Wood-Fired Pizza with Smoky Sausage and Caramelized Onions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-21 · Updated 2026-05-21

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A rustic pizza featuring smoky Italian sausage and sweet caramelized onions baked on a wood-fired crust for a perfect char and crispiness. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs pizza dough, Italian sausage, casing removed, large onion, thinly sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 Italian cuisine 650 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz pizza dough
6 oz Italian sausage, casing removed
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup tomato sauce
6 fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your wood-fired oven or conventional oven to 500°F. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and add 6 oz Italian sausage, breaking it apart; cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Step 2: In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 thinly sliced large onion, cooking over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and caramelized, then stir in 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
Step 3: Roll out 12 oz pizza dough on a floured surface to a 12-inch circle. Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the dough, then sprinkle with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
Step 4: Scatter the cooked sausage and caramelized onions evenly over the cheese. Slide the pizza into the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the crust is blistered and cheese is bubbly and golden.
Step 5: Remove pizza from oven and garnish with 6 fresh basil leaves before slicing and serving warm.