8 Delicious Pizzas That Aren’t Take-Out

Slice, slice baby!

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Photo by: Antonis Achilleos

Antonis Achilleos

It all started when our local pizza shop changed ownership and the pizza, tragically, became exponentially worse in taste and steep in price. My family and I were lost, defeated and discouraged at the reality of what we were facing. And something needed to be done.

Homemade pizza was a staple in my household growing up, but wasn’t something we had too often. Pizzaria pizza, however, was a Friday constant. If that grease soaked box wasn’t sitting on our table when the clock struck seven, we knew something was off. But, when this change of ownership occurred, we quickly adopted a homemade-pizza-every-Friday-night policy. My mom purchased a personal pizza maker and we spent the evening tossing dough, spreading sauce and sprinkling cheese. We played with pesto, pepperoni and lots of different veggies. We also created combinations of parm, mozzarella and ricotta, adjusting the amounts for different kinds of pies.

We quickly came to realize that homemade pizza was, in fact, ridiculously delicious and much easier to make than we had anticipated. So, I encourage you to put down the take-out menu and pick up that dough. Give homemade pizza a chance, starting with the easy, healthy pizza recipes below.

Hawaiian Barbecue Pizza (pictured above)

Sitting at the top of the “Most Polarizing of the Pizzas” list is the Hawaiian pie. Adorned with grilled fresh pineapple rings, thin slices of deli ham, shredded Muenster, shredded Pepper Jack and a generous brushing of barbecue sauce, this Hawaiian Barbecue Pizza is the one exception to the age-old "does-pineapple-belong-on-pizza" debate. Sweet, sour, tangy, zesty and rich, this pizza stands out as a fan favorite, checking every box of flavor and texture you could want from the perfect pizza. Oh, and did we mention it’s healthy, too?

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Photo by: Con Poulos

Con Poulos

Cauliflower crust is having a moment. A great alternative for people with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance, this Pizza with Cauliflower Crust provides flavor, body and crunch via a veggie-based crust that crisps up like glutenous dough hitting some high heat. Top it with marinara sauce, peppers and onions for a jam-packed pizza that will have you questioning why you didn’t jump on the cauliflower bandwagon sooner!

Food Network Kitchen’s Keto Snack #2: Pizza Snacks, as seen on Food Network.

Food Network Kitchen’s Keto Snack #2: Pizza Snacks, as seen on Food Network.

Photo by: KATE MATHIS

KATE MATHIS

There’s kind of an underground debate going on about whether pizza should be considered dinner or just a snack. Of course, I think it should be both, but if you’re on the snack side, this Keto Pizza Snacks recipe will be your new best friend. The dough, made from whole-milk mozzarella, full-fat sour cream, almond or coconut flour and eggs, is denser and chewier than your average pizza dough due to the high amounts of fat and the presence of cheese. Top it with some simply made tomato sauce and another sprinkle of mozzarella for the perfect snack when you’re craving something a bit more indulgent.

Finish out the summer on the right foot with this Zucchini, Ricotta and Lemon Pizza. Make the most of the season’s sweet, juicy tomatoes and tender zucchini by thinly slicing and layering them atop freshly baked pizza dough and soft, creamy ricotta. Add plenty of lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper to make each ingredient shine and to brighten the dish overall. Pair it with a fresh arugula salad for the ultimate summer pizza party.

Photo by: Min Kwon ©2015,Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Min Kwon, 2015,Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Swap your traditional yeast-risen pizza dough for fresh naan bread to make this Baked Chicken Fajita Naan Pizza. This Tex-Mex meets Indian pizza consists of simply grilled chicken and vegetables, tomato sauce and shredded cheese atop a fluffy, leavened, oven-baked flatbread. Coming together in a short matter of time and baked in the oven for no more than 15 minutes, these personal sized pizzas are your go-to for any busy weeknight. Don’t forget to garnish with plenty of fresh cilantro and a generous squeeze of lime juice for an extra bit of zest.

Make your own whole multigrain pizza dough for this Whole-Grain Salami and Mozzarella Pizza. Thinly sliced salami gives this pizza a bit of salty-fatty action without all of the calories and fat packed into other pizza toppings.

Weeknight Cooking

Photo by: RYAN DAUSCH

RYAN DAUSCH

Rich, silky mortadella is complimented by acidic artichoke hearts and spicy arugula in this Artichoke-Mortadella Flatbread Pizza recipe. Make it for a crowd, or keep it all for yourself — it’s that good!

This Greek Pizza with Pourable Crust is a classic with a twist. Instead of a yeast-risen dough, this pizza utilizes a batter-like crust to create a thin, flatbread-esque base to accompany the Mediterranean flavors of the dish. Peppered with oregano, artichoke, red onion, cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta, fresh mint and fresh lemon, this Greek inspired pizza will have you wishing the warm weather could stay forever.

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