Decadent Four Cheese Shrimp Scampi Pizza: A Gourmet Seafood Delight

Prepare your taste buds for an extraordinary culinary journey with this Four Cheese Shrimp Scampi Pizza. Imagine a luscious, creamy ricotta pizza sauce as its base, generously topped with succulent, perfectly cooked lemony and garlicky shrimp. This isn’t just another pizza; it’s a gourmet experience that is both sophisticated and incredibly satisfying. Decadent, distinctive, and utterly delicious, this pizza redefines what you thought pizza could be.

Pizza holds a special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of many, and for good reason. It’s a culinary canvas, endlessly adaptable, always comforting, and inherently delicious. The magic lies in the simple, yet profound, combination of bread and cheese – a foundation upon which countless flavorful possibilities can be built. This inherent versatility makes pizza a universally beloved dish, capable of transforming simple ingredients into something truly spectacular.

Shrimp, with its delicate flavor and tender texture, is a phenomenal topping for pizza. It brings a touch of elegance and a burst of savory goodness that pairs beautifully with various flavor profiles. You might recall the amazing Cajun Pizza with Andouille and Shrimp, where shrimp played a starring role. For this recipe, we’re elevating the experience by incorporating perfectly prepared shrimp scampi – quick-sautéed with fragrant garlic and bright lemon – onto a rich, cheesy pizza. This creation is not only a fantastic addition to your regular pizza night rotation but also an ideal, flavorful option for occasions like Lent, proving that delicious seafood can be both satisfying and celebratory.

Why This Shrimp Scampi Pizza Will Become Your New Favorite

This Four Cheese Shrimp Scampi Pizza isn’t just a recipe; it’s an invitation to experience pizza in a delightful new way. Here’s why you’ll absolutely love it:

Creamy Ricotta Sauce: Forget the traditional red sauce! This pizza features a unique, smooth ricotta cheese sauce, blended with savory Parmigiano-Reggiano, fresh parsley, and a hint of onion. It provides a luxurious, tangy, and utterly addictive base that perfectly complements the seafood.
Lemony Garlic Shrimp Scampi: The star of the show! Succulent shrimp are quickly pan-seared with an abundance of fresh garlic and a squeeze of bright lemon juice. This creates a vibrant, aromatic topping that’s bursting with classic scampi flavors. The shrimp are intentionally slightly undercooked on the stovetop to ensure they finish perfectly tender and juicy in the hot oven, never rubbery.
A Symphony of Four Cheeses: Beyond the ricotta in the sauce, this pizza is generously adorned with shredded mozzarella and fontina cheese. Mozzarella offers that classic melty stretch, while fontina adds a nutty, buttery depth. Together with the Parmigiano-Reggiano, these four cheeses create a rich, complex, and incredibly satisfying cheesy experience.
Effortless Elegance: While tasting like a gourmet creation from an Italian restaurant, this pizza is surprisingly easy to make. Utilizing a pre-cooked pizza shell significantly cuts down on prep time, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner or spontaneous entertaining. Of course, if you prefer to make your own, it’s even more rewarding.
Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a festive Friday night, a special gathering, or a meatless meal during Lent, this shrimp scampi pizza is a showstopper. It offers a refreshing alternative to traditional toppings and is sure to impress your family and guests.

Key Ingredients for Success

To truly master this Four Cheese Shrimp Scampi Pizza, paying attention to a few key ingredients will make all the difference:

Shrimp: Opt for large shrimp, fresh or frozen. If frozen, thaw them completely before cooking. Always peel and devein them for the best eating experience. The goal is to lightly sear them, creating a flavorful crust, but leaving them slightly undercooked so they don’t become tough when they finish baking on the pizza.
Ricotta Cheese: Part-skim ricotta works wonderfully for a creamy yet not overly heavy sauce. Its mild, slightly sweet flavor provides a fantastic backdrop for the garlic and lemon. Don’t skip the Parmigiano-Reggiano in the sauce; it adds a crucial layer of savory, salty depth.
Fresh Garlic and Lemon: These are the pillars of any good scampi. Use fresh garlic, and plenty of it – two large cloves, finely chopped, are essential. Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens the entire dish, cutting through the richness of the cheese and butter.
Quality Cheeses: Beyond the ricotta, the blend of mozzarella and fontina is key. Choose good quality shredded mozzarella for its excellent melt. Fontina, with its distinctive nutty and slightly earthy flavor, elevates the cheese profile from good to extraordinary. Grating your own cheese from blocks often yields a superior melt compared to pre-shredded varieties, which sometimes contain anti-caking agents.
Pizza Crust: While a thin, pre-cooked pizza shell is recommended for convenience and a crisp result, feel free to use your favorite homemade dough. A good crust provides the perfect foundation. For homemade options, consider checking out our Sam Adams Beer Pizza Dough for a flavorful base or even our Homemade Pizza Sauce with wine and garlic if you’re feeling adventurous with your sauce base, though for this recipe, the ricotta is the star!
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: These little flavor bombs add a concentrated burst of sweet and savory tanginess that beautifully complements the shrimp and cheese. Opt for the oil-packed kind, drained and julienne-cut, for maximum flavor and tender texture.

Crafting Your Gourmet Pizza: Step-by-Step Guidance

Creating this delicious Four Cheese Shrimp Scampi Pizza is simpler than you might think. Follow these detailed steps for the best results:

Preheat Your Oven and Stone: This is a crucial first step for a perfectly crispy crust. Place your pizza stone in the oven before turning it on, then set the temperature to 425°F (220°C). Once the oven reaches temperature, allow the stone to continue heating for an additional 10-15 minutes. A super-hot stone mimics a professional pizza oven, ensuring a quick, even bake and a wonderfully crisp base.
Prepare the Ricotta Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the part-skim ricotta, freshly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano, chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, very finely diced onion, kosher salt, and a pinch of fresh cracked pepper. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined and smooth. This creates your flavorful, creamy pizza base.
Sauté the Shrimp Scampi: Heat the unsalted butter in a large, nonstick skillet over high heat. Once the butter begins to bubble and foam, add the peeled and deveined shrimp and chopped garlic. Spread the shrimp in a single layer to ensure even cooking. Cook briefly, just until one side is lightly seared and turns pink, then flip to sear the other side. The key here is to just brown the exterior, leaving the center still raw or translucent. The shrimp will finish cooking in the oven, preventing them from becoming tough or rubbery. Add the juice of half a lemon and cook for just another minute or two, allowing the lemon juice to reduce slightly and coat the shrimp. Remove the skillet from the heat immediately.
Assemble Your Pizza: Carefully remove the hot pizza stone from the oven (using oven mitts!). Lay your thin precooked pizza shell directly onto the stone. Evenly spread the prepared ricotta sauce over the entire crust, leaving a small border for the edge. Next, arrange the seared shrimp over the sauce, distributing them evenly. Don’t forget to spoon all the delicious garlic-butter from the skillet over the shrimp and sauce – this is where much of the scampi flavor comes from! Sprinkle the julienne-cut sun-dried tomatoes over the shrimp, followed by the shredded mozzarella and fontina cheeses. Finish with a final two pinches of fresh cracked pepper over the top for an extra aromatic kick.
Bake to Perfection: Carefully slide the pizza stone with the assembled pizza back into the preheated oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it; you’re looking for the crust to be golden and crispy, and the cheese to be beautifully melted, bubbly, and lightly browned in spots. The aroma will be intoxicating!
Serve Immediately: Once baked, remove the pizza from the oven. Let it cool for just a minute or two before slicing and serving. This allows the cheese to set slightly, making for easier, cleaner slices. Yields 4 generous servings.

Tips for the Ultimate Shrimp Scampi Pizza

Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: This is paramount! Shrimp cooks very quickly. The goal on the stovetop is a light sear, not a full cook-through. They will finish perfectly in the oven.
Fresh Ingredients Matter: Especially for garlic and lemon. Freshly squeezed lemon juice and freshly chopped garlic make a significant difference in flavor compared to bottled or pre-minced versions.
Hot Pizza Stone is Key: For a truly crispy crust, ensure your pizza stone is thoroughly preheated. If you don’t have a pizza stone, a heavy-duty baking sheet can be used, but preheating it is still beneficial.
Adjust Garlic to Taste: If you’re a garlic lover, feel free to add an extra clove or two to the shrimp scampi.
Even Spreading: Distribute the ricotta sauce, shrimp, and cheeses evenly across the crust for a balanced bite every time.

Variations to Explore

While this Four Cheese Shrimp Scampi Pizza is perfect as is, you can always customize it to your liking:

Add Veggies: Sautéed spinach, thinly sliced bell peppers, artichoke hearts, or even some finely chopped red onion could be wonderful additions. Add them along with the shrimp before baking.
Herb It Up: A sprinkle of fresh basil or oregano after baking would add another layer of Italian flavor.
Spice It Up: For a little kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the shrimp while cooking or sprinkle them over the pizza before baking.
Cheese Swaps: Experiment with other cheeses! Smoked provolone, goat cheese for a tangy note, or even a smoked gouda could offer interesting flavor variations.
Homemade Crust and Sauce: If time allows and you enjoy baking, making your own pizza dough and perhaps even a homemade white garlic sauce to enhance the ricotta base can take this pizza to an even higher level.

Serving Suggestions

This gourmet shrimp pizza is a meal in itself, but it pairs beautifully with a light, fresh side. A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing provides a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the pizza. A crisp white wine, such as a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio, would also complement the lemony shrimp wonderfully, making for a truly delightful dining experience.

So, the next time you’re planning pizza night, step beyond the ordinary and try this exquisite Four Cheese Shrimp Scampi Pizza. It’s a testament to how simple ingredients, thoughtfully combined, can create an unforgettable dish.

Four Cheese Shrimp Scampi Pizza

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Authur: Erica

Servings: 4 people

Equipment

pizza stone

Ingredients

1 thin precooked pizza shell

Ricotta Sauce

¼ cup part-skim ricotta
¼ cup freshly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 Tbsp chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
2 Tbsp very finely diced onion
¼ tsp kosher salt
pinch fresh cracked pepper

Shrimp

1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
2 large cloves garlic chopped
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
juice of 1/2 lemon

Additional Pizza Toppings

⅓ cup julienne-cut sun-dried tomatoes
4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz shredded fontina cheese
2 pinches fresh cracked pepper

Instructions

Heat the pizza stone in the oven set to 425°F. Once the oven is heated, continue to heat an additional 10-15 minutes to be sure the stone is properly heated.
In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the ricotta sauce.
For the shrimp, heat the butter in a large, nonstick skillet on high heat. Once the butter starts to bubble, add the shrimp and garlic. Spread the shrimp in a layer and cook briefly to just sear one side, then flip to sear the other (you want to just brown the sides and leave them raw in the middle – they’ll finish cooking in the oven). Add the lemon juice and cook briefly to reduce the juice a bit. Remove from the heat.
Take the pizza stone out of the oven. Lay out the crust on the stone. Spread the ricotta sauce over the crust. Top with the shrimp and all the garlic-butter. Top with the sun-dried tomatoes and cheese. Finish the top with a little pepper. Put the stone with the pizza back in the oven and cook 10-15 minutes until crust is crispy and cheese is lightly browned and melty awesome. Yield: 4 servings.