This shrimp pizza recipe is full of big flavor, starring buttery shrimp and 3 cheeses! It’s garlicky, creamy, and a total crowd pleaser.
We’ve made just about every pizza recipe, from classic Pizza Margherita to fusions style taco pizza. But here’s a new-to-us pizza that instantly jumped to the top of our list: this 3 Cheese Shrimp Pizza! Shrimp on a pizza isn’t what might first jump to mind. But let me tell you: it’s a must try! The garlicky, buttery shrimp against creamy ricotta cheese is one of the best pizza topping combinations we’ve had in a while. It’s so satisfying, you’ll be hooked. It’s like shrimp alfredo on a pizza crust instead of noodles…which is just as good as it sounds.
How to make the best shrimp pizza (basic method)
Shrimp on pizza isn’t usually our first choice. But after eating an incredible seafood pizza at one of our favorite pizza joints in town, we knew we had to try it! Our version isn’t much like theirs (so you’ll have to go try it!). But what it does have in common: juicy, buttery garlicky shrimp! Here’s what to do to make the best shrimp pizza recipe:
- Saute the shrimp with garlic and butter. Get that shrimp perfectly sauteed before you use it as a pizza topping! Use the instructions below or our sauteed shrimp recipe.
- Spread seasoned ricotta on the dough. There’s no need to make an alfredo sauce: just spread lightly seasoned ricotta straight onto the dough.
- Top with mozzarella and Parmesan and bake! All you need is 5 to 7 minutes in a super hot oven. It’s best if you have a pizza stone! Speaking of…
Use a pizza stone if you can!
This shrimp pizza is best if you bake it on a pizza stone. Why? A pizza stone makes the absolute perfect crust texture! Here’s what to know:
- Pizza stone: A pizza stone is what makes Italian pizza crust crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Here’s the best pizza stone we’ve found, plus care tips.
- Pizza peel: Use a pizza peel to transfer the pizza onto the hot pizza stone in the oven. We recommend this Standard pizza peel or this Conveyor pizza peel.
Don’t have a pizza stone? That’s ok too! You can make your pizza right on a baking sheet.
Homemade pizza dough is best, or use these shortcuts!
In our professional opinion: it’s always worth it to make homemade pizza dough! The result is far, far better than what you can buy at the store. But of course: there’s not always time for that! We get it. Here are a few options for the dough for this shrimp pizza recipe:
- Master pizza dough! This Best Pizza Dough has the absolute perfect flavor and texture. It is sublime. This one takes 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to proof before baking.
- Thin crust. Try this Thin Crust Pizza Dough! It’s easy to roll out into a thinner, crispier crust.
- Pan pizza. Or, make it as a pan pizza in a cast iron skillet! Cast iron pizza takes a little longer but it’s easier to pull off.
- Naan or flatbread pizza. Want to shortcut the process altogether? Try Naan Pizza or Flatbread Pizza.
- Store-bought pizza dough. We do it in a pinch, too! Find a good quality brand (experiment to find your favorite).
The shrimp to buy for shrimp pizza
There are lots of options at the store when it comes to shrimp! It doesn’t matter if you accidentally grab the wrong one for this recipe: pizza is very forgiving! But here are a few things to look for:
- Find medium shrimp. Medium is nice for a pizza topping: it’s also labeled as 41 to 50 count. You could also use small shrimp.
- Use peeled shrimp. Often we recommend tail on, but you don’t want that for pizza! If you buy the wrong kind, just remove the shell before cooking.
- Fresh or frozen. Both are essentially the same freshness because most shrimp are immediately flash frozen. Just make sure to thaw the shrimp in advance.
- Wild caught. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.
What to serve with shrimp pizza
This shrimp pizza recipe is a perfect meal: it’s gooey, garlicky, cheesy and very filling! We like pairing it with a green salad or other veggie side to amp the meal’s veggie quotient. Here are some ideas:
- Green Salad: Try our Easy Arugula Salad, Goat Cheese Salad with Arugula or Perfect Italian Salad
- Sauteed Veggies: Try a side of Pan Fried Broccoli, Ultimate Sauteed Vegetables or Sauteed Peppers and Onions.
- White beans: A nice way to add a plant-based protein. Try Easy White Beans or Easy Cannellini Beans.
More great pizza recipes
We live for pizza over here! If you do too, here are a few more of our top pizza recipes to try:
- Try gourmet-style Classic Burrata Pizza, Goat Cheese Pizza or Truffle Pizza
- Make a big pan of Sheet Pan Pizza or Ultimate Arugula Pizza
- Go spicy with Incredible Jalapeno Pizza or quirky with Pickle Pizza
- Opt for more white pizzas: Spinach Pizza, Ricotta Pizza or White Pizza (Pizza Bianca)
- Make a Perfect Neapolitan Pizza or fluffy Focaccia Pizza
- Go ultra classic with Homemade Cheese Pizza or Homemade Margherita Pizza
This shrimp pizza recipe is…
Pescatarian.
Print
Shrimp Pizza (3 Cheese!)
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices 1x
Description
This shrimp pizza recipe is full of big flavor, starring buttery shrimp and 3 cheeses! It’s garlicky, creamy, and a total crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
- 1 ball Best Pizza Dough (or Thin Crust Dough)
- 1/2 pound medium shrimp, deveined and peeled
- ¼ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- Fresh ground black pepper
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Make the pizza dough: Follow the Best Pizza Dough or Thin Crust Dough recipe to prepare the dough. (This takes about 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to rest.)
- Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. (If you don’t have a pizza stone, you can make the pizza on a baking sheet.)
- Prepare the toppings: If frozen, thaw the shrimp in advance. Mince the garlic. Pat the shrimp dry. In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp with the minced garlic and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. In a medium skillet, heat the butter on medium high heat. Cook the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until opaque and cooked through, turning them with tongs. When done, transfer the shrimp to a bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix the ricotta with the ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
- Bake the pizza: When the oven is ready, dust a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you don’t have a pizza peel, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet. But a pizza peel is well worth the investment!) Stretch the dough into a circle; see How to Stretch Pizza Dough for instructions. Then gently place the dough onto the pizza peel.
- Spread the seasoned ricotta onto the dough then ¼ cup of the mozzarella cheese. Add the shrimp, reserving the butter at the bottom of the bowl. Top with the remaining ¼ cup mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Add a sprinkle of the reserved butter (use about half).
- Use the pizza peel to carefully transfer the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are nicely browned, about 5 to 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 minute in a pizza oven).
- Top with the chopped parsley. Slice into pieces and serve immediately (cutting it with a knife is easiest to cut through the shrimp).
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Pizza
Keywords: Shrimp pizza, Shrimp pizza recipe
This recipe is so good! I made my own crust but otherwise followed the recipe as is. Of course, we always add additional garlic after it’s on our plate! This is definitely a keeper
I loved this recipe! I did not follow it exactly because I had shrimp and salmon which was already cooked and seasoned (nor would I ever buy canned shrimp), but the spinach/garlic/parm/mayo combination was AWESOME!
Pizza with shrimp great combination.
Wow, this is definitely one of the top seafood + pizza combos I have ever tried. Flavor was on point, although next time I may try using a little more butter. Thanks for sharing this!
★★★★★
I’ve always wondered what shrimp would taste like on pizza, as a big fan of both. Can’t wait to try this recipe out and it may be a staple this upcoming spring/summer!
★★★★★