Description
This Spinach Artichoke Pizza combines a creamy, flavorful spinach and artichoke topping with a crispy golden crust, making it a delightful twist on a classic favorite. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal, this recipe uses store-bought or homemade dough and bakes to bubbly, cheesy perfection in just 22 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- Olive oil for drizzling
Spinach Artichoke Topping
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1/2 cup canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you are using a pizza stone, place it inside the oven during preheating to ensure it gets thoroughly hot.
- Prepare the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness. If you are using store-bought dough, follow any pre-baking instructions provided on the package to ensure the base cooks evenly.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until it’s fragrant but not browned. Remove the pan from heat and set aside the garlic-infused oil.
- Make the Topping Mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, and shredded mozzarella. Stir in the sautéed garlic along with its oil, the thawed and drained spinach, chopped artichoke hearts, and red pepper flakes if using. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste, mixing well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble the Pizza: Evenly spread the creamy spinach and artichoke topping over the rolled-out pizza dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the prepared pizza in the preheated oven (on a pizza stone if using). Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese topping is bubbly and starting to brown slightly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Slice the pizza and serve warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- If using frozen spinach, ensure it is fully thawed and excess moisture is squeezed out to avoid a soggy pizza.
- For a crispier crust, pre-bake the dough for 3-5 minutes before adding toppings.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level, or omit for a milder pizza.
- Fresh herbs like basil or parsley add a fresh, aromatic garnish that complements the rich topping.
- This recipe can be doubled to serve more people or saved as leftovers.
