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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Goat Cheese Pizza Recipe With Caramelized Onions

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This Goat Cheese Pizza with caramelized onions is a restaurant-quality meal you can make at home with ease! The crisp crust paired with creamy and tangy goat cheese and sweet caramelized onions is a match made in heaven made for sharing with friends and family.

goat cheese pizza recipe with caramelized onions and arugula cut into slices

If you’ve ever gone to an Italian restaurant that specializes in gourmet pizzas you’ve likely seen a goat cheese pizza on the menu. Goat cheese has a different quality than mozzarella, the typical cheese added to pizzas. Goat cheese is creamier and has a tangy flavor, while mozzarella is stretchy and gooey.

When paired with caramelized onions the sweetness of the onions and the tang of the goat cheese come together to bring about a balance of flavors is truly a celebration in your mouth!

Latest Recipe Video!

Kids will love this goat cheese pizza recipe. Most kids love pizza, and while this pizza is probably not the traditional kind they’re used to, they’ll enjoy the cheesiness, along with the sweetness of the onions.

The crust is thin and crispy, adding a nice texture to the soft ingredients on top. It’s so easy to make, you can enjoy this caramelized onion pizza on a weeknight! It’s way better than pizza delivery, and healthier too!

👩‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

  • Crispy Homemade Pizza Dough
  • Perfect Pizza for a date night in!
  • Sweet Caramelized Onions
  • Tangy Cheese
  • Low in Calories and Fat
  • Rich in Nutrients
  • Add this to your favorite easy recipes!
  • Family Friendly, great for pizza night
  • Simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store!

🥘 Ingredients

ingredients for goat cheese pizza recipe with caramelized onions and arugula

Pizza Dough: This homemade dough starts with a combination of warm water, dried yeast, and a touch of sugar, in this case, honey. The yeast and water together combine to create a foamy texture. Foaminess forms, you know it’s time to add the flour. Use whole wheat flour, or white whole wheat flour to add fiber and make the dough more nutrient-dense. A touch of olive oil and salt finishes off the dough, to make it easier to roll out. Making your own pizza dough is simple and healthier! It just takes a little time. If you want to skip this step and save time, you can also use naan bread for your pizza base!

Caramelized Onions: Thinly slice two red onions, these will cook in olive oil, once cooked you’ll add coconut sugar, and balsamic vinegar to create that caramelized finish.

Goat Cheese Pizza Toppings: Creamy fresh goat cheese and fresh thyme is added on top of the caramelized onions. Optional: fresh arugula, pizza sauce, and parmesan cheese.

📖 Variations

Different Toppings: Feel free to add any additional toppings you desire. We added a bit of arugula for some greens, but this pizza would also pair nicely with fresh spinach leaves. Instead of thyme you could use fresh rosemary, lemon zest, or fresh basil. For additional color, try adding some diced red peppers, kalamata olives, or diced fresh tomatoes!

Different Cheese: If you like your pizza cheesier add some mozzarella cheese, fontina cheese, or parmesan cheese.

Add a Sauce: This healthy pizza recipe doesn’t have an added sauce, but if you like a sauce on your pizza you can add a red sauce (tomato sauce), pizza sauce, a pesto sauce, garlic sauce, a white sauce, or a balsamic drizzle or glaze on top!

Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza: Add some diced fresh figs along with the caramelized onions to top this pizza. It provides the perfect balance of sweet and savory!

Extra Spicy: Sprinkle with red pepper flakes!

More Protein: Top with thinly sliced pieces of chicken breast. Or add some pine nuts or walnuts.

🔪 Instructions

Prepare Yeast for Dough: Prepare the pizza base by mixing together the water, honey, and yeast in a small mixing bowl, stir and set aside for 10 minutes to allow the yeast to start to foam.

yeast mixture in a bowl

Whisk Flour: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. 

dry ingredients combined in a bowl

Form Dough: When the yeast mixture starts to foam, pour it into the flour mixture along with the oil. Stir to form a dough.

pizza dough in a bowl

Knead Dough and Allow to Rest: Remove the dough onto a floured surface and knead with the heels of your hands for 2-3 minutes. Return the ball of dough to the mixing bowl. Cover and rest the dough for 30-45 minutes to allow it to double in size.

dough ball on a cutting board

Prepare Caramelized Onions: While the dough is resting, prepare the caramelized onions, Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the red onion slices. Sauté the sliced onions for 2-3 minutes then reduce the heat, continue to stir as they cook for 10 minutes, adding a little water to stop them from sticking to the base of the skillet. Add the coconut sugar and balsamic vinegar and stir through.

onions sauteeing in a pan

Remove from Heat: When the onions have completely caramelized, remove from the heat, season with salt, and set the sweet caramelized onion aside to cool.

caramelized onions sauteeing in a pan

Preheat Oven: Pre heat oven to 390 F / 200 C. If using a pizza stone, place it into the oven to heat. When the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and spread the dough into a 12 inch round on a tray lined with baking paper or divide and roll into 2 smaller pizzas.

dough rolled out on a pizza pan

Add Toppings: Place the creamy goat cheese and fresh thyme on top of the pizza, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.

toppings added to pizza duogh

Bake Pizza: If using a pizza stone transfer the prepared pizza onto the pizza stone or cook the pizza as it is on a large baking sheet for 15-20 mins or until golden brown. Remove from the oven, cut into 8 equal pieces.

baked homemade goat cheese pizza recipe with caramelized onions and arugula

❓Recipe FAQs

Is goat cheese good on a pizza or flatbread?

Goat cheese is fantastic on flatbreads and pizzas. It’s a bit different from mozzarella because it doesn’t melt in the same way, but it adds a nice creamy texture to the dough, and pairs well with many vegetable toppings. 

Can you melt goat cheese?

Not completely. When goat cheese is heated it softens, but it does not melt the same way mozzarella does. Whereas mozzarella gets gooey and stringy, goat cheese when warmed becomes creamier but does not get that stretchy cheesy texture. 

Is Goat Cheese Pizza Healthy?

Typically no, goat cheese flatbread isn’t healthy because it’s high in refined carbs, low in fiber, and high in calories. But this version of goat cheese caramelized onion pizza is healthy for you because we made a few swaps to increase the nutrition without losing any of the flavor!

Here’s how we did it:

Whole Wheat Flatbread: This pizza is made with whole wheat flour rather than white flour like most pizzas. This provides extra fiber which is important for healthy digestion, regulates blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol.

Low Fat Goat Cheese: Goat cheese is naturally lower in fat and calories than cheese made from cow’s milk. The tangy goat cheese and sweet onions pair nicely with the crisp pizza crust, and the fresh thyme gives this pizza a hint of needed herbal richness.

Natural Sweetness from Onions: You don’t need a ton of sugar to make caramelized onions sweet!

What goes with goat cheese pizza?

Light salads and soups pair really well with pizza, and help sneak some extra veggies into your meal too. This pizza would pair well with the following sides: Keto Greek Salad, Apple Walnut Salad, Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts, Creamy Asparagus Soup with Goat Cheese.

❄️ How To Store

Refrigerate: Wrap leftover pizza slices in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: The dough can be made in advance, and frozen. Just be sure to remove it from the freezer and allow it to defrost, and come to room temperature before rolling it out.

Reheat: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place pizza on a baking sheet, and allow to warm and crisp, about 5-8 minutes.

💭 Expert Tips

  • Make sure the water is warm and not hot otherwise the yeast won’t activate.
  • Ensure the dough is left in a warm place to rise.
  • Pizza dough can be prepared ahead of time and stored, covered in the fridge. Allow it to come to room temperature before using.
  • Pizza bases can be cooked and frozen for up to 3 months.
goat cheese pizza recipe with caramelized onions and arugula cut into slices

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🎥 Watch How to Make It

goat cheese pizza recipe with caramelized onions and arugula cut into slices
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5 from 12 votes

Goat Cheese Pizza With Caramelized Onions

This Goat Cheese Pizza with caramelized onions is a restaurant-quality meal you can make at home with ease! The crisp crust paired with creamy and tangy goat cheese and sweet caramelized onions is a match made in heaven made for sharing with friends and family.
Prep Time55 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 171kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

Caramelized Onions

Toppings

Instructions

Prepare the Pizza Dough

  • Prepare the pizza base by mixing together the water, honey, and yeast in a small mixing bowl, stir and set aside for 10 minutes to allow the yeast to start to foam.
  • In a separate mixing bowl whisk together the flour and salt. 
  • When the yeast mixture starts to foam, pour it into the flour mixture along with the oil. Stir to form a dough.
  • Remove the dough onto a floured work space or cutting board and knead for 2-3 minutes. Return the dough to the mixing bowl. Cover and rest the dough for 30-45 minutes to allow it to double in size.

Prepare Caramelized Onions

  • While the dough is resting, prepare the caramelized onions by heating the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes then reduce the heat, continue to stir as they cook for 10 minutes, adding a little water to stop them from sticking to the base of the skillet. Add the coconut sugar and balsamic vinegar and stir through.
  • When the onions have completely caramelized, remove from the heat, season with salt, and set aside to cool.

Assemble Pizza

  • Preheat the oven to 390F / 200C. If using a pizza stone, place it into the oven to heat.
  • When the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and spread the dough into a 12 inch round on a tray lined with baking paper or divide and roll into 2 smaller pizzas.
  • Top the pizza base with the caramelized onion, crumbled goat's cheese, and fresh thyme.
  • If using a pizza stone transfer the prepared pizza onto the pizza stone or cook the pizza as it is on the baking tray for 15-20 mins or until cooked.
  • Remove from the oven, cut into 8 even pieces.

Notes

  • Make sure the water is warm and not hot otherwise the yeast won’t activate.
  • Ensure the dough is left in a warm place to rise.
  • Pizza dough can be prepared ahead of time and stored, covered in the fridge. Allow it to come to room temperature before using.
  • Pizza bases can be cooked and frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 201mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g

244 responses to “Goat Cheese Pizza Recipe With Caramelized Onions”

  1. I have made a similar pizza before and an looking forward to trying this recipe. I have used cut up dried figs and topped it with arugula before serving. It’s a great combination of flavors!5 stars

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