SEVEN GREAT IDEAS TO KICK PIZZA NIGHT UP A NOTCH

Friday night is pizza night at our house. The kids help me prepare my Easy Pizza Dough recipe, which I have memorized at this point. At first, we made just about the same pizza every week, also using my Easy Pizza Sauce recipe.

Now I’m comfortable enough with my dough recipe to change up the sauce and toppings every week. It’s a great way to keep things fresh and kick it up a notch. In this post, I’m sharing seven ideas to kick pizza night up a notch.

With the average cost of, well… everything on the rise, pizza is no exception. According to Forbes.com, the median price of pizza ranges “from $7.25 to as much as $15.” And that doesn’t include drinks, tax, delivery, or a tip.

You can save so much money and get exactly what you want just by having pizza night at home every week. And it doesn’t have to be basic pepperoni and cheese. There are all sorts of options to keep your taste buds satisfied from week to week.

MAKE A CALZONE ALPINE SAUCE FOR PIZZA NIGHT

This is a super easy variation on pizza night; simply place sauce and toppings on half the crust and then fold over just before baking. It’s a hit every time. And the alpine sauce is so easy to make. You need the same base ingredients as ranch dressing, but substitute ranch powder for Italian seasoning. Add a splash of red wine vinegar, stir, and spread over the crust.

CHICKEN BACON RANCH PIZZA

We love a good CBR pizza at our house. And it’s so easy! Cook up some extra chicken and bacon earlier in the week for easier meal prep. Nothing beats a homemade sauce, ranch included. This option is also great for tomato-averse eaters.

PESTO PIZZA

Pesto sauce is so good! I know I enjoy any excuse to eat pesto sauce. And it’s delicious on pizza! Pesto sauce pairs well with steak, pork, chicken, and fish, so you’re not limited on toppings with this one.

GARLIC ALFREDO PIZZA

Chicken seems like an obvious meat choice with this one, but it’s certainly not the only option. Use jarred pasta sauce or make your own. I like to include extra minced garlic just to kick it up an extra notch.

MARGHERITA PIZZA

This is a classic meatless option, which also means it doesn’t feature at our house. But it’s still a favorite of mine! Tomato sauce, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and herbs make for a simple, healthier version of everybody’s favorite Friday night meal.

PERSONALIZE PIZZA NIGHT

This is a great way to use up leftover meat from the week; save it for personal pizzas. Simply line up all the topping and sauce options after preparing the dough in smaller individual pizzas. Let everyone pick out their own toppings.

If your kids are older this is a great way to get them more involved in the kitchen. And hey, who doesn’t love customizing their own meal?

BIRD LOVER’S PIZZA

This is a less fattening take on meat lovers’ pizza; we usually have poultry instead of red meat on pizza night. Simply use ground turkey or turkey sausage, turkey pepperoni, and turkey bacon for the “meat” instead of beef or pork equivalents. Reduce the calories without missing out on any flavor.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA NIGHT TOPPINGS?

There are so many possibilities. This is one of the reasons pizza night is a regular fixture on our weekly meal plan. Friday night also happens to be family night, so most weeks we have a homemade pizza or calzone then settle in for a movie or a few rounds of a family favorite game.

It’s a great tradition the whole family looks forward to. So pick an idea from this post (or one of your own) and make enjoy a great pizza and family night.

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