Eggplant Pizza

This eggplant pizza may be low in carbs, but it’s loaded with flavor. Ready in minutes, it’s healthy, delicious, and comes together in no time!

Pizza is hard to resist for anyone.

Seriously, if it could be its own food group, I would be a big advocate of it. 

As someone who loves a good pizza, I open to trying it out in fun and creative ways. These include making it crustless, using cauliflower as a base, or even cutting the carbs completely.

For something different, I love to swap out a standard crust for an eggplant crust. 

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Healthy. This version provides fewer carbs and calories and is packed with nutrients.
• Tastes like regular pizza. Topped with pizza sauce and plenty of cheese, you won’t be able to tell the crust is made with eggplant! 
• Suitable for weight loss. This pizza is great to include in your diet if you are losing weight. It’s low calorie but super filling. 
• Easy to make. You’ll need simple ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right this second! 

What we love about this recipe is that it is a fantastic way to use up plenty of eggplant. I mean, eggplant can be tricky to work with, but using it as a crust has been a game changer!

Ingredients needed 

There are just 5 key ingredients to make this recipe. Like any good pizza, you can customize it any way you like. Here is everything you’ll need: 

• Eggplant. Choose a large eggplant so thick slices can be cut. 
• Olive oil. Or any neutral flavored oil. This is used to pre-roast the eggplant. 
• Pizza sauce. Use your favorite jarred sauce or try a homemade pizza sauce (that is low carb!).
• Vegetables. We used mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions, but any toppings work. 
• Cheese. A mix of mozzarella cheese and provolone cheese yields a better melt. 
• Seasonings. Italian seasonings, salt and pepper. 

How to make eggplant pizza? 

Simple is an understatement for making this recipe. Besides some very minor prep with the eggplant, all you do is sauce it, top it and then bake it until the cheese has melted. Easy peasy!

Step 1- Prep the eggplant

Start by slicing the eggplant lengthways, around 1/3 inch in thickness. Rub some olive oil on both sides of the eggplant slices and place them on a lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Step 2- Bake the eggplant

Next, bake eggplant for 12-15 minutes, or until soft in the middle.

Step 3- Add toppings

Now, spread a layer of pizza sauce on the eggplant rounds, then sprinkle some cheese. Add your toppings of choice, then add more cheese. 

Step 4- Bake the eggplant pizza 

Finally, turn the oven to a broil setting and broil the eggplant pizzas for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese melts. 

Is eggplant good on a low carb diet? 

Eggplant is a fantastic low carb vegetable as it contains very few carbs. Per one cup serving, there are just 3 grams of net carbs. Besides being deficient in carbs, it provides you with fibers, vitamins, and minerals that are good for your health.

Using it as a pizza base works well, as it doesn’t have anywhere near as many carbs as a crust made with dough contains. 

Some other low carb eggplant recipes include eggplant lasagna and eggplant parmesan. 

Tips to make the best recipe 

• Avoid adding too many toppings on eggplant crust because it’s softer than traditional dough and can break. 
• Choose larger eggplants so that larger eggplant rounds can be sliced. 
• Do not peel the eggplant as the skin helps hold the pizza together and prevents them from tearing.

Flavor variations

Like a traditional pizza, the beauty of this one is just how easy it is to customize. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Swap the sauce for barbecue sauce, alfredo sauce, or even a cheese sauce.
• Add pesto for a hit of flavor. We like using a pesto with walnuts or a sun-dried tomato version. 
• Swap the vegetables and top with zucchini, garlic, grape tomatoes and more.
• Add protein like sliced chicken breast, smoked salmon, or even seasoned shrimp. 

Storage instructions

What is the best way to store leftovers? Here are best practices for eggplant pizza storage: 

To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days.

To freeze: Place the baked and cooled pizzas in a shallow container and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Reheating: Always reheat the pizza in a preheated oven until the cheese is bubbling.

More ways to enjoy pizza

• Low calorie pizza
• Protein pizza
• Cloud bread pizza
• Pizza casserole
• Sweet potato pizza

Frequently Asked Questions