Dill Pickle Pizza Recipe

Topped with a cheesy and creamy white sauce and studded with tangy and sweet dill pickles, this pizza from recipe developer Annabelle Randles might sound like an unconventional combination of flavors. Yet, this unexpected take on the classic and beloved comfort food is bound to delight many people, whether you're a pickle lover or not. The dill pickles add a satisfying crunch and a burst of flavor in perfect contrast to the gooey and cheesy garlic white sauce topping. 

Randles makes the pizza dough from scratch, but you can also use a store-bought pizza base. The white garlic sauce is made while the pizza dough is rising — just make sure that you leave the white sauce to cool down completely before spreading it over the pizza or it will be too runny. This dill pickle pizza is best served on its own or with a side of crunchy salad leaves, french fries, or sweet potato fries.

To make this dill pickle pizza, you will need some flour, instant dry yeast, sugar, salt, water, and olive oil for the dough. The white garlic sauce is made with butter, milk, all-purpose flour, garlic, Italian seasoning, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. For the pizza toppings, you will need some dill pickles, Parmesan, mozzarella, and dill fonds, if desired. While the fresh dill fonds are optional, they enhance the overall taste of this pizza. Randles also recommends using some cornmeal to dust the pizza pan.

Make the pizza dough: Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.

Mix in the water and olive oil.

Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, until it is smooth and springy.

Grease a mixing bowl with olive oil.

Place the dough in the greased mixing bowl.

Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel.

Leave the dough to rise in a warm environment for around 90 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.

In the meantime, make the white garlic sauce: In a small saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat.

When the butter is melted, stir in the flour and garlic.

Cook until the mixture is lightly golden, about 45 seconds to 1 minute.

Whisking continuously, add the milk and Italian seasoning.

Cook until the mixture has thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Stir in ⅓ cup Parmesan, the salt, and pepper.

Remove from the heat and leave to cool down completely.

Once the dough has risen, punch it with your fist to deflate it.

Preheat the oven to 475 F.

Assemble the pizza: Lightly grease a pizza pan with oil.

Dust the pizza pan with the cornmeal.

Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle.

Transfer the dough to the pizza pan.

Spread the white garlic sauce evenly over the pizza.

Garnish with the pickles.

Top with the mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.

Serve the pizza hot, topped with dill fronds, if desired.

If you're looking to add other toppings to dill pickle pizza, there are a few options that work well. Meats and cold cuts, such as bacon, chicken, ham, roast beef, and cured meat, all complement the sweet tanginess of pickles and give a delicious, savory contrast. If you are using cold cuts, they can simply be added at the last minute just before serving, alongside a few salad leaves. Canned tuna in brine is another classic combination, as it pairs well with dill pickles, cheese, and white sauce.

This recipe is using Parmesan and mozzarella, and you can also mix and match different cheeses, such as cheddar or provolone. Fresh herbs, such as parsley and chives, as well as sliced onions (whether raw or pickled), can be added just before serving to enhance the overall flavor of this pizza. While dill pickle pizza has a rich, creamy sauce, it's not unusual for people to serve it with a side dip or an extra drizzle of ranch dressing, garlic sauce, or even mustard.

While the old debate on whether pineapple makes a suitable pizza topping is still raging on, dill pickle pizza has taken the internet by storm. As you can guess, dill pickle pizza does not originate from Italy. In fact, we owe this delicious creation to Rhino's Pizzeria in upstate New York, whose pickle pizza went viral in 2018. It took social media by storm and elevated the humble dill pickle to unexpected fame well beyond just a weird pregnancy craving.

There is no doubt that, at first, this unusual combo might get a few raised eyebrows. But, don't knock it until you try it. Topped with a cheesy, creamy white sauce and dotted with dill pickles, dill pickle pizza is delicious. It's so delicious that Pizza Hut announced last year that it was adding it to its menu in select locations. Next time you are in the mood for something a bit different, make sure to give dill pickle pizza a try. You might just discover your new favorite topping.