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Sharing one of my favorite cheesy pizzas, Garden Greens Goddess Pizza. This is the early summer pizza we all should be making. Homemade pizza dough topped with spicy homemade “goddess” style basil pesto, shredded kale, creamy cheese, and garden-fresh zucchini. Roast everything up in a super hot oven until the zucchini becomes almost chip-like, the cheese is melty and bubbly, and the crust is golden and perfect. Once out of the oven, top with fresh basil for the most delicious garden-style summery pizza.
As we enter into the early summer months, I’m really looking forward to cooking (and baking) with fresh produce. I love seeing what’s growing in everyone’s gardens and what the local farm stands and markets are carrying. When I made this pizza last week, we were experiencing some very beautiful spring weather and I was so inspired to cook with the overflowing produce in my fridge.
I wanted something light, fresh, and colorful. A fun recipe that would incorporate the herbs we are currently growing in our garden. Sure, it’s a bit early for gardens to be producing an abundance of zucchini and kale, but soon enough…I’m just helping us all prepare!
Speaking of gardens, are any of you tending to gardens this season? It’s tricky trying to grow produce here where we live in Colorado. If not covered, there are many nights where the produce will freeze. Even during the hottest month of the year. But I’m excited to already have herbs in full bloom and leafy greens on the way…all thanks to our greenhouse!
The inspiration.
When it comes to cooking in the summer months, I tend to keep things simple. That means creating recipes with lots of produce. After months of quarantined cooking, it’s going to be nice to lighten things up a bit.
Enter this pizza, it still feels hearty and crave-worthy, but yet it incorporates so much fresh produce and flavorful herbs. It’s going to be perfect for busy summer nights when you have tons of greens, zucchini, and basil in the fridge.
Which is how this pizza came to be. It was created using the contents of my fridge, our herb-garden, and the abundance of homemade goat cheese we now have. My favorite recipes are always the ones created on the fly.
The Garden Greens Goddess Pizza details…
As with most of my pizza recipes, this is simple. And you can easily swap ingredients dependent on your tastes and what you have on hand.
Start with the dough. I like to use my homemade pizza dough recipe from the HBH Super Simple cookbook. It’s the easiest to make and truly delicious. If you can think a few hours ahead of time, I’d recommend making your own dough. If not, store-bought pizza dough works great too (Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s both have great options)!
Once you have your dough figured out, it’s time to make pizza…and a spicy, lemony basil pesto too.
For the pesto, I used a mix of fresh basil and dill, but I often swap the fresh dill for mint, so use whichever you prefer. I like to add lots of lemon to my pesto, and for this pesto, a spicy jalapeño pepper too. Of course, if you don’t love spicy food, you can simply omit the jalapeño from the pesto.
If you’ve never made pesto before, it’s easy. You simply blend fresh herbs with parmesan cheese, olive oil, and a pinch of salt in either a blender or food processor. It’s easy and worth the extra five minutes’ time. That said, if you don’t have lots of fresh basil on hand, feel free to use your favorite store-bought pesto.
Now…put it all together and bake!
Once the pesto is made, roll out the pizza dough and layer on the toppings.
Spread on a heavy layer of pesto, add lots of shredded kale, crumbled goat cheese, and plenty of melty fontina cheese. Now…the next step is key. Cut the zucchini (or yellow summer squash) into ribbons using a vegetable peeler (or just thinly slice the zucchini into rounds). Getting the zucchini thinly sliced is key. It bakes up atop the pizza and turns almost “chip” like. It’s delicious and a fun way to switch up the average way you might cook with zucchini.
Once everything is layered onto the pizza dough, simply bake in a super hot oven. Ten or so minutes later dinner is done. You’ll have cheesy pizza with all the vegetables and your kitchen with smell pretty darn good too.
Finish with a large handful of fresh basil leaves, slice, and enjoy! Simple, yet perfect. A low-key dinner at home that feels fun and even a little fancy(ish) too.
So with that, what do you all think? Tuesday night pizza? Promise it’s going to be fun, and most importantly, so very GOOD.
Looking for other fun pizza night recipes? Some favorites of mine include…
Pesto Zucchini and Peach Pizza with Burrata
Herbed Butter Heirloom Tomato Pizza
Pepper and Cherry Tomato White Pizza
Garlic and Herb Roasted Cherry Tomato Pizza with Caramelized Onions
Lastly, if you make this garden greens goddess pizza, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Garden Greens Goddess Pizza.
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 777 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
- 1/2 cup basil pesto (homemade below)
- 2 cups chopped or shredded kale
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt
- crushed red pepper flakes
- 6 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup shredded fontina cheese
- 1 medium zucchini or summer squash, shaved into ribbons
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly torn
Goddess Basil pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil
- 1/2 cup fresh dill or mint
- 1 jalapeño, seeded if desired
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons roasted shelled pistachios
- 1/4 cup shredded pecorino or parmesan cheese
- juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease a large baking sheet with olive oil.2. Make the pesto, if using homemade. In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients and pulse until smooth. Taste and add salt as needed. Keep stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.3. On a lightly floured surface, push/roll the dough out until it is pretty thin (about a 10-12 inch circle). Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet.4. Spread the dough with pesto, top evenly with kale, and drizzle with olive oil. Season lightly with salt and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Top with crumbled goat cheese and fontina cheese. Arrange the zucchini ribbons over the cheese, drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt. 5. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese has melted. Top the pizza with fresh basil and crushed red pepper flakes. ENJOY!
Will definitely make this again, but with all shaved parmesan cheese as we found the goat cheese overpowering. The homemade crust and homemade pesto are to die for! My pesto was spinach and arugula based. LOVE the zucchini ribbons, plus I added mushrooms, peppers, artichoke, and bacon… omg! Delish!
I hope you love this more with the parmesan, Whitney! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
Made this tonight with out the kale or jalapeno just because I didn’t have any. I roasted cherry tomatoes too and added them. The pesto was really good, will definitely make again. Thanks!!
Thank you so much Niamh!! xTieghan
Holy guacamole. I’m mind blown by every single one of your recipes, but this one was truly a show-stopper. I used your HBH super simple no knead pizza crust made with bear (which I was like what the heck?), and it’s like the best pizza crust ever. Plus the delicious flavors of this recipe, it’s just amazing. My mom said it was better than the pizza she’s had from any pizzeria ever, and I think I agree.
Hi Anya! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you!! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
A+ as usual. We probably cook three of your meals each week and they never disappoint! I added scallions and avocados that needed to be used.
Amazing! Thank you so much Sarah! xTieghan
The veggies were flavorful, the cheese was salty and gooey, the pesto and fresh basil makes it all pop! So good. Will be making all summer long.
That is so amazing to hear! Thank you so much Lauren! xTieghan
Made this two nights ago and I’m still thinking about it…OMG SO SO GOOD! The basil pesto is so amazing I think it might be the best one yet! I went with dill instead of mint and I kept the seeds of the jalapeño in which gave it that perfect kick. I did a mix of fontina and mozzarella and only a touch of goat cheese. I can’t comment on the dough bc I already have another go to recipe I like to use.
An added note…I always make homemade pizza on a steel…this never fails me! I get perfectly crisp pizza – no soggy middle! I start by placing the steel on the lowest rack in the oven and preheating it at 550 degrees. Once the oven is nice and hot I cook the pizza for about 7 mins then move the pizza/steel to the highest level in the oven and broil for another min or two.
I am so glad this one turned out so amazing for you, Beata!! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
Great recipe- we made this tonight on a sourdough pizza crust and it was delicious! It’s interesting because I am not a big kale fan or zucchini fan but loved this pizza. Any bits of kale sticking out got nice and crispy and the cheese/pesto combination was great!
I am so glad you decided to try this! Thank you so much Kait! I hope you continue to enjoy my recipes! xTieghan
Oh my goodness…this pizza was amazing! We have pizza every Friday night and this recipe, along with your drool worthy photos, nudged me out of making the same old weekly pizza. And now this green goddess pizza will become my new weekly pizza because it’s that good. This recipe is spot on! It might have looked a bit too “green” for my kiddo but that meant more for me! Thank you for another awesome recipe!
Thank you so much Caroline! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This was a hit! Everyone loved the flavor, particularly the spice paired with the creaminess of goat cheese and crunchy kale. Adding this to my recipe box! 🙂
Thank you Jorden! xTieghan
Hi! I have a question about the dough. So for 2 pizzas I need to use 3 cups of flour and 2tsp of yeast and leave it overnight. Do I need to use 6 cups of flour and 4tsp of yeast for 4 pizzas? it seems like a lot of yeast if I am going to leave the dough overnight? What do you think? Thanks
Just made this!! Except with tomatoes and broccoli instead of squash bc it’s what I had on hand. Pizza was so good!!! I will definitely be making it again 🙂
Love that!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Renae!! xTieghan
Super Yummy style of pizza!
Tieghan!!!! PLEASE!!!! Can we see pictures of your greenhouse? It would be super inspiring.
Loving all your posts. Thanks for HHH
Thank you so much Tiffany! I will try to get some up! xTieghan
LOVE IT!!!! Keep posting!
Thank you Clare! xTieghan
This looks delicious, but the use of the phrase @green goddess” implies the use of tarragon and often yoghurt, as well as other fresh herbs, in the recipe. Basil, although much beloved by me, is not a dominant element.
Hi Susan! To each their own! I hope you enjoy this recipe if you get a chance to try it! xTieghan
The new way that the recipes prints up cuts off some of the measurements. Please go back to the old way. It worked.
Thank you,
Judy
Hi Judy! I have not changed the printing settings for any of the recipes. When I try to print, they print fine. Is there anyway you could have changed a setting on your computer? I would love to help! xTieghan