Chimichurri pizza sauce is an amazing way to add tons of flavor to your homemade pizzas. This bright green sauce is inspired by the classic Argentinian chimichurri, which is typically used as a marinade or sauce for grilled meats. bringing that same fresh, herby flavor to pizza takes it to the next level.
The base of chimichurri pizza sauce is packed with fresh parsley and cilantro, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and spices. It comes together in just a few minutes in the blender or food processor. From there, you can spoon it over prepared pizza crusts and top with all your favorite toppings. The chimichurri sauce adds so much vibrant herb flavor that just a little goes a long way.
I’m going to walk you through step-by-step how to make this chimichurri pizza sauce at home. I’ll also share tips for making great homemade pizza with this sauce, as well as topping ideas that pair perfectly with the bright, fresh chimichurri flavor. Whether you’re a pizza pro or just starting out with homemade pies, chimichurri pizza sauce is easy to make and brings awesome new flavor to pizza night. Let’s get started!
Why Make Chimichurri Pizza Sauce?
So what makes chimichurri pizza sauce so special? Here are a few reasons why you should definitely give this sauce a try:
- It’s packed with fresh herb flavor from all the parsley and cilantro. These fresh herbs are the star of the show.
- The combination of olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and spices makes it super vibrant and flavorful.
- It’s a great way to get authentic Argentinian chimichurri flavor without having to find the specific dried spices.
- It’s customizable based on your tastes – add more herbs for intense flavor or tone it down with more olive oil.
- Its vibrant green color looks so fresh and appetizing spooned over the pizza.
- It’s easy to make in just 5 minutes. No long simmering required.
- It will make your homemade pizzas taste gourmet with little effort.
So if you’re looking to upgrade your homemade pizza but don’t want to spend hours making a sauce from scratch, chimichurri pizza sauce is the perfect choice. The fresh herbs are really what make it stand out. Now let’s get into how to actually make this delicious sauce!
How to Make Chimichurri Pizza Sauce
Chimichurri Pizza Sauce Ingredients
Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
Fresh parsley leaves | 1 cup packed |
Fresh cilantro leaves | 1/2 cup packed |
Garlic cloves | 3 |
Olive oil | 1/4 cup |
Red wine vinegar | 3 Tbsp |
Dried oregano | 1 tsp |
Red pepper flakes | 1/4 tsp (optional) |
Salt | 1/4 tsp |
Black pepper | To taste |
Chimichurri pizza sauce comes together in two easy steps – first, blending up the herb mixture, then adding in the other wet ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup packed fresh parsley leaves
- 1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
Directions:
Tips for Making Perfect Pizza with Chimichurri Sauce
Tip Number | Description |
|---|---|
1 | Use a high temperature oven (500F or more). |
2 | Preheat your stone or steel for at least 30 minutes. |
3 | Do not overload toppings. |
4 | Undercook slightly; it continues cooking after removal. |
5 | Let rest before slicing for 2-3 minutes. |
6 | Choose the right crust: thin, crispy, hand tossed or thin ideal. |
7 | Layer sauce under cheese to seal in the flavor. |
8 | Drizzle extra sauce over the baked pizza for freshness. |
9 | Offer sauce on the side for dipping crusts. |
10 | Use fresh ingredients for the best quality. |
11 | Serve with a fresh salad for a complete meal. |
- In a food processor, combine the parsley, cilantro and garlic. Pulse several times until the herbs are finely chopped.
- Add in the olive oil, vinegar, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Blend until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more vinegar for acidity, olive oil for richness, or salt and pepper for overall flavor.
Â
And that’s it — you now have a simple chimichurri pizza sauce! You want the herbs to be chopped up but still in small chunks, not totally pureed. That way, you get flavorful bursts of herbs in every bite.
Make-Ahead Tips:
This chimichurri pizza sauce will keep well in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Let it come to room temperature before using so you get the best flavor. It can also be frozen and thawed overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to use it.
The color may dull slightly over time but the flavor will still be great. Add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice after storing to brighten it up.
Now let’s talk about how we make chimichurri pizza!
Making Pizza with Chimichurri Sauce
Chimichurri pizza sauce is so tasty that you don’t need a lot on your pie to give each bite tons of flavor. Here are some tips for using it:
- Add sparingly: Start with just 1-2 Tbsp spread over your prepared pizza crust before adding toppings. You can always add more once your toppings are on if you want.
- Spread to the crust’s edge: Use the back of a spoon and spread your sauce all around toward the crust’s edge. This ensures each bite has great flavor.
- Layer under cheese: Spoon sauce onto dough first, then add shredded mozzarella or other cheese on top so that the cheese seals in all that amazing taste.
- Drizzle finished pie: Once your pizza is done baking, drizzle some extra chimichurri sauce over top of cooked pie for an extra punch at end.
- Use as dip: Offer additional chimichurri sauce alongside the finished slices or offer a dipping option for crusts — both are delicious!
Most importantly, do not overdo it — since this herbaceous ingredient has such a bold flavor, a little goes a long way. We suggest using under 1/4 cup total sauce for a 12-14 inch pizza.
What to Put on Chimichurri Pizza
While you can put any toppings you want on your chimichurri pizza, there are some choices that work exceptionally well with the fresh green sauce. Here are some of our favorite ingredient combinations:
- Grilled chicken — The smoky, savory meat pairs perfectly with the bright and fresh chimichurri. Add some crispy bacon if you’re feeling wild!
- Shrimp — Briny shrimp roasted with garlic and lemon is next level when drizzled in chimichurri.
- Steak — Thinly-sliced steak brings so much flavor to every bite and plays off the herbaceous chimichurri perfectly.
- Roasted veggies — Lightly charred zucchini or eggplant slices will balance out all that sauce if you’re not into meats.
- Caramelized onions — Sweet tender onions provide a nice contrast to the acidity of the chimichurri.
- Goat cheese — Tangy creamy goat cheese crumbles go great with herbs in general but they really pop on this pie.
- Fresh mozzarella — Mozz is pretty mild so it doesn’t overpower the taste of your sauce. This means you get tons of tart herby flavor in each bite.
- Artichokes — Meaty texture and subtle taste make these little guys perfect for absorbing up all those good notes from your homemade chimichurri pizza.
- Kalamata olives — Salty briny olives always provide amazing contrast when paired with something bright like this sauce.
- Peppers — Red bell peppers, sliced hot peppers or pickled pepperoncini all work well on top of your chimichurri pizza.
Â
You have plenty of delicious choices for customizable chimichurri pizzas. But don’t go completely overboard on toppings. You don’t want too much happening to keep that glorious sauce in focus!
Chimichurri Pizza Inspiration
To help get the pizza juices flowing, here are a few chimichurri pizza combinations I’ve tried and loved:
- The Argentinian – Thinly sliced steak, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers, mozzarella, chimichurri sauce.
- The Mediterranean – Shrimp, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, chimichurri sauce.
- The Chicken Bacon Ranch – Grilled chicken, crispy bacon, red onion, cheddar, chimichurri sauce plus ranch drizzle.
- The Vegetarian – Zucchini, eggplant, grape tomatoes, goat cheese, chimichurri sauce.
- The Hawaiian – Ham pineapple red onion fresh mozzarella chimichurri sauce.
- The Supreme – Pepperoni Italian sausage mushrooms black olives bell peppers chimichurri sauce.
That’s just a starting point though. Get wild with your own favorite toppings and sauces. The reason why people love this kind of pizza so much is because the flavorful sauce makes even plain cheese pizzas exciting!
Tips for Making Perfect Pizza with Chimichurri Sauce
Here are some tips to make those beautiful pizzas you’re dreaming of:
- Use a high temperature oven: 500F or more if possible.
- Preheat your stone or steel: Let it heat up for at least half an hour before cooking.
- Don’t overload toppings: Nobody likes soggy pizza!
- Undercook slightly: It will continue cooking after being removed from the oven.
- Let rest before slicing: Give it 2-3 minutes outside of the oven so the cheese sets up.
- Get the right crust: You’ll need a thin, crispy crust that can hold the toppings. Hand tossed or thin is ideal.
- Layer sauce under cheese: Put a layer of sauce before adding the cheese so it’s sealed in.
- Drizzle extra sauce over baked pizza: Once finished, add another drizzle for fresh pops of flavor.
- Dip crusts in the sauce: Offer some on the side to dip your crust in and take it to another level!
- Use fresh ingredients: Low moisture mozzarella, fresh herbs and bright veggies make all the difference!
- Make it a meal: Serve with a fresh salad for dinner.
Wrapping Up
A homemade pizza instantly becomes gourmet with chimichurri pizza sauce. I hope you try this out soon because your tastebuds will thank you! The flavor is super addictive.
Now that you know how to make chimichurri sauce, what are you waiting for? Go get those ingredients and start crafting your own chimichurri masterpiece! Try out new toppings until you find your favorites.
