Pizza is great. But what if we told you that something greater, perhaps even tastier, exists? Please don’t get mad at us. Sometimes, the truth hurts, and it isn’t what we want to hear.
But pizza has a competitor.
Look, we love pizza, OK? But flatbread’s crispy base, adventurous toppings, and (comparatively) bite-size portions are pretty heckin’ flavorful and light.
Going for a little less dough and cheese can be a pleasant departure from the bread baby that some heftier pizzas can give you.
You don’t have to take our word for it. Give these 11 flatbread recipes a whirl — and don’t blame us if you give up late night pizza for good.
Prepare to meat your (flatbread) maker…
1. Cheddar, pancetta, and apple flatbread
Sometimes the simplest combinations yield the best results. And it rarely gets better than pancetta.
In this recipe, a few high quality ingredients combine to make a light yet incredibly tasty appetizer or snack.
Pro tip: Use a white, crumbly aged cheddar for the best flavor. We also recommend drizzling a touch of honey on top of the cheese before baking to add a hint of sweetness to the meatness in your eatness.
If you don’t yet know your Gruyere from your Camembert, here’s our rundown of everything cheese.
2. Greek flatbread with tzatziki sauce
Greek cuisine is a pillar of the flatbread universe.
This recipe is a lazy chef’s dream. Simply cook ground turkey, brush the flatbread with olive oil, top with deliciousness (in this case, veggies and crumbled feta), and pop it in the oven.
You can even skip the turkey and use precooked chicken breast or leave the meat out altogether, but then you’ll definitely want to support the texture and flavor with extra cheese.
We do suggest making your own tzatziki. The taste is worth the extra chopping. Greek yogurt is the foundation of any tzatziki worth its salt — we’ve got 39 ways to use it.
3. Crispy prosciutto flatbread pizza
OK, so this is a pizza in flatbread clothing. So what? Are you gonna complain when it’s inside your face? We didn’t think so.
It’s hard to go wrong with prosciutto and arugula. Add shaved Parmesan and a homemade sun-dried tomato chutney and you’ve got yourself a party-pleaser — even if it’s only a party of one (and a party of one is still a party).
The best part: The recipe calls for lavash bread from Trader Joe’s. Why make dough from scratch when, well, you don’t have to?
4. California chicken flatbread with chipotle ranch sauce
Close your eyes and picture a taco and then a pizza. Now imagine the two glorious foods merging. It’s like the pottery scene from “Ghost,” only way sexier.
Open your eyes and meet the California chicken flatbread, topped with bacon, avocado, shredded cheese (we like pepper jack for extra oomph), and chipotle ranch sauce. You’ll be drooling before you even start cooking.
Yep, it’s that great. We love a good culinary fusion.
From the earth into your mouth.
5. Flatbread salad pizza with pesto, shaved asparagus, mushrooms, and feta
We love salads — especially when they’re served on top of bread. It’s a sneaky, effective salad delivery system.
This fun dish works as a main meal or a side. The best part? You can pull this together in less than 15 minutes.
Plus, you can go wild experimenting with the toppings. But don’t skimp on the red pepper flakes or balsamic vinegar (or the cheese, but that goes without saying).
6. Savory pear, date, and burrata flatbread with crispy sage
Pineapple on pizza? Debatable. Pear on flatbread? Undeniable.
The burrata cheese gives the flatbread a creamer, oozier texture, and cooked dates add just the right amount of sweetness.
Top it off with flash-fried sage and say hello to a little slice of heaven. Pears are an irresistible, healthy fall favorite for a reason.
7. Caprese hummus flatbread pizza
Mozzarella and hummus may not sound like a match made in heaven. But trust us: They go together almost as well as rama-lama-lama-ka-dinga-da-dinga-dong. (And this flatbread will be Olivia Newton-Gone quicker than you know it.)
Hummus also adds extra protein to a traditional caprese salad, meaning you have a solid excuse to eat seconds.
We assume, by this point in the article, that you still miss pizza. And that’s understandable. So here are 74 ways to make a healthier one. Don’t sleep on flatbreads, though.
8. Blueberry fennel flatbread with whipped feta
Juicy blueberries, soft fennel, and cloud-like flatbread make this recipe a foodie’s dream.
The pine nuts and radish shavings add a slightly crunchy texture, and the whipped feta brings all the ingredients together like one big, happy, edible family.
Don’t forget to serve with a lemon wedge — a little juice goes a long way. Plus, it confirms your arrival at peak fanciness. If you’re after food that looks fancy without the effort, we’ve always got your back.
Goat cheese and flatbreads go hand in creamy hand (eww), so it’s only right that this cheese gets its own special corner of this roundup.
9. Zucchini and herbed ricotta and goat cheese flatbread
Ricotta and goat cheese? That’s a combo we can get behind.
Combining the ricotta with fresh herbs and lemon makes for a garden-fresh base, and the toppings add just enough flavor and variety to satisfy those taste buds.
If all these flatbreads have you craving some Mediterranean sunshine, these lunch ideas will help you stay inspired.
10. Flatbread with goat cheese and caramelized onions
The cracker-like base is the key to this super-simple, hyper-tasty recipe.
If you don’t want to make the flatbread from scratch, use store-bought thin pizza crust — we won’t tell anyone. (Tee-hee, we just did — everyone knows you cheated! But it’s OK!)
As for the caramelized onions, they’re not as tough to make as their reputation suggests. You can even cut the cooking time in half, and they’ll still turn out great. Here’s how to nail them.
11. Flatbread pizza with spinach and goat cheese
Why put spinach in a smoothie when you can have it on pizza (erm, flatbread)?
The tangy goat cheese pairs perfectly with the dark, leafy green, and the garlic and pepper flakes give it just the right kick.
We love adding artichoke hearts (because they’re surprisingly high in protein) and swapping the mozzarella for burrata for a spinach-artichoke dip copycat.
Sorry, Ninja Turtles. Pizza might not be the be-all and end-all.
Flatbreads are a superb pizza replacement that can make you look super-cultured on a date or at least help you keep up with your foodie friends.
And if you’re looking to get a pizza the action around Halloween, why not mummify your pizza? Plain ol’ pizza could well become a thing of the past.
(Fear not, pepperoni-heads. It never, ever, ever will.)
