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25 of Our Favorite Sides to Serve with Pizza

updated Mar 31, 2021

Credit: Photo: Shelly Westerhausen

Vegetarian Italian Chopped Salad

My family has pizza night once a week. Some weeks we make pizza from scratch , other weeks we order delivery, and, yes, sometimes we put frozen pizzas into the oven and call it dinner. An excellent side dish or salad (and, let’s be honest, a nice glass of wine) can elevate any and all pizza nights just enough to make it feel like a nice meal you planned — rather than one that just saved the day.

For the nights you want a little more than a couple slices but can’t decide on what to serve with pizza, here are 25 easy, veggie-centric side dishes that round out any pizza dinner — be it homemade, frozen, or delivery — and make it a meal.

1 / 25

Vegetarian Italian Chopped Salad

This make-ahead friendly salad is packed with crunchy veggies and tossed in a garlicky oregano vinaigrette. Eat as-is or serve alongside pizza.

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2 / 25

Cacio e Pepe Broccoli

The beloved pasta meets roasted broccoli florets in this place, feel-good side dish.

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3 / 25

Caesar Salad with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs

While croutons are classic in Caesar salad, these garlicky breadcrumbs might just change your allegiance.

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4 / 25

Veggie-Packed Chopped Salad

Feel free to mix and match the veggies in this chopped salad and add whatever you might have in your crisper drawer.

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5 / 25

Easy Skillet Kale with Lemon & Garlic

If you've always wondered why the kale you make at home never comes out as good as what you order out at restaurants, here are the secrets you need to know.

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6 / 25

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Pick up a bag of pre-shredded Brussels sprouts and this crowd-pleasing twist on Caesar salad comes together extra fast.

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7 / 25

Chicory Salad with Anchovy Dressing

A salty, umami-rich anchovy dressing is the perfect counterpart to the bitter radicchio in this vibrant, crunchy salad.

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8 / 25

Easy 10-Minute Garlic Broccolini

What's so great about Broccolini is it cooks faster than broccoli, and a bunch perfectly serves two — get two bunches to serve four.

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9 / 25

Four-Can Pantry Salad

It's well worth making a double batch of this bean-filled salad because then you can enjoy leftovers for lunch the next day.

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10 / 25

Stovetop Spinach

Add a bit of minced garlic and red pepper flakes to this spinach and it's the perfect simple side.

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11 / 25

The New Spring Mix

Pair this bitter green and herb-filled spring mix with a punchy vinaigrette and you can do no wrong.

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12 / 25

Salt and Pepper Smashed Cucumber Salad

Smashing cucumbers is an ingenious trick that results in scraggly edges that trap and soak in the simple vinaigrette.

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13 / 25

5-Ingredient Kale Caesar Salad

An easy, anchovy-free version of classic Caesar salad, made with kale instead of romaine so it keeps for days in the fridge.

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14 / 25

Jersey Salad

The Jersey salad is a centerpiece at the beloved Seattle restaurant Delancey. With its classic combo of romaine, cabbage, and shaved carrots (and a crazy-good garlic and Parmesan dressing), this is the most-requested pizza-night salad in my house.

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15 / 25

Every Pizza Place Salad

Another pizza parlor classic, this radicchio-based salad is crunchy, tangy, and has just the right amount of bitter. Use your pizza crusts to mop up any extra red-wine vinegar dressing.

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16 / 25

Oven-Roasted Frozen Broccoli

The oven is on and you're already reaching for frozen pizza, so why not roast some frozen broccoli too? This recipe gets finished with a little Parm and red pepper flakes, just like pizza.

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17 / 25

Chilled Zucchini Noodle Salad

Dressed with a spicy lime and jalapeño dressing, this crisp zucchini noodle salad pairs nicely with frozen pizza for dinner.

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18 / 25

Marinated Feta-Beet Salad

Start with store-bought roasted beets, and you're just minutes away from this vibrant salad. Dress it up on your favorite platter with plenty of fresh herbs — oregano and thyme are my favorites when serving with pizza.

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19 / 25

Tomato and Feta White Bean Salad

This bean salad relies on just a few kitchen staples to make a hearty side dish that still feels light and fresh.

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20 / 25

Two-Minute Creamy Salad Dressing

If you have a head of crunchy lettuce in the fridge and not much else for salad, this two-minute dressing is here to save the day. With just as much flavor as a Caesar dressing (and half the effort) it will be your new pizza-night go-to.

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21 / 25

Simple Arugula Salad

Have you ever put salad on top of pizza? Try it with this arugula salad. It's simple to make, but packs a punch of peppery flavor.

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22 / 25

Avocado Caprese Salad

When you need a creamy salad for your pizza night, this caprese is the one to reach for.

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23 / 25

Minty Snap Pea Salad

Yup, snap peas can totally be salad! Crunchy and fresh with mint and sharp radishes, this veggie side will even get kids excited about salad with pizza.

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24 / 25

Mile High Salad With Hazelnuts, Parmesan, and Red Wine Vinaigrette Recipe

This is the ultimate pizza party salad: you can prep it in advance, it's a guaranteed crowdpleaser, and it's wildly impressive.

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25 / 25

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus

Roasted asparagus is the perfect quick and easy side dish. Add a little Parmesan and garlic to the mix and you have some crave-worthy veggies that take practically no time to whip up.

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What is your favorite salad or side for pizza night?

Meghan Splawn

Food Editor, Skills

Meghan is the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.

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Source : food