Butternut Squash Pizza with Kale

Butternut Squash Pizza with Kale is a healthy, cheesy, and satisfying vegetarian pizza topping! You might never go back to regular sauce and cheese pizza after trying this amazing pizza flavor.

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This butternut squash pizza with kale is my ultimate comfort food.

Butternut squash and kale are like peas and carrots, but more modern, sophisticated, and probably full of magical nutrients that make them healthier together than they would be on their own.

This combo is one of my favorite ways to enjoy fall flavors (remember this butternut squash and kale risotto?). I can’t even describe how rich and comforting this pizza is, it’s really on another level!

This dough recipe makes enough for two pizzas. I usually use the second half to make a regular cheese pizza for my non-squash loving family.

You could also use a little more squash and have enough puree to make two delicious pizzas. I didn’t give exact measurements on the kale leaves because it really doesn’t matter. Just scatter some torn leaves over the top and wait for this crispy, cheesy, creamy, carb-y goodness to be done.

Forgive me for being a little loosey-goosey (do people still say that?) on this recipe, but honestly, it doesn’t have to be that hard. Roasted squash becomes pureed squash, goes on top of velvety dough and gets topped with the very best cheese and greens.

I might even argue this has a place at your Thanksgiving meal. It’s the perfect food to serve in that awkward hungry lunch hour when you’re trying to wait for a 3 pm dinner.

Tips for making butternut squash pizza

Sprinkle cornmeal on your pan when making pizza for a slightly sweet, super crunchy crust. I’m not one of those fancy pizza stone people (although I would probably love it), and I just always use my regular baking sheets when making pizza at home.

Sprinkling cornmeal (Bob’s Red Mill Cornmeal is the best! <—Affiliate link but only because I truly love it) on the pan keeps the dough from sticking and makes it taste just like your favorite pizzeria.

This butternut squash pizza with kale can be customized! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Add a sprinkling of pine nuts over the cheese
• Throw on a handful of gorgonzola cheese
• Use a mixture of different kinds of leftover squash such as acorn or kabocha
• Use whatever cheese you have on hand such as cheddar, mozzarella, or monterey jack
• Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes to taste

More pizza recipes

• Greek Pizza
• Onion and Green Pepper Pizza
• Spanakopita Pizza Dippers
• Pesto Flatbread Pizza
• Rainbow Feta Flatbread

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

Recipe

Butternut Squash and Kale Pizza

This healthy twist on pizza is covered in creamy butternut squash, cheese, and kale!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 2 hours hours 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 5

Calories: 563kcal

Author: Lindsay Moe

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup warm water
• ▢ 1 packet quick rise yeast
• ▢ 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the bowl and the squash
• ▢ 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, plus more for the squash
• ▢ 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 ½ – 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• ▢ 2 heaping cups peeled, cubed butternut squash
• ▢ Freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• ▢ ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, divided
• ▢ Cornmeal, for dusting the pan
• ▢ ½ cup shredded fontina cheese
• ▢ A few torn kale leaves

Instructions

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, pour in warm water and sprinkle yeast over the top. Let rest until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Add sugar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. With the motor running on low, add flour a little at a time until the dough comes together. It should pull away from the sides of the bowl and be slightly sticky to the touch, but not stick to your fingers. Allow the mixer to knead it for about 5 minutes, or remove from the bowl and knead by hand on a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into a tight ball and transfer to a large, lightly oiled bowl, turning it over to completely coat the dough in oil. Cover the bowl with a tea towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm place until doubled in size, about one hour.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425ºF. Place squash on a baking sheet large enough to arrange it in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Bake the squash, stirring once or twice, until soft and beginning to caramelize, about 30 minutes. Add the shallots to the pan, stir to coat in the existing oil, and return the squash and shallots to the oven until the shallots have softened, about 15 minutes. Transfer the squash and shallots to the bowl of a food processor. Add ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and process until smooth.
• Increase the oven temperature to 450º. Sprinkle a medium sized baking sheet with cornmeal. Punch down the dough and cut it in half. Wrap one half in plastic and freeze for another day or set it aside for a different use of your choice. Take the other half and roll or stretch it into a thin rectangle and press it down onto the prepared baking sheet. Top the dough with the squash puree, then sprinkle with fontina, kale leaves, and the remaining Parmesan.
• Bake the pizza for 15 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories: 563kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 824mg | Potassium: 1188mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 32130IU | Vitamin C: 63.4mg | Calcium: 430mg | Iron: 4.6mg

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