I’m currently obsessed with pear recipes, and this pear and goat cheese pizza strikes the perfect balance between savory and sweet. Alongside ripe pear slices, it features tangy goat cheese, caramelized red onions, ham, garlic and sharp cheddar for a memorable flatbread.
Pear and goat cheese pizza
Dough for flatbread pizza
For this recipe I use the 365 pizza dough sold in a can—the Whole Foods alternative to Pillsbury. The dough bakes up light with an almost pastry-like texture, which pairs beautifully with the sweet pears and creamy goat cheese.
If you prefer, you can use any store-bought pizza dough. Frozen dough also works well; simply follow thawing and handling instructions before topping.
Goat cheese options
I like Cypress Grove goat cheese for this pizza because it comes in a block and crumbles easily. You can experiment with flavored varieties—honey or truffle goat cheese add a nice twist. Goat cheese on a log, crumbled goat cheese, or even gorgonzola will all complement the pear and onions.
This flatbread consistently stands out at game-day gatherings—an unexpected alternative to the usual nachos and wings. It also makes a refined appetizer for holiday tables, from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
When pears are out of season, swap in apples, cherries or other seasonal fruit for a similar sweet-savory result. This recipe is flexible and works year-round with simple substitutions.
—Jenna
More recipes with cheese you might like…
- How to make pizza at home with store bought dough
- 50+ gourmet grilled cheese ideas
- Buttery sweet potatoes oven baked with bleu cheese
- Sous vide chicken wings with bleu cheese dressing
- Asparagus Pizza with Pesto
- Ravioli Pizza on Flatbread
- Salad made with sous vide beets, arugula, and goat cheese
- Baked Feta with Peppers
Pear and goat cheese pizza with caramelized onions
Video
Ingredients
Caramelized onions
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 1 tbsp garlic
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp red wine
- 2 tbsp oil, divided
Pizza
- 1 packaged dough
- 1 tbsp garlic
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup diced ham
- ½ pear, sliced
- ⅔ cup crumbled goat cheese
- 2 tbsp parsley
Instructions
- Make the caramelized onions: sauté the sliced onion, garlic and oil over medium heat, stirring regularly until the onion browns, about 10 minutes. Add more oil if the onion sticks. Stir in the red wine, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the wine is absorbed.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (or follow the dough package instructions). Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil on a sheet pan, spread the dough and bake plain for 8 minutes.
- Brush the par-baked crust with 1 tbsp olive oil mixed with garlic. Sprinkle half the cheddar over the crust, then arrange the ham, pear slices, caramelized onions and goat cheese. Top with the remaining cheddar and bake for about 8 minutes, until the cheese melts and edges brown.
- Finish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and serve warm.