Harper West
Breakfast pizza is a pizza-style dish that is typically eaten for breakfast. While there are many ways to make it, it usually consists of a pizza crust topped with scrambled eggs, cheese, and breakfast meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham. Some recipes call for pizza sauce, while others suggest alternatives like cheese sauce, sausage gravy, bechamel, basil pesto, or even just olive oil. The formula of pizza crust + sauce + cheese + toppings means that you can get creative with your breakfast pizza and use whatever sauce and toppings you have on hand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pizza base | Pizza dough, English muffins, biscuit crust, crescent roll dough, naan bread, tortillas |
| Sauce | Cheese sauce, sausage gravy, hollandaise, bechamel, tomato sauce, basil pesto, nacho cheese sauce, Parmesan cream sauce |
| Toppings | Scrambled eggs, frittata, sausage, bacon, ham, hash browns, roasted vegetables, caramelized onions, peppers, tomatoes, mozzarella, cheddar, gouda, pepper jack, fontina, pecorino romano |
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What You'll Learn
Cheese sauce as a base
Breakfast pizza is a pizza-style dish that is typically eaten for breakfast. It usually consists of a pizza crust topped with scrambled eggs, cheese, and breakfast meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham. Vegetables like peppers, onions, and tomatoes may also be added for extra flavor.
Cheese sauce is a popular base for breakfast pizza, with many recipes aiming to replicate the famous breakfast pizza from Casey's General Store, a chain of convenience stores in Iowa. The secret to making a breakfast pizza like Casey's is the cheese sauce. The sauce can be made by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat and whisking in flour and salt until a paste forms. Milk is then slowly added and cooked until fully incorporated with no lumps. Finally, cheese is added and stirred until smooth and melted. This sauce can be made the night before and stored in an airtight container, or a prepared product such as Cheese-Wiz can be used.
The cheese sauce acts as a great base for the pizza, providing extra flavor and texture so that the pizza is not dry and hard. The sauce can be spread generously onto the pizza crust, and then topped with eggs, bacon, sausage, and cheese. The cheese used on top can be cheddar, mozzarella, or a combination of both.
In addition to the cheese sauce, other sauces that can be used as a base for breakfast pizza include hollandaise sauce, olive oil, butter, garlic, and salt and pepper. Some people also like to use basil pesto as a thin base, which adds a lot of flavor to the pizza.
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Sausage gravy as an alternative sauce
Sausage gravy is a popular alternative to pizza sauce for breakfast pizzas. It is often paired with scrambled eggs, cheese, and other breakfast meats like bacon or sausage.
To make a breakfast pizza with sausage gravy, start by preparing the pizza dough. You can make your own dough or use a store-bought option. If you're short on time, a tube of crescent roll dough can be used as a quick alternative.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out the dough onto a cookie sheet or pizza pan. If using crescent roll dough, join the seams together to form a continuous sheet of dough. Pre-bake the crust for about 10 minutes.
While the crust is baking, prepare the sausage gravy. Brown the sausage in a skillet, breaking it into small pieces. Once cooked, remove the sausage from the pan with a slotted spoon and set it aside. In the same pan, create a roux by mixing flour with milk and pepper. Whisk the mixture until smooth, then slowly pour it into the sausage drippings. Bring it to a gentle boil, adding more milk if it becomes too thick.
Remove the pre-baked crust from the oven and drizzle the sausage gravy over it. Spread the scrambled eggs and cheese on top. You can also add other toppings like vegetables, hash browns, or additional meats.
Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. The result is a delicious breakfast pizza with a creamy layer of sausage gravy, melted cheese, and fluffy eggs.
Some people prefer to par-bake their crusts and then freeze them, so they can quickly assemble and bake a breakfast pizza whenever desired. You can also make a batch of sausage gravy and freeze it in portions to use later, which can be a convenient option for busy mornings.
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Scrambled eggs as a topping
Breakfast pizza is a fun and delicious meal that can be enjoyed any day of the week. While traditional pizzas typically use tomato sauce or pesto as a base, breakfast pizzas are more likely to use a breakfast staple like sausage gravy, bechamel, or hollandaise as their sauce. However, some people prefer to skip the sauce altogether and simply brush the crust with olive oil.
Scrambled eggs are a classic breakfast food and make an excellent pizza topping. They provide a soft and fluffy base layer that pairs well with a variety of other toppings. When making a breakfast pizza with scrambled eggs, it's important to consider the cooking time of the eggs and other toppings to ensure that nothing is overcooked or dry.
One option is to cook the scrambled eggs separately from the pizza and then assemble the pizza with the cooked eggs as a topping. This method allows for more control over the cooking of the eggs and ensures that they are not overcooked. It also allows for creativity in the seasoning and preparation of the eggs, such as adding milk, salt, and pepper to the eggs before cooking, as suggested by The Country Cook.
Another option is to cook the scrambled eggs directly on top of the pizza. This method creates a more cohesive dish where the eggs are integrated into the pizza. To do this, prepare your pizza dough and spread it out on a baking sheet or pizza tray. Top the dough with your desired sauce, cheese, and other toppings, and then pour the beaten eggs directly onto the pizza. Bake the pizza until the eggs are set and the crust is golden brown.
When making a breakfast pizza with scrambled eggs, it's important to consider the other toppings that will complement the eggs. Breakfast meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham are popular choices, as are vegetables like peppers, onions, tomatoes, and hash browns. Cheese is also a must-have for breakfast pizza, with options like cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, pepper jack, or a Mexican three-cheese blend.
So, do you need pizza sauce for a breakfast pizza with scrambled eggs? Not necessarily. While some people enjoy a sauce like sausage gravy or bechamel, others prefer to skip the sauce altogether and let the scrambled eggs shine as the star topping. Ultimately, it's up to personal preference and the specific combination of toppings chosen for the breakfast pizza.
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Bacon as a topping
Bacon is a popular topping for breakfast pizza, adding a savoury, smoky flavour. It is typically used in combination with scrambled eggs and cheese, and sometimes sausage.
There are a few ways to prepare the bacon for your breakfast pizza. Firstly, you can cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until brown and crispy, then crumble it over the pizza. This method allows you to cook your scrambled eggs in the bacon grease, adding extra flavour. Alternatively, you can bake the bacon in the oven at 400°F for 20-25 minutes on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. This method is recommended if you want to avoid the extra grease from pan-frying. You can also buy pre-cooked bacon bits, which are convenient and save time, but fresh bacon is often preferred for its superior taste.
When adding bacon to your breakfast pizza, it is best to sprinkle it on top of the other toppings, so that it gets some direct heat and becomes crispy. You can use as much or as little bacon as you like, depending on your preference.
In addition to the classic breakfast pizza toppings of scrambled eggs and cheese, you can also add vegetables like peppers, onions, mushrooms and spinach. You can also spice things up by adding taco seasoning to the eggs, using spicy chorizo instead of bacon, and topping with jalapenos, avocado and cilantro.
So, if you're looking for a delicious and hearty breakfast or brunch option, bacon is a great choice for your breakfast pizza topping.
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Using pizza dough
Breakfast pizza is a fun and tasty way to start the day and is a pizza-style dish that is typically eaten for breakfast. It usually consists of a pizza crust topped with scrambled eggs, cheese, and breakfast meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham. Vegetables like peppers, onions, and tomatoes may also be added for extra flavor.
You can use homemade pizza dough or store-bought pizza dough balls. If you don't have pizza dough, you can use crescent roll dough sheets as an alternative. Just make sure to push the seams together well.
To make the pizza, preheat your oven to 425°F. Oil a 10"x15" rimmed baking sheet and gently press the pizza dough onto it, working it out to the edges. Use your hands to tuck and push the dough up against the sides of the baking sheet to create a crust. Poke the crust with a fork to prevent it from puffing up too much during baking.
Brush the crust with olive oil and bake it for about 7 minutes on a middle rack. It should turn a light brown color. While the crust is baking, prepare your toppings. Scrambled eggs are a popular choice, and you can add milk, salt, and pepper to taste. Fry up some bacon and sausage, and chop them into smaller pieces. You can also add vegetables like peppers, onions, and tomatoes.
Remove the crust from the oven and assemble your pizza. Top with scrambled eggs, meats, and vegetables. Finally, add shredded cheese. You can use cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, or pepper jack, depending on your preference.
Return the pizza to the oven and bake for another 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown.
There you have it! A delicious breakfast pizza made with pizza dough and loaded with your favorite toppings.
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Frequently asked questions
Breakfast pizza is a pizza-style dish that is typically eaten for breakfast. It usually consists of a pizza crust topped with scrambled eggs, cheese, and breakfast meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham.
You can use pizza sauce for breakfast pizza, but it is not necessary. Some alternatives include cheese sauce, sausage gravy, bechamel, basil pesto, and olive oil.
Other toppings for breakfast pizza include hash browns, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and roasted vegetables.
You can use a homemade pizza dough or a store-bought pizza dough ball. Alternatively, you can use crescent roll dough, naan bread, or English muffins.
Yes, you can prepare the toppings and sauce the night before and assemble the pizza the next day. Cooked pizza slices can also be wrapped and stored in the freezer for up to two months.
