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Need a few easy sides to go with a pizza party? Here are our top sides for pizza, the most delicious and satisfying ways to complement your favorite pies.

Sides for pizza
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Ready for a pizza night? It can be tricky to find the right sides to go with pizza. Salad is a natural, but it’s got to have the right vibe. Plus, it can’t be so much effort that it takes away from the main event!

Alex and I have pizza nights often, but it can be harder than we think to find the right side dishes to accessorize with our meals. We love to make sides that are vegetable-forward, because we feel more satisfied when we’re done with the meal (and we go through less pizzas!).

Types of sides to pair

Here we’ve combed through our library of thousands of recipes for the best sides for pizza! Salads are the most fitting choice: they’re full of colorful vegetables and you don’t have to use your oven. But we’ve also got a few ideas for sauteed vegetables or even veggie dips that mix up the standard salad. Either way, you won’t be using your oven for any of these side dishes.

You’ll find something for everyone here, from a casual pizza night to a dinner party. If you’re going for a family-friendly with kids, you might want to try our ranch dip with veggies with our cheese pizza. For a fancy night of entertaining, try a classy citrus salad or radicchio salad with a truffle pizza or burrata pizza. Ready to get started?

The recipes: our top sides for pizza!

More pizza resources

Love a great homemade pizza? Alex and I have got all the resources you need to make your own killer pizza at home: Here are a few more of our favorite pizza recipes:

Frequently asked questions

Do I even need sides with pizza?

Pizza is delicious on its own, but sides can add variety, texture, and well-roundedness to your meal. They can also help balance the richness of pizza with lighter options or offer a refreshing contrast.

What kind of sides are best with pizza?

The possibilities are endless! Here are some popular categories to consider:
Salads: A light and refreshing salad balances the heavier flavors of pizza. Opt for a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette, or get creative with chopped vegetables, fruits, and cheeses.
Appetizers: Finger foods like garlic knots, breadsticks, or mozzarella sticks add a fun and shareable element to your pizza feast.
Veggie sides: Roasted vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts add essential vitamins and a healthy counterpoint to pizza’s richness.

I’m looking for something healthy. What are some good options?

Caprese salad: Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil with a drizzle of balsamic glaze offer a light and flavorful option.
Grilled vegetables: Grill zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, or asparagus for a smoky and healthy side dish.
Arugula salad with shaved parmesan: Arugula’s peppery flavor pairs well with pizza, and the shaved parmesan adds a touch of salty richness.
Fruit salad: A refreshing fruit salad with a light honey dressing can cleanse the palate after pizza.

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25 Sides for Pizza: Tuscan Kale Salad & More!

Kale salad
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The best side to go with pizza is this incredible Tuscan kale salad! A dressing of lemon, garlic and Parmesan cheese transforms kale into tangy goodness.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 3 to 4 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Raw
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large bunch Tuscan kale (about 8 ounces)*
  • 1 very small or 1/2 medium garlic clove
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lemon (3 to 4 tablespoons juice, plus zest)
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • Homemade croutons (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry the kale. Then destem and roughly chop the kale leaves.
  2. Peel and mince the garlic clove. Sprinkle it with the kosher salt, then holding the blunt edge of the knife, scrape the sharp edge of the blade over the minced garlic, holding the knife at an angle and mashing the garlic into a paste.
  3. Place the paste in a medium bowl. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and fresh ground black pepper, and whisk to combine. Add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
  4. Toss the dressing with the kale leaves. Serve topped with lemon zest (and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired).  If desired, serve with homemade croutons.

Notes

*1 bunch of kale makes a moderate serving size of 4: consider doubling the recipe if feeding hungry eaters.

Adapted from 101 Cookbooks

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About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Hi! We’re Sonja and Alex Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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2 Comments

  1. Sue says:

    Why won’t pictures print on recipes?

    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      We need to fix it!