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This shrimp pizza recipe is full of big flavor, starring buttery shrimp and 3 cheeses! It’s garlicky, creamy, and a total crowd pleaser.
We’ve made just about every pizza recipe, from classic Margherita pizza to fusion-style taco pizza. Here’s a new one that instantly jumped to the top of our list: this three cheese shrimp pizza!
Now, shrimp on a pizza isn’t what might first jump to mind. But let me tell you: it’s a must try! The garlicky, buttery shrimp against creamy ricotta cheese is one of the best pizza topping combinations we’ve had in a while. It’s so satisfying, you’ll be hooked. It’s like shrimp alfredo on a pizza crust instead of noodles—which is just as good as it sounds!
How to make shrimp pizza (basic method)
Shrimp on pizza isn’t usually our first choice. But after eating an incredible seafood pizza at one of our favorite pizza joints in town, we knew we had to try it! Our version isn’t much like theirs (so you’ll have to go try it!). But what it does have in common: juicy, buttery garlicky shrimp! Here’s what to do to make the best shrimp pizza recipe:
- Sauté the shrimp with garlic and butter. Get that shrimp perfectly sauteed before you use it as a pizza topping! Use the instructions below or our sauteed shrimp recipe.
- Spread seasoned ricotta on the dough. There’s no need to make an alfredo sauce: just spread lightly seasoned ricotta straight onto the dough.
- Top with mozzarella and Parmesan and bake! All you need is 5 to 7 minutes in a super hot oven. It’s best if you have a pizza stone to get the crust ultra crispy.
Use a pizza stone if you can
This shrimp pizza is best if you bake it on a pizza stone. Why? A pizza stone makes the absolute perfect crust texture! Here’s what to know:
- Pizza stone: A pizza stone is what makes Italian pizza crust crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Here’s the best pizza stone we’ve found, plus care tips.
- Pizza peel: Use a pizza peel to transfer the pizza onto the hot pizza stone in the oven. We recommend this Standard pizza peel or this Conveyor pizza peel.
- Don’t have a pizza stone? That’s ok too! You can make your pizza right on a baking sheet, or make pan pizza or sheet pan pizza.
Homemade pizza dough is best, or use these shortcuts
In our opinion, it’s always worth it to make homemade pizza dough! The result is far better than what you can buy at the store. But of course: there’s not always time for that! We get it. Here are a few options for the dough for this shrimp pizza recipe:
- Our fan favorite classic pizza dough has the perfect flavor and fluffy texture. It takes 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to proof before baking.
- This thin crust pizza dough is easy to roll out into a thinner, crispier crust.
- A few other options are making a pan pizza in a cast iron skillet, or sheet pan pizza to make two pizzas at once.
- You can also make smaller personal pizzas like naan pizza or pita pizza.
- In a pinch, use your favorite brand of store-bought pizza dough.
Tips for buying shrimp
There are lots of options at the store when it comes to shrimp! Here are a few things to look for:
- Find medium shrimp. Medium is nice for a pizza topping: it’s also labeled as 41 to 50 count. You could also use small shrimp.
- Use peeled shrimp. Often we recommend tail on, but you don’t want that for pizza! If you buy the shell-on, just remove the shell before cooking.
- Fresh or frozen. Either work; just make sure to thaw the shrimp in advance.
- Wild caught. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.
What to serve with shrimp pizza
This shrimp pizza recipe is a perfect meal: it’s gooey, garlicky, cheesy and very filling! We like pairing it with a green salad or other veggie side to amp the meal’s veggie quotient. Here are some ideas:
- Green salads: Try our arugula salad, goat cheese salad, kale Caesar salad, chopped salad, or Italian salad.
- Sauteed veggies: Try a side of pan fried broccoli, sauteed vegetables or sauteed peppers and onions.
- Raw veggies: Make a veggie tray and serve with ranch dip or dill dip.
Dietary notes
This shrimp pizza recipe is pescatarian.
Shrimp Pizza (3 Cheese!)
This shrimp pizza recipe is full of big flavor, starring buttery shrimp and 3 cheeses! It’s garlicky, creamy, and a total crowd pleaser.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 ball Best Pizza Dough (or Thin Crust Dough)
- 1/2 pound medium shrimp, deveined and peeled
- ¼ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- Fresh ground black pepper
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Make the pizza dough: Follow the Best Pizza Dough or Thin Crust Dough recipe to prepare the dough. (This takes about 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to rest.)
- Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. (If you don’t have a pizza stone, you can make the pizza on a baking sheet.)
- Prepare the toppings: If frozen, thaw the shrimp in advance. Mince the garlic. Pat the shrimp dry. In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp with the minced garlic and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. In a medium skillet, heat the butter on medium high heat. Cook the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until opaque and cooked through, turning them with tongs. When done, transfer the shrimp to a bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix the ricotta with the ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
- Bake the pizza: When the oven is ready, dust a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you don’t have a pizza peel, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet. But a pizza peel is well worth the investment!) Stretch the dough into a circle; see How to Stretch Pizza Dough for instructions. Then gently place the dough onto the pizza peel.
- Spread the seasoned ricotta onto the dough then ¼ cup of the mozzarella cheese. Add the shrimp, reserving the butter at the bottom of the bowl. Top with the remaining ¼ cup mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Add a sprinkle of the reserved butter (use about half).
- Use the pizza peel to carefully transfer the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are nicely browned, about 5 to 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 minute in a pizza oven).
- Top with the chopped parsley. Slice into pieces and serve immediately (cutting it with a knife is easiest to cut through the shrimp).
More great pizza recipes
We live for pizza over here! If you do too, here are a few more of our top pizza recipes to try:
- Try gourmet-style Classic Burrata Pizza, Goat Cheese Pizza or Truffle Pizza
- Make a big pan of Sheet Pan Pizza or Ultimate Arugula Pizza
- Go spicy with Incredible Jalapeno Pizza or quirky with Pickle Pizza
- Opt for more white pizzas: Spinach Pizza, Ricotta Pizza or White Pizza (Pizza Bianca)
- Make a Perfect Neapolitan Pizza or fluffy Focaccia Pizza
- Go ultra classic with Homemade Cheese Pizza or Homemade Margherita Pizza
Can’t wait to try this shrimp pizza:-)
I recently bought a roccbox pizza oven….i’m still learning it. Scary!!
Was using home oven an and a pizza steel.
If ya’ll have a cookbook on pizza toppings tell where I can get one. There is a much needed one. I bet ya’ll have a great steak pizza recipe.
I have 4 pizza books but they were all about Italian cheese and meats. I’m not saying they were’t good as most are good!!! We need an American take on pizza.
If you don’t have a pizza recipe book start writing one.
All my best,
Beth
Haha! We don’t have one but should write one :)
Very good, only thing I would cook shrimp half way, because if you cook fully, their over cooked
Pizza with shrimp great combination.
Delicious! We used store-bought, raw crust and added some finely chopped pepperoncini. Loved it.
I’ve always wondered what shrimp would taste like on pizza, as a big fan of both. Can’t wait to try this recipe out and it may be a staple this upcoming spring/summer!
Wow, this is definitely one of the top seafood + pizza combos I have ever tried. Flavor was on point, although next time I may try using a little more butter. Thanks for sharing this!
Pizza with shrimp great combination.
I loved this recipe! I did not follow it exactly because I had shrimp and salmon which was already cooked and seasoned (nor would I ever buy canned shrimp), but the spinach/garlic/parm/mayo combination was AWESOME!
This recipe is so good! I made my own crust but otherwise followed the recipe as is. Of course, we always add additional garlic after it’s on our plate! This is definitely a keeper