Goat Cheese Pizza with Caramelized Onions
This post has been compensated by Fleischmann’s yeast. All opinions are my own.
Creamy goat cheese, sweet onions, and tangy balsamic glaze bring tons of flavor to this healthy pizza recipe! With a quick-rise dough recipe, you can have homemade pizza ready in 45 minutes!

If you know me, you know I love pizza. This is nothing new. In fact, Alex and I bought a pizza oven a couple of years ago because we love pizza that much. And yet, I actually haven’t shared a lot of pizza recipes on the blog! It’s time to change that. This Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onion Pizza is easy to make, no fancy pizza oven required. It’s healthier than most pizza and the homemade dough comes together quickly.
If you’ve never made your own pizza dough before, this recipe is a great place to start! There’s nothing better than homemade dough. The mixing and measuring are simple and it brings me so much joy! Let’s be honest, everything feels more special when it’s homemade, right? Plus, this recipe comes together quickly with only a few minutes of kneading.
How to Make Pizza Dough
When mixing the dough, add warm water, between 120ËšF-130ËšF and follow the recipe instructions. If possible, use a thermometer to check the temperature of the water. If your tap water doesn’t get very hot, you may need to microwave your water for 15-20 seconds to get it warm enough. The water should be lukewarm and not hot, otherwise, it will kill the yeast. Water shouldn’t be cold either, or the yeast won’t activate.
Tips for Using Rapid Rise Yeast
If you don’t use yeast very often, check to make sure it’s not expired. This is often the reason for the dough not rising properly. When kneading the dough, add just enough flour to the dough and your hands to keep the dough from sticking. Flatten the dough and fold it toward you. Use the heels of your hands to push the dough away with a rolling motion. Then rotate the dough a quarter turn and repeat the “fold, push and turn” steps. Continue to knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. If the dough begins to get sticky, add a little more flour. Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Yeast works quickly, so you only have to wait 10 minutes for the dough to rise. While the dough is rising, you can make the caramelized onions, so this pizza comes together easily.
If you’re looking for a thin, chewy pizza crust, like a Neopolitan-style crust, try this Ooni Pizza Oven Dough recipe that I use in our pizza oven!
If you don’t have yeast, you can make my beer pizza dough which uses beer instead of yeast. It gives you a thin, crispy crust with just a hint of hoppy flavor. Don’t worry, the alcohol cooks out in the oven, so it’s safe for the whole family.
How to Make This Recipe

Tips for Making Caramelized Onions
Slice the onions as thin as possible. Cut the onion in half, from root to tip and remove the outer, papery skin. Remove the ends, and then use a mandoline slicer to cut very thin half-moon-shaped slices. If you don’t have a mandoline slicer, use a very sharp knife and work slowly to make the slices as thin and even as possible. When cooking the onions, you want them to get very dark brown but you have to cook them slowly so they don’t burn. This is easiest in a non-stick skillet. As you’re cooking, you can add a splash of water to the pan as needed, to ensure the onions don’t burn.
The Best Goat Cheese for Pizza
I recommend using a log of plain, unflavored goat cheese. Do not buy pre-crumbled goat cheese. Crumbled cheese has anti-caking agents added to keep it from clumping, but doesn’t melt as well as a log of goat cheese.
If you’re on a budget, Aldi sells a great plain goat cheese for just a few bucks!
Things to Serve with This Recipe
- Spicy Kale Salad– This easy salad recipe is one of my favorites because it has an unexpected spicy kick! It’s easy to prepare and it’s a perfect side dish for any pizza recipe.
- Easy Italian Chopped Salad– Filled with sweet peppers, feta cheese, and pepperoncini, this Italian salad is a great pizza side dish!
- Antipasto Skewers– These skewers are a great quick and easy appetizer, made with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil!
Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onion Pizza
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 1 large pizza 1x
- Category: Pizza
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Creamy goat cheese, sweet onions, and tangy balsamic glaze bring tons of flavor to this healthy pizza recipe! With a quick-rise dough recipe, you can have homemade pizza ready in 45 minutes!
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
-
1-3/4 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
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1 envelope Fleischmann’s® RapidRise Yeast
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1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
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3/4 teaspoon salt
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2/3 cup very warm water (120° to 130°F)*
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3 tablespoons olive oil
Toppings
- 1 large yellow onion, halved and sliced thin (see note)
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 oz goat cheese, crumbled
- 2 teaspoons balsamic glaze
Instructions
To make the pizza dough:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Combine 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
- Add very warm water and oil; mix until well blended, about 1 minute.
- Gradually add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Dough should form a ball and will be slightly sticky. Knead on a floured surface, adding additional flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes.
- Let dough rest at this point for 10 minutes.
- While the dough rises, begin making the toppings.
Caramelized Onion Recipe
- In a medium, non-stick skillet, bring onions, water, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt to a boil.
- Cover and cook until water has evaporated and the onions start to sizzle, about 8 minutes.
- Uncover and reduce the heat to medium. Gently press the onions into the sides and bottom of the skillet.
- Continue to cook without stirring for 30 seconds, then stir the onions and repeat, cooking for 30 seconds then stir.
- If the onions begin to burn, add 1 tablespoon of water, as needed. Cook until the onions are well browned, about 12 minutes.
To make the pizza:
- Roll dough on a floured counter to a 12-inch circle
- Place in greased pizza pan or baking sheet.
- Form a rim by pinching the edge of the dough.
- Sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese and garlic powder.
- Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Bake for 14-18 minutes until the edges are brown.
- Top with caramelized onions and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Notes
Slice the onions razor thin. I like to cut the onion in half, from root to tip. Remove the ends, and then use a mandoline slicer to cut very thin half-moon-shaped slices. If you don’t’ have a mandoline slicer, use a very sharp knife and work slowly to make the slices as thin and even as possible.
Visit the website to find more quick and easy recipes using Fleishmann’s® RapidRise® Yeast. Nothing tastes better than homemade pizza, with Fleischmann’s Yeast. They’ve been around for 150 years, which is why we always use their yeast for pizza night!
And if you enjoyed this goat cheese pizza, you have to try this goat cheese flatbread!
What’s your favorite type of pizza topping?
It doesn’t get better than homemade pizza dough made with simple toppings like caramelized onions and goat cheese.
I love goat cheese esp on pizza with caramelized onions…nothing goes better together. Looks so delish!
Thank you for the tips on the goat cheese! Super helpful. I always want to make sure I do whatever necessary to get my recipe to work!
I have never made pizza dough rise so fast! Thank you for this recipe, I loved the dough and the ingredients. It was something new and delicious to me!
After reading your recipe I was so glad that I have pizza dough on hand in the freezer ( I make up ahead of time and freeze some for later) and I always keep caramelized onions on hand as well because I love them in many recipes.
Your pizza with goat cheese is a sure fire crowd pleaser. The rich sweet onions and creamy cheese on homemade pizza dough is wonderful!
Simple perfection. This is the kind of pizza I could eat every single day.
Goat cheese and caramelized onion sounds absolutely delicious! This is a pizza recipe I cannot wait to try soon!
You had me at goat cheese, caramelized onions and balsamic glaze! I appreciate the tips about how to make the caramelized onions. Great recipe!
Drooling over this delicious combo for pizza. I will try this for dinner soon.
This was such a nice flavor change for our pizza night. Loved every bite.