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Wondering What to Serve with Pizza? These Are the 35 Best Side Dishes Out There

By Rebecca Shapiro

| Jul. 13, 2022

Additional reporting by Taryn Pire

Whether you’re making dough from scratch, buying store-bought and using homemade toppings, or just calling for delivery (no judgement), pizza is always a good answer to the age-old question: “What’s for dinner?” While we’re happy to fill up on cheese and carbs, sometimes it’s nice to have a little something on the side, too. Whether you want to balance out your slice with a veggie dish or would rather dig into meat or carbs, we've got 35 delicious recipes to serve with pizza—from a crunchy wedge salad to cheesy mozzarella bites. (P.S.: For more food pairing ideas, check out our guides for what to serve with pasta and side dishes for fish tacos.)

RELATED: 28 Summer Pizza Recipes We Can’t Get Enough Of

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Family-Style Caesar Salad

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, make ahead

Its salty-savory flavor comes from olives and Worcestershire sauce instead of anchovies, but we're particularly obsessed with the yogurt dressing and crunchy croutons. Skip the chicken to lighten up the salad.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Pesto Zoodles

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

A healthy coating of homemade basil pesto takes zoodles to a whole new level. Add some fresh Parmesan and you're golden.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. Citrus, Fennel and Avocado Salad

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegan

We love the contrast of bright citrus with any rich, cheesy dish. This salad pairs blood oranges, navel oranges and ruby-red grapefruit with peppery arugula, sharp fennel and creamy avocado.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Greek Wedge Salad

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, vegetarian

This salad has all the crunch of a classic wedge, but swaps bacon and blue cheese for lighter, Mediterranean ingredients (which means more room for pizza).

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian

We’re of the opinion that roasted Brussels sprouts go with everything. Add some Parm and pepper and they’re glorious next to a slice of ‘za.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Asparagus Caesar Salad

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly

Caesar salad is a classic pizza pairing, but there's a new twist in town. It doesn't use a shred of lettuce, kale or any other leafy green. Without further ado, meet the asparagus Caesar salad.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Mozzarella Bites

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian

Instead of the usual stick shape, we fry tiny balls of cheese for a bite-size twist. Warning: Once you start to pop, you can’t stop.

What's Gaby Cooking

8. Green Monster Salad

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, no cook, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes

Wedges of avocado will have even the salad-averse reaching for the serving spoons. Plus, Gaby Dalkin’s basil vinaigrette is dangerously addictive.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9. Italian Bruschetta Bar

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy

A delightful start to a pizza party with friends. You only need a few store-bought ingredients—like cured meat, cheese and an assortment of crunchy bread or crackers—to build this stunning appetizer.

10. Beet Carpaccio with Burrata

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegetarian

No beef, no problem. Serve this side by Aida Mollenkamp with a white pizza for beautifully balanced flavors, or zhuzh it up with prosciutto.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

11. Gluten-Free Cheese Cauliflower Breadsticks

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, kid-friendly

If you want breadsticks, but don’t want to add more carbs to your meal, look no further. Plus, these handhelds come together in less than an hour.

12. Broccoli Salad with Creamy Almond Dressing

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, vegan, no cook

Unlike a traditional broccoli salad, this one ditches the mayo-based dressing for a tasty vegan sauce made from almond butter, miso and orange juice. Feel free to boil or sauté the broccoli if you don't like it raw.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

13. Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

We adore salads with a million toppings, but with a hefty main course like pizza, we’re in the mood for a simple salad that’s packed with protein but still feels light. That's where chickpea- and cheese-topped delight comes.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

14. Eggplant Parm Bites

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly

These poppable eggplant Parm bites are a worthy dish to serve with pizza at your next house party—just don't forget a side of marinara sauce for dipping. (And a glass of red, obvi.)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

15. Crispy Roasted Artichokes

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy

Artichokes seem intimidating, but they’re actually easier to work with than you think. From dips to pasta dishes, there are plenty of ways to cook with artichokes. With pizza, we suggest roasting this veggie in the oven until it's golden and crispy. Serve with an easy garlic aioli for dipping, and voilà.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

16. Prosciutto Fig Salad Board

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients

This fancy-looking salad takes mere minutes to pull together. Spend the rest of your newfound free time hanging out on the couch with a glass of wine and a pepperoni slice.

Two Peas and Their Pod

17. Berry Caprese Salad

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, no cook

Serving pizza at a pool party? We love this berry-filled twist on the classic caprese by Maria Lichty that screams summer. Might we suggest adding cantaloupe or watermelon to the mix?

Floating Kitchen

18. Shaved Asparagus and Arugula Salad with Farro and Edamame

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, special occasion-worthy

Bright, crunchy and colorful, this simple salad will fill you up if you're trying to resist another slice. (But we'd never blame you for giving in on pizza night.)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

19. Prosciutto Bites

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

Because what isn’t tastier when it’s wrapped in prosciutto? These little bites of salty goodness are a delicious party appetizer or addition to a game day spread where pizza is the main course.

Half Baked Harvest

20. Lemon-Garlic Roasted Broccoli Salad

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly

A hearty broccoli salad that's finished with pomegranate seeds, salty feta, avocado and a drizzle of lemon-balsamic dressing. Yup, we recommend making a double batch.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

21. Garlic Bread

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly

Might as well make your meal a full-on carb fest, no? Sauté whole garlic cloves in olive oil to infuse it with flavor and to tenderize the garlic. Then, mash it into a spreadable paste, season it, slather it on the bread and bake to perfection.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

22. Broccoli Rabe with Chickpeas and Ricotta

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian

A new love triangle recently grabbed our attention: spicy broccoli rabe mixed with starchy chickpeas and topped with a dollop of creamy fresh ricotta. We won't tell if you steal a bite (or four) before you serve it to your guests.

Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

23. Zucchini “Fries”

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe

We love how crispy these get in the oven—like breadsticks with extra vitamins. Even picky kids won't mind that you used zucchini instead of potatoes (as long as there's still ketchup on the table, of course).

Erin McDowell

24. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly

Wings and pizza are a Super Bowl party's dreamy pairing, but what if you hate the saucy mess, sticky fingers and leftover bones? Problem solved: These meatballs are spicy, tangy and tender, plus will cut down on your guests' napkin usage.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

25. BLT Pasta Salad

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients

Because sometimes the best pairing for carbs is more carbs. This salad combines all the crunchy, savory, creamy ingredients of the classic BLT sandwich, minus the bread.

DONNA GRIFFITH/THE PRIMAL GOURMET COOKBOOK

26. Pan-Roasted Broccoli ‘Steaks’ with Garlic-Sesame Vinaigrette

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, one pan

This recipe for pan-roasted broccoli from Ronny Joseph Lvovski’s Primal Gourmet Cookbook doesn’t even ask you to turn on your oven. All it calls for is ten minutes of cooking and your trustiest skillet.

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

27. 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein, one pan

Just like the classic version, these shrimp-topped zoodles are buttery and bright, but lower in carbs than real pasta. Whip it up in a single skillet for a satisfying pizza side.

Jacqui Melville/Apple

28. Cauliflower, Pomegranate and Apple Salad

Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly

Crisp, tart apples and juicy pomegranate seeds add brightness to spiced cauliflower and nutty tahini. Substitute maple syrup or agave for honey in the dressing to make it vegan.

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

29. Scallion and Chive Flatbread

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, crowd-pleaser

The quickest way to make pizza night “fancy”? Edible flowers. And this easy riff on garden focaccia is just the vehicle for them.

Patricia Niven/Keeping It Simple

30. Baked Chicken and Ricotta Meatballs

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, high protein

We adore meatballs in all forms, so why should they be limited to appetizers and spaghetti? These baked chicken and ricotta meatballs, from Yasmin Fahr’s Keeping It Simple, are tender, quick-cooking and easy to make on a weeknight.

Robert Bredvad/The Secret Ingredient Cookbook

31. Caesar Pasta Salad

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly

Creamy pasta salad meets cool, crisp greens for the ultimate alfresco side. Set the pie down on the picnic table, fetch a bottle of white and go to town.

Ana Cuba/The Modern Cook's Year

32. Kale and Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegetarian

The dressing is totally vegan, since it starts with a creamy base of sunflower seeds and blanched almonds. In case you need help shredding the sprouts, this is the easiest way to do it.

Katherine Gillen

33. Cacio e Pepe Zucchini

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegetarian

Just when you thought summer squash couldn't get more magical, a flurry of grated Parm proves you wrong. Go wild with the freshly cracked black pepper.

Yuki Sugiura/Lagom

34. Swedish ‘Pizzasallad’ Cabbage Slaw

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, vegan, one bowl, beginner-friendly

In case you couldn't tell by the name, this punchy side dish is served at most Swedish pizza joints alongside a fresh pie. Its vinegary flavor cuts right through a cheesy slice.

Katherine Gillen

35. Ranch Potato Salad

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian

You already drizzle your slice with ranch dressing, right? Up the ante with these spuds doused in a zingy mix of sour cream, buttermilk, vinegar and four types of fresh herbs.

RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to the 22 Best Pizza Spots in Manhattan

For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.

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