BBQ Jackfruit Pizza (Vegan)

This savory BBQ Jackfruit Pizza has all the elements you love of the traditional BBQ chicken pizza but without the meat! With a crispy crust, BBQ coated Jackfruit, sliced sweet red onions, and melted vegan mozzarella and parmesan. This pizza has it all, and it’s completely plant-based!

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit that has a savory flavor, and shreds into pieces like chicken or pork. It is an excellent meat substitute. While the flavor isn’t exactly like that of chicken or pork, the texture is spot on. Plus, it has an uncanny way of taking on the flavor of the marinade. In this case, that’s sweet and savory BBQ sauce.

This pizza is finished with thinly sliced red onions and topped with vegan mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It’s a simple, quick, and satisfying plant-based meal that pairs well with a light salad, or roasted vegetables. Place this pizza recipe on your menu for Meatless Monday. Your family will request it again and again!

💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Vegan
• Plant-Based
• 30 Minute Meal
• Make for Meatless Monday
• Cheesy Without Real Cheese
• Meaty Without Real Meat
• Crispy Crust

🥣 Ingredients and Notes

Pizza Dough: You can prepare your own pizza dough, or use a store-bought version. To save time, I use a pre-made crust that can be found in the frozen section of most grocery stores.

BBQ Sauce: Most BBQ sauces are vegan. However, BBQ sauce is made with quite a bit of sugar. White sugar that is made in the United States is not always vegan friendly. Therefore, I recommend using organic BBQ sauce, as all organic sugar is vegan.

Canned Jackfruit: While you can use fresh jackfruit, it is quite difficult to cut, as well as difficult to find. But canned jackfruit can be purchased at most grocery stores in the section near the other canned fruit.

Red Onion: Thinly sliced red onion is added to the top of the pizza. If you do not like onions, simply leave them off or add another type of vegetable if you prefer.

Vegan Cheese: This pizza is not only vegetarian but it is also plant-based. I often make my own mozzarella, but you can also use store-bought vegan mozzarella. I like to use a combination of cheeses, using both mozzarella and parmesan. If you do not want to make your pizza vegan, you can always choose to use regular mozzarella and parmesan.

📋 Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Flour your work surface. Roll out your pizza dough into a 12-inch round circle. Transfer to a pizza baking pan, pizza stone, or baking sheet.

Step 2: Drain the brine from the jackfruit. Add to a medium glass bowl. Using a fork or your hands, tear the chunks into jackfruit shreds. Top the jackfruit with ⅓ cup of BBQ sauce. Toss to combine evenly.

Step 3: Evenly spread the additional 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce, on the pizza dough. Add the BBQ jackfruit to the pizza crust, and evenly spread.

Step 4: Top the pizza with mozzarella and parmesan. Add the onion slices.

Step 5: Bake for 8-12 minutes or until cheese is melted, and the crust is golden brown. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Slice, and serve hot!

❓ Recipe FAQS

💭 Expert Tips

• Use store-bought pizza dough to save time.
• Try using whole-wheat pizza crust for increased fiber and nutritional value.
• Look for organic low-sugar BBQ sauce to ensure that it is vegan.
• You can use regular cheese if you choose.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to Serve

Serve warm! Allow the pizza to cool a bit before handling. Then using a pizza cutter, cut into 8 equal slices. If serving a family of 4, each person can enjoy 2 slices! Serve with a simple side salad and vegan garlic bread for an extra special dinner!

❄️ How to Store and Keep

This pizza is best if eaten and enjoyed right out of the oven. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in a single layer in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to reheat warm your oven or toaster oven for a crispy crust, or microwave for a faster result. 

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