5 Healthier Alternatives to Traditional Pizza (2024)

FAQs

What are the healthiest pizza options? ›

Opt for a thin-crust pizza instead of a deep-dish. Skip the stuffed pizza crusts and dipping sauces. Enjoy your slice of pizza with a side salad or cooked vegetables. Top your pizza with lean protein, like chicken strips, instead of processed meat, like pepperoni.

Save time by swapping your regular pizza dough for simple substitutes. Our alternative bases include pitta bread, naan, puff pastry, wraps and polenta.

Healthy Pizza Toppings

Turkey sausage and roasted chicken provide a healthy and satisfying alternative to regular pepperoni slices. Bell peppers, mushrooms, and black olives are common pizza toppings, all pleasantly nutritious. Some other nutrient-rich options include butternut squash, tofu, lox, and artichokes.

Pizza is high in saturated fats due to cheese and processed meat toppings, which can increase your cholesterol levels as well as risk for heart disease. Eating three-four slices of pizza or more, on a regular basis, can have detrimental health consequences.

Traditional style pizza is a relatively simple food, made with flour, yeast, water, salt, oil, tomato sauce and fresh cheese. Pizza made from scratch using these limited ingredients can be quite healthy.

Some popular options include garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest and fennel. Pepper adds some kick to the mildness of a white sauce and if you're fond of heat, red pepper flakes are a good option as well.

Despite the convenience, these types of pizzas can be bad for you. They're often high in calories, sodium and unhealthy fats, as well as having more artificial preservatives. Processed meat toppings, stuffed crusts and extra cheese add to the poor nutritional value.

Opt for whole grain or whole wheat flatbread for added nutrition and fiber. Zucchini pizza bites are a fun and creative alternative to traditional pizza, offering a low-calorie, low-fat, and low-carbohydrate option. Zucchini is also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and potassium.

What is the healthiest pizza crust? ›

Cauliflower. The current champion of alternative pizza crusts tops our list too. Why it's great for pizza crust: Cauliflower's mild taste and relatively low water composition make it an almost seamless swap for flour-based crusts.

As an alternative to my homemade pizza sauce you can use barbecue sauce, marinara sauce or even white sauce. Replace ham with your favorite protein, such as chicken breast, sliced turkey, salami, bacon or tuna. Or opt for plant based options such as smoked tofu, vegan meat and sliced seitan.

Roasted vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant, provide vibrant colors and fresh flavors that harmonize with cheesy pizza. For a lighter option, steamed, raw, or sautéed sides can lend a fresh and nutritious touch to your meal, creating a well–rounded dining experience.