Cold Veggie Pizza Appetizer

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Published: 01/25/2022 | Updated: 03/19/2024

When my husband and I were dating, I knew how to make two things, macaroni casserole and a version of this veggie pizza. He used to say that it was after trying my veggie pizza that he decided that maybe I was marriage material after all!

The original version of this called for two blocks of cream cheese and a packet of dry Ranch dressing and had a generous sprinkling of cheese over the whole thing. It was like a zillion calories and too rich to eat more than a couple. I’ve played around with the recipe a lot over the years. It began as my cousin’s recipe but my aunt started making something similar and I merged the two and then I took almost twenty years of tweaking it to come up with this version that tastes just as good but has less than half the calories.
I wouldn’t exactly call it diet food, but I would call it delicious!

One of the nicest things about this appetizer is that you can really customize it by using your favourite veggies. I have some that I use every time I make it but I can also add whatever I have on hand and that changes the flavours.

Start by spreading your croissant rolls onto a baking sheet. It’s a bit like putting a puzzle together. I have different methods for different sizes of cookie sheet. Once you have the sheet covered, press together the edges of the croissant rolls or use a pastry roller to smooth them out. Put that into the oven for 10 minutes or until golden.

Next, mix together one softened pack of cream cheese, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tsp. parsley, 1/2 tsp. chives, 1 tsp. onion powder or dry onion, 1/4 tsp. dill, salt and pepper. You can mix this by hand, but I prefer to use a hand mixer.

Let the base cool. Don’t do what I have done more times than I can count and try to spread the mixture on the base when it is still warm because pieces of the base will lift and mix in with cream cheese mixture. It will still taste the same but it will be uglier and more frustrating to work with, so just let your base chill while you chill (!) and then get back to it later.

 

When your base has really cooled, spread the cream cheese mixture on top. Now comes the secret to the whole thing…sprinkle lemon pepper over the top of all of it. You can use regular lemon pepper but it has quite a high sodium content (who knew?!) so I grind a brand that actually just contains peppercorns and lemon rind. I went a bit too lemon pepper happy in the picture below but it will at least give you a general idea:

Now it’s ready for your veggies. I always use yellow pepper, zucchini, either green or purple onion, and grated carrots. I love the fresh flavours and the colours. The key here is to press the veggies in a bit so that when you slice this, they stay on the “pizza”. Other vegetables that work well on this are jalapeños, red and green bell peppers, radishes, cauliflower, broccoli, black olives, and celery.

 

Cut into squares (I find that a large pizza cutter works best) and serve.

This can be made up to a day or two ahead and kept in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It’s really delicious. It’s one of the recipes I get asked for the most.

Looking for more Fancy Appetizers recipes

Looking for more Fancy Appetizers recipes? Check out these recipes that are sure to impress! 

• Mexican Layered Dip
• Mango Ceviche Recipe
• Herbed Goat Cheese Fritters
• Salmon Sliders
• Simple Tomato Bruschetta
• Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rolls
• Spinach Artichoke Bruschetta
• Spicy Cream Cheese Wontons

How to make veggie pizza with ranch cream cheese?

To make veggie pizza, you need to start with a base of whole wheat flour, fresh veggies, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and water. Then add spinach leaves, tomato sauce, cheese, and ranch dressing. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can veggie pizza be made a day ahead?

Yes, you can make veggie pizza up to 24 hours in advance. However, it is best to keep it refrigerated until ready to serve. If you do not want to use cheese, you can substitute tomato sauce for mozzarella cheese.

Recipe notes and tips for veggie pizza?

Cover the baking sheet with parchment or lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Press out the rolled dough to cover the baking tray. Trim any excess with a knife. Cut the edges of the dough with scissors. Pinch the seams together. Chop the vegetables into fine pieces. Spread the cream cheese onto the bread slices before placing them on top of the vegetables. Serve chilled.

In conclusion, it is important to have a cold appetizer for people to snack on. Cold veggie pizza appetizers are a great alternative to other cold appetizer recipes. This way, it can be taken as a meal and also provide a nice break from the hot food.

The best recipes for this are cold veggie pizza appetizers because they are so easy to make and have a large range of flavours. Cold veggie pizza recipe can be served as an appetizer or main course at any party appetizer. They are perfect for parties, appetizer for holiday parties and holiday gatherings. You can even make these up to 2 days in advance if needed.