Easy Pita Pizza + Lactose Free Pizza Options

 

This post was developed in partnership with American Dairy Association Mideast. As always, all opinions are my own. 

This quick and easy pita pizza can be in and out of your oven faster than you can call for takeout! With endless possible topping combinations, including a lactose free pizza option, this is a meal the whole family will love to make and eat!

Easy Pita Pizza with pepperoni

In the last 2+ years of feeding a small human, I’ve discovered a few “holy grail” recipes that manage to meet the high standards of both a busy mom and a picky toddler. Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken and One Pot Orecchiette with Sausage are two such recipes. These recipes are quick and easy to make, use ingredients I usually have on hand, don’t require many dishes, and are loved by kids and adults alike.

Thankfully, I’ve found another recipe to add to that list. These easy pita pizzas check all those boxes and more. I mean, obviously, it’s pizza we’re talking about here, so you’re not gonna hear many complaints from the peanut gallery. But what makes these even better than takeout is how incredibly quick and versatile they are.

Using pita bread as a pizza crust cuts the prep time to next-to-nothing. Plus, everyone in the family gets to create their own personal pizza, which means no more arguing over toppings or watching as your toddler surgically removes every single onion from his slice.

Pita pizzas are also a great recipe to make with your kiddos. My little one loves slathering sauce and sprinkling cheese, and I’ve found he’s much more likely to try a new vegetable or topping when he has a hand in making it himself. He’s always so proud of his cheesy creation, he can’t wait to dig in!

So, are you ready to make some pita pizzas? It really couldn’t be easier!

Easy pita Pizzas being assembled on a pizza peel

How to Make Pita Pizzas

  1. Great pita pizza starts with pita bread, of course! We’ve used all different kinds. Simply pick your favorite and go for it.
  2. Start by brushing the pita bread with a little olive oil, garlic salt, and Italian herbs (if desired). If you like extra crispy pizza crust, I recommend placing the oiled crusts under the broiler for a few minutes on each side. If you like a softer crust, you can move right on to the next step.
  3. Top your bread with the sauce of your choice, then sprinkle with your choice of cheeses and toppings.
  4. Pop the individual pizzas under the broiler for about 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the outer crust is golden brown. That’s it!

Freshly baked easy pita pizzas

What to Put on Your Pita Pizzas

This is the fun part! The sky is truly the limit here, but I’ve made a list of some fun combos to get you started. Pita pizzas are a GREAT way to use up leftovers, so always remember to check your fridge for any odds and ends that could be repurposed. Here are some of our favorite combos:

  1. The Classic: Marinara sauce, lots of mozzarella, pepperoni
  2. The Supreme: Marinara sauce, mozzarella, sausage, green pepper, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers
  3. The BBQ- BBQ sauce, leftover Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, green peppers, onions, ranch sauce added after baking
  4. The Chicken, Bacon Ranch- Ranch dressing, Monterey Jack, leftover rotisserie chicken, bacon, onion
  5. The Veggie- Marinara, mozzarella, feta, mushrooms, green pepper, onions, tomatoes, olives
  6. Lactose Free: Marinara, Monterey Jack, cheddar + Any of your favorite toppings!

Easy Pita Pizza with BBQ Chicken and ranch sauce

How to Make Lactose Free Pizzas

A few years back, my father-in-law learned he was lactose intolerant. I’ll never forget one family gathering where we ordered pizza, and he was left to make his own pizza with vegan “flavor shards” that only slightly resembled cheese. It was a sad day.

Thankfully, since that time, we’ve learned so much about lactose intolerance, and discovered that the lactose intolerant among us can still enjoy many of their favorite dairy products without any unfortunate side effects.

First, a quick note. Lactose intolerance and a milk allergy are two very different things. Lactose intolerance is a sensitivity to lactose, the specific carbohydrate found in milk. Lactose intolerance is usually related to gastrointestinal symptoms, is more common in adults than children, and does not require avoidance of all dairy products.

A milk allergy, on the other hand, is an immune response to protein found in milk. This is more common in children and requires avoidance of dairy.

If you suspect you might be lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy it’s important to talk to your doctor and not self-diagnose. You can read more about the difference between a milk allergy and lactose intolerance here.

Now, here’s the really great news! Lactose intolerance does not equal dairy intolerance. In fact, many dairy products are naturally lactose free, including that melty deliciousness we all love to pile on our pizzas–CHEESE!

Lactose Free Cheese: A quick primer

Now before you go crazy and empty out your local dairy case, let me explain. Most cheese is made by separating the curd from the whey, which is where the majority of the lactose lives. The remaining curd then goes through an aging process which further removes any remaining lactose. This means that most hard and aged cheeses, such as cheddar, Parmesan, and Colby are naturally lactose free.

Thankfully, there’s a quick and easy way you can tell if any cheese is lactose free. Just look at the label! If the carbohydrates listed are 0 grams, that means there is no lactose.

Here, I’ve shared the labels for a mozzarella (left) and an aged cheddar (right). As you can see, the cheddar has 0 grams carbohydrate, while the mozzarella has 2 grams, which is still relatively low compared to the 11 grams of carbohydrate found in milk. Some people with lactose intolerance might still be able to enjoy mozzarella without any ill effects, but others might need to avoid it.

 

While mozzarella is generally the cheese of choice for pizza, there are many other great substitutes if you are lactose intolerant. My personal favorite (and the most similar in flavor and texture) is Monterey Jack, but aged provolone, muenster, cheddar, and a sprinkling of Parmesan also make great additions to your pita pizza!

People with lactose intolerance can also enjoy the nutritional benefits of dairy by choosing lactose free versions of cow’s milk (which contain the enzyme necessary to break down lactose). February is Lactose Intolerance Awareness Month, which makes it a great time to educate yourself and others on this often misunderstood condition. To learn more about lactose intolerance, check out these common questions, and as always, it’s a great idea to talk to your doctor about any symptoms you’re experiencing before making any changes.

I hope you and your family will all love these pita pizzas as much as we do! Keep this recipe in your back pocket for a busy weeknight. In fact, you might just want to set up the toppings and let your kids handle dinner making for the night. Now, that sounds like a mom win!

bbq chicken pita pizzas with ranch
Easy Pita Pizza with pepperoni

Easy Pita Pizza

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

These Easy Pita Pizzas are made in minutes and are a huge favorite of adults and kids alike

Ingredients

  • Pita bread (1 for each person who will be eating)
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic salt
  • Dried oregano
  • Marinara or other BBQ sauce
  • Shredded cheese *see notes
  • Your favorite meats and/or veggies *see notes

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven's broiler.
  2. Brush each pita bread with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt and dried oregano, if desired. If you prefer a crispier crust, place the pita bread under the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until very lightly golden. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
  3. Spoon your favorite sauce onto the pita bread and spread to the edges. Top with a generous handful of cheese and your favorite toppings.
  4. Broil for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

Notes

*Cheese options: Mozzarella is obviously a classic, but cheddar or monterey jack are great lactose free options.

*Toppings: Here are a few of our favorite combinations:


  1. The Classic: Marinara sauce, lots of mozzarella, pepperoni
  2. The Supreme: Marinara sauce, mozzarella, sausage, green pepper, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers
  3. The BBQ- BBQ sauce, leftover Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, green peppers, onions, ranch sauce added after baking
  4. The Chicken, Bacon Ranch- Ranch dressing, Monterey Jack, leftover rotisserie chicken, bacon, onion
  5. The Veggie- Marinara, mozzarella, feta, mushrooms, green pepper, onions, tomatoes, olives
  6. Lactose Free: Marinara, Monterey Jack, cheddar + Any of your favorite toppings!

Did you make this recipe?

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3 Comments

  1. Great news for folks with lactose intolerance! Thanks so much for sharing this. Kroger has mozzarella (and other cheeses) that has 0 gms of carbohydrate that we use often for my husband’s intolerance. This recipe allows me to try my creativity for my own personal pizza while he has his choices. The Chicken Bacon Ranch one sounds fantastic! I’ll definitely be trying that soon.

    1. I’m so glad you both get to enjoy pizza night! I’m glad to hear Kroger has some lactose free mozzarella options. I’ll have to look for those next time!

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