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Frozen pizza isn’t very exciting, even if you buy the best brands. But there are many ways you can turn cheap frozen pizza into a meal that’s much more satisfying and interesting.
Most of them don’t take much planning or money, so there’s no reason not to upgrade your next frozen pizza with one of these easy hacks.
There’s never enough cheese on a frozen pizza, so take matters into your own hands and add some. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy; Just add whatever shredded cheese you have in the fridge. Of course, if you want to get fancy with it, you can. Try crumbling blue cheese on a chicken pizza, sliced fresh mozzarella (dry it with paper towels first so it doesn’t make your pizza soggy) on pepperoni, or a generous sprinkle of parmesan or pecorino on anything.
Adding fresh herbs is simple and goes a long way to making your frozen pizza taste like it cost a lot more than it did. Basil is usually the herb of choice, and all you need to do is tear the leaves a bit and scatter them on your pizza, preferably right when it comes out of the oven. You can also try oregano, thyme, cilantro (especially on a Mexican or taco pizza), and even dill.
If you normally keep a jar of pesto in your fridge, then dig it out for your next frozen pizza night. Drizzle or dot some on it before or after baking, whichever you prefer. If you are using homemade pesto, then stick to adding it after the pizza is baked so it stays fresh and vibrant.
Dip those slices! Ranch is the obvious choice, but you either love it or hate it on pizza. If you’re a hater, there’s other sauces you can try instead. Jarred marinara or pizza sauce, your favorite barbecue sauce, and buffalo wing sauce are all great ones to try as well. If you have any salad dressing in your fridge, those generally work pretty well too, including caesar or creamy Italian.
Who doesn’t love garlic butter? Melt a little butter in a small bowl in the microwave, add a minced clove of garlic or some garlic powder, and brush it all over the crust of your frozen pizza. You can do it before or after baking, but the real trick is to do it both before and after. And if you feel so inclined to put some of the garlic all over the pizza, you’ll be your family’s hero.
If you’ve got a plain cheese pizza hanging around, you can turn it into a simple margherita-style pie just by adding a couple ingredients. Slice a couple tomatoes (Roma tomatoes work best since they’re not too wet) and put them on your pizza, then tear some fresh basil on top when it’s out of the oven or almost done baking. This works especially well with Home Run Inn pizzas, we’ve found.
Any pickled toppings will make your frozen pizza stand out thanks to the tang it adds to an otherwise rich, greasy food. Pickled jalapenos are perfect if you want a little heat, or jarred banana peppers or cherry peppers if you prefer it mild. Pickled red onions are great, as are marinated artichoke hearts. Olives and capers will add tangy, salty pops of flavor as well.
Pepperoni isn’t the only cured meat that you should consider putting on a frozen pizza. Pretty much anything that goes on a charcuterie board will work on a pizza, including salami or capicola. Prosciutto is great, especially if you put it on after the pizza is baked, along with some arugula. Plus, don’t forget about bacon! Just chop it and cook it before putting on the pizza so you ensure it’s cooked through and crispy.
Is your pizza cooked through but still looking a little pale? Turn your oven’s broiler on to get the top all nice and browned. That’s an important step if you’re adding a lot of wet toppings which might not cook through in the time it takes the pizza to cook. Just make sure you watch it like a hawk because it can go from golden brown to burnt in about 20 seconds.
Yes, you can throw a frozen pizza on the grill! It’ll pick up that smoky, backyard barbecue flavor and aroma, which is especially good with pizzas that include chicken, bacon, or fruit like pineapple. You can put the pizza directly on the grill grate, or use a pizza stone, but either way make sure you preheat the grill first and avoid direct flames.
There’s all kinds of seasoning you can add to frozen pizzas. If you like a little heat, red pepper flakes are a classic. Italian herb blends are a must, and some spice companies even make blends especially designed for frozen pizza. Other out-of-the-box seasonings: Old Bay, everything bagel seasoning, or Cajun seasoning.
All the fancy pizza places are doing it, so why not you too? When your pizza is baked, drizzle a little hot honey all over it for a sweet and heat combo. (Make sure you don’t miss the crust.) It’s really good on pepperoni or plain cheese pizzas, but go wild.
So eggs aren’t exactly cheap right now, but they’re still delicious on a pizza. The runny yolk is key here, so what you want to do is bake your pizza until it’s almost done. When you think there’s three or four minutes of cooking left, then crack the egg on top. Take it out when the white is firm and the yolk is cooked just the way you like it. Try it on a pizza with bacon, or a spinach and mushroom pie.
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