Pizza night or a pizza party can be a great way to bring people together. But what is the best thing to serve to go along with the main course? Here are 25 simple and tasty pizza side dishes to take pizza night to the next level.
What is it about pizza that makes it so craveable and always a crowd pleaser?
It's amazing what a little olive oil, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce or marinara sauce, and some of your favorite toppings can do!
We usually have family pizza night once a week, and it's often the best part of our week! And if you're like us, we like to add some tasty side dishes to the main meal for a complete dinner.
🍕 What you need for pizza night
If you're making your own pizza dough from scratch, try our simple homemade pizza dough recipe. This recipe requires simple ingredients you can find in any grocery store and has been the family's favorite pizza dough for decades!
And if you're looking for a tasty main dish with homemade toppings for your next pizza party, try our Taco Pizza, Shrimp Pesto Pizza, or our CPK copycat Thai Chicken Pizza recipe.
Or tap the simple button and make our Pizza Cups or Air Fryer French Bread Pizza.
🥗 Perfect pizza side dish
Whether you're looking for vegetarianappetizers like mozzarella sticks, garlic bread, fruit salad or onion rings, or a meaty tasty side like chicken wings, these side dishes are the perfect complement to a slice of pizza. You'll find some air fryer recipes and some Pressure-cooker recipes, too, which means these are quick and simple.
These are some of the best side dishes, and we think you will love any of these tasty recipes!
Pizza Side Dishes
Looking for the perfect complement for your next pizza pie? Here are some of our favorite side dishes for pizza, whether it's for family dinner night or you're putting together a menu for a pizza party.
1Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
You need less than 30 minutes and fewer than 5 ingredients to make these super tasty chicken wings. Crispy crunchy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside, they're everything a wing should be. And the perfect wingman for pizza.
2Garlic Parmesan Knots
Garlic knots are a classic pizza side dish, and you'll love these buttery knots sprinkled with parmesan. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce.
3Classic Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Vinegar
Made with juicy tomatoes, zippy garlic, and fresh basil atop crispy slices of rustic bread, this classic bruschetta is a great side dish for pizza... and it's tasty on its own!
4Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe
When the weather turns colder, reach for this warm, comforting Sausage Tortellini Soup. It goes great with pizza and you can customize it with your favorite vegetables, meat, pasta, and beans.
5Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread
Infused with garlic, herbs, and olive oil, this hearty, pillowy-soft, savory focaccia bread is great for dipping and makes a tasty pizza party side dish.
6
BLT Pasta Salad
Done in under 30 minutes, this creamy BLT pasta salad is ideal for pizza parties, BBQs, picnics, and any al fresco dining experience.
7
Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs
Sweet, smoky, and tasty, these Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs are simple to make and a great option for large gatherings. Make them ahead of time and roll them out when the pizza is ready!
8Buffalo Chicken Bites
These Buffalo Chicken Bites are a snap to make in simply 20 minutes using phyllo dough cups and rotisserie chicken. A great pizza side dish for Game Day or any other gathering!
9Grilled Shrimp Pineapple Skewers
You may not like pineapple slices on your pizza, but they're tasty on these grilled shrimp skewers. And they make for a great, lighter pizza side dish.
10Tex-Mex Vegetarian Sheet Pan Nachos
Packed with mouth-watering Tex-Mex flavors, this simple sheet pan nachos recipe can be made in simply 30 minutes. It's the perfect way to add a little crunch to your next pizza dinner or game day get together.
11Simple Shrimp Tacos
Light, refreshing, crisp, and vibrant, what's not to love about these Simple Shrimp Tacos? In fact, they're so good, you may have to stop yourself from eating them so you have room left over for the pizza!
12Soft Pretzel Bites
Soft, fluffy, and great for dipping, these Pretzel Bites come together with simply a few common pantry ingredients. This recipe makes more than three dozen, so it's ideal for any pizza party.
13Simple Pizza Cups
Have some leftover ingredients from your homemade pizza? Then put them to good use and whip up these tasty, bite-size pepperoni pizza cups. They're fast, simple, and make for a great pizza snack!
14Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Using simply three ingredients and ready in under 15 minutes, these tasty Bacon Wrapped Shrimp are simple to make and sure to be a crowd favorite. A great appetizer to serve alongside your favorite pizza.
15Best Pressure-cooker Turkey Chili Recipe
Chili is a great comfort food and also a great side dish to dunk your pizza in. This Pressure-cooker Turkey Chili is packed with spices and flavor and done in simply 30 minutes, thanks to the pressure cooker!
16
Baby Potato Salad with Bacon
This tangy, tasty side dish goes great with pizza and is perfect for picnics, BBQs, or any get together. The best part: if you have leftovers, you can serve them up with breakfast the next day!
17Corn Fritters
Add some crunch to your pizza dinner with these crispy, comforting Corn Fritters. Made with tangy scallions and cheddar cheese, these fritters are simple, fast comfort food.
18Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
You only need 5 ingredients to add these spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower bites to your pizza party menu. They may be small, but they're big on flavor!
19Pineapple Pulled Pork Sliders and Slaw
The crisp and refreshing slaw paired with the juicy pineapple and pork make these Pineapple Pulled Pork Sliders the perfect sweet/savory appetizer for your next pizza party.
20Air Fryer Corn Ribs
Skip the utensils with these fresh, crunchy, and fun-to-eat Air Fryer Corn Ribs. They can be eaten the same way you do your pizza — with your hands.
21Air Fryer Broccoli (Pressure-cooker)
Broccoli is packed with vitamins and minerals. This Air Fryer Broccoli is a quick, simple, and nutritious side dish for your pizza that takes simply minutes to make.
22Summer Slaw with Corn, Peaches, and Tomatoes
Done in simply 15 minutes, this crisp Summer Slaw includes fresh peaches, cool corn and tomatoes, and crunchy cabbage. A healthy complement to your pizza pie.
23Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
After you've put down your last slice of pizza, pick up one of these sweet little Apple Hand Pies. They're flaky, buttery, cinnamon-y, and topped with sweet salted caramel.
24Pineapple Mango Sorbet Recipe
A cool, sweet sorbet is the perfect way to cap off a pizza dinner. This tropical Pineapple Mango Sorbet is tropical, refreshing, and won't weigh you down.
25Simple Fruit Salad
This simple fruit salad is healthy, fast, and an ideal make-ahead dish for parties and gatherings. It can also aid with digestion after a hearty pizza meal. Plus, it's a great way to use up all that fruit hanging out in your fridge!
👩🏽🍳 Pizza side dish FAQs
What side should We bring to a pizza party?If you've been invited to a pizza party and want to bring the perfect side dish, consider something that will travel well. For example, you don't want a hot dish to cool down too much or a crispy one to get soggy. A great side dish option might be garlic knots, buffalo chicken bites, or soft pretzel bites.
What is a great appetizer to serve with pizza?Looking for an appetizer or good side dish to nibble on before digging in to the pizza? Go for something small that's simple to eat so you don't fill up, like meatballs, bacon wrapped shrimp, or crispy buffalo cauliflower.
🍕 Pizza night tools & equipment
Whether you have regular family pizza nights or you're hosting a birthday pizza party, here are some kitchen tools to help you have the best pizza experience.
- Pizza peel: A pizza peel can help you slide your pizzas in and out of the oven like a pro.
- Pizza stone: If you don't have a pizza oven, a pizza stone will help heat up the pizza in a standard kitchen oven quickly and give it a nice professional crust.
- Pizza cutter: This sturdy wheeled pizza cutter is great for cutting pizza, as well as pie crust and pastry dough.
- Meat thermometer: These meat thermometers are the key to having perfectly cooked pies.
- Pizza oven: If you regularly host pizza nights, consider getting an Ooni pizza oven. The leading brand name in modern pizza ovens, this is a top of the line kitchen must for home cooks who love their pizza!
Click here to check out the famous Ooni pizza ovens. They also make great pizza peels and pizza stones!
🍽 More great side dishes
As you can see, there are so many possibilities beyond the basic french fries and tater tots! The next time you're looking for an simple recipe for pizza sides, try any of the ones listed above. Or, here are a few more great ideas:
- Green Beans with Bacon and Shallots
Perfect BBQ Side Dish Recipe: Corn with Basil Lime Butter- Mushroom Marsala
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples
Did you make any of these recipes? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and comment below letting us know which one you made and how it turned out. Thank you!