I still remember the days when people hesitated to go from vegetarian to vegan because they couldn’t stand the thought of giving up pizza. Sure, you (or a pizzeria) could make a cheese-less pizza, but that’s no fun.
Fortunately, vegan cheese has gotten sooooo much better, and you (or your favorite pizzeria) can make pizza with plant-based cheese. Pizzerias often use Daiya mozzarella-style shreds, which melt beautifully a hot oven; Violife mozzarella-style shreds work well, too. There are likely other, regional varieties.
This roundup of homemade vegan pizza recipes offers lots of creative and easy options. Whether you make your own crust or purchase it readymade, there's something for everyone in this collection. There’s even a dessert pizza (that one has no cheese, vegan or not).
First things first, here's an easy homemade whole-grain pizza crust for occasions when you have the time and inclination.
Whole Wheat or Spelt Pizza Crust: Making a good whole wheat or spelt pizza crust from scratch isn’t that difficult. Give this easy homemade pizza dough a try on a cozy indoor day.
Vegan Sweet Potato Pizza with Caramelized Onions, & Olives: A deliciously different kind of pizza perfect for fall offers an array of flavors that work amazingly well together.
Vegan Caramelized Onion Pizza with Shiitake Mushroom “Bacon”: The wow factor of this pizza comes from shiitake mushroom “bacon.” Caramelized onion pizza, often called pizza Niçoise, is a classic, for good reason — it’s incredibly delicious, with little further embellishment.
Vegan White Pizza with Asparagus and Arugula: Here’s a lively vegan white pizza featuring fresh vegetables and sun-dried tomatoes atop a creamy base made of silken tofu. This pizza kind of says “spring,” but since asparagus has become more available in the fall, I couldn’t resist including it here.
Roasted Vegetable and Vegan Sausage Pizza: Topped with plenty of roasted vegetables, this one is a treat for hearty appetites. Roasting the vegetables while the pizza bakes brings out their best flavor.
Vegan Meat Lovers Pizza: Vegan meat lovers pizza might sounds like a contradiction in terms, but made with easy swaps of plant-based proteins and cheese, it will satisfy eaters of all persuasions.
Vegan Artichoke Pizza with Red Bell Peppers: The combination of toppings used in this vegan artichoke pizza recipe is absolutely delectable. With red bell peppers and onion, it goes down easy, so double the recipe if you’re feeding a hungry group.
Red Onion, Mushroom, and Kale Pizza: Filling and flavorful, this pizza (shown here using baby kale) departs only slightly from tradition with a companionable trio of vegetable toppings.
Vegan Green and White Pizza: From my colleage Dianne Wenz at Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen, this pizza is covered in spinach pesto, dairy-free ricotta, broccoli, and cauliflower. This bountiful pie is sure to make everyone at the dinner table happy.
Vegan Sheet Pan Pizza (with Almond Parmesan): Thick and chewy, vegan sheet pan pizza is a great way to make a deep-dish pie. It’s an ingenious way to prepare a real crowd-pleaser, courtesy of Hannah Kaminsky.
Chocolatey Banana Pizza: Still on my previous website, VegKitchen, the preparation of this banana pizza is almost ridiculously easy, considering the impressive results.
Cooking the books!
Explore my array of cookbooks on my site, The Vegan Atlas.