Homemade Easy Vegan Pizza (Vegan Pizza Dough Recipe + Toppings!)
This vegan pizza dough is quick and easy to make, with the most perfect crust, and tons of unbelievably vegan pizza toppings, including the best melty gooey vegan cheese! Options for both grilling the pizza and freezing the dough for later too!
This is the ULTIMATE vegan pizza recipe
I love ordering in pizza as much as the next gal (Colony Grill is my absolute fave, thanks to the fact that they have a vegan pizza option!). But to be honest, other than Colony, not many pizzerias have vegan pizza options.
So what do we do? We make our own vegan pizza! It’s honestly SO easy. You are just going to love this super easy vegan pizza recipe, and I think you’ll be shocked out how good it is!
And if you’re gluten-free: Try my amazing gluten free vegan pizza dough!
We have a perfectly chewy crust that’s flavorful and soft on the inside but tough on the outside to hold up all of your toppings. Then I’m going to share a few of my favorite topping options, as well as a recipe for the pizza I made in the first picture!
And this pizza goes great with a side of garlic bread or vegan focaccia (or gluten free focaccia!) as well- or serve it with a bowl of Tuscan white bean soup!
Now, there are different styles of pizza, but we’re going for a medium crust that’s slightly chewy. Then we top with fresh pizza sauce, cheese, and bake!
I actually learned how to make pizza from my great grandpa, who’s Sicilian. While this vegan pizza recipe isn’t a true Sicilian pizza, I tried to keep as close to what my great grandpa taught me as possible!
The verdict: my grandmother, his daughter, said that this vegan pizza was honestly one of the best pizzas she’s had. She didn’t even think I used vegan cheese ha (that’s how good vegan cheese can be these days!)!
Is pizza dough vegan?
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Often times, pizza dough is naturally vegan. The basic pizza dough formula is just water, flour, yeast, and salt. The only times that eggs or dairy are used for a bread recipe is typically just for enriched doughs (like brioche or cinnamon rolls– which we have the vegan options for on the blog!).
Ingredients for a vegan pizza dough
As we just mentioned, the ingredients for a pizza dough in general, is so simple.However, since we’re making a vegan pizza, we’ll keep the rest of the ingredients vegan and dairy free as well!
Vegan pizza dough is made from:
- Flour: I recommend OO flour or all purpose flour.
- Quick Rise Yeast
- Water
- Sugar: Just a tablespoon to activate the yeast!
- Sea Salt
- Olive oil: just a little bit is going to help our dough get wonderfully crispy on the outside.
For the pesto tomato white bean vegan pizza I made in the photos, the ingredients you’ll need are:
- Pizza Sauce: rarely is pizza sauce not vegan, but please be sure to double check ingredient labels!
- Vegan Pesto: I have a homemade vegan pesto, but there are a few store bought brands that are great, including Gotham Greens’ vegan pesto.
- Vegan cheese: This is a make or break situation right here. The vegan cheese you choose is so crucial!I have a homemade bean-based vegan mozzarella that is wonderful! We’re going to go over that in the coming sections, but in general, I recommend using Violife, which I believe is not only available nationwide, but also internationally!
- Compari tomatoes
- Olives
- Mushrooms
- Fresh Basil
- Lemon dill white beans: cannellini beans, garlic, lemon, dill, sea salt, and olive oil!
My favorite kitchen tools for this recipe:
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How to make the best vegan pizza recipe from scratch
Making a homemade vegan pizza is actually quite simple! It’ll give you a bit of an arm workout, but totally worth it because this vegan pizza dough comes out incredibly.
First I’ll walk your through making the dough, and then we’ll go over how to shape the pizza, top it, and bake. There’s even an option for a grilled pizza if you want more of that “fire” taste to the pizza.
As always, the full written instructions for this pizza are found down below in the recipe card. However, let’s go over the basics here!
The vegan pizza dough recipe
Making a pizza dough is super simple, and honestly easier than making cinnamon rolls or even bagels. The reason being is that we only need 4 ingredients, and the whole process actually goes pretty quickly.
I make my pizza dough without any sugar. Not that adding sugar is bad, but I just don’t see the need for it when the yeast can be bloomed with just flour.
The most important part here where a lot of people slip up is not using the proper temperature water. Your water should be heated to 110F, which will feel warm-hot, but it’s best to use a kitchen thermometer. Too cold, and the yeast won’t bloom, which means the dough won’t rise. Too hot, and the yeast won’t work at all. Here’s a great video on how to activate yeast the right way for pizza dough.
You can also make this pizza by hand or by using a stand mixer. I’ve made dough for years just by hand, and only recently acquired a stand mixer, so it absolutely works! Your pizza will be just as amazing.
How to shape pizza dough
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to toss the pizza dough in the air like you see in the movies (though yes, professionals will do that ha!). But since we’re mostly beginners to intermediate chefs, we actually don’t have to toss the dough into the air in order to achieve the round shape (or square if you want a true Sicilian pizza!).
We’ll start to shape the dough after you’ve proved the dough.
Do not use a rolling pin, as this will deflate the dough, causing it not to rise when you bake it! I simply start by dividing the dough in two (it makes it easier to bake in my oven, but you could make one extra large pizza!). I then form a flat disc with one of the dough balls.
Now, start to press the dough out with your fingers, in a circular shape, being mindful of where your crust is forming on the outer edges. Begin to gently turn the dough in a circular motion as your stretch it out to about 12-16″ in diameter, depending on how big your dough ball is.
And there you go! You’ve shaped the pizza dough!
Top the pizza
Once you’re ready to bake your pizza, spread the tomato sauce around the dough, just until the edges. Top with cheese, and place the pizza onto a pizza tray and into the oven to bake for 10-12 minutes at 475F.
Remove from the oven, top with fresh basil, and serve!
How to grill a pizza
If you choose to grill, simply start your grill how you normally would and let it heat to about 500F. Arrange all of your toppings ready to go on the side of the grill (this part just takes being prepared!). Lightly brush your vegan pizza dough with a little olive oil on both sides and slide the dough onto the grill.
Flip the dough after about 2-3 minutes and grill on the other side. Then flip the dough back over and onto the parchment paper, and top with sauce and cheese (saving the basil for when you serve). Slide the simple vegan pizza back onto the grill and cover to let cook for about 2-3 minutes. If your cheese didn’t melt (it’s happened to me once or twice, and it’s because too much time passed between lifting the cover of the grill!), you can place your pizza into an oven at 475F for about 5 minutes to melt the cheese! Then just serve and enjoy 🙂
What vegan cheese should I use?
I personally love my bean-based vegan mozzarella. It’s so quick and easy to make, with just a few simple ingredients. And really tastes like mozzarella cheese!
For store bought, the best vegan cheese to use for a vegan pizza is Forager Project, but I also love Violife! These brands I recommend for a few reasons. Both of these dairy free cheeses melt wonderfully, like real cheese, and both dairy free mozzarella versions come very close to the actual flavor of mozzarella (making this an ideal choice if you’re making this pizza for any vegan skeptics!).
The one thing to keep in mind: if you’re nut free, then go with Violife. Forager Project is awesome, but contains cashews. Violife is just as amazing!
What can you use instead of a pizza stone:
So most of us don’t have a masonry oven, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make a great pizza at home! If you don’t have a pizza stone, you can use:
- The bake of a large baking sheet
- A cast iron pan
- A grill (like we discussed above!)
- A flat pizza tray
Vegan pizza toppings:
Want to make a pizza that’s not just cheese? No problem! Here are some ideas for different vegan pizza recipes other than cheese:
- Top with your favorite Sunday sauce, vegan lentil meatballs, and fresh basil, along with your favorite vegan cheese
- Spread some harissa, and top with roasted peppers, roasted tomatoes, and spinach. Then add a mint dill yogurt sauce on top!
- Make a vegan pesto pizza
- Top with sliced black olives, shredded kale or Brussels sprouts coated in olive oil, sliced figs, and drizzle with balsamic
How to freeze pizza dough:
The best part about this vegan pizza dough recipe: you can make two big pizzas from it, and freeze half of the dough!
To freeze your pizza dough: the most important part is that you’re done through the fermentation process, meaning the rising process.
- Then you’ll divide the dough in half.
- Take one half and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a ziplock bag.
- When ready to use, allow the dough to defrost at room temperature for one hour before shaping.
Then you can top and bake your vegan pizza!
I just know your vegan pizza is going to come out amazing! If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This helps others to find the recipe!
As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations, so be sure to tag on Instagram and Pinterest!
Happy pizza making!
More vegan Italian recipes you’ll love:
Amazing Vegan Cannoli Cheesecake
Easy Vegan Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!
Homemade Easy Vegan Pizza (Vegan Pizza Dough Recipe)
- Prep Time: 60
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8
- Category: Dinner
- Method: grilling, baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This vegan pizza dough is quick and easy to make, with the most perfect crust, and tons of unbelievably vegan pizza toppings, including the best melty gooey vegan cheese! Options for both grilling the pizza and freezing the dough for later too!
Ingredients
Basic Vegan Pizza Dough Recipe:
- 3 1/2 cups (440 grams) 00 flour or all-purpose flour or bread flour, plus more for kneading
- 1 packet (2.5 tsp) quick rise yeast
- 1 1/3 cup (320 mL) water, heated to 110F
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Basic Vegan Pizza Toppings:
- 1 cup-1 2/3 cup your favorite pizza sauce
- 1 batch homemade vegan mozzarella cheese or store bought vegan cheese
- Fresh basil for garnish
Vegan White Bean Pesto Vegan Pizza Toppings:
- 1/2 cup cannellini beans
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- Sea salt + pepper to taste
- Additional toppings: tomato sauce, vegan pesto, olives, mushrooms, vegan cheese
Instructions
- Weigh out all ingredients before beginning. Grease a large bowl with oil and set aside.
- Make the dough: in a stand mixer bowl or in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and quick rise yeast. Attach the dough attachment if using a stand mixer or use a large wooden spoon and pour in the hot water and olive oil. Begin mixing the dough. If using a stand mixer, mix the dough on medium-high speed for 7-9 minutes. Or knead the dough in the bowl. The dough should be slightly shaggy and tacky at this point. Then lightly flour a clean surface and place the dough onto the surface. Lightly knead the dough for 2-3 minutes until it becomes less tacky and more smooth. Place the dough ball into the oiled bowl, cover, and allow the dough to double in size by placing it in a warm area, at least 85F.
- Make the pizzas: Preheat the oven to 475F. Once the dough has doubled in size, lightly punch down the dough. Re-flour a clean surface or use a piece of parchment paper. This will be where you form the pizza dough. Remove the dough from the bowl and divide the dough in half. If freezing the other half of the dough, see blog post for instructions. For the first pizza, begin to form the dough into a disk shape. Place the pizza dough on a piece of floured parchment paper or lightly floured surface, and gently push the middle of the dough out, being careful not to stretch the dough. See the video for a better visual. Your pizza should measure about 18″ in diameter. Repeat for the remaining dough ball.
- Garnish the pizzas: Spread 1/2- 2/3 cup pizza sauce over the dough, and sprinkle the vegan cheese on top. If making the garlicky white beans, combine the beans, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, and sea salt together. Then top on your pizza. You can watch me do it in this video here!
- Bake the pizzas: place the pizzas onto a pizza tray, and bake the pizzas for 10-12 minutes, or until the vegan cheese melts and the edges of the dough are lightly golden. Remove from the oven.
- Slice the pizza and serve! Garnish with fresh basil, and enjoy!
Grilled Vegan Pizza:
- Heat your grill and arrange your toppings (sauce, mozzarella) near the grill.
- Lightly brush your prepared dough with a little olive oil and place the dough onto the grill once the grill reaches 500F.
- Cover the grill and allow the dough to cook for 2-3 minutes. Then flip the dough and allow it to cook for another minute.
- Remove the dough from the grill and onto the baking sheet and add on your toppings.
- Place the dough back onto the grill and cook for another 3 minutes until the cheese melts. If the cheese isn’t melting fast enough but your crust is cooked, place the pizza into the oven at 475F for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and top with basil and extra olive oil if desired, then serve!
Notes
Recommended store bought vegan cheeses: the cheese you choose will be a big determinant as to whether your pizzas turn out great! I recommend Violife shredded mozzarella, as shown, or Miyoko’s Mozzarella Balls. Violife is nut free and soy free, and Miyoko’s contains cashews.
Gluten free: See my vegan gluten free pizza dough recipe here!
Freezing the dough: See the blog post!
For other vegan topping ideas: See the blog post!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 191
- Sugar: 1.2 g
- Sodium: 513.9 mg
- Fat: 5.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1.4 g
- Protein: 9.7 g
- Cholesterol: 11.7 mg
Ok this looks like it’s straight outta Italy 😂Cooking it on the grill is brilliant. I can’t wait to try that 🙂
You’re so sweet! I hope you love!!
Hey girly! Can I make these crusts a day in advance? Thanks! I’ve made them before and LOVEEEEEEEE THEM.
Absolutely! You can make the dough and store it in the fridge, then bake it the next day!
This is an awesome recipe thank you for sharing! I tried it for the first time and thought the pizza came out pretty good. I am definitely going to make this again.
Nice recipe! First time making and the pizza came out tasty. My Violife vegan cheese took longer to melt but putting the oven on broil after the 12 min helped with that a bit!
Also, next time I’ll probably to get my hands on a mixer to form the dough or maybe I just need more practice with kneading. It was a little difficult for me to form the dough into a disk shape.Overall it was yummy and I’d make it again!
Hi there! Your homemade vegan pizza looks absolutely fantastic—definitely adding it to my recipe collection! On a related note, I recently tried vada pav from an appetizer restaurant, and it was incredible. For anyone unfamiliar, vada pav is a spicy, crispy potato fritter served in a soft bun, and it’s a delightful appetizer that pairs well with just about anything. It’s a bit like enjoying a flavorful bite of pizza but with an exciting Indian twist. I’m excited to make your pizza and might even serve it alongside some vada pav for a unique and delicious meal combo. Thanks for the great recipe!
Next best thing to real cheese on pizza! I don’t love cheese, but I do love cheesy pizza and I miss having real pizza since becoming vegan (due to health issues). Your cheese recipes for the pizza is a great substitute. I love your recipes! Thank you!
Oh this is wonderful!! Thank you so much for the review 🙂 Enjoy!!