Caramelized Onion Pizza With Melty Cheese (Printer-friendly)
A delicious pizza featuring sweet caramelized onions and melted cheese, perfect for any occasion.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 1 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
→ Caramelized Onions
02 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar
07 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
→ Cheese & Toppings
08 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1/2 cup shredded fontina or Gruyère cheese
10 - 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)
12 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Pizza Assembly
13 - 1 tablespoon cornmeal or flour for dusting
14 - 1 tablespoon olive oil for brushing
# How-To Guide:
01 - Preheat oven to 475°F. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions, salt, and sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and deeply caramelized. Stir in balsamic vinegar if using and cook 1 additional minute. Remove from heat.
03 - On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll pizza dough into a 12-inch round. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza peel dusted with cornmeal.
04 - Brush dough lightly with olive oil. Spread caramelized onions evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
05 - Top with mozzarella, fontina (or Gruyère), and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with thyme leaves and black pepper.
06 - Bake for 12–15 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbling with browned spots.
07 - Slice and serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The slow-cooked onions become candy-sweet and savory all at once, creating this incredible depth that nobody expects on pizza
- That combination of mozzarella's stretch, fontina's nuttiness, and Parmesan's salty punch makes every bite interesting
02 -
- Rushing the onions is the number one mistake, they need time to develop that deep, sweet flavor that makes this pizza special
- Letting the pizza rest for a few minutes after baking helps the cheese set slightly so slices hold together better
03 -
- Caramelize a double batch of onions and save half for another night, they freeze beautifully and elevate pasta, sandwiches, or even grilled cheese
- If your dough keeps snapping back while stretching, let it rest for 10 minutes then try again