Who doesn’t love a good pizza? Delicious, thick crust topped with rich tomato sauce and loaded with cheese… It’s heaven for the tastebuds.
But, it’s not exactly heaven for the waistline.
Pizza is a heavy meal, combining loads of fats and carbs together. There are ways to make it healthier though! Things like:
- Opting for a high-fiber, whole grain crust
- Switching to a cauliflower crust (Extra veggies!)
- Using skim-milk mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, or vegan cheese
- Top with a sugar-free sauce
- Load up with healthy toppings!
You can make your pizza quite nutritious by making some of those changes. Or just loading up with nutritious herbs and veggies!
You can cut back on a lot of fat by skipping meat or opting for lean meats and more veggies. So most of what we’ve included here are vegan and vegetarian pizza options, but you can add meat if you desire.
Here are 10 of our favorite healthy pizza topping combos:
10 Best Healthy Pizza Toppings You Don’t Have to Feel Guilty About
1. Spinach, Artichoke, and Roasted Red Peppers over Pesto Sauce
Spread the pesto sauce over your crust of choice. Top with minced garlic and spinach. Then add your cheese – make it vegan by using a dairy-free cheese option, or skip the cheese altogether. Add your artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers, then sprinkle on some basil. Delish!
Pro tip: Make sure the spinach is on the bottom layer, but above the sauce, so it doesn’t burn as easily.
2. Vegan Hawaiian-Style Pizza
Vegan pizza toppings are easy to swap out for regular favorites. Sub ham and bacon for tofu ham slices and bacon, crumble, and top on your pizza. Add pineapple, onions, and a pepper of choice. If you like things spicy, add diced jalapenos. If you like a milder tangy flavor, go with banana peppers. Top with vegan cheese. We like to sprinkle chili flakes on top for extra zip.
3. Greek Veggie Pizza
You could go with regular pasta sauce, or top with pesto instead. Then add olives, artichokes, Roma tomatoes, and goat cheese. Sprinkle on marjoram and oregano on top. This one is packed with flavor!
4. Vegetarian Taco-Style Pizza
For your sauce, use your favorite salsa. If you are a lacto-vegetarian, you can use regular Mexican-blend cheese or sub vegan cheese. Top with all your preferred taco fillings: black beans, peppers, corn, onions, tomatoes, hot sauce. When the pizza comes out of the oven, add avocado and a sprinkle of cayenne for spice and cumin for a subtle meaty taste.
These vegetarian toppings already add a lot of punch, nutrition, and healthy fats. But if you’re not vegetarian, you could add your preference of lean meat before cooking.
5. Caprese Pizza
Use an olive oil and garlic base for the sauce. Then add fresh mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, and a good helping of basil. Sprinkle with mineral salt and freshly ground black peppercorns. Top with a balsamic glaze.
6. Fruit Dessert Pizza
Top the pizza with ⅓ fat cream cheese, and add any fresh fruit combo you like. We enjoy strawberries, kiwi, and oranges with a dash of rosemary to bring out the flavor. Sprinkle the entire pizza with stevia.
7. Loaded Veggie Hummus Pizza
Using hummus as the base, top with garlic, basil, thyme, and oregano to taste. Throw on all your favorite veggies! Some ideas: tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, artichokes, spinach, red onions, peppers, broccoli, zucchini, or cauliflower. Top the veggies with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper.
8. Garlic and Spinach White Pizza
Make a light alfredo sauce by heating up ¼ cup of almond milk in a small saucepan and melting together 2 – 3 light swiss cheese wedges and a gentle splash of heavy cream. Sprinkle in garlic, salt, and pepper. Spread the light alfredo mix on your crust of choice. Add minced garlic and spinach next. Then top with your preference of lower-fat cheese, such as goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, or low-fat shredded mozzarella. Sprinkle chili flakes on top if desired.
9. Eggplant Pizza
Cut an eggplant into slices, and use as your crust! Top with pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, oregano, rosemary, and pepper. Drizzle with a little olive oil and cook. A yummy alternative!
10. Zucchini Pizza Boats
Almost like a French pizza, you’ll cut a zucchini length-wise and scoop out some of the middle to create a “boat.” Top with all your favorite toppings, and make sure to load up veggies and herbs, like cilantro, oregano, basil, tomatoes, onions, and peppers.
Guilt-Free Pizza Addiction
When you load up on veggies, herbs, and spices, you’re filling up on healthy goodness instead of empty carbs! Even better when you can swap out the crust for a veggie base. It’ll satisfy your pizza craving, and you’ll feel better for it. Which one will be your new favorite?
