Eggs and Bacon Breakfast Pizza Photo from MyRecipes
This Saturday, February 9 is National Pizza Day. Why not celebrate in a new way by enjoying a breakfast pizza? Yep. You read that correctly - pizza for breakfast. It’s not just for hangovers and it’s not a guilty pleasure! I’ll let you in on a little (not so) secret. I’ve been eating pizza for breakfast for years. A leftover slice topped with a fried egg and wilted greens is heaven and holds me for hours. It turns out I’m not alone. The Italians eat pizza in different forms all day long and Americans are catching on. Here’s why and how:
It’s Healthier than Breakfast Cereal
According to the 2019 Pizza Power Report nutritionist Chelsey Amer told The Daily Meal in January that pizza isn’t necessarily an unhealthy way to kick off your morning. “You may be surprised to find out that an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal with whole milk contain nearly the same amount of calories. Plus a slice of pizza contains more fat and much less sugar than most cold cereals, so you will not experience a quick sugar crash.”, Amer said.
It’s More Satisfying
According to Health contributing nutrition editor Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD: “A pie piled with processed red meat and cheese with a thick crust may leave you feeling sluggish, sleepy, and bloated all day,” says Sass, “but a pizza loaded with veggies, lean protein, and light cheese (or no cheese!) on a healthy crust can be a nourishing and energizing way to start your day, and may even help with weight loss.”
So while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend your classic meat lovers pizza for breakfast nor that you eat it every day, there are plenty of ways to create a healthy breakfast pizza from the bottom up starting with crust options - whole grain, whole wheat, or even cauliflower - and finishing them off with healthy toppings and eggs like our Zest Breakfast Pizza.
Zest Breakfast Pizza
Olive Oil, Garlic, Salt and Pepper
Prepared Pizza Crust - homemade or purchased
Ricotta Cheese
Tomato Sauce or Marinara (optional)
Fresh Baby Spinach or Arugula
Ham or Canadian Bacon, chopped
Egg (quail eggs work great too!)
Preheat oven to 400°.
Drizzle crust with olive oil, then sprinkle with desired quantities of minced garlic, salt and pepper. Spoon desired quantity of tomato sauce or mainara (if using) over the entire pizza. Slather the crust with some ricotta (or place in random knobs if desired). Scatter spinach or arugula and ham atop the ricotta. Top with a generous amount of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Place pizza in oven for 3-5 minutes.
Remove pizza from oven and crack 3-4 eggs (depending on size) onto the pizza. Place back into the oven for an additional 5-7 minutes or until yolks are just set and golden.