This Apple Cheddar Pizza layers sweet sauteed apples, deeply caramelized onions, sharp cheddar, and crunchy walnuts over a crisp crust — sweet, savory, and ready for the oven in about 20 minutes once your onions are done.
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 I don't want you guys to think 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.) But then, as I was getting ready to make this, I realized we had an extra onion sitting all lonely and sad on the counter. Obviously, the universe was talking to me. So yeah, it's another recipe with caramelized onions—if you're not a fan of them, you may need to go read a different vegetarian food blog.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Apple. Braeburn, Fuji, or Honeycrisp all hold their shape and bring the right amount of sweetness once they're sauteed. Avoid soft varieties like McIntosh, which tend to turn mushy.
- Yellow onion. Sliced thin and cooked low and slow until deeply caramelized. A sweet onion works too if that's what you have on hand.
- Butter. Used to saute the apples for extra richness. Swap in a plant-based butter to make this pizza vegan-friendly.
- Maple syrup. Stirred into the apples at the end of sauteing to help them caramelize slightly and deepen the sweet-savory flavor. Honey works in a pinch if you're not strictly vegan.
- Prepared pizza crust. Use your favorite store-bought crust, a par-baked flatbread, or even naan for a quicker, thinner-crust version.
- Aged cheddar cheese. The sharpness balances the sweetness of the apples and maple syrup. A younger, milder cheddar will work, but you'll lose some of that contrast.
- Walnuts. Roughly chopped for crunch. Pecans are a great substitute if that's what's in your pantry.
Helpful Tips
Make the onions in advance. Caramelizing onions properly adds real time to this recipe, so if you want to shortcut dinner, make a big batch over the weekend using my tutorial on how to caramelize onions and keep them in the fridge for up to 5-6 days. From there, this pizza comes together as a genuinely quick weeknight dinner: saute the apples, top the crust, and bake—about 20 minutes, start to finish.
Be patient with the caramelization. Real caramelized onions take low heat and time—anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour depending on your stove. Stir occasionally at first, then more frequently as the onions start to brown, and resist the urge to crank the heat to speed things up; you'll just scorch them.
Watch your walnuts if your crust bakes hot. If the instructions on your pizza crust call for a temperature higher than 375°F or a bake time longer than 10 minutes, toast the walnuts separately on the stovetop and scatter them on after the pizza comes out of the oven instead of baking them the whole time.
Slice the apples thin and even. Thin, uniform slices saute faster and more evenly, and they'll cook through in the short time the pizza is in the oven.
Don't skip the seasoning on the onions. A pinch of salt and pepper while the onions are cooking rounds out their sweetness and keeps the whole pizza from tasting one-note.
Variations
- Make it vegan. Swap in a dairy-free cheddar-style shred and plant-based butter, and you've got an entirely vegan version of this pizza.
- Try a different cheese. Gruyere, fontina, or a crumbled blue cheese all pair beautifully with sweet apples and caramelized onions if you want to switch things up from cheddar.
- Add some greens. A handful of fresh arugula tossed on right after baking adds a peppery bite that cuts through the richness.
- Swap the nuts. Pecans or candied walnuts both work well in place of plain chopped walnuts.
- Add fresh herbs. A few fresh thyme leaves or a light sprinkle of chopped rosemary brings a savory, fall-appropriate note.
- Make it your own with the crust. Try a whole wheat crust for more fiber, or a gluten-free crust to make the whole pizza gluten-free (just double-check your cheese and crust brands to be sure).
Serving Ideas
This pizza is filling enough to be dinner on its own, but a simple green salad on the side rounds out the meal nicely—something like this shaved fennel salad plays well with the sweet-and-savory flavors here. A cup of soup or a glass of hard apple cider (or just plain apple cider, non-alcoholic works too) makes a cozy fall pairing as well.
If you love the caramelized onion flavor in this pizza, you'll probably also love it in a caramelized onion pasta—worth keeping in your back pocket for another night.
This also makes great party food. Cut it into small squares instead of full slices and serve it as an appetizer at a fall gathering—it disappears fast.
Storing & Freezing
Leftover pizza keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Store slices in an airtight container or wrap tightly in foil, and reheat in a 350°F oven or toaster oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melty again and the crust has crisped back up. A microwave will work in a pinch, but the crust won't be as crisp.
This pizza doesn't freeze particularly well once fully assembled and baked—the apples release moisture as they thaw, which can make the crust soggy. If you want to plan ahead, freeze the caramelized onions and sauteed apples separately in airtight containers for up to 2 months, then thaw and assemble a fresh pizza when you're ready to bake.
More Vegetarian Dinner Ideas
If you loved this recipe, here are a few more you might enjoy:
📖 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.
Sara @my less serious life says
do you have a go-to pizza crust recipe? i can't use the store-bought ones because i can't have soy and most of them use soybean oil or soy lecithin as a stabilizer.
Kiersten says
I realize that this completely makes me a failure as a food blogger, but I don't--I always either buy the dough or buy a prepared crust. My goal for this year was to get comfortable with breads and other yeasty things, but as you can see, that did not happen. 🙂
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
Interesting. I never would have thought to combine apples with cheddar, but I think I'd like to try it.
Kiersten says
Ooh, you do need to try it! I have apples with slices of cheddar as a snack all the time. There are even apple pie recipes with cheese in the crust!
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
You know my motto, caramelized onions make everything better! Could you add the nuts like the last 10 minutes to get a toasted taste to them or should they be raw?
Kiersten says
I alternate between pizza crust brands and I've noticed that some cook at a higher temperature than others, which is why I added that note. Walnuts burn so easily in the oven that I think it's best to just toast them separately if the pizza is cooking at a higher temperature or longer amount of time. You could definitely try throwing them in just before the cooking time is over, but burnt walnuts are pretty foul, so I figured it was better to be safe than sorry when I wrote up the instructions...
Parsley Sage says
I'm so glad you listened to your pizza when it spoke to you 🙂 It just wouldn't be the same glorious dish WITHOUT those caramelized onions!
Kiersten says
No, it wouldn't! It was totally meant to be, right?
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates) says
If I made caramelized onions I"m afraid only one or two bites might make it to the pizza - I can eat them straight out of the pot with a spoon! This looks delicious though =)
Kiersten says
I know! Sometimes I make them for burgers and then I just eat the rest on the side. 🙂
Shirley says
I don't love how long it takes to make caramelized onions, but I do love eating them! Especially if apple, cheddar, and walnuts would be thrown in.
Kiersten says
Yeah, I think the best way to do it is to make a bunch in advance. I used to try to rush the process, but the onions end up sauteing. Just not the same!
Jessi says
Oh my o.o
Ashley - Baker by Nature says
I want to marry this pizza. Is that weird?!
Kiersten says
Ha! No, I don't judge. 🙂
SCM (SocialCafe Magazine) says
It looks delicious 🙂 even though I hardly ever eat onions 😉
Kiersten says
I'm not a fan of raw onions, but when they are caramelized, it's completely different! 🙂
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
I really, really love this, Kiersten. Pizza is one of my favorites and I love the toppings here. Caramelized onions (and cheddar!) get me every time!
Michelle @ Find Your Balance says
Caramelized onions belong in everything!!
Kiersten says
They do, right? I don't think there's anything that doesn't taste better with caramelized onions added!
Diane (createdbydiane) says
looks so great, I would just LOVE a piece right now!
Lauren says
This looks delicious! I love the combination you have here. Fruit and cheese together has always been a very palatable combination to me, and the walnuts add a nice crunch! 🙂
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
You are just too cute with your obsession, but I think the universe did you right with its cosmic push this time. 😉
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
Gorgeous!! I want to make this ASAP
Jeanette says
I love the sound of a sweet and savory pizza!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
That is a stunner! Love the rich fall flavors going on here. 🙂
Andi says
I tried this recipe out yesterday, and it was delicious! Thanks for posting 😀
Kiersten says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says
I'm glad the universe won out and you added the onions ... I think they might be the clincher. 🙂 Love this recipe, so creative.
Pizza is a favorite quick dinner in our house. We do the Friday pizza night thing and I love how easy dinner is on Fridays! I make a big batch of pizza dough and pizza sauce about every six weeks. I cook the pizza crusts on the grill pan then freeze them, and freeze the sauce in 1/2 cup increments too. Makes future pizza nights so easy. I've also frozen bags of caramelized onions for future pizzas. I'm always happy when I find a little bag hiding in the freezer. They really are magic!
Kiersten says
Perhaps I should attempt my own dough like that. I really feel like a terrible blogger for always using the pre-made crust, but when I've tried making it myself, it was almost inedible. I don't do well with breads!
Jackie @ Domestic Fits says
I could put caramelized onions on every thing. Nicely done 🙂
mjskit says
A very creative pizza! One doesn't see apple on a pizza very often, but you sure make it look like a perfect fit. I put caramelized onion on pizza quite often and I definitely will be added some apple and walnuts next time. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Kiersten says
I put caramelized onions on pizza all the time too. It's so much better than the practically raw ones they put on pizzas at restaurants!
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
I'm going to lie - I made this today and added chicken, lol. I tried to make a pizza crust to go with it and yeah, not there yet but the flavors are amazing!
Kiersten says
Chicken! See, I was counting on everyone saying that they'd add bacon. 🙂
debra pearlstein says
Yum, every time I read here I get really hungry! And I find things I wouldn't think of putting together that just happen to sound delicious!
Kiersten says
I know apples & cheese sound weird together, but they are one of my favorite food combinations. Put some apple slices in a grilled cheese--trust me, it is good! 😀
Genevieve says
I was just thinking about an apple pizza the other day, but I couldn't come up with a solid idea for what else to put on it...this combination actually sounds perfect - apple goes with walnuts and cheddar so well, and caramelized onions sounds like just the right addition to round it out! This would make a great lunch!
Kiersten says
Yeah, I had the idea for an apple pizza for a while too and it also took me a while to come up with ideas for what else to put on it! 🙂 My original idea involved lettuce (kind of an apple salad pizza), but I think this is a lot better.
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
This looking so tasty! As odd as that is to say about pizza - it sounds like a good hearty winter/fall type recipe
Kiersten says
It is totally perfect for fall. I think after Thanksgiving ended, I suddenly lost interest in pumpkin and moved onto apples. I can't get enough of them lately!