15 Minute Italian Sausage Flatbread Pizza is a delicious twist on a classic pizza recipe. Pizza dough is replaced by naan bread and topped with spicy Italian sausage fresh veggies, Italian seasoning and mozzarella cheese.
This was SO SO SO good! I used my air fryer to finish off the pizza, and the texture was spot on - almost as good as if it was from a pizza oven! The combination of veggies, sausage and spices was perfection. Best part - such an easy recipe!
-Brianna K.
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Flatbread Pizza is my new favorite thing ...
Welcome to the life-changing hack of ditching pizza dough for flatbread crust. I absolutely mean it when I say that this is an EASY recipe the whole family will love.
This delicous pizza, with bites of spicy cooked sausage, layered with fresh sautéed veggies is as basic as it is delicious. Any person, no matter their current amount of time-crunch is going to be able to make this, no prob. You open the pre-made naan, whip up a fast spicy sausage scramble for the top of the flatbread, sprinkle on some cheese and put it in the air fryer (or oven). That's really it.
The ingredients are flexible, use your favorite toppings. If you would prefer broccolini, red onion, or no veggies at all.. you do you. This one is as customizable as it is quick.
If you have an air fryer, bust it out. The pizza cooks in 3-4 minutes with golden cheese and perfectly crispy crust. The air fried pizza is also a little sturdier and can withstand more toppings.
It's absolutely not homemade wood-oven pizza, but it's delicious in its own right and most importantly ... it gets dinner on the table. Best part, nobody ever complains about pizza night!
-Bailey
Ingredients
- ground pork sausage - sweet Italian sausage or spicy Italian sausage - choose your favorite
- zucchini - choose a firm zucchini without soft spots - smaller zucchinis have better flavor
- bell peppers - look for a vibrant red color and shiny skin - stem should be green
- red onion - look for a dry onion with no scent, firm with no bruises
- pre-made flatbread / naan - Stonefire Naan is the brand I typically purchase, available at your local grocery store - choose the roasted garlic if available
- pizza sauce - choose a high-quality pizza sauce
- Italian seasoning - combines basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and marjoram into 1 spice blend
- mozzarella cheese - choose a low-moisture mozzarella to avoid soggy crust
** optional - red peper flakes and fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground sausage and cook while stirring frequently until sausage is no longer pink (160°F). Drain sausage and return skillet to stove.
Step 2: Add diced zucchini and bell pepper to cooked sausage. Cook until tender-crisp. Remove skillet from heat and set aside.
Step 3: Apply a thin layer of pizza sauce to each of your flatbreads. Spread sauce evenly to the edge of the "crust." Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the sauce.
Step 4: Top each flatbread with sausage mixture. Apply in an even flat layer over the naan bread.
Step 5: Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sausage and veggies. If using, top with red chili flakes.
Step 6: Bake or air fry pizza until cheese is melted and studded with golden-brown bubbles.
See recipe card for cook times and quantities
Top Tip: If you have an air fryer - use it for this recipe! The individual pizzas cook quickly and the result is pizza perfection. You will never make flatbread pizza another way.
Substitutions
- dairy-free: skip the cheese or use a dairy-free option
- ground pork sausage: ground pork sausage can be swapped for chicken sausage
- mozzarella cheese: swap out low-moisture shredded mozzarella for fresh mozzarella or even a few dollops of ricotta cheese
- fresh vegetables - zucchini and bell peppers can be omitted or subbed out for your favorite veggies (onions, spinach, tomatoes, etc.)
Variations
Flatbread pizza is more of an inspiration than actual recipe - the method described will work for all of your favorite pizza topping combos.
- pesto - omit the tomato sauce, and use a pesto sauce in it's place
- spicy - use hot Italian sausage and add some red pepper flakes to the top of your pizza
- kid-friendly - omit the zucchini and bell peppers - serve pizza sauce, sausage and cheese
Storage
Cooked pizza can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, although they are best served fresh.
If you would like to make flatbread pizzas in advance, assemble them, but don't bake. Instead arrange pizzas on a parchment covered baking sheet and freeze for 3 hours. Remove from freezer, wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Pizzas can be frozen for up to 3 months. To cook, preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake until cooked through 15-20 minutes.
Equipment
You do not have to have an air fryer to make this recipe, but it really does take the end result up a notch. I have two air fryers that I use and love. One is a basket style, and one is an oven style with shelves.
*The links below are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission if you purchase.
Traditional Air Fryer (Basket): Compact and takes up less counter space, smaller cooking chamber means that food cooks faster.
Air Fryer Oven (Shelves): Has multiple racks, making it possible to cook more food once. A more expensive option than a traditional air fryer.
Air Fryer Liners - These make cleanup a breeze. You can get 200 for around $7.00.
FAQ's - Italian Sausage Flatbread Pizza
Flatbread pizza is thinner and a lighter option than traditional pizza crust - it has reduced calories and carbs. Opting for whole-grain or whole wheat pizza crust will add additional nutrition.
Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Kroger and Publix are all places that I have personally seen naan bread. Most local grocery stores carry this ingredient.
Recipe
Italian Sausage Flatbread Pizza
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 pizzas 1x
Description
15 Minute Italian Sausage Flatbread Pizza a delicious twist on a classic pizza recipe. Pizza dough is replaced by naan bread and topped with spicy Italian sausage fresh veggies, Italian seasoning and mozzarella cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 pound, ground Italian pork sausage
- 1 cup zucchini, diced
- 1 cup bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, diced
- 6 pre-made flatbreads (naan) *
- 1 12 ounce jar pizza sauce
- Italian seasoning - to taste
- 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
** OPTIONAL - red pepper flakes and fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground sausage and cook until no longer pink (160°F). Stir frequently.
- Add diced zucchini, bell pepper and red onion to cooked sausage. Cook for about 1 minute, or until tender-crisp (do not overcook). Remove sausage mixture from heat and set aside.
- Apply an even layer of pizza sauce to each of your flatbreads. Spread sauce to the edge. Sprinkle the spread sauce with Italian seasoning.
- Top each flatbread with about ½ cup of sausage mixture. Do not overload the flatbread.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sausage and veggies. If using, top cheese with red pepper flakes.
- For Oven: Bake pizza at 425°F for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted and studded with golden-brown bubbles. Serve immediately. For Air Fryer: Set air fryer to 400 degrees. Cook flatbread pizza for 3-4 minutes and remove. Keep an eye on it as it cooks quickly.
Notes
flatbread can be purchased at most grocery stores - garlic flavored is recommended
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Quick and Easy Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pizza
- Calories: 358
- Sugar: 5.9 g
- Sodium: 919.5 mg
- Fat: 6.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 51.9 g
- Protein: 22.6 g
- Cholesterol: 10.2 mg
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