Birria is a Mexican dish made with slow-cooked meat seasoned with a rich blend of spices and served alongside a flavourful broth for dipping. Restaurants and food bloggers have been exploring other ways to use birria, from nachos to ramen, and when I saw that birria pizza was a thing that exists, I knew I had to try it. Of course, the stumbling block was: I need to make it vegan! Luckily I already have a birria recipe here on Jessica in the Kitchen! This birria pizza recipe builds off of that base, adding the birria to a vegan pizza instead of tacos.
Why You’ll Love This Birria Pizza Recipe
Completely plant-based. Every birria pizza recipe I’ve seen is made with meat and cheese, but this version is entirely plant-based, so we vegans can take part in the deliciousness too! Twist on a classic. This recipe takes the traditional flavours of birria and transforms them into a completely new and unexpected form: pizza! Perfect for game day gatherings. Whether you’re hosting a party or just watching the game at home with your family, this birria pizza is sure to be a hit with its savoury, spicy flavours and all that melty cheese.
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
Olive oil Yellow onion – Jammy caramelised onions add even more rich flavour to this birria pizza recipe. Salt Pizza dough – Your favourite store-bought or homemade crust, or use my pizza dough recipe. Birria stew – The broth from my vegan birria tacos. Shredded vegan mozzarella Birria meat – AKA mushrooms from the birria taco recipe. Pickled jalapeños Vegan Mexican blend cheese – Or cheddar, if you prefer. Cornmeal Fresh cilantro – Not a cilantro fan? You can substitute sliced green onions or just leave it out.
How to Make Birria Pizza
Prep. Preheat the oven to 500°F with a pizza stone or baking sheet on the bottom rack. Caramelise the onions. Add the oil to a skillet set over medium heat. Once warm, add the onions and salt. Cook until caramelised. Roll out the pizza dough. Divide the pizza dough into 4 portions and roll each into a circle. Assemble. Divide the birria stew onto the dough, then add the vegan mozzarella, birria meat, onions, jalapeños, and Mexican blend cheese. Bake. Dust the hot pizza stone or baking sheet with cornmeal. Add 2 of the pizzas and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is puffy and blistered and the cheese is melted. Repeat with the remaining pizzas. Serve. Garnish with cilantro and extra birria broth.
Tips for Success
Don’t skip preheating the pizza stone or baking sheet. This ensures a perfect crispy crust on the bottom of your pizza. Let the pizza rest before slicing. This will allow the cheese to set and make slicing easier. You don’t want the cheese and toppings to run all over! Make larger pizzas (or one big pizza) if desired. Instead of personal pizzas, you can make two bigger pizzas or one regular size pizza if you’d like. Try it gluten-free. This easy vegan almond flour pizza crust is gluten-free and low carb.
More Topping Ideas
Sour cream. My vegan sour cream is a great way to cool down the heat of the jalapeños. Plus, it adds a creamy element to the pizza. Guacamole. For an extra dose of flavour and creaminess, add a dollop of guacamole on top of your pizza before serving. Diced tomatoes. Add some fresh diced tomatoes for some acidity and sweetness. Salsa. You can also spoon some salsa on top of the pizza. I love this restaurant-style blender salsa. Hot sauce. This Scotch bonnet pepper hot sauce is a staple in my fridge.
How to Store Leftovers
Wrap individual slices of this birria pizza in foil or place the slices in an airtight container. Store leftover pizza in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy your leftovers, simply reheat in the oven at 450°F until warmed through, use the microwave, or eat it cold.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
Yes! I like to wrap each slice in plastic, then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. I recommend thawing the pizza in the refrigerator before reheating, which helps the reheating be more even.
More Vegan Pizza Recipes
Vegan Naan Pizza Fruit Pizza Recipe Vegan Breakfast Pizza Vegan Spicy BBQ Chickpea Pizza Grilled Peach, Basil and Vegan “Goat” Cheese Pizza
Enjoy friends! If you make this birria pizza recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
