This Garlic Brussels Sprouts Bacon Pizza is packed with flavor – amazingly good, simple to make and done in minutes!
Brussels Sprouts – love ’em or hate ’em?
You guysssss. I was sssooooo not going to bring you a pizza recipe today.
And trust me, I did everything in my power to not make this pizza. E.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
Because I’m a big chicken. I’ve always been intimidated about making homemade pizza dough. If you have a pizza restaurant or sell pizza then you may want to purchase a POS System from sites such as https://toppossystem.com/best-pizza-pos-system/.
Call me crazy.
I’ve made bread dozens of times. Pizza dough? Nuh uh. Scary! I usually get my local pizza delivery guy to bring me pizza, I never make it myself!
Here’s a sneak peek. It doesn’t look scary now. You know, now that it turned out and everything. 🙂
Well…you know how I feel about fears, right? No way, no how. We work through them. So, even if I had flour up to my elbows, I was going in. 🙂
But first, I had to clean the entire kitchen. Because hey – who knows, you might need to toss the dough in the remote corners of your pantry. Or, you might be tossing the pizza dough and it lands on the one dirty spot you didn’t clean. One never knows.
p.r.o.c.r.a.s.t.i.n.a.t.i.o.n.
So, I swept. Then, I swept again. And, after that, I moved things around. Things that didn’t need to be moved. Basically, I futzed.
Then, I made bacon. Because bacon is easy. And foolproof.
Then I cut and cleaned the Brussels Sprouts and photographed them. Over and over and over and over. Need brussels sprouts pictures, anyone?
I seriously dawdled for over an hour dreading making the dough.
Eventually when you realize you can’t procrastinate any longer… you make the dough. And then you have the DOH moment. That’s the one where you realize that making homemade pizza dough is a snap!
After that, it all starts to come together into a beautiful pizza that you’re sssooooo proud of, because you actually conquered the I-can’t-believe-it-was-so-easy dough.
Big contest, eh? The dough had nothing against me. Why was I so afraid of it?
Gah!
And, it ends up turning into something baked and beautiful. Ooey gooey with lots of cheese. Delicious, tender, healthy brussels sprouts. And bacon.
The dough, crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. Perfectly blistered and bubbled in all the right spots. Golden and delicious in it’s freshly baked self.
And be sure you don’t forget to save yourself a slice for later so you can remember what a great pizza dough maker you are. You totally rocked it. 🙂
Garlic Brussels Sprouts Bacon Pizza
Ingredients
Pizza Crust
- 1 and 1/8 cups warm water
- 3 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose white flour
- 1 and 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
Pizza Topping
- 6 slices of bacon cooked and chopped
- 1 large shallot thinly sliced
- 1 to 2 tablespoons garlic coarsely chopped
- 1/2 pound brussels sprouts stems removed and thinly sliced (see note)
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces Mozzarella cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Pizza Crust - *NOTE* This recipe will create two pizza crusts!
- In a large bowl, combine water, yeast, honey and olive oil. Mix together well with a spoon, then let it sit until foamy, roughly about 10 minutes. Add in 2 and 1/2 cups of flour and salt, stirring with a spoon until the dough comes together, but is still sticky.
- Using your hands, form the dough into a ball and work in the additional 1/2 cup flour, kneading it on a floured surface for a few minutes. It's ok if you don't use all of the 1/2 cup of flour!
- Rub the same bowl with olive oil, then place the dough inside, turning the dough around to coat it in the olive oil. Cover with a towel and place in a warm place to rise for about 1 and 1/2 hours.
- After the dough has risen, punch it down and place it back on the floured surface. Add additional flour if the dough is still sticky. Place one half of the dough on a floured countertop and using a rolling pin, roll the pizza to the size of your cast iron skillet.
Pizza Topping - *NOTE* The below pizza topping recipe will create ONE pizza!
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon until done and crispy. Remove bacon and place on paper towels to absorb fat. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat from the pan, leaving the remaining 2 tablespoons in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium low and cook shallot, garlic, sliced Brussels Sprouts, salt and pepper for roughly 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prep your oven by placing the oven rack near the top of the oven to broil the pizza. Preheat your oven to broil. At the same time, place your cast iron skillet on the stovetop and turn the heat on high. You want to heat the cast iron skillet for 10 minutes or until it is VERY hot. If it begins to smoke to much, turn down the heat, but you do want the skillet very hot.
- **-- USE HEAVY OVEN MITTS – THE SKILLET WILL BE HOT**
- While the skillet is heating, place the toppings on the dough. Add 2 to 3 ounces of cheese to the dough first, then add the Brussels Sprouts, shallots and bacon. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Using a thick pot holder, carefully slide the pizza into the hot cast iron skillet and quickly place it in the oven under the broiler. Turn off the stove top! 🙂 Broil pizza for 1 minute. Using the thick pot holder again, grab the handle and rotate the pan 180 degrees. Broil for 1 more minute. Remove pizza immediately and place on the stovetop. Let cool for roughly 5 minutes, then use a large spatula to remove the pizza.
- Slice and serve!
Notes
Recipe adapted from How Sweet Eats @ Cast Iron Skillet Brussels Sprouts Pizza.
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
I have yet to make pizza dough but I am still too lazy. Whenever I want pizza, I want pizza, like, yesterday and not several hours from now. But perhaps if I get smart about it…I would make it ahead and freeze it. Your pizza is so INSPIRED! Girl, you just made me want to eat brussels sprouts! So cheesy and the dough is perfect. Pinned!
Kristi says
The girl who makes these gorgeous looking cupcakes (THE CUPCAKE QUEEN) doesn’t take time for pizza dough? I’m amazed! Thanks for the pin! I haven’t frozen my dough yet, but I did leave the 2nd dough in the fridge for the next day, and it was just as good!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
You make a valid point there…I have no rebuttal. Clearly I prefer cupcakes to pizza!
Johlene says
Wow this looks really yummy! Love that you added honey to the base 🙂
Happy Monday!
xoxo
Kristi says
Thanks Johlene – we loved the honey in it. It’s hard to believe it made a difference, but it did!
Tash says
Hahaha making pizza dough never fails to intimidate me either, it just seems so tricky – as if the final result is always out of your hands! Loving the combination you’ve made here 🙂
Kristi says
Thanks Tash! It is so easy, I can’t believe it took me so long to try it!!!
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says
I want to eat this gorgeous pizza like there’s no tomorrow. Bacon and brussels sprouts together is the BOMB.com. And on a pizza?! I die.
Totally drooling here, Kristi!
Kristi says
Thanks Sarah! I love that it made you drool. It was really tasty!
Renee@Two in the Kitchen says
Wow! Those brussels sprouts pics are amazing!! 😉 As is this pizza!! I happen to love brussels sprouts. But I have to say: I’ve never had them on pizza before. This is seriously making me hungry!
Kristi says
So glad you like it Renee. I loved the brussels sprouts picture too. Thanks to a new camera, the shots are crisp and bright!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong says
Wow this looks delicious. . Never thought of using brussel sprouts as a pizza topping.. Just brilliamt.. Perfect way to use up my brussel sprouts .. love the bacon and brussel sprouts combination. . 🙂
Kristi says
You’ll love it Arpita – they go great together, and it was such a different and unique pizza flavor!
Ruby @ Ruby Red Apron says
Seriously this is your first time making pizza? It looks amazing and so perfect! I love brussel sprouts but never thought to add it to a pizza. And the bacon?? I’m sooo drooling right now. 🙂
Kristi says
So glad you like it Ruby. I’ve made pizza before, but it was always with a premade crust. Homemade is ssssoooo much better. It was awesome!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
I’ve only made my own pizza dough once or twice – so yeah, definitely intimidating!! I need to try it again and make this delicious pizza.
Kristi says
I was really surprised how much better homemade dough was! It seems to puff and crisp in all the right places – crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Really good!
Kelly says
Aaaaw yay!!! So proud of you girl, I love that you’re conquering so many things lately 🙂 Love homemade pizza dough – yours looks perfect! I LOVE brussels sprouts but have never tried making pizza with them before though and totally love that idea! It sounds amazing especially with bacon – I seriously can’t wait to try that next time – you totally did rock this!
Kristi says
Thanks Kelly – you should definitely try it. i think it’s one of our new favorite pizza flavors! So good, and a good way to eat your vegetables, which I can always use help with! Hahaha!
Julie | This Gal Cooks says
I could eat brussels sprouts with bacon every day for the rest of my life. LOVE this pizza, Kristi!
Kristi says
Yah! A brussels sprouts lover – I love it! I was late to the game in loving them, but on this pizza, they were divine!
Monica says
That looks nothing short of amazing! It took me ages to work up the nerve to make pizza dough at home, too. I finally did it for the first time a year or so ago as a project with my 9-year old. It was so cool to watch it rise and eat something we really made from scratch. If I had bacon on it, I would have been a bigger rock star. And I love brussels sprouts – this is the kind of pizza us grown ups would fight over. Great job! (PS – love the mix of whole wheat flour…it must make a nice heftier crust that works so well with your toppings).
Kristi says
Thanks Monica – the whole wheat flour did work really well with the heavier toppings, and it tasted so good too!
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
I love everything about this pizza, Kristi! And your dough looks just perfect…
Kristi says
Thanks Marissa – I was so pleased that the dough was such a success! To have worried over nothing! Haha!
Heather says
Glad you got over your fear of pizza dough! I actually think it’s the easiest yeasted bread dough to make. Speaking of pizza, that looks incredible!
Kristi says
It was sssooo easy – I’m so glad I finally tried it Heather – so much better than store bought!
Rachael | Spache the Spatula says
YUM! Brussels sprouts + bacon is a tough combo to beat!
And your dough looks great! I used to be afraid of baking anything that included yeast, because I was afraid that I may somehow screw it up royally and have some sort of yeast explosion, or nothing would rise. I used to get actually anxious at the thought! But baking with yeast is so simple!
Kristi says
You are so right Rachael! I think the only way you can go wrong is if the yeast is old!
Manali @ CookWithManali says
looks awesome Kristi! 🙂 and I’m glad you made your own pizza dough, it really is easy!
Kristi says
Thanks Manali – you were right – it was super easy!
Judit | Glamorous Bite says
There is nothing better then home made pizza dough, and your pizza looks amazing, Kristi! MMMM the crust looks PERFECT, just the way I like it. Good job 🙂
Kristi says
Thanks Judit – it was sssooo much better than I expected! Homemade is definitely the way to go.
Amy (Savory Moments) says
Brussels sprouts on PIZZA with Bacon?! Wow! This looks so, so good. I’m definitely pinning to remember to give this a try. What a creative pizza idea!
Kristi says
Thanks for the pin Amy – you will be amazed by the flavor – it is so good!
Mira says
This pizza looks so delicious! I love brussels sprouts, but can’t believe that I’ve never thought of using them as a pizza topping. I always make pizza dough but have been using the same recipe for ages. Yours sounds great and I’ll definitely give it a try next time I make pizza 🙂 This bacon picture makes me go and cook some bacon now!
Kristi says
I really love the honey in the dough Mira, but I’d love to hear your recipe as well. Is it on your blog? YES! The brussels sprouts on the pizza were divine – if you love them, you’ll love them on pizza – with bacon of course!
ATasteOfMadness says
This looks like the best pizza ever!! I love love love brussels sprouts!!
Kristi says
Me tooooo! I’m so glad you like them and I hope you get a chance to try them!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
Kristi – YUM!! Oh could I could for a slice (or three) of this delish pizza right now, and it’s just about my bedtime! I cracked up reading about your pizza dough procrastination..I get like that with some kitchen tasks. I for one am super glad you’ve conquered your pizza dough fear, because hopefully that means we get more recipes like this one! 🙂
Kristi says
Thanks Alyssa – I have no idea what I was so worried about, it’s one of the easiest things I’ve done in the kitchen – and I cook a LOT!
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
I am not a brussels sprout lover, I can eat them but that’s about it, I can’t really appreciate them. I hate bacon 🙂 Always disliked it, even before becoming a vegetarian. Am I missing out? I know 99% of the world population is in love with bacon! Anyhow… your pizza looks great. You bake like a pro!
Kristi says
I wasn’t a brussels sprouts fan either, but I’ve found a few ways to prepare them that I love! And bacon…well, if you don’t like it, I certainly respect that – but I have to tell you, I am a huge fan! So, more for me! Haha! 🙂 Thanks for the compliments on the pizza Daniela! Have a great week!
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
I LOVE Brussels!! And what a fun way to serve them – in a delicious pizza!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Brussels pizza and now all I want to do is make it for lunch 🙂
Kristi says
Oh you should Chelsea – if you love brussels, you will love this! The bacon doesn’t hurt either. Haha!
ami@naivecookcooks says
Kristi this pizza!! It has everything my heart desired right now!! Yumm!
Kristi says
I’m so glad you like it Ami! People either love brussels sprouts or they don’t, so it was a gamble. We loved it! Have a great week!
Annie @Maebells says
Now THIS is a pizza!!! Love the flavors here! I have to make!
Kristi says
Thanks Annie! You’ll love it!
Ashley says
Well I’m glad you got over your fear of homemade pizza dough!! It’s the best! And with these toppings?? I can’t get enough brussels sprouts lately and with bacon? Even better!
Kristi says
I’m with you Ashley – Brussels are my new BFF {best finger food}! Hahahaha!
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com says
KRISTI. I don’t know what you’re talking about, you are clearly the pizza dough whisperer and your destiny is to make pizza dough for a living. This is gorgeous! I am a recent Brussels sprout convert and now I can’t get enough of them–can’t wait to try them in pizza form!
Kristi says
Hahahaha! I LOL’d. Thanks Elizabeth. Since that 1st pizza attempt, I’ve made 4 pizzas since then, because I loved it so much. You may be right – I may be the pizza whisperer! LOL
Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen says
This looks absolutely delicious!
Kristi says
Thanks Monique – it is really tasty – I think you’ll love it!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
Brussels sprouts and bacon are a winning combination – I’ve never thought to put them on pizza before. This sounds amazing!
Kristi says
Thanks Sarah – we totally loved it – I hope you do too!
Chocolate Shavings says
I’m a Brussels sprouts lover so this is definitely up my alley in more ways that one. Yum!
Kristi says
Thanks Jennifer! I’ve become a huge fan of brussels sprouts too!
Beth @ The First Year says
This pizza looks incredibly delicious, especially at 9pm!!!
Kristi says
Thanks Beth! So glad you like it. Me = pizza fanatic! 🙂