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.)
food
Wondering What to Serve with Pizza? These Are the 35 Best Side Dishes Out There
Published Jul 13, 2022
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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?
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
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