Pesto Pizza Ideas | Creative and Flavorful Recipes

Pesto pizza ideas is a fresh tasting tomatoless alternative to the better-known red sauced pizzas. Rich with basil and garlic, nuts and cheese, a smearing of pesto is a hard call to resist for a topping.

These Pesto Pizza Ideas range from anything including your standard mozzarella and tomato combination to a little more risk-taking artichoke, roasted veggie, and even seafood options.

Great for backyard summer parties, casual dinners, or nights in with gourmet pizza, these pesto pizzas are customizable and full of flavor. Whether you stick with traditional basil pesto or experiment with sun-dried tomato or arugula-ified versions, these recipes are sure to wow.

Pesto Pizza Ideas

Check out here list of 40+ Pesto Pizza Ideas – using classic basil pesto, sun-dried tomato pesto, arugula pesto, or even creative versions:

 

Classic Pesto Pizza Ideas

1. Pesto, Mozzarella, and Tomato

2. Pesto and Grilled Chicken

3. Pesto and Roasted Vegetables

4. Pesto and Fresh Basil

5. Pesto and Italian Sausage

6. Pesto and Mushrooms

7. Pesto, Ricotta, and Spinach

8. Pesto and Pepperoni

9. Pesto and Artichoke Hearts

10. Pesto and Black Olives

Gourmet Pesto Pizza Ideas

11. Pesto, Prosciutto, and Arugula

12. Pesto, Burrata, and Heirloom Tomatoes

13. Pesto, Goat Cheese, and Caramelized Onions

14. Pesto and Truffle Mushrooms

15. Pesto, Smoked Salmon, and Capers

16. Pesto, Roasted Garlic, and Feta Cheese

17. Pesto, Roasted Red Peppers, and Zucchini

18. Pesto, Brie, and Fig Slices

19. Pesto, Blue Cheese, and Pear

20. Pesto and Marinated Artichokes

Chicken Pesto Pizza Ideas

21. Grilled Chicken and Pesto

22. BBQ Chicken and Pesto

23. Buffalo Chicken with Pesto Drizzle

24. Crispy Chicken Cutlets with Pesto

25. Lemon Herb Chicken and Pesto

26. Pesto, Chicken, and Sweet Corn

27. Chicken, Broccoli, and Pesto

28. Chicken, Tomato, and Pesto

29. Chicken, Mushroom, and Pesto

30. Chicken, Red Onion, and Pesto

Seafood Pesto Pizza Ideas

31. Shrimp and Pesto

32. Crab Meat and Pesto

33. Scallops and Pesto

34. Tuna, Red Onion, and Pesto

35. Smoked Salmon, Avocado, and Pesto

36. Lobster and Pesto

Vegetarian Pesto Pizza Ideas

37. Pesto and Grilled Eggplant

38. Pesto, Zucchini, and Cherry Tomatoes

39. Pesto, Spinach, and Artichoke

40. Pesto and Roasted Cauliflower

41. Pesto and Shredded Carrots

42. Pesto, Asparagus, and Lemon Zest

43. Pesto and Wild Mushrooms

44. Pesto, Green Peppers, and Olives

45. Pesto and Baby Kale

46. Pesto, Avocado, and Lime

Recipe

1. Pesto, Mozzarella, and Tomato Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto over the pizza dough.

3. Top with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes.

4. Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and bubbly.

2. Pesto and Grilled Chicken Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1 cup grilled chicken, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto on the dough.

3. Top with grilled chicken and mozzarella.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes until cheese is melted.

3. Pesto and Roasted Vegetables Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1 cup assorted roasted vegetables (zucchini, bell peppers, onions)
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto over dough.

3. Add roasted vegetables and mozzarella.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes until golden.

4. Pesto and Fresh Basil Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
• Fresh basil leaves

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto over pizza dough.

3. Top with mozzarella.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes.

5. Add fresh basil leaves after baking.

5. Pesto and Italian Sausage Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1 Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto over dough.

3. Top with crumbled sausage and mozzarella.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes until browned and bubbly.

6. Pesto and Mushrooms Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced and sautéed
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto over the dough.

3. Add mushrooms and mozzarella.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes.

7. Pesto, Ricotta, and Spinach Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (spooned in dollops)
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto on the dough.

3. Add spinach, mozzarella, and dollops of ricotta.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes until golden.

8. Pesto and Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni slices

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto on pizza dough.

3. Top with mozzarella and pepperoni.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes.

9. Pesto and Artichoke Hearts Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto over dough.

3. Add artichoke hearts and mozzarella.

4. Bake 12–15 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is golden.

10. Pesto and Black Olives Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).

2. Spread pesto on pizza base.

3. Add black olives and mozzarella.

4. Bake for 12–15 minutes.