These mini pizzas use Portobello mushrooms as the base instead of dough for a low carb option. Quick and easy to make - you still have all of the delicious topping, but with less calories. With a Portobello Mushroom Pizza, you can add whatever toppings you like to keep everyone happy too.
Do you love pizza? If your hand isn't raised then you might be in the wrong place. We could happily eat pizza all day every day, but sadly that wouldn't be the best thing for us. This option is a little bit lighter and more nutrient dense, and easy to pack with veggies.
This was actually the first recipe posted on the blog, nearly 7 years ago, so we have rephotographed it and reposted it as it's one of our favourite recipes.
Why should you try them?
- All the delicious flavours of pizza
- Low in carbs
- Lower in calories
- Delicious party food
Step by Step:
One: Peel the mushrooms and remove the stalks.
Two: Add 2 tbsp of marinara to each mushroom. To create more space, use a small spoon to scrape out some of the mushroom's gills.
Three: Divide the spinach and basil equally between the four mushrooms.
Four: Add the cheese and put in a preheated oven at 200C/400F/Gas 6 for 20 minutes.
What mushrooms to use
Portobello mushrooms have a really meaty texture (well, as close to meat you can get with it being a vegetable) and they make a good sturdy pizza base. They are really low in calories too. We used the large portobello mushroom caps, however you could us mini ones and make lots of mini pizzas for party food.
If you want to make mini versions and can't find mini portobello mushrooms, then you use chestnut mushrooms, as these have plenty of space for filling.
How to clean the mushrooms
It's important to clean the mushrooms first, as they can have quite a bit of mud on them. However, you don't wash them under the tap like you would other vegetables. Mushrooms will soak up all the water, and they are already very watery. Use a damp cloth to remove the dirt.
What toppings to add
We have kept the toppings on these pizzas fairly simple this time, with some spinach, marinara and the all important cheese. But, feel free to get creative and recreate all your favourite pizzas in these lighter Portobello Mushroom Pizzas. Add ham and pineapple for a Hawaiian, keep it classic with cheese and tomato or make a Texan BBQ with some shredded chicken and our homemade healthy BBQ sauce.
Instant Pot Portobello Mushrooms
You can cook these in your Instant Pot. Simply assemble the pizzas as above. Add a cup of water to the Instant pot and put the mushrooms on a trivet inside the pot.
What to serve them with
These are great as a light lunch or snack. However, if you want to serve them as a bigger meal, then serve them with all the usual sides that you would serve pizza with.
They go well with our Air fryer Chips, Baked Garlic Polenta Fries, No Mayo Coleslaw or The Best Greek Potatoes.
Can you make them in advance?
Yes, you can definitely make these in advance. Simply clean all the mushrooms and stuff them and then keep them in the fridge until you are ready to cook them in the oven.
We wouldn't recommend reheating these, so try to make them from fresh. Luckily they are really simple to make.
Extra tips:
- Mushrooms have a high water content so these do create a pool of liquid when cooking. Just gently pick them up and drain the liquid off before serving and you are good to go. You could bake them before filling them and drain the liquid before filling.
- Prick holes in the bottom of the mushroom cap with a toothpick to allow the moisture to drip out, but not the toppings.
- Chop any vegetables for the topping as small as possible. They are only in the oven for a little while, so you want to make sure they are cooked through.
- Sprinkle with some fresh basil before serving.
- You can make mini versions of these by using mini portobello mushrooms. These would be great for party food.
Portobello Mushroom Pizza
Ingredients
- 4 Portobello mushrooms
- 80 g Light mature cheddar cheese
- 20 g spinach finely chopped
- 8 tbsp Marinara
- 4 tbsp Fresh basil, finely chopped
Instructions
To cook in the oven:
- Peel the mushroom caps and remove the stalks.
- Divide the marinara, spinach, basil and cheese between each one.
- Put them in a preheated oven at 200C/390F/Gas 6 for 20 minutes.
- When cooked, gently drain any liquid.
To cook in the Instant Pot:
- Assemble the pizzas as in steps 1-2 above.
- Add a cup of water to the Instant pot and put the mushrooms on a trivet inside the pot.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and turn the valve to Sealing. Press the "Pressure Cook" button and set the time to 10 minutes on High pressure.
- When the Instant Pot is done cooking, natural release the steam for 5 minutes and then quick release.
- Remove the Pizzas carefully from the Instant Pot and serve.
Nutritional Information
Mushrooms are so versatile, so why not check out some other mushroom recipes from the blog? We have Garlic Mushroom Pizza, Mushroom Stroganoff, Mushroom Bolognese and many more...
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Hayley Warren
This is such a great idea! I've heard of a pizza with a cauliflower base, but not mushroom!!
chichi
I love portobello mushrooms they are very meaty, never thought about making pizza with them, can't wait to try this weekend!
Jess
As a veggie I definitely appreciate the meat texture of mushrooms. Especially when I get cravings! Absolutely love this idea.
Tanya Brannan
I would never have thought to use large Portobello mushroom as a base. These look so scrumptious and super easy too. Perfect for a saturday night in front of the TV!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
I love making pizzas using vegetables as the pizza crust. These look fab!