Arugula, Caramelized Onion, and Goat Cheese Pizza

Sweet caramelized onions, tangy goat cheese, and peppery fresh arugula make this crisp homemade pizza feel restaurant-worthy. A hot oven and preheated stone or sheet pan help the crust bake golden and blistered.
Prep: 25 min · Cook: 45 min · Total: 70 min · Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 3 cups baby arugula (loosely packed)
- 4 oz whole-milk mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 tbsp cornmeal (for the peel or pan)
- 1 clove garlic (finely grated)
- 4 oz goat cheese (crumbled)
- 1 lb pizza dough (room temperature)
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 0.5 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 tsp kosher salt (divided)
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (for dusting)
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice (fresh)
- 2 large yellow onions (thinly sliced)
- 3 tbsp olive oil (divided)
Instructions
- Place a pizza stone or an inverted heavy rimmed baking sheet on the middle rack, then heat the oven to 500°F for at least 30 minutes so the surface is thoroughly hot and the crust will crisp.
- Set the 1 lb pizza dough on a lightly floured counter, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it relax at room temperature for 20 minutes until soft enough to stretch without springing back aggressively.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp unsalted butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes, until the butter melts and the mixture shimmers.
- Add the 2 large thinly sliced yellow onions and 0.5 tsp kosher salt to the skillet, then cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until the onions soften and release moisture.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking the onions for 18-22 minutes, stirring often and scraping the browned bits from the pan, until the onions are deep golden, jammy, and reduced by about half.
- Stir 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar into the onions with a wooden spoon and cook over medium-low heat for 1-2 minutes, until the vinegar is absorbed and the onions look glossy; transfer them to a plate to cool slightly.
- In a small bowl, stir together 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 finely grated garlic clove, 0.25 tsp kosher salt, 0.25 tsp black pepper, and 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes until evenly combined.
- Dust a pizza peel or the back of a rimmed baking sheet with 2 tbsp all-purpose flour and 1 tbsp cornmeal, then stretch the dough into a 12-inch round, leaving a slightly thicker 0.5-inch border around the edge.
- Brush the garlic oil evenly over the stretched dough with a pastry brush, keeping the oiled surface inside the raised border so the edges can puff and brown.
- Scatter 4 oz shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese over the dough, spoon the caramelized onions evenly on top, and finish with 4 oz crumbled goat cheese so every slice gets both cheeses.
- Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone or inverted baking sheet and bake at 500°F for 10-13 minutes, rotating once halfway through, until the crust is puffed and deeply golden, the underside is crisp, and the cheese is melted with light browned spots.
- Use the peel or a wide spatula to transfer the pizza to a cutting board, then let it rest for 3 minutes so the cheese sets slightly and the crust slices cleanly.
- Toss 3 cups baby arugula in a medium bowl with 1 tsp fresh lemon juice, the remaining 0.25 tsp kosher salt, and the remaining 0.25 tsp black pepper for about 15 seconds, just until lightly dressed.
- Pile the dressed arugula over the hot pizza, cut the pizza into 8 slices with a wheel or chef's knife, and serve immediately while the crust is crisp and the greens are fresh.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 492
- Protein: 18 g
- Fat: 25 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 955 mg
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