Smoky Cajun-Style Shrimp'n Bacon Pizza With Crispy Cornbread Crust

Jan 10, 2025
by Lidia Haddadian

Lidia Haddadian, Lodge's 2019 Cornbread Cook-off champion, took cornbread to the next level with her winning recipe. Who would have thought of making a delicious cajun pizza with a cornbread crust? Her flavor-filled crust is topped with a spicy sauce, bacon, cajun shrimp, and, of course, cheese.

Level

Advanced

Prep Time

1 hour

Cook Time

1 hour

Serves

2-4

Printer-friendly

Ingredients

Printer-friendly

½ cup warm water (110-115 degrees F)
1 teaspoon double-acting instant yeast
1 ½ teaspoons sugar, divided
3 tablespoons plus 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 , 6.5 ounce package Martha White yellow cornbread mix
¾ cup all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
6 slices smoked bacon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 ½ cups chopped onions
1 cup red bell peppers, chopped
1 cup yellow bell peppers, chopped
1 cup green bell peppers, chopped
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
1 ⅛ teaspoons sea salt, divided
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 ¾ cups store-bought pizza sauce
2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
24 medium (about ½ pound) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup shredded jack cheese
8 ounces smoked mozzarella, cut into small cubes
2 cups baby arugula
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Combine warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Allow to sit for 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, Martha White cornbread mix, and flour. Knead with hands (adding more flour if needed) just enough to form a dough that doesn't stick. Form into a ball and let it rest, covered in bowl for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a 12 Inch Skillet, cook bacon until almost crispy. Set bacon aside and remove all but 2 tablespoons of rendered bacon fat from skillet. Add butter, bell peppers, and onions. Sauté until tender and translucent. Add garlic, 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Sauté until it just begins to brown.
Brush a 14 Inch Baking Pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Roll out rested dough over a floured cutting board to about a 14-inch round. Fold dough in half twice for easy transfer onto pizza pan. Unfold dough over pizza pan and carefully spread evenly until the edges are filled. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Transfer ¾ of sautéed veggies to a bowl and set aside. Add remaining veggies to the skillet, add pizza sauce, 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, vinegar, and ½ tablespoon sugar. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
Coat shrimp with 1 teaspoon of cajun seasoning, ½ teaspoon of paprika, ¼ tsp sea salt, and lemon zest. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and toss to coat, set aside.
Slice previously cooked bacon into thin strips and set aside. Spread sauce all over baked pizza dough, leaving about ½-inch edge for the crust. Top evenly with shredded Jack cheese, ½ of reserved sautéed veggies, cubed smoked mozzarella, remaining veggies, shrimp, and bacon. Bake for another 8 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked and the cheese is completely melted.
In a medium bowl, toss arugula in ½ teaspoon olive oil. Remove pizza from oven, sprinkle with crushed red pepper, and top with arugula. Slice and serve!