Garlicky Kale, Sausage and Butternut Squash Pizza

Garlicky Kale Sausage Butternut Squash Pizza | Food & Nutrition | Stone Soup
Photo: Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN, LD

Besides being utterly delicious, butternut squash is loaded with nutritional benefits! It contains nearly half of the daily dose of vitamin C which can help to boost your immune system and contribute to healthier skin. In addition to vitamin C, butternut squash contains a good amount of vitamin A, which can contribute to healthy eyesight. Last but not least, butternut squash may have anti-inflammatory effects. Because of its high antioxidant content, it may help to reduce the risk of inflammation-related disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis.

Pizza is a favorite in our home. I’m always trying to get my kids to eat more veggies and pizza seems to go over very well! They get so stuck on the idea of eating pizza, that they don’t realize that it’s made with wholesome veggies. And I guess it helps that I like to add little extra cheese on top of those veggies.

For this Garlicky Kale, Sausage and Butternut Squash Pizza recipe, I started by sauteing my butternut squash, onions, garlic and sausage. I wanted to soften the butternut squash a little bit before baking it in the oven. I also wanted to mesh those flavors together before adding them to the pizza. Next, I sprinkled a generous amount of reduced fat mozzarella cheese on the pizza before adding my toppings. For a golden crispy crust, I added a little egg wash to the crust before popping it into the oven. It made it taste like it came from a fancy pizzeria restaurant!

*TIP: TO REALLY GET A NICE GOLDEN-BROWN CRUST, BROIL ON HIGH FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AFTER THE PIZZA IS ALMOST DONE!

Before you take the first bite, I must warn you, this pizza is truly heavenly and you might consume the whole thing! Lucky for you, this recipe makes two medium-sized pizzas. So go ahead and have pizza night tonight! Your family will be pleasantly surprised by this Garlicky Kale, Sausage and Butternut Squash Pizza.Garlicky Kale, Sausage and Butternut Squash Pizza -

Garlicky Kale, Sausage and Butternut Squash Pizza

Serves 16 (2 pizzas)

Ingredients

  • 2 pre-made medium-sized pizza crusts
  • 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
  • 1 small red onion, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 pound ground turkey sausage
  • 1 bunch of kale, stems removed
  • 2 cups shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place pizza crusts on pizza pans and sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on each pizza. Set aside.
  3. In a medium skillet, heat 1 tbsp of oil on medium heat and sauté butternut squash, garlic, and onion. When onions are slightly translucent, add Italian turkey sausage and cook until done. Be sure to break apart sausage while cooking. Toss in kale and remove from heat.
  4. Spread sausage and veggie mixture evenly onto each pizza.
  5. Optional: apply an egg wash to crust to give it a golden-brown finish!
  6. Bake for about 20-22 minutes and Enjoy!
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Andrea Mathis
Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN, LD, is an Alabama-based dietitian, mom and owner of Beautiful Eats & Things. Check out her website for easy, delicious recipes, health & wellness info, and DIY/lifestyle hacks! You can also connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.