Easy Homemade Pizza with Staple Ingredients
Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD
| 2 min read
A whopping 98% of Americans eat pizza and, according to the Washington Post, approximately 3 billion pizzas are sold each year.
It’s a go-to Friday night meal that’s bound to satisfy a crowd thanks to the variety of available toppings, sauces and cheeses.
However, topping additions, delivery fees and tips can lead to a hefty bill. Next time you find yourself wanting to order a quick pie, consider making one at home for a fraction of the cost.
All you need is a tortilla, pasta sauce, cheese and toppings. A tortilla is a great option for a thin crust pizza. Allowing it to bake with spray oil in the oven before adding toppings produces an even crispier aftermath.
For the best health fare – top your pie with veggies and aim for low-sodium sauce and low-fat mozzarella. And there’s a welcomed bonus for parents – making homemade pizzas are a great opportunity for kids to get involved in choosing and adding veggie toppings, which makes them more likely to consume.
Here are three recipe ideas to consider in celebrating National Pizza Month this October:
This easy pizza comes together quickly. A tortilla base is topped with sauce, mozzarella cheese, bell pepper, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes and banana peppers.
This pizza uses familiar Italian flavors – sauce, prosciutto, sliced mozzarella and arugula top this delicious and easy meal.
This twist on a traditional pizza starts with a cream cheese base, topped with chicken, mozzarella, pineapple, Roma tomatoes, green onions and hot sauce.
Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan based in Detroit. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family.
Cooking Difficulty:
Easy
Serving Amount
Ingredients
4 tortillas
3⁄4 cup low-sodium pasta sauce
1 cup low-fat mozzarella cheese
1 bell pepper, any color, diced
1⁄2 cup mushrooms, sliced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1⁄2 cup banana peppers, drained
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2
Spray tortillas with spray oil and place in the oven for 7 minutes, or until crispy.
Step 3
Top each tortilla with desired amount of pasta sauce, then top with ½ cup mozzarella cheese or more as desired.
Step 4
Spread diced bell pepper, sliced mushrooms, Roma tomato and banana peppers on the pizza.
Step 5
Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese has melted. Enjoy!
