Cheddar, Bacon, Apple & Arugula Flatbread

Cheddar, Apple, Bacon & Arugula Flatbread

Has your Friday night pizza routine gotten boring? This easy flatbread will perk things up!

Using purchased flatbread crusts, naan bread or even pita makes throwing this recipe together easy enough for kids and quick enough to overcome the end-of-the-week-only-have-energy-for-takeout kind of feeling.

Tangy sharp cheddar cheese gives this flatbread plenty of flavor and richness. One note here – it is worth it to grate a hunk of real cheddar on your box grater. Although you can buy pre-grated sharp cheddar and the pizza will still be excellent, freshly grated cheese without any additions (like anti-clumping starch or anti-mold preservatives) will give you intense flavor and lovely melty consistency. Grating the cheese yourself will take 3-4 minutes- nothing more. I promise.

Your bacon can be leftovers, purchased fully-cooked bacon or even 4 slices thrown into the microwave on a paper towel for 3-4 minutes. And, no need to peel your apple. Slice them thin and they soften in the oven without losing their structure or releasing too many juices. Plus, the skin is where all the fiber is – whenever possible keep the skin on your apples!

One of the keys to a crispy crust is cooking this flatbread directly on the oven grate shelves. You can do this by carefully sliding the crust from a cutting board directly into the oven. All that is required is a quick bake in a hot oven – just long enough to melt the cheese and slightly soften the apples. When the pizza is done, use a clean kitchen towel or hot mitt to slide the pizza back onto a cutting board.

Use a sharp knife to cut the flatbread into slices and then sprinkle on the arugula. The cool crunch of arugula with its bitter bite is the perfect counter point to the rich cheese, salty bacon and sweet apple. This easy flatbread pizza hits all the flavor notes and will be one you return to anytime you need a quick appetizer or easy Friday night supper.

Cheers to the weekend!