This basil pizza is packed with flavor: buttery crunch from the cashews, smoky spiciness from the veggie sausage, and refreshing zing from the basil, and it's all vegetarian!
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👩🏻🍳 Why You'll Love Basil Pizza
This unique yummy pizza is the perfect recipe for a pizza night if you're looking to save money and go a healthier route with your dinner. Using a premade crust makes for super easy prep, and if you use a veggie sausage like the one from Morningstar Farms, that makes this a recipe for vegetarian pizza!
All of these flavors work together so deliciously you won't even miss ordering out!
🥘 Ingredients Needed
- pizza shell - I like to use a pre-made crust, but you could also use your favorite pizza dough if you prefer.
- pizza sauce - a pizza staple.
- shredded mozzarella and cheddar - using two types of cheese broadens the flavors of your pizza.
- cooked sausage - for this basil pizza I used veggie sausage to keep it vegetarian.
- roasted cashews - add a delicious crunch and a smooth buttery flavor.
- fresh basil leaves - a refreshing addition to any pizza, but pairs great with all of the flavors in this one!
🔪 Instructions
- Roll out your pizza dough or prepare your shell and place on a pizza stone or a baking sheet. Spoon the sauce over the dough and make sure to spread it evenly.
- Top with both kinds of cheese.
- Add the sausage, cashews, and basil leaves.
- Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes, then enjoy!
👪 FAQs
Yes, basil is a fantastic topping for pizza!
In order to get the most basil flavor, I recommend topping the pizza with basil both before and after baking.
One way to prevent your basil from getting too toasty while the pizza bakes is to place it underneath the cheese. This will protect it from some of the heat and make it less likely to burn.
Sweet basil is typically what tastes best on a basil pizza like this one!
Layer basil leaves in damp paper towels inside a plastic bag and place in the refrigerator. If your basil leaves are still on stalks, place them in a glass of water, then loosely drape a plastic bag over it, and secure with a rubber band. Then place it in the refrigerator. Replace the water every day, and they should stay fresh for about a week.
💭 Top Tips
- If you have leftover pizza, wrap it in foil or plastic or store in a plastic bag, then place in the fridge. It should last 3-4 days.
- To reheat, either put your pizza in the microwave for about a minute, or pop it in the oven (or a toaster oven) to bring it back up to temperature.
- Need to make your pizza ahead of time? Assemble the pizza, and then cover with foil or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.
- When you remove your pizza from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes before cutting it into slices so that the cheese doesn't slide right off or clump all in once place.
- For best results, use a pizza stone or place your pizza shell directly on the rack. I also like to use a pizza pan with a perforated surface for perfectly crispy crust!
This recipe for vegetarian pizza is the perfect way to cut spending on pizza night and also add some nutrition! Basil on pizza is refreshing and delicious!
📖 Variations
- There are a number of vegetables that would be great additions to this pizza. Broccoli and bell peppers would crisp up nicely.
- For extra nutritional goodness, use this beetroot sauce instead of pizza sauce.
- For extra cheesy taste, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese or fresh mozzarella on top of the pizza fresh out of the oven.
- Some other delicious toppings to add would be garlic salt or red pepper flakes.
- Instead of sausage, try veggie pepperoni or veggie beef crumbles.
🥗 Suggested Side Dishes
Here are some ideas for side dishes to serve with your pizza!
🍞 Additional Pizza Recipes
For more pizza topping ideas, check out these recipes!
Recipe for Vegetarian Pizza
Love this recipe? Awesome! Please give it a 5 star ⭐ rating below! And if you make this, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!
📋 Recipe Card
Easy Vegetarian Sausage Basil Pizza
Ingredients
- 14 ounces whole wheat pizza dough (I used store-bought)
- Flour
- ⅓ cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella
- ½ cup shredded cheddar
- ½ cup cooked sausage (crumbled, you can use any kind, I used Morningstar Farms veggie sausage)
- ½ cup roasted cashews
- 10-15 small basil leaves (or more, if you like a lot of basil)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees Celsius).
- Roll out dough to about 16 inches in diameter. Use a little flour to keep it from sticking.14 ounces whole wheat pizza dough, Flour
- Place the pizza on a pizza baking sheet or pizza stone.
- Spoon the sauce over the dough and distribute evenly.⅓ cup pizza sauce
- Top with mozzarella and shredded cheddar.1 cup mozzarella, ½ cup shredded cheddar
- Distribute sausage, cashews, and basil leaves.½ cup cooked sausage, ½ cup roasted cashews, 10-15 small basil leaves
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Notes
- Store leftover pizza in the fridge for 3-4 days. Plastic wrap, foil, or a sealable bag are all good storage options.
- Reheat cold pizza in the microwave or the oven at 350 degrees F for 5-10 minutes.
- Best way to store basil until you are ready to use it: Layer the basil leaves in damp paper towels inside a plastic bag and place in the refrigerator. OR, if your basil leaves are still on stalks, place them in a glass of water, then loosely drape a plastic bag over them and secure with a rubber band. Place the glass in the refrigerator. Replace the water every day, and the stalks should stay fresh for about a week.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in January 2014, but was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in January 2021.
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Happy cooking!
Jessica Formicola says
Now this is my kind of pizza! We try not to eat meat on Monday's, so this recipe would be perfect for us!
Mirlene says
I've never seen a pizza like this - it looks too delicious, and I can't wait to put it on my dinner table!
Debz says
Cashews on Pizza is a "thing" in my hometown of Redlands, California. It started there at a restaurant called Gay 90s, back in the 1960s. That restaurant is no more, but the idea spread to many other restaurants in the area, as well as a few in other locations.
The classic "Gay 90s Special" is Pepperoni, Sausage, Cashews and Onions. Your combo sounds good, too.
Katherines Corner says
Thank you for sharing your sweet blog at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop ♥
Sylvia says
Thanks for linking up to Friendship Friday! I hope you'll come again!
Diane Balch says
Cashews... what a unique idea.
Sylvia says
I was excited to see that this was a vegetarian recipe! Definitely going to try it! Thanks for sharing! Please feel welcome to share at my Friendship Friday!
Cynthia says
Looks soooo good! Found you over at Katherine's.
Natasha @ Epic Mommy Adventures says
I would have never thought to put cashews on a pizza, but this actually looks really delicious! I actually want to taste it!
Thanks so much for sharing on Turn It Up Tuesday! We love having you! 🙂
Jess says
Cashews on Pizza? Hmm...I would have never thought to do this!
Thanks again for joining the Link Up this week! 🙂