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Grilled Pizza with Pesto and Fresh Mozzarella

Liz DellaCroce Avatar

LIZ DELLA CROCE

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This fast and easy grilled pizza recipe is made with bright pesto, fresh mozzarella and topped with a lemony arugula salad.

Grilled Pesto Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella - A fast and easy summer pizza recipe

Grilling season makes me immensely happy – I’m sure I’ve said that 100 times before and I’ll likely say it 100 more. Everything about it is more relaxed and you’re pretty much guaranteed a fool-proof meal.

Grilled Pesto Pizza with Arugula and Mozzarella

One dish we’ve been grilling more and more lately is pizza. It comes together in just a couple of minutes which is not only ideal for me but is perfect for my two toddlers who pretty much wanted dinner ready yesterday.

Grilled Pesto Pizza with Mozzarella and Arugula - a fast pizza recipe

The star of this pizza is the fresh mozzarella that slowly melts and becomes bubbly and slightly golden as it cooks on top of the bright, fragrant pesto. To balance out the flavors, I like to top the whole pizza with a tangy and slightly spicy arugula salad tossed with a little lemon juice and olive oil.

Pesto and Arugula Grilled Pizza Recipe

Ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or entertaining friends in the backyard, you’re going to love this simple and easy grilled pizza with pesto and fresh mozzarella.

If you have more pesto, try my Pesto Chicken Pasta with Swiss Chard next!

No forks required.

Grilled Pesto Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella - A fast and easy summer pizza recipe

Grilled Pizza with Pesto and Mozzarella

4.80 stars average
This fast and easy grilled pizza recipe is made with bright pesto, fresh mozzarella and topped with a lemony arugula salad.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 16 minutes
CourseMain Dish
Serves8

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 inch pre-cooked 12- whole wheat pizza crust such as Trader Joe’s
  • ½ cup basil pesto store-bought or homemade
  • 8 ounces part-skim fresh mozzarella sliced in 1/2 in. pieces
  • 12 ounces baby arugula
  • 1 zest and juice of lemon
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • grated parmesan cheese and red chili flakes garnish

Instructions
 

  1. Pre-heat grill over medium heat.
  2. Spread the pesto over the pizza crust then top with slices of fresh mozzarella.
  3. Grill pizza with the lid open until cheese starts to melt and crust is warmed through, about 8-11 minutes.
  4. While pizza is cooking, toss arugula with lemon juice/zest and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Serve pizza sliced with arugula salad on top. Garnish with parmesan cheese and red chili flakes to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 264kcalCarbohydrates: 24.9gProtein: 9.1gFat: 13.7gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8.7gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 611mgFiber: 2.1gSugar: 0.2g

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4.80 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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15 responses to “Grilled Pizza with Pesto and Fresh Mozzarella”

  1. N Avatar
    N

    Hi,

    The arugula salad sounds so nice !

    Gonna try it for my daughter today.

    Thank you.

  2. Carolyn Avatar
    Carolyn

    This pizza is so tasty! I used regular mozzarella not fresh.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Smart!!! So glad you liked it!

  3. Joanne Bruno Avatar
    Joanne Bruno

    I could go to town on this pizza! It’s topped with so many of my favorite things.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      You would love this friend! Hope you are baby are doing good!!

  4. Ali | Gimme Some Oven Avatar
    Ali | Gimme Some Oven

    Gorgeous, girl! I’m obsessed with fresh arugula on pizzas this year. So fresh and pretty! :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Ahh me too friend!! I miss you and hope you’re doing well!! xoxo

  5. Michelle Lahey Avatar
    Michelle Lahey

    I’ve been so eager to make grilled pizza, but never understood how the crust stood up to the grill…never even thought of pre-baking it beforehand! Haha.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      YES!! I always buy pre-made crust. :)

  6. Ginger Gaubert Avatar
    Ginger Gaubert

    Do you think that this can be done in the oven? If so, what temperature and how long?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Yes for sure! I’d do 425 degree oven for 7-10 minutes but keep an eye on it. :)

  7. Alexa [fooduzzi.com] Avatar
    Alexa [fooduzzi.com]

    Yes yes yes! I love putting pesto on pizza (or anything for that matter ;)). Paired with the arugula and the lemon – I bet this is absolutely fantastic! Cheers to grilling season!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I am a sucker for topping savory foods with spicy, lemony arugula!!

  8. Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It Avatar
    Marina @ A Dancer’s Live-It

    I think pesto and mozzarella are my favorite combinations on pizza. Grilling the crust is dynamite! Thank you so much for sharing Liz!!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Why is grilled bread and cheese so magical?!