If you happen to’ve been on the lookout for a pizza recipe that’s wholesome and attractive, then this runner’s pizza recipe is precisely what you want! It’s made with entire wheat naan flatbreads and is topped with tons of veggies for a scrumptious, guilt-free deal with that’s filled with taste and vitamin!


This recipe is one I used to be granted permission to share from the Runner’s World Meals On The Run cookbook.
Let’s be trustworthy, you already know I’m not a chef, so I’m all the time a little bit skeptical, however the promise of a meal in half-hour or much less that was geared towards my dietary wants lured me in like a porch gentle on Halloween evening.
This recipe is all of that and extra! It’s extremely scrumptious, completely wholesome, and tremendous simple on the identical time! This recipe by famous person inspirational runner Kara Goucher goes to grow to be your subsequent favourite!
Can We Make Pizza More healthy?
Since I do know this goes in opposition to the grain for a lot of of you to have a look at pizza and suppose “Oh that’s an ideal pre-long run meal”, let’s discuss.
Do we have to make pizza more healthy? Ehhh…I dunno. I feel we have to take pleasure in our meals. I feel we have to eat A LOT of vitamins (hi there, veggies) all day lengthy. I feel labeling meals pretty much as good and dangerous results in some big-time issues.
So if you would like the deep dish, have a slice. If you happen to love making it a little bit more healthy, go to city. I’m a fan of just about all types, so I’ve been recognized to go from a candy potato crust to a meat lover’s pie, what can I say?
After all, we all the time know there are methods to make it more healthy:
- Thinner crust for much less blood sugar spike from carbs (besides I like a thick crust)
- Cauliflower crust if you happen to’re actually pushing the bounds of healthifing
- Kara has been recognized to make this quinoa crust as effectively
- Dairy-free cheese (yeah, I’ve discovered some that’s fairly stellar)
- Loading on the veggies (an effective way to sneak them in on children)
- Blot off extra grease (largely as a result of I feel it’s gross on my arms)


Why Pizza Earlier than Lengthy Runs?
That’s a superb query as on the face of it this would possibly sound like a very unhealthy meal.
For me it’s behavior. I’ve completed it for ages and know that I can have a slice of pizza with a facet of veggies and it makes for a light-weight wholesome meal with good carbs that additionally actually simply makes me completely satisfied!!! And a part of an important run is just not getting in to it completely wired!
I’ve talked to numerous RD’s who totally assist this as a meal earlier than lengthy runs. You’re getting in an excellent quantity of carbohydrates and normally it implies that you’re stress-free, which is an enormous piece of the puzzle.
After all you have to contemplate your abdomen and possibly for you dairy the evening earlier than is just not a win. That’s okay! Checkout these fabulous concepts for what to eat evening earlier than a long term.
Studying to eat intuitively was an enormous recreation changer right here as effectively.
- No extra guilt over selecting meals
- No extra needing 3 slices as a result of I used to be depriving myself different days
- A relaxed night
- Making a constant behavior that triggers my mind to know tomorrow we make the most of these yummy carbs
Why Contemplate Making Runners Pizza
This recipe is the proper instance of how one can make scrumptious meals simply at residence with out having to compromise in your well being. It’s wholesome, tasty, and filled with healthful components.
The perfect half is that you could make it from scratch in beneath half-hour! That’s faster than ordering meals and having it delivered at residence!
I additionally completely love how I can simply customise the toppings nevertheless I like. It permits me to maintain altering issues up, and likewise be capable of use any veggies I could have within the fridge.
Plus, you may also purchase a great deal of wheat naan flatbreads and freeze it until you’re able to make these scrumptious runners pizzas. And what’s unimaginable is that every serving is filled with 30 grams of protein! Belief me, that is going to grow to be your new favourite pizza recipe!
Substances to Make Runners Pizza
- Complete Wheat Naan Flatbreads: These function the proper base for our pizza. They’re hearty, scrumptious, and an important supply of entire grains. Plus, they prevent the effort and time of creating your individual pizza dough!
- Marinara Sauce: It offers our pizza that basic, tangy taste all of us love. It’s additionally an effective way to sneak in some further veggies!
- Pesto: It provides a burst of contemporary, herby taste to our pizza. It pairs splendidly with the opposite components and offers the pizza a connoisseur contact.
- Shredded Mozzarella: That is optionally available, however if you happen to’re not dairy-free, a sprinkle of mozzarella provides a stunning, tacky goodness to the pizza.
- Yellow Bell Pepper: It provides a pop of shade and a candy, barely tangy taste. Plus, bell peppers are filled with vitamin C!
- Cherry Tomatoes: These little gems add a juicy, contemporary ingredient to our pizza. They’re additionally filled with antioxidants!
- Purple Onion: It offers the pizza a slight kick and a crunch. Purple onions are additionally an important supply of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Sliced Mushrooms: They add a stunning earthy taste and a pleasant texture distinction. Plus, they’re an important supply of nutritional vitamins and minerals.
- Grilled Rooster Breast: It’s an important lean supply of protein that retains you feeling happy. You too can swap this on your favourite plant-based protein if you happen to choose.
- Giant Basil Leaves: These are optionally available however if you happen to select to make use of them, they’ll add a stunning, contemporary, peppery taste to your pizza. Basil additionally has quite a few well being advantages, together with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
How you can Make Runners Pizza
Making a scrumptious and wholesome runners pizza at residence is simpler than you suppose! Right here’s the right way to make it step-by-step:
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Begin by preheating your oven to 400 levels. It is a essential step because it ensures your pizza cooks evenly and completely.
Step 2: Put together Your Flatbreads
Organize your flatbreads on two baking sheets. This kinds the bottom of your runners pizza.
Step 3: Unfold Your Sauce
Apply a skinny layer of marinara sauce on every flatbread. The sauce provides taste and helps the toppings persist with the bottom.
Step 4: Add Your Toppings
Now comes the enjoyable half – toppings! Begin by spreading pesto on every flatbread. Subsequent, add mozzarella cheese, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and rooster. Be happy to customise your toppings based mostly on private choice or dietary wants.
Step 5: Bake Your Pizza
When you’ve added your toppings, it’s time to bake your pizzas. Bake the flatbreads in your preheated oven for 12 minutes. Control them to keep away from overcooking. Your scrumptious runner’s pizza is able to serve!
Runners Pizza by Kara Goucher
Quick and straightforward, excellent for these pre-long run meals!
Substances
- 4 entire wheat naan flatbreads
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 4 teaspoons pesto
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella I skipped cheese on mine
- 1 yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 pink onion sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 grilled rooster breast
- 8 massive basil leaves I skipped this
Directions
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Preheat your oven to 400 levels Fahrenheit.
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Place the entire wheat naan flatbreads on two baking sheets, making certain they’re evenly spaced.
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Unfold a skinny layer of marinara sauce over every flatbread, leaving a small border across the edges.
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Spoon 1 teaspoon of pesto onto every flatbread, spreading it evenly.
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If you happen to’re together with cheese, sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the pesto layer.
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Distribute the chopped yellow bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced pink onion, and sliced mushrooms evenly throughout the flatbreads.
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Add the shredded grilled rooster breast on high of the vegetable combination.
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If desired, place entire basil leaves on the pizzas for added freshness and taste.
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Place the ready flatbreads within the preheated oven and bake for roughly 12 minutes or till the perimeters are golden and the cheese is melted.
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Take away the Runner’s Pizzas from the oven and allow them to cool for a couple of minutes earlier than slicing.
Taste Variation Concepts
- Spicy: For many who love a bit of warmth, sprinkle some crushed pink pepper flakes on high of the pizza earlier than baking.
- Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free model, swap the entire wheat naan flatbreads with gluten-free flatbreads. You’ll nonetheless get to take pleasure in this scrumptious pizza with out worrying about gluten.
- Further Tacky: If you happen to love cheese, strive including several types of cheese like cheddar or gouda together with the mozzarella. This may give your pizza a richer and creamier style.
- Totally different Sauce: Contemplate altering up the sauce for a scrumptious taste profile. As an illustration, you possibly can add some BBQ sauce as an alternative of marinara for a candy and tangy variation.


Ideas for Making the Finest Runners Pizza
- Select entire wheat naan: Go for entire wheat naan flatbreads for a more healthy, fiber-rich base on your pizza. It is a smart way so as to add some further vitamins to your meal.
- Use selfmade marinara sauce: When you have the time, contemplate making your individual marinara sauce. This manner, you possibly can management the quantity of salt and sugar in it, making your pizza even more healthy.
- Grill your rooster breast: Grilling the rooster breast earlier than including it to the pizza will give it a pleasant smoky taste. Plus, it ensures the rooster is totally cooked earlier than the pizza goes into the oven.
- Don’t skimp on the veggies: Load up your pizza with bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms. Not solely will these add a ton of taste, however they’re additionally filled with nutritional vitamins and minerals.
- Monitor the baking time: Preserve an in depth eye on the pizza because it bakes. The baking time can fluctuate relying in your oven, so examine it at round 10 minutes to verify it doesn’t overcook.
- Experiment with completely different toppings: Don’t really feel restricted to the components listed. Be happy to experiment with different toppings like spinach, olives, and even pineapple for a enjoyable twist.
How you can Retailer Leftovers
Leftovers of this runners pizza will be saved in an airtightly sealed container within the fridge for as much as 3-5 days.
Sadly, this explicit pizza recipe doesn’t freeze effectively as a result of contemporary components used as toppings. Freezing might result in a soggy texture upon reheating.
For the very best outcomes, reheat the refrigerated pizza slices in a preheated oven at 350 levels Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or till the cheese is bubbly and barely golden.


Runner Pizza Vitamin
Energy per serving: 506
Carbs: 52 g
Fiber: 7 g
Protein: 30 g
Whole fats: 19 g
Saturated fats: 7 g
Sodium: 877 mg
By no means underestimate the facility that one good exercise may have in your thoughts. Conserving the dream alive is half the battle.Kara Goucher
Gasoline up like @karagoucher because of @runnersworld Meals On The Run Click on To Tweet
I modified the recipe to make the most of the abundance of zucchini in my life proper now! Veggies are simple to combine and match so you possibly can hold everybody within the household completely satisfied, which is a part of what I like.
Ever tried pizza earlier than your long term?
What’s your go to topping??
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