Casey’s veggie breakfast pizza is a delicious and nutritious way to start your morning! This pizza is loaded with veggies and topped with eggs to provide a filling and protein-packed breakfast. Keep reading to learn all about the tasty ingredients that make up Casey’s signature veggie breakfast pizza.
Crust
The foundation of any good pizza is the crust. Casey’s uses a hand-tossed crust for their veggie breakfast pizza. This style of crust has a nice chewiness and crispness on the outside while still being soft and airy on the inside. The hand-tossed method allows the crust to puff up a bit in the oven, creating the perfect base for all the toppings.
Casey’s makes their pizza dough fresh in-house every day. They use high-quality ingredients like all-purpose flour, yeast, olive oil, salt, and sugar. The dough is kneaded thoroughly to develop the gluten, then left to proof and rise. This process allows the yeast to create air bubbles in the dough, leading to a light and fluffy texture. Once stretched out, the crust is par-baked before being topped and finished in the pizza oven. This extra step helps ensure the crust bakes up crispy.
Sauce
What sets a veggie breakfast pizza apart from a regular cheese or pepperoni pizza is the sauce. Instead of tomato-based pizza sauce, Casey’s uses a white cream sauce. This creamy white sauce helps add richness and moisture to the pizza without overpowering the other flavors.
The white sauce is made by mixing together mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. The mayonnaise and sour cream provide a rich, creamy base while the milk helps thin out the sauce so it can be easily spread atop the crust. The lemon brightens up the sauce with some zesty citrus flavor. And the garlic powder, salt, and pepper add just the right amount of savoriness.
Drizzled over the crust, this white sauce provides a nice, neutral base for the veggies and eggs to shine. It also gives each bite of the pizza a lovely creaminess.
Veggies
No veggie breakfast pizza would be complete without lots of fresh veggies! Casey’s piles their veggie breakfast pizza high with a blend of produce that provides color, flavor, and nutrients.
Some of the veggies you can expect to find on Casey’s pizza include:
– Spinach – This leafy green adds vitamins like A, C, and K. It also provides antioxidants and fiber.
– Red onions – Sliced red onions give a pop of flavor and crunch. They add a bite without being overpowering.
– Green peppers – Diced green bell peppers are a tasty way to get vitamin C and other antioxidants. Their crisp, slightly sweet flavor balances well with the other veggies.
– Mushrooms – Meaty, umami-rich mushrooms add depth of flavor to the pizza. They also contribute fiber and B vitamins.
– Tomatoes – Sliced Roma or cherry tomatoes taste delicious roasted in the pizza oven. They provide vitamin C and make the pie nice and colorful.
This mix of veggies provides fresh flavors and variety to every bite. The produce is chopped, sliced, and diced then scattered over the sauce, so you get veggies in every bite.
Eggs
The star ingredient that makes this a breakfast pizza is the eggs. What’s for breakfast without eggs? Casey’s cracks farm-fresh eggs right over top the veggie-loaded pizza. As the pizza bakes in the hot oven, the eggs fry and set, turning into a perfectly cooked over-easy egg.
The runny egg yolks bake into the pizza, acting as a tasty sauce and binding all the ingredients together. When you break into the eggs with your fork, the yolky goodness spills over the veggies and crust, adding creaminess and protein.
Eggs are a stellar source of protein to start your morning. Plus, the protein and fat keeps you feeling satisfied and full. Casey’s typically uses two to three eggs per pizza. But hungry customers can always request extra eggs for an added protein boost.
Cheese
You can’t forget the cheese on a breakfast pizza! Casey’s uses a shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend. The mozzarella provides the classic, stringy pizza cheese texture. While the cheddar adds a sharp, tangy flavor and helps bind the ingredients together.
The cheese is sprinkled liberally over the topped pizza before it heads into the oven. As the pizza bakes, the cheese melts into gooey, sticky perfection. It caramelizes slightly, developing crispy, browned spots that provide tasty texture.
The melted cheese pulls all the components of the pizza together. It provides creamy richness in every cheesy bite.
Additional Toppings
Part of the fun of pizza is adding your own favorite toppings! Casey’s veggie breakfast pizza comes loaded with veggies and eggs. But customers can always customize by adding extra ingredients on top.
Some popular additions to try include:
– Breakfast meats like bacon, sausage, or ham to add savoriness
– Diced potatoes or tater tots to make it more filling
– Avocado slices for creaminess and healthy fats
– Sliced jalapeños or red pepper flakes for some heat
– Fresh herbs like basil or oregano to brighten up the flavors
The great thing about pizza is you can take a basic recipe and make it your own. Add the toppings you love most to create a custom veggie breakfast pizza perfect for you.
Cooking Process
All of Casey’s pizzas are freshly made to order. Here is the process they use to turn out delicious veggie breakfast pizzas:
1. Press and stretch dough into a crust, and par-bake until lightly browned.
2. Spread creamy white sauce evenly over crust.
3. Sprinkle on desired cheeses so they can start melting.
4. Top with fresh veggies – spinach, onions, peppers, mushrooms, etc.
5. Crack eggs evenly over the top of the pizza.
6. Place pizza in a fast-cooking oven set to around 450°F.
7. Bake for 8-12 minutes until crust is crispy, cheese is melted, and eggs are cooked to desired doneness.
8. Slice and serve immediately while hot and fresh!
The high heat of the pizza oven cooks the components quickly, melding flavors while keeping veggies crisp-tender. In just minutes, you have a ready-to-eat veggie and egg-loaded breakfast pizza.
Nutrition Facts
Part of what makes the veggie breakfast pizza such a great way to start your day is that it provides plenty of nutrition. Here is the nutritional breakdown for a slice of Casey’s veggie breakfast pizza:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 285 |
| Fat | 13g |
| Saturated Fat | 6g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 115mg |
| Sodium | 660mg |
| Carbohydrates | 24g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 3g |
| Protein | 15g |
| Calcium | 20% DV |
| Iron | 10% DV |
| Potassium | 6% DV |
As you can see, a slice of veggie breakfast pizza provides protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and other important nutrients. The veggies supply vitamin A, C, and K. And a couple eggs give you protein to start your day right.
While it is a bit higher in cholesterol and sodium than some breakfast options, overall the nutritional profile of Casey’s pizza is quite decent when compared to other fast food breakfast items. The fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein make it a filling and energizing meal.
Health Benefits
Beyond just being tasty, starting your morning with Casey’s veggie breakfast pizza offers several potential health perks:
– More filling than carb-heavy breakfasts – The protein from the eggs and fiber from the veggies provide satiety. This helps ward off mid-morning hunger pangs.
– Provides energy-boosting B vitamins – The eggs and mushrooms contain B12 and folate to help you feel energized.
– May aid digestion – Insoluble fiber from veggies encourages regularity and bowel health.
– Helps meet vegetable needs – The array of veggies provides vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds to boost your nutrition.
– Leaner than meat-based breakfasts – Vegetarian options like this are lower in saturated fat and calories than sausage-topped pizzas.
While no single food is a magic bullet for health, Casey’s veggie breakfast pizza provides a relatively balanced way to start your day. The mix of carbs, protein, and veggies offers lots of nutritional benefits in one tasty package.
Customizing Your Veggie Breakfast Pizza
One of the best things about pizza is you can customize it however you like. So feel free to get creative with your Casey’s veggie breakfast pizza to suit your personal taste.
Here are some ideas for switching it up:
– Substitute the white sauce for something different like barbecue sauce or salsa verde for a flavor twist.
– Add different vegetables like broccoli, caramelized onions, or roasted sweet potatoes.
– Top with citrus wedges, avocado slices, or fresh basil for extra flavor and nutrition.
– Swap out the mozzarella for dairy-free cheese if you have an intolerance.
– For a lower-carb option, ditch the crust and make a frittata or crustless quiche.
– Trade the eggs for plant-based egg substitutes to make it vegan.
– Pile the finished pizza high with your favorite breakfast meats like bacon, sausage, or ham.
The possibilities are endless for crafting your own unique veggie breakfast pizza. Play around with ingredients to create a version that caters to your taste and dietary needs.
Where to Enjoy Casey’s Pizza
If you’re craving an out-of-the-box breakfast, head to Casey’s to try their veggie pizza. Casey’s is a popular pizza chain found throughout the Midwest with over 2,200 locations across 16 states.
Their breakfast pizzas are served all day, so you can stop in for a veggie egg pizza any time your stomach starts rumbling. Grab a slice or order a whole pie to share with family and friends.
Casey’s uses fresh, quality ingredients to create crave-worthy breakfast pizzas you can’t find elsewhere. Their customizable veggie breakfast pizza makes for a morning meal that’s tasty, filling, and surprisingly nutritious.
So next time you’re looking for a breakfast that’s outside the box of cereal or oatmeal, satisfy your craving with Casey’s one-of-a-kind veggie pizza piled high with all your favorite veggies and oozing with delicious egg yolk. It’s sure to be love at first bite!
Conclusion
Casey’s veggie breakfast pizza provides a creative and delicious way to start your morning on the right foot. This inventive pizza is topped with a medley of fresh vegetables, gooey cheese, and protein-packed eggs. The hand-tossed crust, creamy white sauce, and array of veggie toppings make this so much more than your average breakfast. With a nice nutritional profile including protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, you can feel good enjoying a slice…or two. So next time you wake up craving something savory and satisfying, head to Casey’s for a freshly baked veggie breakfast pizza. You can customize it to your liking or enjoy the classic veggie version for a mouthwatering way to kickstart your day.