This Easy Bacon, Blue Cheese Balsamic Pizza is one of my family’s favorites. The hardest part? Cooking up the bacon while your oven is preheating!
Today has been one of “those” crazy kind of days, where everything that could go wrong/take up more time than I have has happened. Fortunately, they were all things that are pretty easy to let roll off my back. And I had a quick and easy but delicious dinner in mind.
This Bacon, Blue Cheese Balsamic pizza is easy to make with a few store bought ingredients. Start with a frozen five cheese pizza, then grab some thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. I love the way it cooks up thick and crispy, but you can use regular slices if you like. You’ll also need blue cheese crumbles and a balsamic glaze. You know I love to make my own balsamic reductions (glazes) at home, but you can pick up a store bought brand that’s great quality. Plus, I needed this dinner to be as fast as possible after the day I had, so I opted for the store brand. Arugula is a great, fresh addition to the top of the pizza, and voila!, easy and delicious dinner.
Why You’ll Love Blue Cheese Balsamic Pizza
Easy and sophisticated – It’s so simple to make this blue cheese balsamic pizza, yet it has sophisticated flavors that will make your weeknight feel like something special.
Savory and salty combination – The bacon adds a savory, smoky flavor that complements the tanginess of the blue cheese and the sweetness of the balsamic glaze.
Customizable – While the recipe suggests arugula as a topping, you can easily customize it with your favorite greens or additional ingredients like caramelized onions or roasted garlic for added depth of flavor.
Impressive presentation – The vibrant colors of the arugula and the drizzle of balsamic glaze on top of the pizza create a visually appealing dish that’s sure to impress your guests or family members.
Blue Cheese Balsamic Pizza Ingredients Notes
- Five Cheese Pizza: Use your favorite brand of frozen pizza, but I suggest a brand that has the 5-cheese option!
- Applewood Smoked Bacon: Use thick cut if you can, but regular bacon will work just fine.
- Red onion: Red onion’s sweet and mild flavor complements the tangy blue cheese and the sweet balsamic glaze.
- Blue Cheese Crumbles: Use a good quality of blue cheese. The crumbles bring a creamy richness to every bite, creating a luxurious flavor profile.
- Balsamic glaze: Similar to balsamic vinegar, but thick and a bit sweeter than balsamic (reducing it down until it’s thick makes it sweeter). It’s absolutely, perfectly delicious on this pizza!
- Arugula: A large handful of arugula will add a subtly sharp bite, which is a nice contrast to the blue cheese. The hot pizza will wilt it just enough without “cooking” it.
Find the complete blue cheese balsamic pizza ingredients list with measurements in the recipe card below.
How To Make Blue Cheese Balsamic Pizza
- Crisp the bacon: While the oven is preheating, cook the bacon until crispy, cool on a paper towel, then crumble it.
- Add the toppings: Remove the pizza from the packaging and top the pizza with red onion slices, bacon, and blue cheese crumbles.
- Bake: Cook the pizza according to package instructions.
- Finish: Once the pizza is done cooking, remove from the oven and immediately top with a handful of arugula and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Variations, Substitutions, & Cooking Tips
Vegetarian Option: Omit the bacon and add sliced mushrooms, caramelized onions, or roasted bell peppers for a vegetarian version.
Meat Lover’s Twist: Add additional meat toppings such as pepperoni, sausage, or prosciutto for extra flavor and protein.
Herb Infusion: Incorporate fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or basil either by sprinkling them on top before baking or mixing them into the balsamic glaze for added fragrance and flavor.
Spicy Kick: Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or drizzle some spicy honey over the finished pizza for a spicy-sweet contrast.
Cheese: If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, you can substitute it with feta, goat cheese, or gorgonzola for a similar tangy flavor profile.
Toppings: Feel free to experiment with different toppings such as caramelized onions, sliced tomatoes, olives, or even figs for a unique twist.
Monitor Oven Temperature: Keep an eye on the pizza while it’s baking to prevent the toppings from burning. If necessary, you can cover the edges of the crust with foil to prevent them from over-browning.
Slice Carefully: Let the pizza rest for a few minutes after baking before slicing to allow the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to cut clean slices without the toppings sliding off.
Celebrate this blue cheese balsamic pizza recipe on National Pizza Day!
Easy Blue Cheese Balsamic Pizza
This Easy Bacon, Blue Cheese Balsamic Pizza is one of my family’s favorites. The hardest part? Cooking up the bacon while your oven is preheating!
Ingredients
- 1 Frozen Five Cheese Pizza
- 1 Small red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 ounces crumbled blue cheese
- 3-4 slices thick cut applewood smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 handful of arugula
- Balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to package on frozen pizza.
- While oven preheats, cook 3 to 4 slices of bacon until crispy. Rest on paper towel, then chop or crumble.
- Remove pizza from package and place on a baking sheet.
- Top pizza with sliced red onion, blue cheese crumbles, and crumbled bacon.
- Place pizza in oven and cook according to package directions (usually 16-20 minutes).
- Remove from oven.
- Sprinkle a handful of arugula over pizza and drizzle liberally (or to your taste) with balsamic glaze.
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