Growing up we always celebrated big on Christmas night, and didn’t really do anything on Christmas Eve. Both of my parents worked a lot of those years and everyone was so excited that we used to order pizza more often than not.
So even though I now host a huge dinner on Christmas Eve, I made this pizza in the spirit of my childhood Christmas Eve’s. If you have a casual night (I’m sure lots of people do, right?) consider having a fun pizza night!
This particular one is piled high with Basil Pesto with Mozzarella and Roasted Red Peppers. I thought I would call it a jingle bell pizza, but I guess then it would disappear into the archives and no one would find it until next Christmas.
So hear it is. Very simple and easy, while still being fresh and delicious. Perfect for a low maintenance Christmas Eve.
I hope that you all have a truly wonderful and warm Christmas with your loved ones. I can’t wait to see you back here in a few day’s, but in the mean time enjoy your loved ones! XOXO
Ok, to make this pizza, this is what you do:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and get out a sheet pan oiled with olive oil.
Roll the dough out into an oval and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
Bake the dough at 425 degrees for 10 minutes until crispy and golden.
Spread the crispy dough with the pesto. Add the fresh mozzarella rounds.
Add the roasted red peppers. (I like to make the roasted red peppers into X’s).
And then add the olives and drizzle everything with olive oil.
Bake another 7 minutes until the cheese is melted and everything is bubbly and hot.
Slice and serve immediately.
Recipe: Basil Pesto with Mozzarella and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 crust
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 4 ounces roasted red peppers, thinly sliced
- 12 kalamata olives, pitted
- olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and get out a sheet pan oiled with olive oil.
- Roll the dough out into an oval and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Bake the dough at 425 degrees for 10 minutes until crispy and golden.
- Spread the crispy dough with the pesto.
- Add the fresh mozzarella rounds and the roasted red peppers. (I like to make the roasted red peppers into X’s).
- Add the olives and drizzle everything with olive oil. Bake another 7 minutes until the cheese is melted and everything is bubbly and hot.
- Slice and serve immediately.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 17 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 8
Print Recipe
I’d love to have pizza night for Christmas Eve. I’m loving the pesto and roasted pepper combo!
This is my kind of pizza! I grew up with a huge extended family that were Christmas Eve’ers, complete with Santa making an appearance at the front door to hand out the gifts from his giant brown bag. We used to wait for the sound of the reindeer bells outside but darn, never got there fast enough before he was knocking at the door…!The big round old oak table was fairly bursting with homemade goodies from all the aunts and great aunts. Before we were allowed to open any presents great aunt Helen banged away at the piano with her high Julia Child soprano voice and made us sing Christmas songs. Such agony for all us cousins dying to rip into our toys while being nearly blinded with an uncle’s movie camera with flash bulbs so bright a plane could land. Christmas in the fifties in sixties…! You are the most magnificent holiday memory maker I know of for your family, except maybe Martha Stewart with her army of helpers. I don’t know how you do it Heather but very glad you share with the rest of us. Have a wonderful Christmas and all the best to you and your family and Wilber.
We often have pizza on Christmas eve, so this speaks to me in so many ways. Plus, this recipe is killer!
Is there a recipe for the pizza dough? Would love to get yours Heather!
You seriously make the sexiest pizzas EVER! I’m dying for a slice!
Hope you had a wonderful xmas, lovely lady! xo