Vegan Pizza

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This vegan pizza features a crispy, golden crust topped with rich tomato sauce, melty vegan cheese, fresh tomatoes, and aromatic basil. It’s made with simple vegan pizza dough, creating a blend of classic flavors that will have everyone asking for seconds!

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Bursting with flavor: This vegan pizza recipe showcases classic Italian ingredients in a plant-based way, making for one satisfying and comforting meal.
• Easy to make: With a simple vegan pizza dough and easy-to-find ingredients, anyone can make this recipe, no matter your cooking experience!
• Customizable: We love pizza because you can customize it so easily! Add different toppings, make your own cheese (instructions included), or switch up the sauce to suit your taste. You can even make a half-and-half pizza!
• Healthier option: By opting for dairy-free cheese and loading up on veggies, your vegan pizza will contain less saturated fat than a traditional version.

If you love vegan pizza, you should really check out our air fryer pizza rolls, tlayudas, vegan birria tacos, and vegan pasta salad.

🍕 Easy vegan pizza

Pizza is universally loved around the world, and it just might be our favorite food (okay, we have a lot of favorite foods). There are so many variations and styles to choose from — the options are endless!

It can be traced back to Naples, Italy, where it started as a simple flatbread with toppings. Nowadays, there are so many places serving up their own unique pies!

This vegan pizza recipe is our spin on a Neapolitan or Margherita pizza. We wanted to emulate the delicious characteristics of a traditional Italian pizza, with a crispy crust, tangy tomato sauce, and mouthwatering toppings, but without any animal-derived ingredients.

On one of our pizzas, we used a store-bought vegan mozzarella cheese. It melts perfectly and complements the juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil leaves. On the other pizza, we used a quick and easy homemade cashew cheese.

We can’t decide which one we like more! You can serve your pizza straight out of the oven, with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh basil, and your other favorite toppings.

🌱 Aren’t most pizzas vegan?

Most pizzas are vegetarian-based due to the use of cheese on pretty much any style of pizza! There are two simple but necessary changes you can make to keep your pizza plant-based.

• Cheese: In this recipe, we’ve replaced traditional mozzarella with vegan mozzarella, which lends a similar melty, gooey texture.
• Dough: Our pizza dough is vegan-friendly, made with basic ingredients like flour, yeast, and olive oil. Although most pizzas are made with “accidentally vegan” ingredients, some places use milk and eggs. So it’s always best to double-check!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Vegan pizza dough: We recommend making your own vegan pizza dough. It’s best to make it the night before, then leave it in the fridge for the best taste and texture. If you’re short on time, store-bought vegan pizza dough will also work.
• Tomato sauce: Homemade pizza sauce, San Marzano tomato sauce, or a good-quality store-bought tomato sauce all work. Feel free to substitute with your favorite vegan pesto for a twist.
• Vegan mozzarella: Provides the classic, melty cheese topping. You can also use other vegan cheese varieties like cheddar, Gouda, or even feta.
• Cashew mozzarella: For a quick and easy homemade option, blend raw cashews, nutritional yeast, salt, and vinegar into a hummus-like consistency. It works perfectly for a cheese replacement!
• Fresh tomatoes: Brings a fresh, juicy, and tangy element. You can swap fresh tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes for a more intense flavor.
• Basil: Fresh basil leaves add a sweet, aromatic, and slightly spicy element. Dried basil or oregano can be used sparingly if you don’t have fresh basil.
• Olive oil: Used for a final drizzle to add richness. For a spicy kick, try chile oil.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make vegan pizza

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Turn your oven up high — all the way to 475F (or as hot as your oven goes) for the crispiest, most delicious vegan pizza crust. While that’s heating up, grab out a pizza stone or a flat baking sheet.

Step 2: Make the cashew cheese

While the oven is heating, make the cashew cheese if you’re using it. Add the cashews, vinegar, salt, and nutritional yeast to a blender or food processor.

Blend it with a small amount of water until the consistency is smooth but still thick. You want it to be a similar texture as hummus so it doesn’t run as the pizza bakes.

Step 3: Stretch the dough

Transfer your vegan pizza dough to a surface dusted with flour. Using your fingertips, begin to flatten the dough. With one hand, grip the edge of the dough.

With the other, place your palm in the center of the dough and pull gently. Repeat this process, working your way around the dough, until the crust is stretched to your liking.

Step 4: Add the cheese and sauce

Carefully move the stretched dough onto a pizza stone or pan. Slather your pizza dough with a serving of tomato sauce, being mindful to leave a border for the crust.

Spread vegan mozzarella cheese liberally over the top. We cut ours into circles to make it look more traditional, but you can rip or shred your cheese. You can also dollop spoonfuls of cashew cheese on if you’re using that option.

Step 5: Bake the pizza

Let your vegan pizza bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the crust looks golden brown and the cheese has melted.

Sprinkle some fresh basil leaves over the top, followed by a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes. Happy eating!

If you have questions about this vegan pizza recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🥗 What to serve with vegan pizza

For the ultimate meal, pair your vegan pizza recipe with sides and sauces like these:

• Kale Caesar salad: Hearty kale leaves and creamy vegan dressing pair well with the savory flavors of pizza.
• Corn ribs: Crispy corn ribs that you can make in the air fryer or oven.
• Vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings: Spicy and saucy wings that are great to serve as an appetizer before the vegan pizza.
• Vegan ranch: A creamy sauce for pizza and dip lovers!

🌡️ Storage & reheating

Vegan pizza is best enjoyed fresh, but it also makes for great leftovers! Here’s how to store and reheat it:

• Fridge: Once completely cooled, transfer the leftover pizza slices to an airtight container. You can keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: For longer storage, place the cooled pizza slices in a freezer-safe bag or container. They will last up to 3 months this way.
• Reheat: Reheat slices in the oven at 375F for 10 minutes or until heated through. For a quicker method, you can microwave them for 1-2 minutes, but be aware this method will result in a chewier crust.
• Prep ahead: The pizza dough can be made in advance (in fact, we recommend it) and stored in the fridge or freezer. Refer to our vegan pizza dough recipe for more details.

♻️ Variations

• Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free pizza crust by swapping the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free blend. The texture will be different but delicious nonetheless.
• Veggies: Top your pizza with different vegetables like bell peppers, olives, corn, mushrooms, and onions.
• Spicy: Add some heat with jalapeños or extra red pepper flakes.
• Pesto pizza: Replace tomato sauce with vegan pesto for a herbaceous twist.
• BBQ pizza: Swap out the tomato sauce for vegan barbecue sauce, and top your vegan pizza with roasted veggies and vegan chicken.
• Mediterranean-style: Use vegan feta, olives, tomatoes, and a drizzle of tahini.
• Hawaiian: Top the pizza with vegan ham and pineapple for a tropical twist.
• Mexican-inspired: Use salsa as the base, then top the pizza with vegan queso fresco, black beans, pickled japaeños, corn, and fresh avocado at the end.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Oven temperature: A hot oven is key to achieving a crispy vegan pizza crust! Make sure it’s preheated and as hot as your oven can go.
• Preheat the pizza stone: For the crispiest bottom, preheat the pizza stone or baking pan while the oven preheats.
• Don’t overload the toppings: Too many toppings can result in a soggy pizza. Instead, add just enough to cover the tomato sauce in a single layer.
• Add basil last: Add the basil after cooking the pizza to keep it fresh and aromatic.
• Let it cool: Allow the pizza to cool for a few minutes before slicing it to prevent the toppings from sliding off.
• Use a pizza cutter: To achieve perfect, accurate cuts, invest in a pizza cutter, especially if you eat pizza often.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More vegan recipes

If you enjoyed this vegan pizza recipe, you might also like these other plant-based recipes:

• Homemade Falafel: Traditional Middle Eastern flavors made in your own home.
• Dairy-Free Mac & Cheese: Elbow pasta bathed in creamy cashew cheese sauce.
• Air Fryer Quesadillas: An quick, easy, and comforting weeknight dinner idea.
• Lemon Garlic Pasta: A flavorful and vibrant recipe requiring minimal effort.