For as long as Matt and I have been together, we’ve never gone out for Valentine’s Day. Instead, we opt for cozy evenings at home, usually making homemade pasta or pizza.

This year, I had a vision of the ultimate Valentine’s Day meal: a heart-shaped pizza with a stuffed crust! This festive dish is topped with a simple sauce, Italian seasonings, melty cheese, and adorable heart-shaped pepperoni. It’s everything a romantic Valentine’s date night at home should be!

Pair it with Rosé Strawberry Sangria, then finish the evening with Valentine Nutella Truffles or a charming Vintage Heart Cake. While there are several steps, following the recipe makes it surprisingly easy to create this deliciously romantic meal!

Table of Contents

Ingredients for a Heart-Shaped Pizza

Pizza Dough: Enough for one pizza. Use store-bought for convenience or homemade for extra love.
Kitchen-Ready Tomatoes: A large can of these plum tomatoes works perfectly as a quick sauce. Or, use your favorite pizza sauce.
Low-Moisture Mozzarella: A block is best for melting. Avoid pre-shredded cheese for a smoother texture. You’ll need about half a block for one pizza.
Pepperoni: Cut into hearts—plan for 20 slices, though your pizza size may vary.
String Cheese: About 7-9 sticks for stuffing the crust.
Salt, Oregano, Basil: To make a quick Italian seasoning.
Olive Oil: For brushing the crust and enhancing the flavor.
Cornmeal: For dusting the prep surface and baking stone or sheet pan to prevent sticking.

How to Make a Heart-Shaped Pizza

Prep Work

Preheat Oven: Heat to 425°F. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to preheat.
Prepare Ingredients:
- Mix salt, oregano, and basil in a small bowl to make Italian seasoning.
- Shred the mozzarella block. If it’s difficult, tear it into small chunks.
- Unwrap string cheese sticks (you’ll need 7-9). Cut one in half for smaller sections.
- Cut pepperoni into hearts. Use a heart-shaped cutter, a knife, or scissors to fold and trim each piece.

Shaping the Pizza

Roll out the dough into a large circle. Don’t worry about perfection—the crust will be folded. Dust your work surface with cornmeal for easy transfer.
Place string cheese in a heart shape on the dough:
- Form a “V” at the bottom and top, connecting the sides with the remaining cheese.
Carefully cut the top center of the dough with a pizza cutter to help fold over the cheese. Start at the top, folding the dough over the cheese to create a stuffed heart-shaped crust. Pinch the edges to seal.

Topping the Pizza

Brush the crust with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
Spread tomatoes or sauce evenly inside the heart.
Top with shredded mozzarella and arrange the heart-shaped pepperoni on top.

Baking

If using a pizza stone, sprinkle it with cornmeal and carefully transfer the pizza. If using a sheet pan, bake directly on the pan.
Bake for 13-15 minutes until the crust is golden, and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

Serving

Let the pizza rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing. For fun, cut it down the middle like a “broken heart,” then into triangles. No matter how you slice it, it’s bound to be delicious!

This heart-shaped pizza is sure to make Valentine’s Day extra special—whether it’s for a romantic night in or a fun meal with loved ones! ç

Valentine’s Day Heart-Shaped Pizza

Recipe by snackonmeat

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Nothing says “I love you” like a homemade pizza with a heart-shaped crust, cheesy stuffed edges, and adorable heart-shaped pepperoni. This festive recipe is perfect for a romantic dinner or a fun family Valentine’s celebration. Learn how to make your own heart-shaped pizza with this easy guide!

Ingredients

Pizza Dough: Enough for 1 pizza (store-bought or homemade).
1/4 to 1/2 cup Kitchen-Ready Tomatoes: For the sauce.
8 oz Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded or torn into small chunks.
15 to 20 Pepperoni Slices: Cut into hearts.
7 to 9 String Cheese Sticks: For the stuffed crust.
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Basil
1 tbsp Olive Oil: For brushing the crust.
Cornmeal: For dusting the work surface and baking stone or sheet pan.

Directions

Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 425°F.
If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat. If not, prepare a sheet pan instead.
Prepare Ingredients
Make Italian Seasoning: Mix salt, oregano, and basil in a small bowl. Set aside.
Shred Mozzarella: Tear into chunks if grating is difficult.
Unwrap String Cheese: Set aside 7 sticks (plus 2 extra if needed), cutting one stick in half for smaller sections.
Make Heart Pepperoni: Use a heart-shaped cutter, scissors, or a knife. Stack slices for quicker cutting.
Shape the Dough
Roll out the dough into a large circle. It doesn’t need to be perfect since the crust will fold over. Ensure the dough isn’t too thin, as this pizza is heavy.
Sprinkle cornmeal onto your work surface to prevent sticking and to make transferring easier. If using a pizza paddle or inverted sheet pan, prep it with cornmeal too.
Form the Heart Shape
Place string cheese on the dough to form a heart outline:
Start with 4 sticks at the bottom in a “V” shape, leaving space to fold the dough over.
Use 2 more sticks for the top “V.” Connect the sides with the halved string cheese pieces.
Carefully cut a small slit at the top center of the dough. Fold and wrap the dough over the string cheese, sealing it tightly. Press the edges to prevent cheese from leaking.
Add Toppings
Brush the stuffed crust with olive oil.
Spread kitchen-ready tomatoes evenly inside the heart.
Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the crust and sauce.
Add shredded mozzarella, followed by the heart-shaped pepperoni.
Bake the Pizza
If using a sheet pan, bake directly. For a pizza stone, sprinkle it with cornmeal, then carefully transfer the pizza onto it.
Bake for 13–15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
Rest and Serve
Let the pizza rest for 2–3 minutes before slicing.