I know what some of you might be thinking, pizza inspired by pasta dishes? Those are completely different things! Well, the flavors of many famous pasta dishes actually make for perfect pizza toppings! Think meaty ragù Bolognese instead of sausage and red sauce, or chicken alfredo for a unique take on a white pizza. In this post, I’ll share with you six pizza topping combinations, inspired by famous pasta dishes. You should definitely try out these pizzas in your Ooni pizza oven.
Here are six Ooni pizza topping combinations that are inspired by famous pasta dishes:
- Ragù Bolognese Pizza
- Caccio e Peppe Pizza
- Puttanesca Pizza
- Chicken Alfredo Pizza
- Meatball Pizza
- Vodka Sauce Pizza
Here are a few of my favorite pizza making tools:
– Wooden Pizza Peel
– Infrared Thermometer
– Ooni Fyra 12 Wood-Pellet Pizza Oven
First, let’s look at some pizza topping combinations inspired by pasta dishes directly from Italy.
Ooni Pizza Topping Combinations (Inspired by Italian Pasta Dishes)
1. Ragù Bolognese Pizza
One of my favorite pastas to make is ragù Bolognese with wide pappardelle pasta. I read somewhere that this hearty meat and tomato sauce pairs better with wider pasta shapes than with spaghetti. No matter how you prefer this pasta dish, save some of the meaty bolognese sauce to top your next pizza!
For this pizza, top your pizza dough with a relatively thin layer of warm ragù Bolognese (the sauce is too thick to spread when it is cold). After the sauce, add some parmesan or pecorino Romano cheese, then a thin layer of shredded low-moisture mozzarella. Bake the pizza at high heat (above 900°F) for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or try the low-and-slow method for 6-7 minutes for a crispier pizza base.
2. Caccio e Peppe Pizza
Caccio e Peppe, or cheese and pepper, is a delicious and simple Roman pasta dish that features pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper, tossed generously with spaghetti and pasta water until a creamy and luxurious sauce forms. The two main flavors in this pasta dish, pecorino and black pepper, just scream to be made into a white pizza!
For a Caccio e Peppe pizza, top your pizza dough with a drizzle of good olive oil and spread it around the base. Sprinkle a good amount of pecorino Romano cheese over the oil, and generously top the cheese with freshly ground black pepper. Finish the pizza with an (optional) handful of fresh mozzarella chunks and launch it into your hot Ooni pizza oven. Bake the pizza for 1-2 minutes at around 900°F.
3. Puttanesca Pizza
This pizza is inspired by the unique Italian pasta dish with an uncertain origin, pasta puttanesca. Traditionally, pasta puttanesca features linguini, tossed in a complex sauce of tomatoes, garlic, capers, anchovies, black olives, and red chili flakes. If you have a premade puttanesca sauce on hand, feel free to top your pizza with that, along with some Romano cheese and fresh mozzarella.
To make this pizza yourself, top your pizza dough with a thin layer of crushed San Marzano tomatoes, a few capers, a few anchovies, chopped garlic and some shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese. Then add some sliced black olives, red pepper flakes, and fresh or dried oregano. Go light on the toppings since there are a lot of them. Bake the pizza in your Ooni pizza oven on a super hot baking stone (above 900°F) for 1-2 minutes.
Now, let’s look at a few pizza topping combinations from the world of Italian-American pasta dishes.
Ooni Pizza Topping Combinations (Inspired by American Pasta Dishes)
4. Chicken Alfredo Pizza
Chicken Alfredo. Whether you prefer a homemade version of this pasta dish, or the mysteriously thick store-bought version of this pasta sauce you can get from most grocery stores, you’ll love the chicken alfredo version of a white pizza baked in your Ooni pizza oven.
To turn chicken alfredo into a delicious pizza, top your pizza base with a thin layer alfredo sauce. The sauce can be store-bought or homemade. Then top the layer of sauce with grated parmesan cheese, shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese, and cubes of grilled chicken. Bake the pizza in your Ooni pizza oven on a super hot baking stone (above 900°F) for 1-2 minutes.
5. Meatball Pizza
When I went to the Bonci pizzeria in Chicago, I was surprised to see that this very Roman-style pizza establishment was serving a pizza with meatballs on top. Hmm. Apparently this pizza does very well for them at their downtown Chicago location! Take a page from their book and create your own meatball pizza at home!
For your homemade meatball pizza, it’s best to start with some good-quality meatballs and marinara sauce. Here are some recipes from Chef John for Italian meatballs and tomato sauce that I really appreciate. Top your proofed and stretched pizza dough with a thin layer of tomato sauce, then add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, some black pepper, and then a very small amount of shredded low-moisture mozzarella. Finally, add some sliced meatballs to the top of the cheese (cutting them in half keeps them from sliding around the pizza). Launch your pizza onto your Ooni’s super hot baking stone (900°F) and bake for 1.5-2 minutes.
6. Vodka Sauce Pizza
Vodka sauce is traditionally a smooth tomato sauce, simmered with vodka and heavy cream, and served with penne pasta. This Italian-American pasta dish is a classic in its own right, and people have already caught on that vodka sauce is a great pizza topper!
To make a vodka sauce pizza in your Ooni pizza oven, it’s best to keep things simple. All you need is great pizza dough, homemade vodka sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. Add a thin layer of sauce to your dough, top with cubes of fresh mozzarella, and then a few torn basil leaves. Bake the pizza in your Ooni pizza oven on a super hot baking stone (above 900°F) for 1-2 minutes.
Conclusion: Ooni Pizza Topping Combinations
Hopefully you can see how pasta dishes can be deconstructed and work perfectly as pizza toppings on your next Neapolitan-style pizza. The next time you’re planning to fire up your Ooni pizza oven, plan for at least one of these pasta-inspired pizzas. You’ll be glad that you did!
When you get tired of making pizza in your Ooni pizza oven (if that ever happens), you’re still in luck! You can make a bunch of different dishes in your Ooni. For some more inspirations, check out the article I wrote called 10 Things to Cook in an Ooni Pizza Oven (Besides Pizza).