Working on this recipe was quite an internal struggle for me. I knew I wanted to do an apple cheddar pizza, and I kind of thought I wanted to add walnuts too. But a little voice kept nagging at me.
"Add caramelized onions! Caramelized onions!"
I tried to resist because, well, I don't want you guys to think that I have to add caramelized onions to everything I make. (Note: of course I have to add caramelized onions to everything I make, because caramelized onions are delicious.) I wanted to do something different! But then as I was getting ready to make this, I realized that we had an extra onion sitting all lonely and sad on the countertop. I mean, obviously, the universe was talking to me right there. If the universe wants me to put caramelized onions on a pizza, I can't say no, right?
![Apple Cheddar Pizza [Uncooked]](https://ohmyveggies.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/apple_cheddar_pizza_uncooked.jpg "Apple Cheddar Pizza [Uncooked]")
So yeah, it's another recipe with caramelized onions. I guess if you're not a fan of them, you're going to have to go read another vegetarian food blog.
Now, caramelizing the onions adds some extra time to making this, so if you want to omit them, you can. But you can also make the onions in advance. (I have a handy tutorial on how to caramelize onions on my blog too!) You can make a big batch of them over the weekend when you have more time and then plan a few meals that use them for throughout the week--they'll last about 5-6 days in the fridge, so it works out perfectly.
So with a prepared pizza crust and your batch of pre-made caramelized onions, this pizza makes for a really quick dinner. Saute the apples, throw everything on the crust, bake it and you've got a delicious sweet-and-savory apple cheddar pizza in about 20 minutes.
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- salt + pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp. butter
- 1 apple, cored and thinly sliced (Braeburn, Fuji, or Honeycrisp work well)
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 large prepared pizza crust
- 1 c. shredded aged cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoon chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over low heat. Add onion and cook until caramelized, stirring every 5 minutes or so at first and then, as the onions begin to brown, more frequently. This could take from 30 minutes to over an hour, depending on your stove. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
- Preheat oven to temperature indicated on pizza crust package.
- Wipe skillet clean; add butter and melt over medium heat. Once butter has melted, add apple slices and saute for about 10 minutes, or until softened, stirring frequently. Stir in maple syrup and continue cooking until liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat.
- Top pizza crust with caramelized onions, shredded cheese, apples, and walnuts. Bake for time indicated on package or until cheese has melted.
Courtney Rae Jones says
Caramelized onions are delicious and should be added to everything 🙂
I think I might make this for my family as an appetizer for our vegetarian christmas dinner. I know my dad would LOVE it. Awesome recipe, thank you! xo
Kiersten says
For Christmas?! That is pressure! I hope it turns out well, or I'll feel really bad. 😉
Daria says
I definitely have to try this! As it is every autumn, I'm up to my neck in apples (like five kinds of them), onions, and walnuts - pros of having two gardens - or cons - since after a while you don't know what to do with them, because there is too much! So I think this may be very useful recipe;)
Kiersten says
You have apple trees? FIVE KINDS of apple trees?! Oh, I am jealous. 🙂 I keep trying to convince my husband that we need an apple tree in the backyard. (He is not yet convinced.)
Daria says
It's in the oven:) Smells delicious! About apple trees: It's definitely worth it! Juice extractor or another such "thingy" and you can do almost everything: juices, smoothies, cookies, pastries. Everything. We have too much, but I think that having one small apple tree would be great for you (all - husband included:)
Lauren says
Made this tonight and it was really good! I used your method for carmelizing onions and it really tested my patience, but they turned out really well!! I have lots of leftovers to look forward to!! Thanks for a great recipe!
Kiersten says
Yes, it does take a little bit of patience to caramelize those onions! 😀 But I'm glad it was worth it!
heather @ heatheromade says
you're speaking my language. i think you'll like/love this one that i make... it of course has caramelized onions - yummm
http://heatheromade.blogspot.com/2012/06/goat-cheese-flatbread.html
Kiersten says
Ooh, that looks GOOD. I love naan pizza!
mrsheartly says
Made this last night. All I can say is yummm! nom nom nom
I mean how can you go wrong with caramelized onions, apples and cheese? You can't!
Kiersten says
You really can't, can you? 🙂 Glad it was a success!
Cathryn says
I made this tonight, using your caramelized onion post as well. Utterly perfect!! I won so many brownie points!!
Kiersten says
I'm glad you enjoyed it! 😀
Lana says
I can't believe how good this was!!! I had extra old smoked cheddar I threw on top...no maple syrup but I had coconut palm sugar...an earthy flavor to resemble the maple syrup I didn't have. Amazingly good pizza....I will try it again on naan bread....to prevent myself from eating an entire pizza.....because it is that good! Paired with some white wine would have been wonderful. I think some moist turkey meat shreds would also go very well with the flavors....good-bye leftover turkey dinner...(kidding)....but this will be a great addition! Yum!
Kiersten says
Ha! I love doing pizzas on naan too. Portion control is a good thing. 🙂 I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Dianah says
This sounds delicious! Does this pizza not require any sauce? And what kind of salad would make a good side? Thanks!
Kiersten says
Nope, you don't need a sauce! 🙂 I think a kale salad on the side would be perfect--something with a light dressing, like a maple vinaigrette.
Stevi says
Just found this recipe on Pinterest and made it yesterday. We absolutely loved it! Lucky for us we have enough stuff to make two so we can have it again this week. I love onions as well so I am totally on board with all the caramelized onions:) my husband was a little sceptical that there was no sauce on the pizza (he is weird) , but he ended up loving it. Thanks for giving us a new favorite recipe:)
Kiersten Frase says
I'm so happy to hear it was a hit--even without sauce! 🙂
Monica says
I found your 50 Vegetarian Pizza post and landed on this gem!! You have totally made my day... my whole life!!!! Your pictures are beautiful and your ideas are GRAND. I can't wait to try every single one... lol. I'm addicted to pizza and since I'm only a 6mo old vegetarian, I'm in dire need of beautiful ideas like this!! <3
Xoxo,
Monica
Marti says
It works really well for me