We grew up eating this vegetarian spinach stuffed pizza, and it's one of my favorite meals. My mom has perfected this recipe and I wanted to post it so I would always have access to it. There's something so comforting about this double stuffed cheesy carb bomb!
When I was researching what to call this post I learned something new about the different styles of pizza. What's the difference between deep dish and stuffed pizza? Mainly, stuffed pizza has two layers of crust.
How do you make this Vegetarian Spinach Stuffed Pizza?
Prepare your pizza dough if you plan on making it from scratch. Here is my go to homemade pizza dough recipe but cut it in half for just one of these stuffed pizzas. If you are buying premade dough, you only need one package. Usually the premade doughs are about 15 ounces.
Start by draining some canned petite diced tomatoes and frozen spinach. It's important to splurge a little on these tomatoes and get some that are really good quality.
Next, stretch out your dough in the bottom of a greased 9" cake pan or 9" spring form pan. The crust doesn't have to come all the way to the top of the pan when you stretch it out.
Then mix together your fillings. For the spinach add two cups of an Italian blend shredded cheese. We find the Italian blend has a lot more flavor than just using mozzarella. Add some olive oil, dried oregano and basil, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese to the tomatoes.
Spread the spinach mixture into the bottom of the pan and top with another layer of pizza dough. Trim off any extra dough. You don't want big clumps of dough anywhere because it will make the pizza too bready. Fold and pinch the bottom and top layers of dough to seal tightly. Cut some holes into the top crust to let air escape while the pizza bakes.
Add the tomato mixture to the top crust and spread it all the way to the sides so the crust doesn't burn. The cooked tomatoes do stick to the pan and caramelize, so you'll have to use a knife around the edges to get the pizza out.
Bake the pizza in a 475 degree oven on the bottom rack for 10 minutes then move to the top rack for an additional 20-25 minutes. It's important to finish the pizza on the top rack so the bottom doesn't burn and the top crust cooks all the way through.
Let it cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing!
You could definitely add other ingredients to this recipe. Sautéed mushrooms and onions are delicious mixed in with the spinach. You could also try canned artichokes for a spinach and artichoke stuffed pizza. Let me know any good combinations you come up with in the comments!
If you like this recipe you can rate it and leave a comment below. If you take a picture tag me on Instagram @hungrywaitress! Here's the recipe:
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Vegetarian Spinach Stuffed Pizza
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4
Description
This vegetarian pizza is a delicious way to eat your veggies!
Ingredients
- 1 package (15 oz) of pizza dough, store bought or homemade*
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil to grease your pan
- 2 (14.5 oz) cans of petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 Tablespoon of olive oil for the sauce
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 15 - 16 oz bag of frozen spinach, thawed and drained thoroughly
- 1 - 1 1/2 cups Italian blend shredded cheese
Instructions
- Prepare your pizza dough if you plan on making it from scratch. Here is my go to homemade pizza dough recipe but cut it in half for just one of these stuffed pizzas. If you are buying premade dough, you only need one package.
- Heat the oven to 475 degrees.
- Stretch out half your dough in the bottom of a greased 9" cake pan.
- Mix together the tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, basil, oregano and Parmesan for the sauce.
- Mix together the spinach and Italian blend shredded cheese and pile on top of the bottom crust.
- Top the spinach stuffing with the other half of pizza dough and trim off any extra dough. (You don't want big clumps of dough because it will make the pizza too bready.)
- Fold and pinch the bottom and top layers of dough to seal tightly and cut some holes into the top crust to let air escape while the pizza bakes.
- Add the tomato sauce to the top crust and spread it all the way to the sides so the crust doesn't burn.
- Bake the pizza in a 475 degree oven on the bottom rack for 10 minutes then move to the top rack for an additional 20-25 minutes.
Notes
*Cut the Homemade Pizza Dough recipe in half to make one of these stuffed pizzas
It's important to finish the pizza on the top rack so the bottom doesn't burn and the top crust cooks all the way through.
The cooked tomatoes do stick to the pan and caramelize, so you'll have to use a knife around the edges to get the pizza out. Using a spring form pan is easier if you have one!
It's really important to drain as much water as you can out of the spinach so the pizza isn't soggy.
Also, don't skimp on the quality of your canned tomatoes! They make all the difference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: stuffed pizza, pizza recipe, deep dish pizza, homemade pizza, dinner recipe
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