Upgrade Your Frozen Pizza
A frozen pizza is one of life’s simplest pleasures.
They’re easy to prepare, quick to cook, and are available in so many varieties! Cheese and tomato, Hawaiian, Meat Feast – some places even allow you to ‘Create your Own’!
Anyone who has enjoyed a slice or two of this quick and easy-to-make delicacy knows how delicious it can be… but, also, how bland it can become after a couple of bites. The thing with frozen pizza is that, on its own, it can be a little soggy and boring, especially when it is a plain tomato and cheese.
If you have a frozen pizza in your freezer right now, you may be thinking to yourself, ‘how can I upgrade this?’ Well, you’re in luck! Your pizza is perfectly salvageable, and we know many ways that you can create some truly mouthwatering meals out of it.
Here are 12 ways to upgrade your next frozen pizza.
1. Add Extra Cheese
The frozen pizza will already, most likely, have cheese, but who said you can’t add more?
By adding more cheese, you will create a gooier, cheesier crust and make your pizza taste better. The best way to do this is by using fresh mozzarella instead of cheddar, as mozzarella creates that stretchy, gooey texture that we all love. But the choice is yours!
Shredded cheese melts much easier than a block, so either buy a bag of shredded cheese, or grab a cheese grater and get to work.
2. Use Fresh Ingredients For Extra Toppings
If you have a plain, cheese and tomato frozen pizza, the possibilities are endless! While you could choose any toppings, however, why not try using some fresh veggies and herbs?
Fresh basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, garlic, onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, anchovies, green beans – there is no end to the delicious, healthy ingredients you can use on top of your frozen pizza.
Don’t forget: ‘healthy’ does not have to equal to ‘gross’! If done correctly, there is no reason that fresh vegetables can’t taste amazing.
3. Add A Drizzle Of Olive Oil
For a fancy twist on your frozen pizza, drizzle a little olive oil over it before or after baking. This adds an extra layer of flavor without taking away from the pizza itself.
If you add it before baking, be sure to only put a small amount. This will help prevent the dough from getting too soggy, adding a crispness to the crust.
If you add olive oil after baking, wait until the pizza has cooled completely and then brush it onto the surface. You may want to use a pastry brush if you’re feeling particularly artistic. The added oil will also keep the pizza from drying out.
4. Use A Cookie Cutter To Create Cool Shapes
Frozen pizzas come in all shapes and sizes, but they rarely look like anything other than circles. Why not take advantage of this and cut them into cool shapes?
If you have cookie cutters at home, you can create so many cool shapes out of your pizza. You can easily cut out rounds, squares, triangles, rectangles, hearts, stars, diamonds, and even a few different letters. Just remember that the smaller the shape, the crisper it will be.
If you don’t have cookie cutters, make your own by molding small strips of foil into the shape that you desire! Who doesn’t want to eat miniature, star-shaped pizzas?!
5. Make It Into A Sandwich
A frozen pizza is often served simply with a side salad, cut into triangles. What about making it into something else entirely?
You can turn your pizza into a sandwich by cutting it in half while it’s still frozen, and placing the cheesy sides together. If it’s defrosted slightly, you may be able to simply fold the pizza over. Cook it for a little longer than usual, and voilà! You have a pizza sandwich.
Alternatively, you could cook the pizza first and then fold it on top of itself, allowing the cheese to melt together while it is fresh out of the oven. Cut into slices, and serve.
6. Use Low Carb Toppings
There are many benefits to eating low carb foods, and there are so many delicious options out there. One of the best things about low carb foods is how easy it is to customize them to suit your tastes.
Of course, a pizza base is filled with carbs, and therefore cannot be made low carb. However, toppings such as onions, mushrooms, olives, and peppers are generally lower in carbohydrates than traditional toppings.
You could also try swapping out traditional pizza toppings for low carb alternatives. For example, instead of pepperoni, you could try using turkey bacon!
7. Ignore The Cooking Instructions (Crank It UP!)
The cooking instructions on most frozen pizzas are pretty basic: bake it for 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204.44 °C), and then let it sit for 5 more minutes.
Anyone who has cooked a frozen pizza before will know that these instructions are not always accurate, or, at least, their pizzas never turn out quite right. If you want a crispier pizza, allow it to defrost before cooking. Then, cook it at a higher heat for a shorter amount of time for maximum crispness!
If you want a crispier, more traditional tasting pizza, follow this advice.
8. Sprinkle Some Seasoning Over The Top
Pizza is usually topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and maybe some pepperoni. But what if you wanted to spice up your pizza?
Try sprinkling some herbs or spices over the top of your pizza before serving. This adds an extra layer of flavor to your pizza, without adding too much additional calories.
For example, you could sprinkle some oregano, basil, garlic powder, or cayenne pepper over your pizza. Or, you could use a combination of all four! The choice is yours.
9. Squirt Some Sauce On Top
Depending on which pizza you have purchased, it most likely has tomato, marinara sauce underneath the cheese. However, there are no rules to say that you can’t add extra sauce on top, right?
In fact, many people like to do just that. They pour a bit of sauce onto the top of their pizza, and eat it that way. Others prefer to dip their slices into a pot of sauce, but this method is way more fun. Plus, you get delicious sauce over every piece of the pizza, and you can save your energy by not dipping.
Try drizzling some pesto or salsa on top of your pizza, and see what kind of taste explosion you get. It might surprise you!
10. Create A Garlic Bread Pizza
Picture this: you have a cheese and tomato pizza, some butter, garlic, and a brush. What is the obvious thing to do here? Create your own huge garlic bread pizza!
It’s surprisingly simple to make, and it’s super tasty. All you need to do is mix the butter and garlic together, and brush or pour it over the pizza before baking. The result is a cheesy, garlicky slice of heaven.
You’ll love the results!
11. Add A Side Dish
Frozen pizzas can be served on their own, but you could create a whole meal with some side dishes.
Sides that go perfectly with pizza include salad, pasta, rice, potatoes, vegetables, etc. Try topping them with some fresh herbs, and serve them alongside your pizza.
Or, you could go completely crazy and create a complete meal from your pizza. Either way, the result is going to be delicious.
12. Get Creative!
Lastly, this is the best advice you can receive to upgrade your frozen pizza: get creative! Do whatever you feel like!
Grab all your favorite toppings, and experiment putting ones together that you usually wouldn’t. Use sauces that you’ve never tried on a pizza before. Go wild!
The possibilities are endless.
Final Thoughts
The easiest way to upgrade a frozen pizza is by adding toppings. Adding different types of cheese or meats will add flavor and nutrients to your pizza. Other options include making your own sauce or topping it with other ingredients.
Experiment with these ideas and enjoy your new creation!
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