Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or flying solo, when you’re too busy or tired to cook, frozen pizzas can save the day. They’re reliable, ready whenever you are, and taste pretty darn good. A few simple upgrades, however, can transform the freezer staple into an MVP (most valuable pizza).
It starts with picking the right pie for your family’s taste preferences and dietary needs. There are numerous high-quality options available at the grocery store. Thick crust, whole wheat crust, brick oven, deep dish, low carb, gluten-free—whatever you prefer, there’s a pizza for every occasion and palate. Bonus: a pizza stone, sheet pan, or cast-iron skillet preheated in the oven can help to achieve a crisp, craveable crust.
Once you’ve picked your pie and preheated the oven, the real fun begins. Take your slice over the top with any of these DIY topping ideas and let them inspire your own pizza creations.
Create a burger pizza
When one person wants pizza, another wants burgers, and all you want is a night off from cooking, cheeseburger pizza has you covered. Grab everything you love about a towering fast food burger—ground beef, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles—and layer it on a frozen cheese pizza once it’s cooked through. Don’t forget your favorite sauces!
Get the recipe inspiration: Cheeseburger Pizza
Top it with a salad
Frozen pizza is a tasty cheesy canvas for any of your favorite salad ingredients. The combo of crunchy cold greens on a gooey warm slice delivers just the right balance of tastes, temperatures, and textures. It also lets you serve a complete meal without dirtying the salad bowl. Try a new twist on Caesar by topping pizza with chopped romaine, Parmesan, and bottled dressing. Or go Greek with spinach, tomatoes, red onion, and kalamata olives. For maximum crispness, wait until the cooked pizza has cooled slightly before topping with greens.
Get the recipe inspiration: Grilled Salad Pizza with Prosciutto
Sprinkle on some sweet
Contrasting sweet and savory flavors is a delicious strategy for making food more appetizing. It’s the reason pineapple on pizza is a thing (even if it’s not your thing). Fresh fruit pairs well with a variety of salty meats and cheeses, like the classic duo of prosciutto and fresh figs (or swap in fig preserves). Caramelized onions and aged balsamic vinegar are also tasty options for adding earthy sweetness. Add them as a finishing touch to pies with salty cheeses, such as pecorino or feta, and/or cured meats, like pepperoni or salami.
Get the recipe inspiration: Strawbery Blue Cheese Pizza
Make it for meat-lovers
If you’re feeding meaty appetites on pizza night, pepperoni is just the tip of the iceberg. Pump up the protein and flavor of frozen pie with cooked meat, like ground beef or ground pork, seasoned with your favorite spice blend and drizzled with your favorite sauce. Crumbled Italian sausage or store-bought pulled pork make for tasty toppings that are full of flavor straight out of the package. Or take inspiration from the deli case and top with sliced ham, salami, or pastrami. Finish your pie with any ingredients you’d typically serve with the meat, like pickles, red onion, or peppers.
Get the recipe: Pulled Pork Pizza
Or for veggie-lovers
If there’s one surefire way to get everyone to eat their veggies, it’s serving them on pizza. The only limit is your imagination when it comes to piling on the greens (or reds, yellows, or purples). Broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, eggplant, and peppers are just a few of the delicious, nutritious options. Just be sure to give them a quick sauté before adding them to your pizza. Finally, finish with fresh herbs, such as basil or oregano, which adds a bright pop that brings new life to a vegetarian-friendly slice.
Get the recipe inspiration: Grilled Pizza with Zucchini and Peppers
Go Cajun
A quick trip to the bayou is easy with a few Cajun-inspired ingredients on hand. Bring the flavors of Bourbon Street to your kitchen by topping frozen pizza with smoky andouille sausage, diced bell peppers, and onions. For even more N’awlins flavor, add a sprinkle of Cajun or creole seasoning blend.
Get the recipe inspiration: Cajun Pizza
Chicken out with barbecue or Buffalo sauce
Frozen pizza is a great way to upcycle leftover chicken. Toss shredded chicken with barbecue sauce and add it to frozen pizza along with cooked slices of red onion and peppers. Or add some spicy wing-spiration with Buffalo sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and scallions.
Get the recipe inspiration: Barbecue Chicken Pizza
Spice it up
If you’re a heat seeker, this fiery upgrade might win a permanent place in your dinner rotation. Thin slices of hot soppressata (or swap in any of your favorite spicy cured meats), jalapeños, and smoked mozzarella combine for a pizza with a serious punch. Turn up the heat even more with a drizzle of hot sauce or hot honey.
Get the recipe inspiration: Individual Spicy Hawaiian Pizzas
Nacho-fy it
This Tex-Mex take on pizza makes a crowd-pleasing dinner or killer snack for Game Day. Anything you like on nachos works here, such as seasoned beef or chicken, black or refried beans, onions, and cheddar or Mexican cheese blend. Finish the cooked pie with fresh toppings, like cilantro, tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, guac, or salsa.
Get the recipe inspiration: Nacho Pizza
Make breakfast for dinner
This BLD (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) pie is equally at home on the dinner table or starring as the centerpiece of Sunday brunch. It’s all the best parts of a complete diner breakfast piled onto frozen pizza. Start with a layer of frozen tater bits and Canadian bacon and allow them to gently crisp in the oven before adding a few cracked eggs on top. After a few more minutes of baking time, the eggs will be cooked with mouthwateringly runny yolks (or bake longer for firmer yolks) and you’re ready for breakfast, anytime.
Get the recipe: Breakfast Pizza
