White Pizza with Spinach and Bacon

I’m partnering with Coleman Natural to bring you this White Pizza with Spinach and Bacon!

This fabulous pizza is made with a whole grain Greek yogurt crust, a luscious Parmesan garlic white sauce, sauteed garlicky spinach, crispy uncured bacon and ooey gooey mozzarella. It’s a unique and fun pizza that you’ll totally fall in love with!

I use Coleman Natural Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon because it’s all-natural, free of added nitrates and nitrites and is made from pork raised in the USA by family farmers that never use antibiotics - and I can purchase it at Costco during my regular stock-up session.

Now, let’s get cooking!

How to make a white pizza with spinach and bacon

Featured Ingredients

For the Toppings:

• Bacon: Specifically, Coleman Natural Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon.
  • It’s my favorite bacon because it’s packed full of smoky flavor, crisps up perfectly, and doesn’t contain nitrates or nitrites.
  • You can find it in a 3-pack at your local Costco store!
• Spinach: Raw spinach works, but I like to sauté about 4 cups of spinach with a few cloves of garlic before adding it to my pizza.
  • It’s a flavor (and nutrition) explosion!
• Mozzarella: Whole milk mozzarella is so melty and makes for the perfect pizza cheese.

For the Crust:

• Greek yogurt: It may sound a little odd, but Greek yogurt is the perfect mix-in with flour to make for a yummy, protein-packed pizza crust.
• Whole grain flour: I like to use whole wheat pastry flour or whole wheat white flour to make my pizza crust.
  • It is a source of fiber but has a finely ground texture, making for a tender crust.
• Salt: For ultimate flavor.
• Baking powder: To give the crust some rise (since we aren’t using yeast).
• Olive oil: To spread over the crust before baking for the ultimate browning experience.

For the White Sauce:

• Butter or olive oil and flour: If you prefer butter flavor, use butter and if you prefer olive oil flavor, use olive oil.
  • You will be adding flour to it to make a roux to thicken the sauce.
• Garlic: You can’t have too much garlic in this white pizza!
• Milk: The base of the sauce. It’s creamy and smooth.
• Parmesan: Because you can’t have garlic Parmesan white sauce without Parmesan!
  • Be sure to get the freshly grated kind.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To start:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the pizza stone in the oven.

For the toppings:

2. Heat a medium skillet to medium. Add the chopped bacon and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy.
3. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon crumbles from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
4. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat.
5. Add the spinach and garlic to the pan and sauté 60-90 seconds or until the spinach is wilted. Set aside.

For the crust:

4. Place the Greek yogurt, flour, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
5. Run the mixer on low for 5-6 minutes, scraping the sides as necessary with a spatula, until a smooth ball of dough has formed.
6. Transfer to a cutting board dusted with flour. Work dough with your hands and press out and pull into a thin circle.
7. Remove the pizza stone from the oven and transfer the dough to the pizza stone and brush with olive oil. Set aside.

For the white sauce:

8. In a medium non-stick saucepan, heat butter and garlic on medium-high, until butter melts.
9. Add the garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds or until fragrant.
10. Whisk in the flour and allow it to cook, whisking regularly, for 60-90 seconds. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth.
11. Allow the sauce to cook for 2-3 minutes, continuing to whisk, until thickened.
12. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Remove from the heat. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
13. Spread the sauce on the pizza dough in a circle, about 1-inch from the edges.

To finish the pizza:

12. Top with the cooked bacon crumbles, sauteed spinach and garlic and mozzarella cheese.
13. Bake 12-15 minutes or until the edges are browned and the cheese is bubbly.
14. Let the pizza slightly cool, then slice into wedges and serve.

Choose a better bacon

Why I love Coleman Natural & How to Read a Meat Label

• Coleman Natural crafts better-for-you bacon that’s budget-friendly – you can purchase it at Costco, making it super convenient when you’re stocking up on other groceries (or when I order online via Instacart).
  • You can find a Costco store near you on their handy dandy store locator.
• At Costco, you can purchase Coleman Natural Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon in three individual 12-ounce packages that you can cook up right away or freeze so you can always have yummy bacon on hand.
  • If it’s frozen, simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight and cook as directed on the package.
  • I prepare bacon for my family for weekend breakfasts and use it in recipes like this white pizza, so I like having it on hand, both in the fridge and freezer.
• Coleman Natural produces all-natural meats sourced from American family farmers that raise their animals the way nature intended.
  • 100% crate free and with no antibiotics or added hormones, ever.
  • Living in the Midwest, supporting our family farmers is super important, and buying from them is one way to help support them!
• As a parent, the quality of food I put on the table is super important.
  • Coleman Natural Uncured Bacon products have received the prestigious Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) Seal of Approval.
  • They are the first meat product to achieve the award from PTPA! Winners were selected based on product functionality, value, and innovation that families can trust!

How to Read a Meat Label

Reading a meat label can be super confusing. This infographic for “unpacking the meat label” can help spell out what the different claims on meat packages mean.

Look for these claims, so you can feel good about the meat you are consuming.

Learn more about what these claims mean on the meat label:

• Raised in the USA: While it may not be possible 100% of the time, it’s important to me that most of the meat products I consume are born and raised in the USA.
  • Coleman Natural’s livestock is raised in the USA by family farmers.
• Cured vs. Uncured: Many cured meat products are preserved with artificial nitrates or nitrites, while uncured products are preserved with natural ingredients like celery powder and salt.
• No added hormones or antibiotics: No added hormones means the livestock has not been treated with extra hormones during their lifespan.
  • No antibiotics also means the livestock have never received antibiotics, ever.
  • The less you mess with the growth and health of an animal, the better for the animal, the environment and you!
• Human Animal Care Callouts: Looking for a verified certification seal means a third-party audit has been completed and the animals are being treated humanely.
  • You can learn more about Coleman Natural’s animal care standards on their website or on the back of the package.

Recipe Substitutions and Alterations

• For the spinach: You can use fresh or frozen spinach. You can add fresh spinach to the pizza without sauteing it first. You can also try it with sauteed fresh or frozen kale.
• For the garlic: Freshly minced garlic will give the most flavor, but it’s not always feasible. You can use frozen or jarred minced garlic – my favorite is the kind stored in olive oil!
• For the mozzarella: Whole milk mozzarella will melt the best, but part-skim will also work. You could also try it with fresh mozzarella slices or burrata.
• For the Greek yogurt: You can use non-fat or whole milk Greek yogurt. Whole milk will be a bit richer and creamier than non-fat.
• For the flour: You can use all-purpose, whole-wheat, whole-wheat pastry or whole wheat white flour. You can also use gluten free all-purpose flour.
• For the Parmesan: Be sure to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
• Extra topping ideas: Add chopped marinated artichokes, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers or any other Mediterranean-style topping.

Nutrition Considerations

• To make it gluten free: Use gluten free all-purpose flour for all of the flour in the recipe. Be sure all other ingredients are gluten free.
• To make it nut free: This recipe does not contain nuts.
• To make it egg free: This recipe does not contain eggs.

Bacon recipes you'll want to make:

• Cheesy Bacon Spinach Dip with Artichokes
• Pumpkin Pasta with Bacon
• Bacon and Corn Fritters
• Cherry Bacon Grilled Cheese
• Balsamic Green Beans with Bacon
• Breakfast Casserole with Bacon   

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Coleman Natural.

White Pizza with Spinach and Bacon

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A fabulous white pizza made with a whole grain crust, luscious Parmesan garlic white sauce, sauteed garlicky spinach, crispy uncured bacon.

• Author: Julie Andrews
• Prep Time: 15-20 mins
• Cook Time: 15-20 mins
• Total Time: 30-40 mins
• Yield: 8 slices 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking, Stove-Top
• Cuisine: Italian American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pizza:

• 6 strips Coleman Natural Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 4 cups baby spinach, chopped
• Pinch coarse salt

Pizza Crust:

• 12-ounces plain Greek yogurt (1 ⅓ cups)
• 1 ¾ cups flour*
• ¾ teaspoon coarse salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

White Sauce and Cheese:

• 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
• 2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup milk
• ½ teaspoon coarse salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pizza stone in the oven.
2. Heat a medium skillet to medium. Add the chopped bacon and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon crumbles from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat.
3. Add the spinach and garlic to the pan and sauté for 60-90 seconds or until the spinach is wilted. Season with salt. Set aside.
4. Place the Greek yogurt, flour, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
5. Run the mixer on low for 5-6 minutes, scraping the sides as necessary with a spatula, until a smooth ball of dough has formed.
6. Transfer to a cutting board dusted with flour. Work dough with your hands and press out and pull into a thin circle.
7. Remove the pizza stone from the oven and transfer the dough to the pizza stone and brush with olive oil. Set aside.
8. In a medium non-stick saucepan, heat butter and garlic on medium-high, until butter melts. Add the garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds or until fragrant.
9. Whisk in the flour and allow it to cook, whisking regularly, for 60-90 seconds. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth. Allow the sauce to cook 2-3 minutes, continuing to whisk, until thickened.
10. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt and black pepper. Remove from the heat. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
11. Spread the sauce on the pizza dough in a circle, about 1-inch from the edges.
12. Top with the cooked bacon crumbles, sauteed spinach and garlic and the mozzarella cheese. Bake 12-15 minutes or until the edges are browned and the cheese is bubbly.
13. Let the pizza slightly cool, then slice into wedges and serve.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 slice
• Calories: 307
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 449mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 26g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 20g
• Cholesterol: 26mg