By Courtney Minor
Published Mar 7, 2024
Forget delivery on your next pizza night! These homemade pizza recipes taste better than anything you can order, plus they’re so quick and easy to make for dinner. I’m sharing our best pizza dough and crust recipes, lots of delicious pies with an array of tasty toppings, and a few other pizza-inspired dinner ideas.
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Easy Pizza Night Recipes
Everyone loves pizza night around here, and I’ve found that homemade pizza recipes are the simple secret to making weeknight dinners extra special! Plain cheese, pepperoni, meat lovers…they’re all great, but I think they taste even better when they’re baked fresh in the oven at home.
Sometimes I start from scratch with our perfect pizza dough and homemade marinara ; other times I skip a few steps and use a pre-made crust and a jar of pizza sauce. These pizza recipes can really be as easy as you please!
No matter which route you choose, your family is going to have a blast making these pizzas together, and the fresh flavor just can’t be beat!
Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
Quick and Easy Pizza Recipes
These homemade pizzas are all so quick and easy to make, you can even make them on a weeknight. Dinner will be ready before you know it!
- Cast Iron Skillet Pizza : Lots of melty cheese, a chunky tomato sauce, and a crisp crust make every bite delicious. We love that you can make this whole pizza in a skillet.
- Alfredo Pizza : Creamy Alfredo sauce and plenty of cheese tops this simple pizza recipe, and it bakes in just 10 minutes!
- Air Fryer Pizza : We love this easy method for making pizzas at home. The crust comes out nice and crispy, and you can add any toppings you want.
- Taco Pizza : Refried beans, taco sauce, bell peppers, onions, and plenty of cheese top this fun pizza. It tastes just like your favorite Mexican food!
- Mushroom Pizza : Marinara, garlic, mushrooms, and plenty of cheese make the perfect simple toppings for this vegetarian-friendly pizza recipe!
Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Make Restaurant-style Pizzas at Home
No need to go out or order in to get amazing pizzas. Try these recipes inspired by some well-known pizzas that you’re sure to love.
- New York Style Pizza : Grab a large slice of this homemade pizza recipe, with a crispy thin crust, gooey cheese, and just the right amount of sauce.
- BBQ Chicken Pizza : Delicious BBQ sauce, shredded chicken, red onions, and cheese create a sweet and smoky mix of pizza toppings.
- Meat Lover’s Pizza : Italian sausage, pepperoni, ham, and pancetta are piled on top of a pizza that will satisfy every carnivore out there.
- Chicago Deep Dish Pizza : Sink your teeth into a deep bite of rich pizza sauce, Italian sausage, lots of cheese, and a hearty crust.
- White Pizza : A generous mix of garlic and olive oil make a delicious base for tomatoes and cheese, and it’s ready in about 20 minutes!
- Sausage Pizza : Italian sausage and red bell peppers top this simple pizza recipe, and I definitely recommend finishing it with some chili oil for a final kick of deliciousness.
Pretzel Crust Pizza
Homemade Pizza Crust Recipes
A truly good pizza starts with a good crust, and there are plenty of pizza crust ideas here to make your unique. Follow the recipes for complete pizzas, or just make the crusts and add your preferred toppings.
- Pizza Dough : This is our go-to homemade dough, which leads to the freshest and most delicious pizza crust! It’s really easy to make, and you can even freeze it so it’s ready for any pizza night.
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust : This low-carb crust is made out of cauliflower, and you’ll be amazed at how crispy and tasty it is! It’s perfect for lighter and healthier pizza recipes.
- Crescent Roll Pizza : Turn flakey crescent roll dough into a puffy pizza crust. We love this for appetizer pizzas with veggies and cream cheese, but it works well with other toppings too.
- Soft Pretzel Crust Pizza : This unique pizza crust is salty, chewy, and perfect for all kinds of toppings. We added a flavor-packed cheese sauce and pepperonis!
Pizza Casserole
Pizza-inspired Dinner Recipes
Pizza night doesn’t have to stop with the typical pies. These creative recipes include everything you love about pizza in fun and unique ways!
- Pizza Casserole : Pizza sauce, pepperonis, cheese, veggies, and pasta cook up in a casserole to make this cheesy dinner idea!
- Pizza Bagels : All you need are some mini bagels, a jar of pizza sauce, and some shredded cheese–plus a quick 15 minutes–to make this fun recipe for weeknight meals.
- Pizza Burgers : When pizza night and burger night team up, you get these juicy burgers topped with pepperonis, marinara, and mozzarella.
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls : These super crispy pockets filled with pizza sauce and cheese are so easy to make in the Air Fryer, and they’re great for dipping in ranch, marinara, or pesto.
- Pizza Cupcakes : Perfectly-sized cups of pizza dough are stuffed with sauce, cheese, and topped with a pepperoni. The kids especially love these for an easy meal, but they make great appetizers too.
- French Bread Pizza Bites : Little bites of garlic bread topped with cheese and your favorite toppings make for a fun pizza idea. Perfect for lazy dinners or snacking!
- Pepperoni Pizza Rolls : This homemade pizza rolls recipe is so tasty, and it makes a great game day appetizer. Just roll them up, bake them in the oven, and serve!
If you make any of these easy pizza recipes for dinner, be sure to add some garlic knots or breadsticks on the side. Enjoy!
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
