This healthy southwestern pizza is a deliciously easy twist on pizza. Made with salsa instead of sauce and topped with corn and beans. Get the recipe now.

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Healthy Southwestern pizza uses mostly pantry staples. 

This whole wheat veggie pizza recipe is one my (now) husband and I used to make all the time in college as it’s super inexpensive and easy to make. 

There’s a whole wheat crust and cheese, but that’s where the traditional pizza concept ends. 

This southwestern version uses salsa instead of pizza sauce and is topped with beans and corn — trust me, it sounds odd but it really works!

A hit with kids and adults alike, add this whole wheat southwestern pizza to your dinner rotation! 

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Made with just a handful of simple ingredients.
• Kid-friendly.
• Budget-friendly.
• Fun twist for pizza night!

How to make pizza healthy

Pizza gets a bad reputation for being unhealthy. 

And while it can definitely be high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium, it doesn’t have to be. 

As a dietitian and pizza-lover, let me assure you that it is possible to enjoy a slice or two of pizza while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Ways to make your pizza healthier:

• Opt for a whole-wheat crust.
• Choose a thinner crust over a thicker, doughier one.
• Make sure there’s at least one vegetable topping.
• Add a source of protein, such as grilled chicken or beans.
• But skip processed meats, like pepperoni and sausage. 
• Order or make a side salad to help fill you up and get in more servings of veggies. 

This recipe goes a step further and replaces the traditional tomato sauce with salsa. Now, there’s nothing wrong with pizza sauce, but what I love about salsa is it counts as a vegetable. 

Ingredients Used to Make Whole Wheat Southwestern Pizza

• Whole wheat crust: You can buy it at your local grocery store (Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods both have great premade doughs!), or make it yourself.
• Salsa: I like using a chunky veggie-packed salsa, but feel free to use your favorite.
• Beans: Black or pinto beans will work. Use no-added salt to help keep the sodium content down.
• Corn: Frozen or fresh is best, but canned will work if needed. 
• Mexican cheese: I used a 4 cheese Mexican blend, but cheddar cheese or cheddar jack would both work. 
• Any other veggie: You can keep it simple, or pack on even more vegetables. Grilled or roasted broccoli, zucchini, and peppers would all be delicious! 

How to Make Healthy Southwestern Pizza

Making pizza at home is super easy! Here’s what you’ll do: 

1. Preheat the oven and roll out the dough to your desired thickness.
2. Place dough on a pizza stone and spread salsa over the crust.
3. Sprinkle beans, corn, and cheese on top.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is nice and bubbly and the bottom of the crust is lightly browned.

Tips for making this recipe

• Place your pizza stone in the oven while it preheats for a crispier crust.
• If using refrigerated pizza dough, set it out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before rolling it out. 
• When adding additional vegetables, make sure to cook them first as they won’t soften enough on the pizza. 

More healthy creative pizza recipes to try 

• Blackberry Chicken Pizza
• Thai Chicken Pizza
• Vegan Roasted Cauliflower Buffalo Pizza from This Savory Vegan 
• Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts Naan Pizza from Kara Lydon Nutrition 

If you tried this healthy Southwestern pizza recipe, or any other recipe on the blog, let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

Print Recipe

Whole Wheat Southwestern Pizza

This healthy southwestern pizza is a deliciously easy twist on pizza. Made with salsa instead of sauce and topped with corn and beans, it'll quickly become a family-favorite!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Pizza

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Healthy Pizza Recipe, Whole Wheat Southwestern Pizza

Servings: 4

Calories: 473kcal

Author: Kelli

Ingredients

• 1 batch whole wheat pizza dough
• Whole wheat flour for rolling out the crust
• 1 3/4 cups chunky salsa
• 1 15- ounce can no-added salt black beans drained
• 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
• 1/3 cup corn I used frozen, but feel free to use low-sodium canned or fresh
• Optional: any additional pre-cooked vegetables cut into bite-sized pieces

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425F. Place pizza stone in oven while it preheats. Meanwhile, roll out dough on a clean, floured surface to your desired thickness.
• Once oven is preheated, carefully place rolled out dough onto preheated pizza stone. Alternatively, you can use a baking sheet, but no need to pre-heat the baking sheet.
• Spread salsa evenly over crust, followed by cheese, beans, and corn (you may end up not using all of the beans). If using additional veggies add them on now. Fold edges of dough over to form the crust.
• Place pizza in pre-heated oven and cook 20-25 minutes, or until bottom of pizza crust is a golden brown (or longer if you prefer crispier pizza).
• Remove from oven and slice into 8 equal pieces. Enjoy!

Notes

Nutrition for ¼ of recipe: 473 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 53g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 9g sugar, 10g protein