One can never tire of pizza as is: It's a pretty amazing meal and everyone knows it. Heck, there's even a National Pizza Day! But it doesn't have to be something that's ordered in or seen as a last-minute meal. Pizza, America's favorite comfort food, is as simple to make as dialing (or tapping in) a few numbers on a phone (yes, really!). Plus, getting the whole family involved makes for an awesome group activity. Cheers to the bonus of spending quality time together! What could be better? There's an endless variety of pizza pies to create, so let everyone's imagination take the wheel.
Regular plain ol' pizza will do, but creativity is key to keeping boredom at bay. Coming up with a variety of options keeps the family engaged, entertained, and well-fed. Pizza is the perfect food for batch cooking, too, because pretty much any pie can be frozen and heated up in an oven at a later date. If the recipe calls for fresh ingredients, such as avocado, then simply add that once the pizza is hot and bubbly.
A variety of crusts — not just classic dough made from white flour and yeast — keeps things interesting too. Naan, pita bread, and even tortilla wraps or cauliflower dough can be the base of a pizza. These recipes give everyone a chance to make individual pies with their own choice of sauce and toppings. More than enough pizza recipes exist to suit the needs of any family member. From gluten and dairy allergies to vegetarians and vegans, to anyone with a most discerning palate, pizza recipes can get so creative that a family will never have to eat the same one twice.
Taco Pizza With Homemade Pizza Dough
The only thing better than pizza or tacos is a taco-style pizza. Yes, there is no reason not to have both at once. This easy homemade dough gets topped with taco fixings and taco seasonings. Finished off with crumbled Doritos, this taco pizza (oh yes, we forgot to mention that!) will be your new family favorite.
Cinnamon Swirl Pizza
This pizza combo is perfect for those who like to have both sweet and savory. Pizza for dinner and pizza for dessert? Yes, please! This simple cinnamon swirl pizza is the perfect end to the day. Instead of cheese, it's topped with brown sugar and cinnamon and a swirl of vanilla icing.
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
This Buffalo chicken pizza recipe is the ultimate game or party pizza. It combines pizza and everyone's favorite dip: Buffalo chicken (also known as buff chick dip). This one calls for already cooked chicken, so you can save even more time by prepping in advance. It's an easy recipe for a busy parent looking to feed the kids something yummy and quick.
Shrimp Scampi Pizza
Shrimp people, you know who you are, and you're going to love this shrimp scampi pizza pie. Garlic, lemon juices, and spices top a thin crust to create this delicious pizza. White wine is another ingredient that adds extra Italian flavor to this dish, in addition to the Italian seasoning, of course.
Barbecue Chicken Pizza
Barbecue sauce and ranch dressing are the not-so-secret ingredients of this take on California Pizza Kitchen's BBQ chicken pizza. If that doesn't have you drooling, then this line from the recipe author will: "Definitely drizzle or dip this pizza into ranch dressing." Don't have to tell us twice.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza
This sophisticated pizza for the discerning palate pairs Canadian bacon with chicken and Alfredo sauce. It's another recipe that calls for precooked chicken and mozzarella cheese, which is a pairing that works well for busy parents and kids (and anyone else who loves cheese).
Tomato & Pesto Pizza
Pesto is always a good idea, and tomato pizzas are tried and true. This tomato pesto pizza is an explosion of good flavors. Keep it fresh and simple with savory tomatoes, two types of cheeses, and protein-packed spinach. Pine nuts are optional.
Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas
Perfect for lunch or dinner, these pizzadillas are stuffed to the brim with pepperoni and cheese. Kids love quesadillas because they're yummy, and parents love them because they're easy. A pizzadilla is the obvious next step for a yummy but simple dinner for the whole family.
Hawaiian Naan Pizza
Swap out pizza dough for naan crust, add the fixings, and you've got yourself a fast, healthy, and filling meal with this take on Hawaiian pizza. It's one of the most simple and quicker recipes, and the bloggers write: "You’ll notice that the recipe’s approximately 3 sentences long. That’s because there’s not a lot to tell. Just slather sauce, sprinkle cheese, ham, and pineapple, and bake. In 12 to 15 minutes, you have a fabulous pizza dinner!"
Homemade Pizza Bowls
This gluten-free recipe brings all of your favorite gourmet pizza toppings in a bowl with crust on the side as dippers. It's a healthier twist on a comfort food, if you will. Ingredients include caramelized onions, goat cheese, and organic chicken sausage. Genius!
Carbonara Pizza
Earthy mushrooms sautéed in garlic and runny eggs are the key ingredients in this mouth-watering carbonara pizza recipe. It's two incredible Italian dishes combined into one, and we're here for it. The egg is very important, as the blog reads, "When the yolk breaks, it transforms into a luscious sauce that blends with the cheese, and it makes the pizza that much more decadent (and truly special)."
Vegan Caprese Pizza
Caprese is a staple Italian-style appetizer or salad, and extremely easy. This recipe that uses homemade vegan cashew cheese is in that vein, in both taste and ease: The whole dish comes together in less than 30 minutes. The vegan cheese — cashew mozzarella — satisfies having texture in the dish with a great cheese-substitute flavor.
Homemade Thin Crust Pizza
Thick and fluffy isn't always the way to go, because sometimes you just want a plain and simple, thin crust pizza. It seems like it's something that only pizza shops or fancy Italian restaurants can master, but that is not the case. This easy thin crust pizza recipe only requires basic ingredients and can be grilled.
Butternut Squash & Almond Ricotta Pizza
This vegan homemade pizza brings together classic fall ingredients for an unforgettable experience. It can be a nice light taste in the warmer months but a go-to in the autumn. Ingredients include butternut squash, almonds, ricotta, some greens, and a balsamic drizzle. Just note that if you want those almonds, you'll need to soak them in water overnight.
Barbecue Chickpea & Cauliflower Pizza
This vegan pizza has you whip up a bunch of stuff on a stove and throw it on a pizza crust in no time. Well, actually 45 minutes, but when you're a parent, that's basically no time. Just add the roasted cauliflower to the chickpeas for the topping, add avocado, and voilà: Dinner's ready.
Chicken Alfredo Pizza
This "white sauce" pizza brings together the delicious combination of chicken and Alfredo sauce for a completely new take on a classic pie. It's also an appropriate dish for people (and kids) who love a good Alfredo pasta but also want a classic pizza taste and texture.
Meat Lovers Pizza
Meat lovers is in the name of this pizza, so this one's for them. This must-have for meat lovers includes bacon, ham, pepperoni, and hot sausage. Oh, and cheese. Obviously. Parmesan and mozzarella balance out the spiciness and saltiness of the other proteins. The kids can be involved in loading everything on this pizza.
Pesto, Feta & Veggie Pizza
This perfect pairing of ingredients (pesto, feta, and veggies) tops a thin crust that's crispy on the edges and chewy in the middle. According to the blogger who made it: "the mozzarella and feta used here add tons of flavor. Try substituting goat cheese or even blue cheese for the feta if you want to change things up."
Vegan Avocado & Pesto Pizza
Avocado, vegan cheese, and homemade pesto top this hearty crust vegan pizza for a healthier take. It may be vegan, but it's still bursting with color and flavor. You could even make it during the holiday season and call it the Grinch pie for the kids (because of the red and green ingredients), but it's truly delicious any time of year.
