Bruschetta or B.L.T.? Easy At-Home Pizzas

The following recipe and photography for this post were provided by local blogger Abby Thome of The Thome Home.

These easy-to-make, any night pizzas are so incredible you will have to pinch yourself while eating. You, my friends, no matter how experienced you are in the kitchen can recreate these two pies so easily that they will quickly become a dinner staple!

Wander on over to the pasta aisle at your local Heinen’s and you will find a little nook of pizza sauces and pre-made crusts. Be sure to grab the Stonefire Artisan Thin Crust Pizza (if you are like me, you’ll grab a few at a time. They sell out fast!) They come with two per package, making them perfect for whipping up two amazing pizzas in one night.

Utilizing a pre-made pizza crust was something that I never really supported until I stumbled across Stonefire. This pizza crust has become my go-to choice for pizza night.  It has been used dozens, if not nearly 100 times in my kitchen and has never failed me. It cooks up with just the right amount of chew crispiness that you would predict in a thin crust pizza.

Taking inspiration from bruschetta chicken and a B.L.T. sandwich, a few of our favorites, I’ve created two buzz-worthy pizzas that prove that you can let your imagination run wild! Whichever way you top them, making pizzas from at home is a fantastic (and affordable) way to control the quality of ingredients and take pizza night to a new level.

Bacon Chicken Bruschetta Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 Stonefire thin crust pizza
• 1 tsp. Garlic Expressions dressing
• 2 heaping tbsp. jarred alfredo sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup Heinen’s rotisserie chicken, cubed
• 1/2 cup crumbled bacon
• Heinen’s balsamic glaze
• Parmesan shavings

Method

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a pizza stone.
3. Place pizza crust on prepared baking sheet and proceed to brush the entire crust with the Garlic Expressions dressing. This gives the pizza the most fabulous base.
4. Next, smear Alfredo sauce all over the pizza, leaving 1/2 inch of the outer crust without Alfredo sauce.
5. Sprinkle pizza with mozzarella and top with chicken and bacon.
6. Bake at 450°F for 13-15 minutes until the edges are slightly golden and the cheese has melted completely.
7. Turn the oven off and set it to broil.
8. Place pizza back into the oven and let it sit under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the cheese starts to bubble and brown just slightly.
9. Take the pizza out and set aside to cool for one minute.
10. Use Heinen’s balsamic glaze and drizzle over the pizza any way you would like. A spiral is a fun way to evenly distribute.
11. Top with Heinen’s parmesan shavings, slice and enjoy!

B.L.T. Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 Stonefire thin pizza crust
• 1 tsp. Garlic Expressions dressing
• 1/2 cup tomato jam (see recipe below)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup crumbled bacon
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup microgreens

Method

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a pizza stone
3. Place pizza crust on a prepared baking sheet and proceed to brush the entire crust with the Garlic Expressions dressing. This gives the pizza the most fabulous base to start with!
4. Smear the homemade tomato jam onto the crust leaving the outer 1/2 inch of crust alone.
5. Sprinkle pizza with mozzarella cheese and crumbled bacon.
6. Baking at 450°F for 13-15 minutes. Until the crust is slightly golden and the cheese has completely melted.
7. Remove pizza from oven.
8. Crack 3 room temperature eggs towards the center of the pizza and immediately place back into the oven for an additional 3-5 minutes until the egg whites are completely cooked and the yolk is still jiggly.
9. Remove pizza from oven and top with a handful of microgreens!

Tomato Jam

Ingredients

• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 2 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground mustard
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground pepper

Method

1. In a saucepan, combine all ingredients listed above.
2. Bring to a boil, stirring the entire time and reduce to a low simmer for 45 minutes.
3. The tomatoes will burst and the sauce will reduce and thicken greatly. Once the jam has reduced and thickened, at the 45-minute mark, remove from heat and let cool completely.
4. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week to enjoy on pizza or sandwiches.