make a unbelievable high-protein topping. Roasted or spiced, they bring about a nutty, earthy taste that pairs nicely with a wide range of greens and sauces.
Tempeh: Crumbled tempeh is one other hearty and protein-rich topping that I like to make use of. It provides a barely earthy taste to pizza that pairs nicely with mushrooms.
Meatballs: Even meatballs work on pizza! If I make a giant batch of my tofu meatballs I’ll set a couple of apart for pizza. I usually reduce them in half and add them final.
Nuts
Walnuts: I discover that crunchy walnuts are scrumptious when paired with each candy and savory toppings. They’re additionally a nutrient-rich topping filled with omega-3 fatty acids.
Cashews: Creamy, crunchy, and filled with protein and fiber, cashews are a light nut that may add some good texture and crunch.
Pine Nuts: With their delicate taste and good crunch, pine nuts are utilized in Italian cooking typically. I like so as to add them on prime of pesto pizza!
Pistachios: Typically used for his or her distinctive taste and colour, I notably like including pistachios if I’m aiming for a extra connoisseur like pizza.
Spices
Certainly one of my favourite wholesome methods so as to add a ton of taste to pizza with minimal energy is contemporary herbs and spices! Strive crushed purple pepper flakes, contemporary rosemary, contemporary or dried oregano, or a dried Italian seasoning mix. I’ll normally add these as toppings after the pizza has baked and is contemporary out of the oven.
Extra Wholesome Pizza Choices
I’ve shared all my favourite wholesome pizza toppings concepts, however pizza is a lot extra than simply what you placed on it! To make a really wholesome pizza, the crust and sauce matter too. Let’s dive into how one can enhance the dietary worth of your whole pizza.
Wholesome Pizza Base And Crust Options
The inspiration of any nice pizza is the crust. Nonetheless, the everyday white flour crust gives little to no dietary worth and is full of carbs that rapidly flip into sugar in your physique.
My collection of more healthy pizza crust choices not solely reduces carbs but in addition boosts protein content material, and in some instances, even sneaks in additional greens. Selecting a wholesome pizza base is step one in crafting a really nutritious pizza.
Low Calorie Crust: For starters, you possibly can’t go mistaken utilizing my low calorie pizza crust recipe. Made with complete wheat flour and Greek yogurt it’s a pizza dough excessive in protein, low in energy, and yeast-free. You’ll be able to’t beat that!
Cauliflower Crust: Selecting common or gluten free cauliflower-based crusts is an effective way to chop down on fats and energy whereas boosting the dietary worth of pizza. You’ll be able to simply make your personal or select from pre-made choices for comfort. I extremely suggest manufacturers like Cali’Flower Meals and Outer Aisle Plant-Energy.
Mashed Chickpeas: Wealthy in protein and low in fats and energy (supply), chickpeas make a wholesome base that seems good and crispy. I’ve tried Banza which makes a small 9” plain chickpea crust that’s excellent for a wholesome private pizza.
Entire Wheat Pita: Utilizing complete wheat pita bread as a pizza crust is a straightforward method to get extra fiber into your weight-reduction plan and there’s no prep! I simply purchase complete wheat pita on the retailer and add my sauce and toppings.
Entire Wheat Tortillas: Similar to pita bread, the identical goes for complete wheat tortillas. Simply remember that tortillas are very skinny, so I like to recommend crisping them up within the oven or toaster oven so that they maintain the sauce and toppings higher.
Portobello Mushrooms: Ever considered utilizing a thick and meaty portobello mushroom as a base on your pizza?! I’ve and I can let you know it tastes nice loaded with sauce, cheese, and toppings.
Entire Wheat English Muffins: English muffin pizzas by no means exit of fashion. I prefer to make them with my children utilizing complete wheat English muffins for added fiber.
Naan: When you like pita pizza you then’ll seemingly need to strive utilizing my naan vegan flatbread recipe too!
Zucchini Boats: One other wholesome various that’s low in carbs and excessive in vitamin A is zucchini (supply). I make zucchini boats by merely hollowing out the zucchini, then filling it with sauce, cheese, and toppings, and baking till tender and bubbly.
Quinoa: Make a pizza base utilizing quinoa! Quinoa is a excessive protein grain that’s truly a seed. You’ll be able to observe this recipe for a straightforward quinoa pizza crust.
Skinny Entire Wheat Bagels: An alternative choice I typically use like English muffins is complete wheat bagels. Go for the skinny bagels for a thinner crust!
Higher Pizza Sauce Choices
Now that we’ve coated wholesome home made pizza toppings and crusts, let’s transfer on to sauces. Whereas I like a basic marinara like my low-carb marinara, I’m excited to share another wholesome pizza concepts that may introduce new flavors and enhance diet.
Tomato Base With out Sugar: Conventional pizza sauce is a superb possibility, however many store-bought variations are loaded with added sugar. To maintain it wholesome, I recommend making your personal or make sure you select a jar labeled “no sugar added” when shopping for premade sauce.
Pesto: Recent pesto does have lots of olive oil, however you solely must unfold a little bit in your crust. You could possibly additionally use my oil-free, wholesome pesto sauce.
Crushed Seasoned Tomatoes: Once I’m in a rush I’ll use a can of crushed tomatoes. They don’t have every other added components, so it’s an excellent wholesome possibility.
Bolognese: You’ll be able to even use leftover pasta sauce! Once I make my vegan bolognese I sometimes have a little bit sauce leftover that’s simply sufficient to make a pizza.
Garlic Paste: When you’re a garlic lover like me, garlic paste is a superb selection. Unfold it in your crust then add your toppings. The scent is out of this world when it bakes!
Hummus: If I’m making a pizza that I don’t must put within the oven, my home made hummus unfold on the crust works nice. I normally apply it to a pita and add my favourite wholesome pizza toppings for a fast and straightforward lunch.
Salsa: For a Mexican impressed pizza I’ll use refried beans topped with salsa because the sauce, then I’ll add some veggies and eventually a Mexican cheese mix.
Pureed Greens: I typically use puréed veggies on pizza to sneak in additional vitamins! Simply take your favourite vegetable or vegetable mix, steam it, then purée it in a meals processor or blender with some salt, pepper, and Italian spices. Unfold the combination on prime of your pizza base for a wholesome twist.
Bean Unfold: Think about using different bean spreads or purees, like black beans, vegetarian refried beans, and edamame unfold as I do hummus for added diet and protein.
Unhealthy Pizza Toppings To Keep away from
Similar to there are such a lot of wholesome issues to placed on pizza, you too can very simply go down the trail of excessive calorie, excessive fats, and nutrient poor when you make some poor selection. These fashionable choices didn’t make it to my wholesome pizza toppings listing for a cause.
Alfredo Sauce: Wealthy and creamy, Alfredo sauce is excessive in fats. Made from cream and butter, it’s an unhealthy mixture I don’t suppose you need in your pizza.
Processed Meats: Processed meats like pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon are preserved by curing, salting, smoking, drying, or canning. Whereas they might style nice, they’re removed from coronary heart wholesome pizza toppings. These cured meats include nitrates, that are cancer-causing substances linked to hypertension, coronary heart illness, and bowel and abdomen most cancers (supply).
Deep Dish: Whereas deep dish pizza isn’t a topping per se, I feel it’s vital to notice that selecting a deep dish pizza could make any pizza unhealthy simply by sheer amount and calorie overload. It doesn’t matter what sauce or toppings you select, there’ll all the time be too many carbs from the dough or an excessive amount of cheese.
Regularly Requested Questions
Veggies of any type are wholesome low ldl cholesterol pizza toppings! Most are excessive in nutritional vitamins and minerals in addition to low in energy and fats. Additionally they pack tons of taste. Because of this I recommend including as many as you want!
For a vegan pizza (or a cheese-free pizza), I exploit dairy-free or vegan cheese, although it sometimes doesn’t soften like conventional cheese. Alternatively, strive utilizing pesto, tahini, or hummus as a flavorful base—simply make sure you test that store-bought pesto doesn’t include parmesan, or make your personal vegan model. One other nice possibility is a dairy-free white sauce paired with roasted greens and a drizzle of olive oil.
For a low-carb possibility, I’ll select a crust constructed from cauliflower or cheese-based options. Restrict high-carb toppings like starchy greens and deal with including loads of low-carb veggies, proteins, and wholesome fat. Additionally, use a light-weight layer of sauce to maintain the general carb rely down.
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Greatest Wholesome Pizza Recipe
Crafting the proper nutritious pizza is all about selecting the most effective wholesome pizza toppings. I am going to present you learn how to make a pizza wholesome and scrumptious with only a few easy swaps, and over 40 toppings to select from!
Servings: 8 slices
Energy: 163kcal
For The Toppings (Select Any Mixture)
- Cauliflower crust
- Gluten free crust
- Chickpea crust
- Entire wheat pita
- Entire wheat tortillas
- Portobello mushrooms
- Entire wheat English muffins
- Naan
- Zucchini boats
Different Pizza Sauce Choices:
- Pesto
- Crushed seasoned tomatoes
- Vegan bolognese
- Garlic paste
- Hummus
- Salsa
- Pureed veggies
Word: Dietary info doesn’t embody any toppings, simply contains crust, sauce and cheese.
Energy: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 7g | Fats: 5g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 570mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g