What to Serve With Pizza? 30 of the Best Side-Dishes To Try
Whether you’re making dough from scratch, buying store-bought and using homemade toppings, or just calling for delivery (no judgement), pizza is always the answer to the age-old question: “What’s for dinner?” But while we’re happy to fill up on cheese and carbs, sometimes it’s nice to have a little something on the side, too. So, whether you want to balance out your slice with a veggie-centric dish or would rather dig in to more carbs, we've got 30 delicious recipes to serve with pizza—from a crunchy wedge salad to cheesy mozzarella bites. For more food pairing ideas, check out our guides for what to serve with pasta and side dishes for fish tacos.
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1. Family Style Caesar Salad
This hearty side from Melissa Coleman’s cookbook The Minimalist Kitchen pairs fabulously with a couple of cheesy slices. Its salty-savory goodness comes from olives and Worcestershire sauce instead of anchovies, we’re obsessed with the yogurt dressing, and don’t even get us started on the crunchy croutons. The grilled chicken makes this salad a protein-packed dinner, but if you're looking for a lighter side dish, feel free to omit it.
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2. Garlic Bread
Might as well make this meal a full-on carb fest (you can always eat salad tomorrow). Sauté whole garlic cloves in olive oil to infuse the oil with flavor and to make the garlic tender. Then mash everything into a paste that’s easy to spread onto the loaf. Add a few seasonings, bake for a few minutes and you’ve got a flavor-packed side to round out your Italian feast.
3. Citrus, Fennel, and Avocado Salad
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.
4. Greek Wedge Salad
This salad has all the crunch of a classic wedge, but swaps bacon and blue cheese for lighter, Mediterranean flavors (which means more room for pizza).
5. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts
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.
6. Asparagus Caesar Salad
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.
7. Mozzarella Bites
Instead of the usual stick shape, we fry tiny balls of cheese for a bite-size twist. Warning: Once you pop, you can’t stop.
8. Green Monster Salad
Wedges of avocado will have even the salad-averse reaching for the serving spoons. Plus, Gaby Dalkin’s basil vinaigrette is dangerously addictive.
9. Italian Bruschetta Bar
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
Serve this salad by Aida Mollenkamp with a white pizza for beautifully balanced flavors.
11. Gluten-Free Cheese Cauliflower Breadsticks
If you want breadsticks, but don’t want to add more carbs to your meal, look no further. Plus, these babies come together in under an hour.
12. Broccoli Salad with Creamy Almond Dressing
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. (There's nothing like a super-clean salad to mitigate some of our pizza guilt.)
13. Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
We adore salads with a million toppings. (Bring on the olives, avocado, croutons and goat cheese medallions.) But with a hefty main course like pizza, sometimes we’re in the mood for a simple salad that’s packed with protein but still feels light. That's when this kale salad with crispy chickpeas is absolutely necessary.
14. Eggplant Parm Bites
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 sauce for dipping.
15. Crispy Roasted Artichokes
Artichokes seem intimidating, but they’re actually deceptively easy to make...and so impressive. From dips to pasta dishes, there are plenty of ways to cook with artichokes. To eat 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.
16. Prosciutto Fig Salad Board
This fancy-looking salad only takes about 10 minutes to make. (Spend the rest of your newfound free time hanging out on the couch with a glass of wine.)
17. Berry Caprese Salad
Serving pizza at a pool party? We love this twist on the classic caprese by Maria Lichty that screams summer.
18. Lemony Shaved Asparagus Salad
Bright, crunchy and colorful, this simple salad will fill you up if you're trying to resist another slice.
19. Prosciutto Bites
Because what isn’t better 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.
20. lemon garlic roasted broccoli salad
A hearty broccoli salad that's finished off with pomegranate seeds, salty feta, avocado and a drizzle of lemon-balsamic dressing. We recommend making a double batch.
21. Pesto Zoodles
A healthy coating of homemade basil pesto takes zoodles to a whole new level. Add some fresh Parmesan and you're golden.
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22. Broccoli Rabe with Chickpeas and Ricotta
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.
23. Zucchini “Fries”
We love how crispy these get in the oven—like breadsticks with extra vitamins.
24. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Wings and pizza are practically a staple at any Super Bowl party, but what if you hate the saucy mess and sticky fingers wings create? Problem solved. These bites are spicy, tangy and perfectly tender, but will infinitely cut down on your guests' napkin usage.
25. BLT Pasta Salad
Because sometimes the best thing to go with carbs is more carbs. This salad combines all the crunchy, savory, creamy ingredients of the classic BLT sandwich—minus, well, the bread (because pasta is way more fun).
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26. Pan-Roasted Broccoli ‘Steaks’ with Garlic-Sesame Vinaigrette
This recipe for pan-roasted broccoli, from Ronny Joseph Lvovski’s Primal Gourmet Cookbook doesn’t even ask you to turn on your oven.
27. 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles
Just like the classic version, 20-minute shrimp scampi zoodles are buttery and bright—minus the carbs. Whip them up in a single skillet for a satisfying side to pizza.
28. CAULIFLOWER, POMEGRANATE AND APPLE SALAD
Crisp, tart apples and juicy pomegranate seeds add brightness to spiced cauliflower and nutty tahini dressing.
29. Scallion and Chive Flatbread
The quickest way to make pizza night “fancy”? Add edible flowers.
30. Baked Chicken and Ricotta Meatballs
We adore meatballs in all forms, so why should they be limited to appetizers and sides? These baked chicken and ricotta meatballs, from Yasmin Fahr’s Keeping It Simple, are tender, quick-cooking and easy to make on a weeknight