This Candied Bacon Pizza is unlike anything you’ll find at Papa Johns or Dominos—and not because it’s gluten-free and dairy-free, but because its flavors go far beyond average Joe pizza.
Gluten Free Explorer’s Hand-Tossed Pizza Crust is the perfect canvas for Candied Bacon Pizza.
Bring on the Flavor—Sweet, Salty, Spicy, Savory
Get ready to indulge! This Candied Bacon Pizza is unlike any you’ll find at Papa Johns or Dominos—and not because it’s gluten-free and dairy-free, but because its flavors go far beyond average Joe pizza.
In our house, pizzas topped with out-of-the-ordinary toppings generally fall into the girly or mom pizza category.
“Pizza for those with a heightened sense of taste and a gourmet palate,” is what I call them.
To me there is nothing quite as humdrum as a plain old pepperoni and cheese pizza. I want flavors, lots of them. I want to send my taste buds on a trip! Give me sweet, savory, salty, spicy and herbacious—please—all in one pizza.
Olive Oil Makes a Great Base
In place of a red sauce, this Candied Bacon Pizza calls for a generous brushing of olive oil. This rich but neutral backdrop really allows the flavors of the caramelized onion, candied bacon, rosemary, jalapenos and non-dairy cheese to shine.
The bit of prep work that goes into this Candied Bacon Pizza is so very worth it. That’s why this recipe makes more candied bacon and caramelized onions than you may choose to top your pizza with. Just freeze what you don’t use and you’ll have both at the ready for when you want to make another Candied Bacon Pizza.
Hold the Cow, Please
When I make this pizza for my family I use dollops of Kite Hill Soft Fresh Original almond cheese in place of “regular” cheese. Because Kite Hill plant-based cheeses are cultured, the flavor they yield is truly remarkable.
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick cut smoked bacon strips
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- Cayenne pepper to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 3 large white onions, sliced into 1/4-inch wedges
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1-1/2 tablespoons coconut sugar or cane sugar
- 2 pizza crusts
- Sliced pickled jalapenos
- 1/2 tub Kite Hill® Soft Fresh Original (see notes)
Instructions
- Cut bacon into 1-inch pieces and cook over medium-low heat until almost crisp. Drizzle with maple syrup and stir to coat. Remove from heat and season with a dash or two of cayenne pepper (if desired). Set aside.
- Coat the bottom of a medium skillet with cooking oil and heat until oil shimmers. Add the onion slices and stir to coat the onions with the oil. Reduce heat to low or medium-low to prevent onions from browning or burning. Cook 15 minutes, stirring often.
- Add salt and sugar to onions. Stir to combine and continue cooking until onions begin to caramelize, 15-25 additional minutes. Be sure to stir often. If onions begin to dry out, add a tablespoon or two of water to rehydrate.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to temperature recommended for the pizza crust you are using.
- Generously brush pizza crusts with olive oil.
- Top with fresh rosemary, pickled jalapenos, candied bacon, caramelized onion and dollops of Kite Hill cream cheese style spread.
- Bake according to pizza crust package directions. If using a perforated pizza crust like Outside the Breadbox, place a baking sheet on the lowest rack to prevent the oil from dripping onto the oven floor.
Notes
Sub Kite Hill plant-based cheese with fresh mozzarella for a dairy option. Sub fresh sliced jalapenos for pickled if you can take the heat. This recipe may make more candied bacon and caramelized onions than you choose to top your pizza with. Just freeze what you don't use and you'll have both at the ready for when you want to make another Candied Bacon Pizza.
Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts That Deliver
As with toppings, pizza crust is a matter of personal taste. Over the years I have tried all the naked gluten-free pizza crusts out there and wanted to share with you four that really shine.
Two of our favorite gluten-free & dairy-free pizza crusts.
Outside the Breadbox | Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free
Outside The Breadbox® is a Colorado bakehouse that produces a stellar loaf of gluten-free vegan oat bread. It’s all we buy. Their pizza crust is pretty noteworthy, too. Outside the Breadbox pizza crusts come in a 2-pack and produce a thinner, crisper crust. This crust is gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free and made in a dedicated gluten-free and nut-free facility. We pick ours up at Natural Grocers.
Gluten Free Explorer | Gluten-Free & Dairy Free
Gluten Free Explorer Hand-Tossed 10-inch Pizza Crusts come in a 2-pack. This artisan crust is crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. All Gluten Free Explorer products (they offer a deep-dish crust, too!) are available for order online. If you live in Colorado, Gluten Free Explorer crusts can be found at these Colorado grocery stores.
Venice Bakery | Gluten-Free & Vegan
Venice Bakery will ship their gluten-free vegan pizza crusts to your door. I don’t know how they do it, but Venice Bakery has the art of ready-made gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free and vegan pizza crusts down! I am enamored with the flavor and texture and bet you will be, too.
Against the Grain Gourmet | Gluten-Free
Against the Grain Gourmet Pizza Shells are unlike any other crust out there. If you are cool with dairy, this “no apologies” gluten-free pizza crust has three cheeses baked right into the dough. The crust is not-to-thin, not-to-thick and has the perfect amount of chew.
17 comments
Thank you so much for showcasing our pizza crust! I am so thrilled you used our crust to make such a delicious pizza! I love the recipe and can’t wait to make it.
Victoria
Hi Victoria, I wish I had more time to chat with you outside of Natural Grocers at the Fort Collins summer open house a couple of weeks back. But I did grab your card and fully intended on sharing your pizza crust with the world! It’s a winner … but you know that 🙂
Yes, it would have been nice to chat more. Thank you again!!!
This looks delicious and I bet my boys (and me!) would love it! I am with you I want lots of flavor. We are also tomato free so this is so easy on our favorite Venice bakery crust.
Jessica, I bet you have some pretty tasty tomato-free pizza sauce ideas. But anything on Venice Bakery pizza crusts are good! 🙂
ohhhh I can just taste this sweet salty combo and since it’s dairy free, I can totally eat it!!! I think my husband might not even miss the dairy
Amanda, you know how some cheese substitutes are just an after thought? This Kite Hill cheese actually enhances this pizza. It’s got a good saltiness to it, like real cheese.
You can’t go wrong with a great homemade pizza!
Love bacon on a pizza
I know what I’m having Friday night! My husband keeps asking for bacon. I love Against the Grain crust, but recently tried the frozen one from Wholly Gluten Free and it was good too!
Oooo, thank you for the tip on Wholly Gluten Free. I will have to keep and eye out for that one. Thanks Amanda!
This is a super impressive brand. I tried some at a tradeshow, but need to pick up more.
Wow, where did you find the almond cheese? That sounds really good.
Sandi, Whole Foods may carry it in your area. Actually any of their “cheeses” would work great on this pizza. I just had some of the ricotta with crackers for lunch. http://www.kite-hill.com
I love playing around with different pizza toppings and flavours. Who wants to do plain, boring pizza again and again. Sounds great!
Amen sister!
[…] Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is what came to mind. I first used this almond-based cheese on a Candied Bacon Pizza—holy pizzaness Batman! Sure enough, the addition of the slightly salty, super-creamy Kite Hill […]