There’s so much savory goodness in every bite of this naan pizza. Chorizo and sweet potato infused with the flavors of sage sitting on top of a creamy ricotta base with a sharp parmesan topping is pure pizza heaven!
I made a claim on social media when making this recipe that this naan pizza might be the best thing to have come out of my kitchen in the past 5 years of blogging. It even beats out garlic pizza bread, albeit ever so slightly.
Maybe that was a bit of hyperbole, but I really do think it’s at least in the top ten. Unfortunately for me, I tasted all of 2 small bites and gave the rest to my husband.
I don’t know where the willpower came from but with an impending tropical vacation and closing out the tail end of a 4 month long hard diet and weightlifting program, I somehow managed to stay focused and on track with the goals I had set for myself.
Those goals don’t align with shoving naan bread slathered with creamy ricotta and chorizo in my mouth.
At least for right now. I can’t make any promises that won’t happen the second we get home from Cabo and I give myself a few weeks before figuring out the next workout goals.
Naan bread pizza, if you haven’t tried it before, is one of the more genius ideas when it comes to making homemade pizza. If you hate dealing with stretching out dough and dealing with yeast and rising times, grab a package of naan and use it for your pizza base.
You won’t be sorry you did and now you can spend the effort that would’ve been spent on the crust for making the toppings as delicious as you can imagine.
Naan vs. Pizza Dough
Naan bread is a type of flatbread originating from Central and South Asia, known for its soft and fluffy texture.
Pizza dough, on the other hand, is typically used for making traditional Italian-style pizzas (like this skillet chorizo whole wheat pizza) and is made from wheat flour, water and yeast.
Naan can be conveniently found in a grocery store or at the bakery and is a great option for creating a quick and flavorful flatbread pizza.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make this delicious naan pizza you’ll need these key ingredients:
- Chorizo: A flavorful and slightly spicy sausage that adds a rich and robust taste to the pizza.
- Yellow onion: Adds a delicious sweet and savory flavor to the pizza.
- Sage leaves: The aromatic and earthy flavor of sage infuses every bite with a lovely herbal note.
- Naan bread: Soft and fluffy flatbreads that serve as the perfect base for your pizza.
- Ricotta: Creamy and smooth, ricotta provides a luscious base for the toppings.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Adds a rich and fruity flavor to the ricotta mixture.
- Sweet potato: Sweet potato strips add a sweet and hearty element to the pizza.
- Parmesan cheese: The sharp and nutty flavor of parmesan cheese adds a nice finishing touch to the pizza.
Optional Add-ons and Substitutions:
- Mozzarella: Adds gooey, stretchy texture and offers a milder flavor to the pizza. This cheese can be used as a substitution for parmesan.
- Red pepper flakes: This spice provides a hint of heat and a pop of color to your pizza. They can be used to substitute fresh sage leaves for a different flavor profile.
- Pizza sauce: This can be used as a base for a more traditional pizza flavor, serving as a substitution for the ricotta base.
How to Make Naan Pizza
Follow these steps to make this naan pizza with chorizo and sweet potato.
First, brown the chorizo and onions in a skillet. Then, prepare the creamy ricotta mixture that’ll serve as the luscious canvas for your pizza.
Grab the naan bread and spread the ricotta base evenly on top, spreading all the way to the edges so each bite includes this delicious element.
Layer on the sweet potato slices, then top with the cooked chorizo and onions.
Pop the pizza into the oven for about 10 minutes until everything is perfectly heated through, the naan bread toasted on the bottom and the parmesan melted on top.
You can also make this on a Blackstone griddle if you have one following these Blackstone pizza recipe directions.
More Delicious Pizza Toppings
Naan pizza is like any other pizza recipe and the toppings can be modified to suit your tastes. Here are a few of many options for creating the perfect tasting naan pizza:
- Fresh basil: Add a burst of aromatic freshness to your pizza with fragrant basil leaves.
- Pepperoni: For a classic and savory flavor, layer on some zesty pepperoni slices.
- Bell peppers: Bring a pop of color and a crisp crunch to your pizza with vibrant bell pepper strips.
- Mushrooms: Indulge in the earthy and meaty texture of sautéed mushrooms for a satisfying bite.
- Fresh herbs: Experiment with a mix of fresh herbs like oregano, thyme and rosemary to enhance the overall flavor profile of your pizza.
- Red onion: Enjoy the sweet and tangy bite of thinly sliced red onions, adding a delightful crunch to your pizza.
- Ham: For a hint of smoky and salty goodness, layer some ham slices to your pizza.
- Tomatoes: Add juicy and tangy tomato slices for a burst of freshness and a vibrant pop of color.
- Pineapple: Add a tropical twist to your pizza by adding juicy and tangy pineapple chunks for a burst of sweetness. This option pairs well with the ham slices.
Expert Tips & Recipe Notes
Tip #1: When peeling the sweet potato, make sure to use a vegetable peeler to create wide, flat strips for even cooking and a visually appealing presentation.
Tip #2: Keep an eye on the pizza while baking to ensure the crust does not become overly crisp. You want it to be warm and toasty, not overly crunchy.
Tip #3: When using vegetables as toppings, I highly suggest that you pre-cook them before layering them on the naan bread. This is because naan pizza cooks so quickly and the vegetables won’t have enough time to cook and soften in the oven.
Love this pizza recipe?
Try other unique pizzas like: BBQ black bean tortilla pizza and this cauliflower pizza crust. You can also make a hummus pizza instead of using cheese or use flatbread instead of naan.
Naan Pizza with Chorizo and Sweet Potato
Ingredients
- 8 ounces chorizo
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- large handful fresh sage leaves, chopped and divided
- 2 naan breads
- 8 ounces ricotta
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 medium sweet potato, skin peeled then peeled into wide flat strips using a vegetable peeler
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F degrees.
- Place the chorizo and onions in a medium skillet over medium-high heat breaking the chorizo into small pieces with a spatula as it cooks. Cook until browned, add about 1/2 tablespoon chopped sage to the skillet, toss to combine and remove from heat, set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix the ricotta, olive oil, 1 tablespoon chopped sage, salt and pepper together.
- Spread the ricotta mixture evenly on top of each piece of naan.
- Place the sweet potato peels on top of the ricotta mixture.
- Spoon the chorizo mixture evenly on top of the sweet potato.
- Sprinkle the parmesan on top of the chorizo and garnish with a bit more chopped sage.
- Place naan pizzas on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until heated through and parmesan has melted.
- Remove from oven, garnish with some additional fresh sage, cut into pieces and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
We love naan pizzas (perfect portion control! lol) and this was a fun one! I’m such a sweet potato fan. These were super tasty!
I have no idea how you only ate 2 bites of this. That is insane. 😆 It was SO good! I didn’t want to share any of it. But I did. ;) And my husband and son also loved these pizzas. Thanks so much for the great recipe!
The naan bread was a perfect alternative to the traditional pizza dough. The chorizo and sweet potato topping was so flavorful and the naan bread was perfectly crispy. I also added some mozzarella for an extra cheesiness. So yum!
I’m used to traditional dough when baking, but after I saw this guide, I gave naan bread a try as a pizza base. And guess what I found out? Naan bread is much easier to deal with than the traditional dough! Can’t wait to make another batch of pizza for my niece’s birthday.
So savory and delicious! It was my first time using naan as a pizza crust and the toppings were really spot-on. Thanks for sharing this recipe
Made this tonight for my family.. The sweet potato was for me, LOVED it! I will be making this again.