Craving Easy weeknight seafood pizza Tonight?
Craving a flavorful, fuss-free dinner? This Easy weeknight seafood pizza recipe brings the ocean’s best right to your home table, blending savory seafood, gooey cheese, and a crisp crust all in minutes. Whether you’re juggling busy evenings or simply want a tasty twist on pizza night, this recipe is your new go-to for a satisfying, quick meal packed with fresh, vibrant flavors.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Speedy Prep: Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights when time is tight.
- Flavor Explosion: Combines succulent seafood with zesty sauce and melty cheese for an irresistible taste.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses affordable, easy-to-find elements that come together effortlessly.
- Family Friendly: Appeals to both seafood lovers and pizza fans of all ages.
- Customizable: Can be adapted easily to suit your favorite toppings or dietary needs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make this Easy weeknight seafood pizza, you’ll need a handful of simple ingredients that deliver maximum flavor and texture. Each component plays an important role, from the crispy crust to the luscious seafood and vibrant toppings.
- Pizza dough: Use store-bought or homemade for a perfectly chewy base.
- Olive oil: Adds richness and helps crisp the crust as it bakes.
- Garlic cloves: Freshly minced for a fragrant, savory kick.
- Seafood mix: Choose shrimp, scallops, or a combo—fresh or thawed frozen works great.
- Shredded mozzarella: Melts beautifully, creating that gooey pizza texture everyone loves.
- Parmesan cheese: Sprinkled lightly for a sharp, nutty finish.
- Cherry tomatoes: Halved to add juicy bursts of sweetness and a pop of color.
- Fresh basil or parsley: Adds herbal brightness that elevates the pizza flavor.
- Lemon zest: Optional, for a fresh, citrusy twist that complements seafood perfectly.
- Salt and pepper: Season to taste and enhance all the lovely flavors.
Variations for Easy weeknight seafood pizza
This recipe is a fantastic foundation that you can tweak to match your mood, available ingredients, or dietary preferences. Don’t hesitate to get creative and make it your own!
- Spicy Twist: Add crushed red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce for some heat.
- Vegetarian Option: Swap seafood with artichoke hearts, olives, and roasted red peppers.
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free crust or cauliflower crust without compromising taste.
- Cheese Variations: Try smoked provolone or goat cheese for a unique flavor profile.
- Herb Boost: Mix in fresh dill or tarragon to complement the seafood beautifully.
How to Make Easy weeknight seafood pizza
Step 1: Prepare the dough
Lightly oil your pizza stone or baking sheet and stretch out your pizza dough into a thin, even circle or rectangle. Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready to give you that perfect golden crust.
Step 2: Sauté the seafood
In a skillet warmed with olive oil and garlic, quickly sauté your seafood mix just until opaque and fragrant—about 2-3 minutes—to lock in flavor without overcooking.
Step 3: Assemble the pizza
Brush the dough lightly with olive oil, then sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella and a few tablespoons of Parmesan. Evenly distribute the sautéed seafood and scatter halved cherry tomatoes on top. Season with salt, pepper, and a touch of lemon zest if using.
Step 4: Bake to perfection
Slide your pizza into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is crisp and golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
Step 5: Garnish and serve
Remove from the oven, sprinkle fresh basil or parsley leaves over the top, slice it up, and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor experience.
Pro Tips for Making Easy weeknight seafood pizza
- High Heat Baking: Baking at a high temperature ensures a crispy crust without drying out the seafood toppings.
- Pre-cook Seafood: Slightly cooking your shrimp or scallops beforehand prevents them from releasing water and making the dough soggy.
- Use Fresh Herbs: Adding fresh herbs after baking keeps their flavor bright and vibrant.
- Less is More: Avoid overloading the pizza with too many toppings to ensure everything cooks evenly.
- Rest Before Cutting: Let the pizza cool for a couple of minutes before slicing to keep the cheese from sliding off.
How to Serve Easy weeknight seafood pizza
Garnishes
Fresh herbs like basil or parsley add a pop of color and freshness, while a squeeze of lemon juice brightens up every bite and enhances the seafood’s natural flavors.
Side Dishes
Pair with a crisp green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette, or roasted seasonal vegetables to balance the richness of the pizza perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving as small, individual flatbreads for a fun party option or cut into bite-sized squares for an appetizer-style meal. A drizzle of garlic-infused olive oil before serving adds an elegant finish.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place any leftover pizza slices in an airtight container or wrap tightly in foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days to maintain freshness.
Freezing
Wrap leftover pizza tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil before freezing to avoid freezer burn. It will keep well for up to 1 month.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in a hot oven or toaster oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 8-10 minutes to keep the crust crispy and cheese melty. Avoid microwaving to prevent a soggy crust.
FAQs
Can I use frozen seafood in this recipe?
Absolutely! Just make sure to thaw and pat the seafood dry before cooking to avoid excess moisture making the pizza soggy.
Is this pizza suitable for kids?
Yes, the mild flavors and familiar pizza format make it a great option for kids, especially if you skip spicier add-ons.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
While seafood is central to this recipe, you can swap the seafood for marinated tofu or roasted vegetables and use vegan cheese to make it fully plant-based.
What if I don’t have fresh herbs?
Dried herbs can work in a pinch but add them sparingly during cooking to avoid overpowering the pizza; fresh herbs always provide the best flavor.
How can I get a crispier crust?
Baking your pizza on a preheated pizza stone or steel and ensuring your oven is at the right high temperature helps achieve a wonderfully crisp crust.
Final Thoughts
There you have it – a deliciously simple, flavor-packed Easy weeknight seafood pizza recipe that’s just waiting for you to try. It’s perfect for those hectic evenings when you want something quick yet special, and it’s so versatile that you can make it your own every time. Gather your ingredients, fire up the oven, and get ready to enjoy a slice of seafood heaven right at home!
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Easy weeknight seafood pizza
This Easy Weeknight Seafood Pizza recipe offers a quick and flavorful dinner option combining succulent seafood, melted cheese, and a crispy crust. Perfect for busy evenings, it blends fresh, vibrant flavors with simple ingredients to create a family-friendly meal that can be customized to suit various tastes and dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free (if gluten-free crust is used)
Ingredients
Base
- Pizza dough: 1 ball (store-bought or homemade)
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons, divided
Seafood Toppings
- Seafood mix: 8 ounces (shrimp, scallops, or a combination; fresh or thawed frozen)
- Garlic cloves: 2, freshly minced
Cheese
- Shredded mozzarella: 1 ½ cups
- Parmesan cheese: 2 tablespoons, grated
Vegetables & Herbs
- Cherry tomatoes: 1 cup, halved
- Fresh basil or parsley: ¼ cup, chopped (for garnish)
Seasonings & Extras
- Lemon zest: 1 teaspoon (optional)
- Salt: to taste
- Black pepper: to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: Lightly oil your pizza stone or baking sheet and stretch out your pizza dough into a thin, even circle or rectangle. Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready to give you that perfect golden crust.
- Sauté the seafood: In a skillet warmed with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the minced garlic, quickly sauté your seafood mix just until opaque and fragrant—about 2-3 minutes—to lock in flavor without overcooking.
- Assemble the pizza: Brush the stretched dough lightly with the remaining olive oil. Sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella and scatter a few tablespoons of Parmesan cheese evenly over the dough. Distribute the sautéed seafood evenly, then scatter the halved cherry tomatoes on top. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon zest if using.
- Bake to perfection: Slide your pizza into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is crisp and golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle fresh basil or parsley leaves over the top, slice it up, and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor experience.
Notes
- Bake at a high temperature to ensure a crispy crust without drying out the seafood toppings.
- Pre-cook seafood slightly to avoid releasing water and making the dough soggy.
- Add fresh herbs after baking to keep their flavor bright and vibrant.
- Avoid overloading the pizza with toppings to ensure even cooking.
- Let the pizza rest for a couple of minutes before slicing to keep cheese from sliding off.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of pizza
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: seafood pizza, weeknight dinner, quick pizza recipe, easy seafood meal, family-friendly pizza, gluten-free pizza option