We enjoy old fashioned style cooking because it uses simple ingredients most of us have in our kitchens. Old fashioned meals are hearty and feed a hungry family. Pioneers made due with what they had and created delicious meals from few ingredients. This loaded veggie pizza is much the same because it uses a few simple ingredients yet is scrumptious.
We often make vegetarian dishes like this loaded vegetarian pizza. We enjoy an assortment of meals that provides a wide range of nutrients to feed my family and sometimes our meals contain meats and sometimes they are vegetarian. We have made this pizza completely vegetarian and we have also made it with a little added bacon or chicken – either way it is delicious, and goes perfect with a salad. You can even grill the pizza on a hot summer day! We thought we would add a handful of bacon this time to give the vegetables a smoky flavor, but you can totally leave this out – it is delicious with or without meat. You can also add chicken, shrimp or add an array of other vegetables. You can use vegan cheese and omit the bacon to make it completely vegan. It is a veggie pizza that is rich in flavor, very versatile and a great way to eat more veggies!
Let’s get started.
First, we need to cook the vegetables. Saute onion in a splash of oil (I used 1 tbsp of butter) and a splash of water. Once the onions are tender, add in mushrooms, zucchini. Saute 10 minutes veggies are tender. Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. If you are using meat, cook it with the onions before adding remaining vegetables.
Add spinach. Saute a few minutes until spinach wilts.
To prepared pizza crust, add sauce and vegetables.
Then top with shredded cheese. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before cutting.
The veggie pizza is so yummy, my family often requests it!
Remove to cutting board and slice up.
Serve with salad.
Loaded Veggie Pizza
1 onion, chopped
1 tbsp butter or oil
1/4 cup water
1 package mushrooms, about 2 cups, chopped
1 small zucchini, chopped
sprinkle of salt and pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
3 tbsp bacon, precooked bacon bits, vegan “bacon” bits, optional
2 cups spinach, roughly chopped
pizza sauce for topping prepared pizza crust
1 cup shredded cheese
Saute onion and bacon (if using) in oil and water until tender. Add mushrooms, zucchini, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Saute until veggies are tender. Add spinach and cook until wilted.
On prepared pizza crust, add pizza sauce and veggie mixture.
Top with shredded cheese.
Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until crust is cooked and cheese in golden. Serve with salad.
