Reddit's Genius Veggie Alternatives To Meat Toppings On Pizza

If you're a vegetarian or vegan, there may be times when you miss eating meat — whether you're at a backyard barbecue and smelling the hot dogs and burgers on the grill, or if you're at a steakhouse trying valiantly to ignore the delicious cuts surrounding you. While giving up meat (or even just making an effort to reduce your intake) can seem tough at times, there are tons of clever replacements that people have come up with and shared with the world.

For example, if you're an ex-pepperoni pizza lover or someone who dearly misses the flavors of meat on your 'za, this Reddit thread has listed some genius topping replacements to test out on your next homemade pie. Even if you aren't a vegetarian and feel like cutting out some of the calories that can quickly add up in pizza toppings, these veggie alternatives are a great option — and Reddit users say they taste incredible, too.

While topping pizza with zucchini and eggplant might not be necessarily instinctual, even on veggie versions, the Reddit thread says they should get a spot on your next pie. Reddit user Massgyo posted a picture of two delicious-looking creations and said they've been replacing pepperoni with marinated zucchini slices, and the results have been incredible. For the marinade, they used a combination of chili and garlic powders, olive oil, salt, and red wine vinegar — though you can adjust the ingredients to your preferences. 

Another user anneewannee said they use thin-sliced and roasted eggplant as a bacon substitute, which may sound odd, but after seeing the recipes and pictures, we have to admit it looks pretty good. They use a recipe from Minimalist Baker to create the smokey, bacon-like flavor and texture in the eggplant, then crumble it up and add to their pizza for a great swap every time.