Zucchini Crust Pizza Margherita
I love this Zucchini Crust Pizza Margherita with a crust made of grated zucchini, almond flour, cheese, and egg. And this tasty zucchini crust pizza can be made on the grill or in the oven.
PIN Zucchini Crust Pizza Margherita to try it later!
This recipe for Zucchini-Crust Pizza Margherita was inspired by Cauliflower-Crust Vegetarian Pizza, and after trying that pizza with a crust made of cooked cauliflower, cheese, almond meal, and an egg, I started wondering why you couldn’t make a similar type of crust with zucchini.
Jake was skeptical, and it did take us two tries to get a crust we were happy with, but we loved the way the zucchini added flavor to this crust and complemented the simple tomato sauce, fresh basil, and fresh Mozzarella that are the traditional toppings for Pizza Margherita. This is a zucchini crust pizza recipe that’s not only vegetarian, but also gluten-free and low carb and it’s another answer to that problem of too much zucchini that many people have this time of year.
And this pizza is so delicious that no one will care that there’s no meat, and I think this is a perfect plant-based dinner. But even if you don’t have a garden, I urge you to not to skip the fresh basil on top, because that adds a lot of flavor.
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
- zucchini
- finely grated Mozzarella cheese blend
- Almond Flour (affiliate link)
- finely grated Parmesan
- Dried Oregano (affiliate link)
- Garlic Powder (affiliate link)
- pinch of salt
- egg,
- canned good quality petite diced tomatoes
- olive oil
- Minced Garlic (affiliate link)
- Italian Herb Seasoning (affiliate link)
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh Mozzarella
- fresh basil leaves
Can you cook this Zucchini Crust Pizza without a pizza stone?
We cooked this crust on a pizza stone on the grill (just like we did the Cauliflower-Crust Vegetarian Pizza), but I’m sure you can also cook it in a hot oven, with or without a pizza stone.
What is Pizza Margherita?
Pizza Margherita is sometimes called Margherita Pizza, and it’s a meatless pizza topped with tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella cheese, and basil. This type of pizza was first made in Italy in the late 1700s. Read more about Pizza Margherita.
Want more zucchini recipes with pizza flavors?
If you’re looking for zucchini pizza ideas, you might also like Grilled Zucchini Pizza Slices and Broiled Zucchini with Mozzarella and Pepperoni.
How to Make Zucchini Crust Pizza Margherita:
(Scroll down for complete recipe with nutritional information.)
- Use a food processor, or the large sides of a hand grater to grate the zucchini. Or if you have a Spiralizer you can make zucchini noodles. Then put the zucchini into the food processor with the steel blade, and chop it more finely. (If you don’t have a food processor, use a large chef knife for this second chopping.
- Once the zucchini has been grated and then chopped, you need 4 cups to make the two small pizzas in this recipe.
- Put the zucchini in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 5 minutes on high.
- Then put a piece of cheesecloth or a kitchen towel inside a colander and let the zucchini drain while it cools.
- While the zucchini cools, make the sauce. Start by draining a can of good-quality petite-diced tomatoes.
- Saute the garlic in half the olive oil, just until it’s fragrant.
- Then add the drained tomatoes and Italian seasoning and let the sauce cook down over low heat. Just before using the sauce, stir in the rest of the olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Prepare pieces of fresh Mozzarella and basil leaves.
- When zucchini is cool enough to handle, use your hands to wrap the cheesecloth around the zucchini and squeeze out as much water as you can.
- Mix the cooked zucchini, grated Mozzarella blend, almond meal, Parmesan, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and egg to make the crust mixture.
- Spray a baking sheet with olive oil or nonstick spray and divide the crust into two balls.
- Then use your fingers to press the mixture out into two crusts, taking care not to make the edges too thin.
- Cook the crust on a pizza stone on a grill (or in an oven) that’s been preheated to 450F/230C.
- Here’s how the crust looked when it came off the grill.
- Top each pizza with half the sauce, fresh basil leaves, and chunks of fresh mozzarella.
- Let the pizza cook a few minutes longer, just until the cheese has melted nicely. Serve hot.
More Tasty Zucchini Recipes:
50 Amazing Zucchini Recipes ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
Slow Cooker and Instant Pot Zucchini Recipes ~ Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker
Low-Carb and Keto Grilled Zucchini Recipes ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Ratatouille Recipes ~ Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker
Recipes for Extra Large Zucchini ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
Zucchini Crust Pizza Margherita
This Zucchini Crust Pizza Margherita is delicious and has a low-carb crust made of grated zucchini.
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients:
- 4 cups grated then chopped fresh zucchini
- 1/2 cup finely gratedMozzarella cheese blend
- 5 TÂ almond flour
- 3 T finely grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp. dried Greek oregano
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- pinch of salt
- 1 egg, beaten
Sauce Ingredients:
- one 14.5 oz. can good quality petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 T olive oil, divided
- 2 tsp. minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp. Italian Herb Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Pizza Toppings:
- 3 oz. fresh Mozzarella, sliced and then pulled apart into chunks
- 15 large fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the grill or oven to 450F/230C.
- Grate zucchini, using a food processor or the large side of a hand grater, then chop the grated zucchini. (I did this with a steel blade in the food processor, but you could chop with a large knife if you don’t have a food processor.)
- Place the chopped zucchini in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for about 5 minutes.
- Then drain the cooked zucchini into a colander that’s lined with cheesecloth or a kitchen towel.
- Let zucchini drain until it’s cool enough to handle.
- While the zucchini cools, make the tomato sauce.
- First, drain the tomatoes into a colander placed in the sink.
- While the tomatoes drain, chop the garlic, heat half the olive oil in a very small frying pan, and saute garlic just until it’s fragrant.
- Add the drained tomatoes and Italian seasoning and let the sauce simmer on very low heat until it's thickened and reduced. (Just before using the sauce, stir in the rest of the olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.)
- When zucchini is cool, squeeze out as much water as you can and place the zucchini in a bowl.
- Add the finely grated Mozzarella, Almond Flour (affiliate link), Parmesan, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and beaten egg and stir until the ingredients are combined.
- Spray a baking sheet with olive oil or nonstick spray and divide the crust mixture into two balls.
- Use your fingers to press out the crust mixture into two circles, being careful not to make the edges too thin (or they will burn).
- Preheat pizza stone for a few minutes and then bake crust on the pizza stone (on a covered grill or in the oven) just until the crust is firm and starting to brown (about 12-13 minutes.)
- You can also bake this in the oven without a pizza stone, but it will take a little longer to cook.
- Spread each small pizza with half the sauce, then top with half the basil leaves and half the fresh Mozzarella chunks.
- Put pizzas back into the oven or on the grill and cook just until the cheese is nicely melted, about 3-5 minutes more.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Recipe created by Kalyn and inspired by  Cauliflower-Crust Vegetarian Pizza.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 254Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 363mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 14g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Zucchini Crust Pizza Margherita would be great for low-carb or Keto diets and it could be made suitable for all phases of the original South Beach Diet. It does contain nutrient-dense foods like tomatoes and almonds, but the crust is relatively high in fat, so use portion control and use low-fat Mozzarella for South Beach.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Zucchini Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2012. It was updated with more information in 2022.
97 Comments on “Zucchini Crust Pizza Margherita”
Amanda, I haven't made it without the cheese so I can't say for sure, but truthfully I don't think it would hold together well without it. Would love to hear what you think if you try it though.
Would the crust hold together alright if the cheese was omitted from the crust recipe? I am trying very hard to eat paleo and am avoiding cheese. This recipe sounds wonderful!
Kalyn, thank you! My husband and I loved these little pizzas – especially the crunchy edges! We added some black olives on top and it was fab.
Michele, I don't share those thoughts about the microwave, but of course it's your choice on how you make it.
I love this recipe. I would not microwave the zucchini since it woulds kill all of the nutrients. I think I will try various methods of precooking the zucchini and then putting into the food processor. Microwaves kill so many of the nutrients causing your body to be hungry shortly after you have eaten.
If you're going to try baking, I would use the very highest temperature your oven will go, probably 450F/230C for most ovens. If you have a pizza stone, definitely use it. Love to hear how it works in the oven.
At what temp would I have to bake the pizza? Most are 350. Would that his true for this? It looks delicious, rest especially since I can't have cauliflower.
Since my hubby's on a low carb diet, this recipe suits us just fine. I can't wait to try it…I'm sure it's as delicious as it looks in the photos. Thanks so much!
Hi Lindsey, Thanks for all the nice feedback. So glad you are enjoying the blog.
Hi Kalyn! I have been following you for quite awhile on pinterest. i went primal a little over a year ago and i finally tried a recipe of yours (i have pinned a ridiculous amount). i started a new food revolution at my home to help my kids and i just wanted to thank you for having a super fantastic blog. it is truly inspiring. to help me stick with the "change", i plugged myself into an electrical socket and starting my own blog on sunday. literally. HA! i just took my pizzas out (i used cauliflower) and bon appetit! you rock sister. thanks a bazillion. xo
Oh dear, I'm looking at my reply above and seeing how many typos I make when I try to reply on my phone!
Virginia, I haven't tried it, but I think it would work with whole wheat flour. You might need a little bit of baking powder if you use flour. Would love to hear how it works if you try it.
My daughter is allergic to all nuts. I know it negates the gluten-free aspect of this recipe, but would whole wheat flour work?
I"m guessing you need the egg To hold it together but I don"t know for sure. You could try it; would love to hear how it works.
Would this work without eggs? We are allergic :-/
I think a tablespoon or two of golden flax meal mixed with water would work as a substitute for eggs. Google that. I've read of that in vegan recipes. I may have the proportions off …
Thanks Rachel; I hope Melissa will see your advice.
You can grind your own almonds if you have a spice grinder or food processor. I haven't tried it with anything else so I don't know what else would work.
Hi, since almond meal is a bit expensive, I was wondering if there was anything I can use as a substitute? The recipe sounds amazing though!
This is the second zucchini crust pizza I've seen this week. I think the message is coming loud and clear. Must get zucchini at the farmer's market this week! Your naturally gluten-free, grain-free pizza looks totally fabulous, Kalyn. 🙂
Shirley
The microwave cooks the zucchini so it mixes into the other crust ingredients a little butter. You could saute it in a non-stick pan if you don't have a microwave
What does the microwave step accomplish? We don't have one.
Just found your site as I was looking for new ideas with Swiss Chard Stalks which we love. Great site and I will now be following you. Thanks for the ideas. Diane