I love hosting pizza nights. But, I don’t always call my favorite pizzeria. I love to whip up some great – and unusual – pies in my own kitchen.
Making homemade pizza does not need to be hard. Some pizza stores will sell you their dough or, these days, you can pick up pre-made pizza pie crusts in your local grocery store. Making your pie is only limited to your creativity! Seafood, meat, cheese, veggies, BBQ, sauces … it’s up to you. And, you do not need any special equipment other than your oven. Although a pizza stone and pizza peel are really nice tools and fun to use!
Here are a few recipes to spark your pizza night menu.
“Some really awesome recipes are total accidents – like this one,” is how Janice Joy Miller describes coming up with her Spicy Spinach Pizza. I love a happy accidental recipe. The addition of Kasseri cheese was interesting and definitely not traditional. It added great flavor to this pie.
“My family is a traditional pizza kind of family, but one of my brothers mentioned trying this combination and I rose to the challenge,” says Brandi Kirkpatrick of her Chicken Alfredo Pizza. I love a good food challenge. The creaminess of an Alfredo recipe, combined with the heartiness of the chicken is great. This recipe could be served as a dinner or cut into smaller pieces for a cocktail party app. So versatile – and filling!
Megan Conner’s Italian Stallion Pizza is one hefty, hearty pizza. “This is a different approach to the traditional pizza,” says Megan. Everyone loved this when I’ve made this – men, women and children alike. I like to add a smidge more sauce and cheese than what the recipe says because I love cheese – and you can never have enough in my mind.
“[This] is a variation of pizza, but no crust,” says Janna Hogan of her Meatza Pie recipe. No crust? Hmmm. I was surprised at how much I liked this recipe. It’s SUCH an easy and tasty recipe. Janna’s recipe is a wonderful foundation. Add additional toppings that you enjoy!
Janell Smith’s Fruit Pizza is a fun dessert twist to pizza. “[It’s] always a huge hit,” says Janell. This pizza is light and refreshing. Try adding a bit of lemon juice to the cream cheese mixture for an added punch of flavor.
Ok…I know Christine Reardon’s Fun Pizza Dip isn’t actually a pizza, but it would be great to munch on while waiting on the pizzas! If the recipe has fun in the name, it has to be good … right? “It is the perfect appetizer for a small gathering,” says Christine. This dip is very easy to throw together. You can serve it with crackers ad Christine suggests, but I’d also try breadsticks, rye crisps or even tortilla chips.
Making pizza is a great way to get family and friends involved in making dinner. And use these recipes as a starting point. Create some pies using your favorite ingredients. The options are endless!