No Friday night at home is complete without a glass of wine and a big, cheesy pizza. If you cut back on carbs or follow a gluten-free diet, no need to miss out on that slice of heaven. Made without flour, our cauliflower pizza crust is gluten-free and contains a fraction of the calories and carbohydrates of regular pizza crust.
Today, grocery stores carry low-carb pizza and premade cauliflower crust, but they’re often expensive. Homemade cauliflower crust pizza is a cheaper (and better-tasting) option that lets you customize your ‘za with whatever toppings you crave.
How to Make Cauliflower Pizza Crust
The initial step uses a food processor to make cauliflower rice. It’s straightforward, but labor-intensive. If it sounds like too much, check out the variations section for how to use frozen cauliflower or pre-riced cauliflower.
To start, cut the cauliflower head into quarters. Trim away the centermost part of the core. Using your hands, break the quartered cauliflower into large florets. Load the florets into a food processor in batches, about 2 cups at a time. Pulse with the standard blade (not the grating disk) until the cauliflower is broken up into grain-sized bits. If you don’t have a food processor on hand, use the side of a box grater with the largest slots for a similar result.
Next, we cook the cauliflower rice in the microwave. Once cool enough to handle, wrap the cauliflower in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible—this is the secret to a non-soggy cauliflower crust.
Finally, mix all the ingredients together. Form the crust into your desired shape on a piece of parchment paper to keep it from sticking to the baking sheet.
Cauliflower Pizza Crust Ingredients
- Cauliflower: You can’t make the best cauliflower pizza crust without this star ingredient! We use 1-1/2 pounds of cauliflower, or about 6 cups chopped.
- Egg: The egg binds the ingredients together, which keeps the crust from falling apart.
- Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses: Let’s be honest, cheese makes everything better. When the cheese melts, it also binds the other ingredients together.
- Herbs and spices: Dried oregano, garlic powder and salt add a ton of flavor to this cauliflower pizza crust. Feel free to amp up the herbaceous vibes and add chopped fresh herbs, such as basil or parsley.
Directions
Step 1: Prep the cauliflower
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Working in batches, place the chopped cauliflower in a food processor. Process until finely ground. Transfer to a large microwave-safe bowl, and repeat with the remaining cauliflower.
Microwave, covered, until the cauliflower is tender, about eight minutes.
When cool enough to handle, squeeze dry. Return to the bowl.
Editor’s Tip: For the best texture, process the florets in batches of about 2 cups at a time. After microwaving, use a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth to wring out as much liquid as possible. Otherwise, your cauliflower crust pizza will be soggy.
Step 2: Mix the cauliflower crust
Stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, beaten egg, dried oregano, garlic powder and salt.
Step 3: Shape and bake the cauliflower crust
Line a baking sheet with parchment. Press and shape the cauliflower mixture into a 10-inch circle or a 13×6-inch oval.
Bake until the edges are browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
Editor’s Tip: For a crispier crust, line the pan with aluminum foil instead of parchment paper. Just be sure to keep an eye on it to avoid burning the edges. Alternatively, you can flip the crust before adding the toppings. Carefully flip the crust—parchment paper and all—onto a new parchment sheet. Then, peel the original sheet off of the cauliflower crust.
Step 4: Add toppings and bake the cauliflower crust pizza
Top as desired. Bake until the toppings are heated through, 10 to 12 minutes longer.
Editor’s Tip: Not in the mood for pizza? Skip the toppings, and sprinkle the crust with 3/4 cup of your favorite cheese blend. Bake until bubbly to create cheesy cauliflower breadsticks.
Recipe Variations
- Use frozen cauliflower: Skip the knife work and use a bag of frozen cauliflower. Thaw the cauliflower in the refrigerator overnight. After ricing the cauliflower in the food processor, proceed directly to squeezing out the excess moisture. The cauliflower was blanched before it was frozen, so you shouldn’t need to cook it in the microwave.
- Use pre-riced cauliflower rice: Save even more time and skip the food processor with pre-riced cauliflower. Cook the riced cauliflower according to the package directions. Then, squeeze out the excess moisture and proceed as directed.
How to Store Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Store leftover cauliflower crust pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, bake the pizza in a 425° oven until heated through, about 10 minutes.
Can you freeze cauliflower pizza crust?
Yes, you can freeze cauliflower pizza crust before or after baking it. Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container, and freeze for up to three months. Reheat from frozen, adding extra cook time to heat the pizza through.
We sometimes like to make a double batch so we can freeze a whole pizza for later. Simply bake the cauliflower crust, and assemble the toppings as directed. Then, securely wrap and freeze the unbaked pizza.
To use, unwrap the pizza. Bake from frozen in a 425° oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until heated through and melty.
Cauliflower Pizza Crust Tips
What toppings should you use with cauliflower pizza crust?
You can use any of your favorite pizza toppings to make cauliflower crust pizza. Cauliflower pizza crust tastes great with either red homemade pizza sauce or white pizza sauce as the base. For the cheese, you can’t go wrong with classics like mozzarella, provolone or Parmesan. If adding meat, fully cook Italian sausage or bacon before adding them to the pizza.
How do you keep cauliflower pizza crust from getting soggy?
Squeezing the liquid out of riced cauliflower is the best way to prevent a soggy cauliflower pizza crust. It’s also important to keep the toppings light to prevent the crust from bending under the weight.
Can you use pre-riced cauliflower to make cauliflower pizza crust?
Yes, frozen or fresh pre-riced cauliflower work for cauliflower pizza crust. Check the package for thawing or cooking instructions.
Is cauliflower pizza crust healthy?
Yes, it can be considered a healthy alternative to traditional pizza crust, especially for those with dietary restrictions. This grain-free pizza crust is gluten-free. It’s also lower in carbohydrates than most pizza dough. The overall healthiness of cauliflower crust pizza depends entirely on the amount of sauce, cheese and toppings used when making the final pizza.
