Ingredients
Pizza Base
- 1 pound Pizza Dough
- Cooking Spray
- 1 Tablespoon cornmeal
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Toppings
- 1 ½ cups Monterey Jack Cheese
- ½ cup Aioli
- 2 cups romaine lettuce
- 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1-2 roma tomatoes, diced
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking tray: Preheat the oven to 450º F. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray and dust it evenly with 1 tablespoon of cornmeal to prevent sticking and add texture.
- Shape pizza dough: Roll the pizza dough into an approximately 12-inch circle and place it on the prepared baking tray. Pierce the dough well with a fork to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Par-bake crust: Place the pizza crust into the preheated oven and bake for 5 minutes, which helps set the crust before adding toppings.
- Add olive oil and cheese: Remove the partially baked crust from the oven. Brush 1 tablespoon of olive oil evenly over the crust to add flavor and aid browning. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the crust. Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted.
- Spread aioli: Once baked, take the pizza out and spread about half of the ½ cup garlic aioli over the melted cheese to add a savory, creamy flavor.
- Add fresh toppings and serve: Top the pizza with 2 cups of fresh romaine lettuce, 6 strips of cooked and crumbled bacon, and the diced 1-2 roma tomatoes. Drizzle the remaining aioli over the toppings just before serving for extra zest.
Notes
- Store-bought or homemade pizza dough works equally well.
- You can substitute mayonnaise or ranch dressing in place of the aioli for a different flavor profile.
- Cooking bacon ahead of time ensures it’s crispy and ready to crumble.
- Dusting with cornmeal on the baking sheet prevents sticking and provides a slight crunch to the crust base.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
