Naan Pizza with Makhani Sauce and Paneer

Craving pizza but tired of the same old crust? Let’s spice things up with a fusion twist that’ll tantalize your taste buds – Naan Pizza! Picture this: a crispy, golden naan bread topped with creamy Makhani sauce, marinated paneer, vibrant veggies, and gooey cheese, all baked to perfection.

Naan Pizza is a family favorite meal for us. And I love it since it’s so easy to put together, versatile, and pleases the whole family. We make it a lot for Sunday dinners when we want something quick, easy, and delicious. The kids always complain about eating Indian meals, but they never complain about this Indian-style Naan pizza.  For this recipe of Pizza on Naan bread, we are making Indian-style Paneer pizza with a yummy Makhani sauce. You can of course customize it to your taste. Take this recipe as a blueprint and make what your family likes.

I cook the Naan pizza 2 ways- bake and grill.  For a quick dinner, we bake it in the oven inside but when the weather is nice outside and we are entertaining friends, we like to grill it. Grilling Naan pizzas is so much fun, where everyone assembles their pizzas and it is thrown on the grill for a few minutes. The recipe card will have instructions for both baking and grilling the pizza.

In this recipe article, I’ll show you how to make Naan Pizza step-by-step, with helpful tips and tricks along the way. Whether you’re a fan of pizza, Indian cuisine, or both, this recipe is sure to become a new favorite in your home. So, let’s get started and make some delicious Naan Pizza together.

What is Naan bread?

Naan bread is a type of flatbread that is traditionally eaten in India, Pakistan, and other parts of South Asia, as well as in Central Asia, the Middle East, and other regions of the world.

Naan is typically made from a mixture of flour, water, salt, and yeast or sourdough starter. The dough is kneaded, allowed to rise, and then formed into flattened rounds, which are then baked in a tandoor, a traditional clay oven. The heat from the tandoor gives the naan its signature puffy texture and crispy exterior.

In India, naan is often served as an accompaniment to main dishes, such as curries or kebabs, or used to make sandwiches or wraps. It can also be flavored with spices, garlic, or herbs, such as cilantro, to add extra flavor.

What is the difference between Flatbread and Naan?

Naan is typically thicker and softer than flatbread, and it often contains yogurt or milk, which gives it a slightly tangy flavor. Flatbread, on the other hand, is a broad term that refers to any type of bread that is flat, rather than risen like traditional loaves. Flatbreads tend to be thinner and crispier than naan, and they may not contain any leavening agents.

You can use any flatbread in place of naan for this Naan pizza recipe. Just know that the pizza will be a thinner and a bit crispier.

Makhani sauce (pizza sauce) used in this pizza recipe

I have used Makhani sauce as the sauce for the Indian-style pizzas on naan bread. My makhani sauce recipe is delicious and totally elevates the flavor profile of the naan pizzas. I make a double batch of the makhani sauce whenever I am making Paneer Makhani. The Makhani sauce recipe is included with the Paneer Makhani recipe. I freeze half of the sauce for another time and whenever we want to make pizzas on naan bread, I already have the sauce ready. Once you have the Makhani sauce ready, making these delicious naan pizzas is a cinch.

In case you do not have the time to make the Makhani sauce from scratch, there are plenty of good quality Makhani jar sauces available in the supermarket. You can choose either Makhani or Tikka Masala sauce. Of course, homemade is the best, but I can understand there are days when we all struggle and don’t have the time. 

Ingredients needed for Naan Pizza

• 8 pieces of Naan bread (store bought)
• 2 cups Makhani sauce
• 1 lb paneer, cubed in ½ inch pieces
• ½ cup plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon tandoori masala or tikka masala
• 1 green pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cups shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
• 2 green chilies, finely chopped (optional)
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• Salt

How to make Naan Pizza

Follow these steps to make this Naaz Pizza recipe:

Preparation

1. In a small bowl whisk the plain yogurt. 
2. Add Tandoori/tikka masala and salt to the yogurt and mix well. 
3. Add the paneer cubes to the yogurt marinade and mix gently to not break the paneer pieces. 
4. Cover the bowl and set it aside to marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour or up to 8 hours. 

To assemble the Naan pizzas

1. The pizzas will be assembled on the flat side of the Naans. If using frozen Naan de-frost it at room temperature for an hour before assembling. 
2. Add a couple of heaping tablespoons of makhani sauce to the flat side of the naan, leaving a very small border around the edges.
3. Add 5-6 pieces of marinated paneer cubes to the sauce. 
4. Now add sliced green peppers, onions, green chilies (optional), cheese, and any other toppings of your choice. 

Baking instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The oven rack should be placed in the center of the oven. Use a large spatula to transfer the assembled pizzas right onto the rack of the preheated oven. 
2. Alternatively, you can also place them on a baking tray. Placing the pizzas right on the rack gives a crispier pizza crust. 
3. Bake for 10 minutes till the cheese is melted, the crust is crispy and all the ingredients are warmed through. 
4. Garnish with chopped cilantro. 
5. Cut into 2-3 pieces depending on the size of the naan bread. Serve hot. 

Grilling instructions

1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Place the naan pizza directly on the grill grates and close the lid.
3. Grill the pizza for 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, the ingredients are warmed through and the crust is crispy.
4. Remove the pizza from the grill using a spatula.
5. Garnish with chopped cilantro. 
6. Cut into 2-3 pieces depending on the size of the naan bread. Serve hot. 

Recipe tips for Indian-style Naan pizza

• If you are short on time and cannot make the makhani sauce, use store-bought makhani or tikka masala jarred sauce for a quick and easy family dinner. 
• Use any toppings of your choice. Some other great options are- chopped pineapple, finely shredded cabbage, red peppers, corn, and jalapeno peppers.
• Makhani sauce can be made 2-3 days in advance and properly stored in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.  Once you have the Makhani sauce ready and paneer cubes marinated with yogurt and spices, it does not take long to assemble the pizzas.

FAQs – Naan Pizza recipe

Recipe Card- Naan Pizza (Indian style with paneer)

Naan Pizza

Discover the perfect blend of Italian and Indian cuisine with Naan Pizza. This fusion dish takes classic pizza toppings and pairs them with the unique flavors of naan bread, creating a mouthwatering culinary experience. Learn how to make this quick and easy recipe at home with our step-by-step guide.

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Recipe by Divya Jhaveri

5 from 12 votes

Course: MainCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Baking Time

10 minutes

Grilling time

5-8minutes

Ingredients

• 8 pieces Store bought Naan bread (See note)

• 2 cups Makhani sauce (See note)

• 1 lb paneer, cut in 1/2 inch pieces

• 1/2 cup Plain yogurt

• 1 tablespoons Tandoori or Tikka masala (See note)

• 1 green pepper, thinly sliced

• 1 small onion, thinly sliced

• 2 cups shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese

• 2 green chilies, finely chopped (optional)

• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Method

• In a small bowl whisk the plain yogurt. Add Tandoori/tikka masala and salt to the yogurt and mix well. Add the paneer cubes to the yogurt marinade and mix gently to not break the paneer pieces. Cover the bowl and set aside to marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour or up to 8 hours.
• To assemble the Naan pizzas:
  The pizzas will be assembled on the flat side of the Naans. If using frozen Naan de-frost it at room temperature for an hour prior to assembling.
  Add a couple of heaping tablespoons of makhani sauce to the flat side of naan, leaving a very small border around the edges. Add 5-6 pieces of marinated paneer cubes to the sauce. Now add sliced green peppers, onions, green chilies (optional), cheese and any other toppings of choice.
• Baking instructions:
  Pre-heat the oven to 350 F.  The oven rack should be placed in the center of the oven. 
  Use a large spatula to transfer the assembled pizzas right on the rack of the pre-heated oven.  Alternatively, you can also place them on a baking tray.  Placing the pizzas right on the rack gives a crispier pizza crust. 
  Bake for 10 minutes till the cheese is melted, crust is crispy and all the ingredients are warmed through. 
  Garnish with chopped cilantro.  Cut into 2-3 pieces depending on the size of the naan bread.  Serve hot. 
• Grilling instructions:
  Preheat your grill to medium-high heat about 350 F.  Place the naan pizza directly on the grill grates and close the lid. Grill the pizza for 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, the ingredients are warmed through and the crust is crispy.
  Remove the pizza from the grill using a spatula. Garnish with chopped cilantro.  Cut into 2-3 pieces depending on the size of the naan bread.  Serve hot. 

Recipe Video

Tips

• The Makhani sauce recipe is included with the recipe for Paneer Makhani. If you are short on time and cannot make the makhani sauce, use store-bought makhani or tikka masala jarred sauce for a quick and easy family dinner. 
• Use any toppings of your choice.  Some other great options are- chopped pineapple, finely shredded cabbage, red peppers, corn, and jalapeno peppers.
• Makhani sauce can be made 2-3 days in advance and properly stored in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.  Once you have the Makhani sauce ready and paneer cubes marinated with yogurt and spices, it does not take long to assemble the pizzas.
• If you are unable to find Tandoori or Tikka masala, add 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon red chili powder, and ¼ teaspoon garam masala in its place.
• For this recipe, I like to use the naans that are in the bread section and stay at room temperature.  You can also use the frozen naans that are widely available.  Just be sure to de-frost them before assembling and baking.