Sausage Pizza Recipe with Caramelized Onions

Name: Sausage Pizza Recipe with Caramelized Onions
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 flatbread pizza or regular pizza dough (I love the one from Trader Joe’s!); 1 jar of bruschetta sauce or regular pizza sauce; ¼ onion (sliced and caramelized); 1 sausage link (removed from casing and cooked); Mozzarella cheese (sliced or shredded); Arugula (for topping); Olive oil (for drizzling)

This tasty Sausage Pizza Recipe with Caramelized Onions is perfect for an easy gourmet pizza night at home. It’s no-fuss (only takes 20 minutes!), full of rich flavors like your local pizza restaurant, and a crowd favorite every time.

Cooked caramelized onion and sausage pizza with mozzarella cheese and arugula on a baking sheet

I could make every night pizza night in my house, that’s how much I love it. So when my family asks to make pizza, we’re making this Sausage Pizza Recipe with Caramelized Onions. It’s an easy, elevated homemade pie topped with sweet and savory flavors. And it’s a sure to be a fan favorite, making it the perfect pizza for entertaining or a casual weekend dinner with family or friends.

When developing this recipe, I wanted to use up some leftover caramelized onions that I had in the fridge. It was truly so delicious, my husband told me it’s the best pizza I’ve ever made! But the best part? It comes together quickly, in just 20 minutes. So you can have restaurant-style pizza in the comfort of your very own kitchen.

If you like this pizza recipe, try some of our other favorite pizzas. We love these Air Fryer Personal Pizzas, this Sourdough Pizza recipe, and this fun and unexpected Dill Pickle and Prosciutto Pizza.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Sweet and Savory: This pie is the ultimate flavor combination of sweet, savory and cheesy all in one.
Restaurant-Quality At Home: With exciting flavors and ingredients, this simple pizza tastes and looks like a pie you’d get from a restaurant, but it’s easily made right in your own kitchen.
Customizable: Easily add or omit any toppings based on your family’s preferences. And experiment with different shapes, styles, and crusts with your favorite pizza dough.

Ingredients

Pizza Dough: Use your favorite kind – regular pizza dough from the store, or a flatbread crust works great too. Bonus Idea: you can also grab a fresh ball of dough from your local pizzeria.
Pizza Sauce or Bruschetta Sauce: Choose your preferred brand or flavor. You can also make your own at home and store for later use.
Onions: Cook these low and slow for that sweet, jammy caramelized onion topping.
Sausage: Brown this ahead of time. Use sweet, spicy, or a combination.
Mozzarella: Part-skim melts the best here, but use fresh mozzarella if you want to switch up the flavor profile.
Arugula: Fresh and peppery, adds great flavor and color.
Olive Oil: Use high quality extra virgin olive oil for a finishing drizzle over top.

How To Make Sausage Pizza Recipe with Caramelized Onions

1. Prep Your Base: Lay out your flatbread, pre-baked pizza crust, or rolled-out pizza dough on a baking sheet. Spread a generous layer of bruschetta or pizza sauce over the top.

plain flatbread pizza crust on baking sheet

flatbread pizza crust topped with bruschetta sauce, on baking sheet

2. Add The Cheese: Top the sauce with sliced or shredded mozzarella — whichever you prefer.

flatbread pizza crust topped with bruschetta sauce and sliced mozzarella, on baking sheet

3. Layer On The Flavor: Add your caramelized onions (so sweet and golden!) and the cooked sausage.

flatbread pizza crust topped with bruschetta sauce, sliced mozzarella cheese, crumbled sausage, and caramelized onions on baking sheet

4. Bake It Up: Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the edges are crisp.

5. Finish With Freshness: Remove from the oven and top with a handful of arugula. Drizzle lightly with olive oil, slice, and enjoy!

Cooked caramelized onion and sausage pizza cut into square slices on baking sheet with one slice slightly pulled out

Expert Tips

Cook Onions Low and Slow: Don’t rush this process, it’s worth it. Cook your onions over low heat, slowly, for the best caramelization. You’ll know you’ve achieved this when they become brown and jammy.
Don’t Add Too Many Toppings: Avoid overloading the pizza with too many toppings. You don’t want to overdo it and weigh the pizza down with too many. Aim for nice balanced flavor with toppings evenly distributed.
Get The Crispiest Crust: Use a pizza stone or a pan that’s been preheated for a super crisp crust.
Let Pizza Rest: Let pizza rest briefly after baking, before slicing. This will give the cheese and toppings a moment to settle, so they don’t immediately slide off.
Finishing Touches: Finish with fresh herbs or chili flakes for extra flavor and a little added color.

Variations

Add Veggies: This pizza is delicious as is, but adding sauteed mushrooms or roasted garlic as added toppings would be delicious and pair well, too.
Try Different Meats: Hot or sweet Italian sausage is our go-to, but you could try swapping in pancetta or bacon for a different flavor profile.
Experiment with Cheese Blends: Try provolone or fontina cheese for a completely different flavor. You could also sprinkle on freshly grated parmesan or pecorino, too.
Finishing Touches: Drizzle with hot honey or balsamic glaze for extra flavor to finish.

What to Serve With Italian Sausage Pizza

This pizza is perfection, but you can turn it into more of a meal with a fresh salad or simple veggie side. Here are a few of our favorites:

hand hold a slice of caramelized onion and sausage pizza with the rest of the pizza in the background on a baking sheet

Storage

Store any leftover pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can pre-slice it for ease, or leave it whole.

When you’re ready to enjoy, place pizza on a parchment-lined baking sheet and reheat at 375°F until the cheese is hot and bubbly, about 10 minutes. You can also reheat in an air fryer (per the air fryer instructions) or on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat (add a splash of water around the pizza and cover), until the crust is crisp and the cheese is melty.

You can freeze leftover pizza, too. Wrap well and store for up to 3 months. We suggest removing as much arugula as possible before freezing, as it won’t thaw well. When you’re ready to eat, cook from frozen in the oven at 400°F until hot and crisp on the bottom. You can also try the air fryer or skillet method, above.

You can make this pizza ahead of time. Assemble and layer on all the ingredients, except for the arugula, then cover and store in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, cook according to the instructions and top with arugula.

FAQs

How long does it take to caramelize onions?

It can take up to 45 minutes or an hour to deeply caramelize onions. For best results, cook them slowly over low heat, stirring occasionally. It’s a process you can’t rush, and it’s worth it for the jammy sweetness they turn into.

What type of sausage works best?

We like crumbled Italian sausage here. You can buy sweet or hot, in the casing or in bulk. Just be sure to brown it ahead of time. You could definitely try chorizo or breakfast sausage for a different flavor, or chicken or turkey sausage to lighten it up a bit.

Can I use store-bought pizza dough?

Absolutely. Store-bought dough can be found in the refrigerated section and there are so many different types and brands. Have fun trying them all.

How do I keep the crust from getting soggy?

Avoid overloading the pizza with heavy toppings and ingredients to prevent a soggy crust. Be sure to remove any excess moisture from the toppings, too. Drain the sausage and onions, be sure to use part-skim mozzarella, and cook the pizza at a high enough temperature so the bottom of the crust doesn’t just cook, but crisps, too.

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