Vegan Pesto Pizza with Roasted Tomatoes, a tasty homemade sheet pan pesto pizza with sliced roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, and vegan mozzarella cheese. Perfect for plant-based pizza night!
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Love pesto pizza but not sure how to make it vegan? Look no further, because I have made this plant-based pesto pizza with roasted tomato slices dozens of times – and my (very discerning) Italian husband approves. Buonissima! 🤌
👉 Ready to learn how to make a plant-based roasted tomato pesto pizza? Let’s do it!
🍅 Ingredients
- Pizza dough: either store bought pizza dough or homemade pizza dough works; I love a whole wheat dough
- Pesto sauce: the basil of this pizza, either store bought or homemade vegan pesto sauce
- Tomatoes: sliced tomatoes are traditional; make sure to slice them thin so they roast well
- Vegan cheese: either store bought mozzarella cheese or homemade vegan mozzarella cheese work well (recipe forthcoming!)
- Fresh basil: fresh basil leaves are added on top of the pizza after cooking; you can sub dried, but fresh taste best
- Seasonings: a little olive oil for greasing the pan and a sprinkle of salt and pepper for flavor
- Recommended tools: baking sheet, pizza cutter
💡 Want to make your own plant-based pesto sauce? Get creative with Lemon Pesto Sauce, Oregano Pesto Sauce, and Pumpkin Seed Pesto Sauce.
🥣 How to make (step-by-step photos)
1️⃣ Step One: Preheat oven and prep dough
Before prepping your pizza, first preheat oven to 425 degrees F (about 220 degrees C).
Then grease a baking sheet with olive oil and add the pizza dough. Then use your fingers to spread out the dough until it is even in your desired pizza shape (round, oval, square, etc.).
2️⃣ Step Two: Add margherita pizza toppings
Top the pizza dough with pesto sauce, using a spoon to spread it out evenly over the dough.
Then add the vegan mozzarella cheese and layer the tomato slices.
Finish off with a sprinkle of salt and pepper for flavor.
3️⃣ Step Three: Bake pizza
Once the pizza is built, add the baking sheet into the oven on the middle baking rack.
Bake until the pizza dough is cooked and the toppings begin to brown, about 12-15 minutes. Check on the pizza at about the 10 minute mark and keep an eye on it so it doesn’t overcook.
4️⃣ Step Four: Garnish and serve
When pizza is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest a few minutes before transferring it to a cutting board.
Then add fresh basil leaves and any desired garnishes, like red pepper flakes or nutritional yeast.
Then slice into triangles or squares and enjoy!
❓ Recipe questions + quick tips
Traditionally-made pizza doughs are vegan as they only use plant-based ingredients like flour, water, salt, yeast, and sometimes a small amount of sugar. Some vegans do not consider yeast vegan as it includes active live cultures, however generally the plant-based community sees yeast as a vegan ingredient. Many pre-made store bought pizza doughs do include milk or cheese, so please read labels.
Pesto pizza traditionally is a pizza with pesto sauce topped with mozzarella cheese, tomato slices, and fresh basil. To make pesto pizza vegan, simply use plant-based pesto sauce and use plant-based mozzarella cheese. I like Miyoko’s vegan mozzarella, or you can make your own plant-based mozzarella at home.
🧊 How to store
- Refrigerator storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days after cooking.
- Freezer storage: To freeze, store in a freezer-friendly container or bag for up to one month. Thaw, remove the refrigerator 24 hours before serving.
- To reheat: To reheat after refrigerating, microwave for 30-60 seconds. Reheat in the oven after freezing for best texture.
👉 Want more plant-based pizza recipes?
Want more vegan pizza ideas? Try Vegan Margherita Pizza, Summer Squash Pesto Pizza, or Vegan Pesto Potato Pizza.
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Vegan Pesto Pizza with Roasted Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pizza dough, homemade or store bought
- ½ cup vegan pesto sauce
- ⅔ cup vegan mozzarella cheese
- 1 medium tomato, sliced thin into rounds
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
- ½ cup fresh basil
- Optional: red pepper flakes, nutritional yeaste, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prep dough: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (about 220 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with olive oil, then add the pizza dough and use your fingers to spread out the dough until it is even in your desired pizza shape (round, oval, square, etc.).2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 pizza dough
- Build pesto pizza: Top the pizza dough with pesto sauce, using a spoon to spread it out evenly over the dough. Then add a sprinkle on the vegan mozzarella cheese and the tomato slices. Finish off with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.½ cup vegan pesto sauce, ⅔ cup vegan mozzarella cheese, 1 medium tomato, 1 pinch salt and pepper
- Bake pizza: Add the baking sheet with the uncooked pizza into the oven on the middle baking rack and bake until the pizza dough is cooked and the toppings begin to brown, about 12-15 minutes. Check on the pizza at about the 10 minute mark and keep an eye on it so it doesn’t overcook.
- Serve pizza: When pizza is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest a few minutes before transferring it to a cutting board. Add fresh basil leaves and any desired garnishes, like red pepper flakes or nutritional yeast. Then slice into triangles or squares and enjoy.½ cup fresh basil, Optional: red pepper flakes, nutritional yeaste
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
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