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This healthy, flavorful black bean and corn pizza recipe is easy to make at home and is low in calories. Loaded with fresh veggies, this recipe is a fun twist on traditional pizza and keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days!
The first time I had black beans on pizza, believe it or not, was at CPK back when I was in college (it was their Tostada pizza)! I remember being skeptical about what black bean pizza would taste like - but gave it a shot and LOVED it.
Then I saw a recipe on EatingWell.com for a Smoky Corn and Black Bean Pizza, and I decided to combine the two recipes to create a "tostada pizza" version of my own! My husband, who wasn't sure this version of "tostada pizza" would taste good, was blown away by how delicious this recipe was! And my kids gobbled it up like it was running away from them 😂All in all, it was a huge success!
How to make Barbecue Black Bean, Red Pepper, and Corn Pizza pizza - step by step
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spread out the dough on a pizza pan, spread the barbecue sauce on top
2. Heat a large pan over medium heat, add 1 tsp olive oil, black beans, diced red onion and chili powder - cook until heated through and onions begin to caramelize (5-10 min)
3. Spread black bean mixture over barbecue sauce
4. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Then sprinkle diced red pepper and corn on top of the cheese.
5. Bake in oven for 10-15 min (depending on pizza dough and heating instructions)
6. Remove from oven, drizzle 1 Tbsp barbecue sauce over the pizza. Serve and enjoy!
How many servings does this recipe make?
This pizza will yield 8 hearty slices, and each slice is under 200 calories. That means it can easily serve a family of 4 for dinner since each slice is huge! Serve it with a side salad and you'll have dinner on the table in no time.
Can you freeze this pizza recipe?
Yes! This pizza freezes really well. You can freeze it before or after it's baked. If you freeze it after it's baked, you can just defrost it in the oven for 5 minutes when it's ready to be eaten. If you freeze before baking, see the recipe notes below on how to bake it!
You can make a healthier pizza recipe with just a few simple swaps:- Use whole wheat pizza dough instead of regular (more fiber, less refined grains)
- Replacing the "base" of the pizza with protein and fiber packed black beans (instead of sauce + cheese)
- Using less cheese and adding it on top for a still-cheesy effect!
- Adding more veggies! Load up each slice with as many peppers and corn as it will hold. You'll be getting fiber and nutrients from the fresh veggies and it adds complexity to the pizza toppings as well!
What Makes This Pizza Recipe Healthy?
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. If you're using a pizza stone, put it in the oven while it preheats.
- When baking fresh pizza: add a sprinkle of cornmeal to your baking pan before adding your pizza dough and toppings on top. Bake for 8 minutes, then rotate and bake another 2-7 minutes or until the cheese is lightly browned and bubbly on top.
- When baking a frozen pizza: You don't have to defrost the pizza first, you can bake directly from frozen. Add a sheet of parchment to your pizza pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate and bake for another 5-7 minutes until cooked through.
How to bake pizza at home
I love making pizzas at home, and this one os so full of flavor you won't mind skipping takeout for it! In total, the pizza takes around 30 minutes to make, including cooking time, and is baked in the oven. To bake pizza at home:
A healthy vegetarian pizza that is easily made vegan
- Be sure to pre-heat your oven before cooking the pizza.
- Use a whole wheat pizza dough for extra goodness. For store-bought refrigerated dough, let it sit it at room temperature for two hours prior to baking.
- Use a low in sugar barbecue sauce.
- Serve immediately!
- If planning to freeze this pizza for future use before baking, place a piece of parchment on a metal pizza pan or heavy-duty piece of cardboard, assemble your pizza on the cardboard (or pan) and freeze altogether.
This colorful corn pizza is easily made vegan by subbing the mozzarella with a vegan cheese. You could also omit the cheese completely and it'll still taste great!
