You Had Us at Pizza
Most people don’t even think to grab an appetizer with pizza. After all, you have everything you could possibly want in a mouth-watering pie topped with all your favorite ingredients. But pizza deserves a buddy—a real one, not one that steals the show or takes up too much space in your stomach. Grab your pizza cutter and come with us as we explore some of the best and worst options.
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1. Pasta Dishes
It seems like pasta and pizza go hand-in-hand, but this carb-heavy dish only overloads the dinner table. You don’t want too much of a good thing, and it’s always better to enjoy a nice mouthful of spaghetti and meatballs on its own. Even pasta salads aren’t a great idea; it’s just stomach upset waiting to happen.
2. Garlic Bread
This might ruffle some feathers, but garlic bread isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. While we love it on its own, alongside pizza, this popular side dish only adds to the carbs, cheese, and fat. You want to save as much room for the entree as you can, but all that greasy bread will sit in your gut.
3. Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks only look like a good idea. They’re small, crowd-pleasing favorite that pairs well with pizza, no? The thing is, you already have all the cheese and deep-fried goodness you could want with pizza—there’s no reason to add this on top.
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4. Creamy Soups
Soup is best saved for a fall day. Everyone’s favorite entree doesn’t complement a bowl of broccoli cheddar or chicken noodle soup; the combo’s a little too heavy for most people, and others rightfully consider the duo redundant.
5. Onion Rings
We all love sinking our teeth into a crispy onion ring. The only thing better than the taste is knowing how easy they are to make at home! However, onion rings are actually pretty heavy and greasy, especially paired with pizza. Even a homemade pie is more than enough for guests.
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6. Caesar Salad
Salad and pizza make a pretty great team—when you choose the right dressing. You already have cheese, homemade dough, and pepperoni on the table; you don’t need to make it worse with creamy dressings. Caesar salads also come with all kinds of parm, bacon bits, and zesty lemon, which also clash with pizza.
7. Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese deserves its own spot on the table. It’s the furthest thing from a side dish! You can bake it, you can mix all kinds of different cheeses, and the delicious blend of noodles with a creamy sauce makes our mouths water every time. That’s exactly why these two don’t mix. They’re too similar and offer too much of the same thing.
8. Sliced Meat
Antipasto platters usually make the rounds on pizza night, but we’d like to suggest something different. It’s not that sliced meat is bad per se, it’s that we like it on the pie instead. Not to mention, you can really load those platters, so it’s easy to get carried away with the app before the entree arrives.
9. Corn Dogs
We know they’re not good for you, but darn it all if corn dogs don’t hold a nostalgic place in our hearts. That said, we don’t ever want to eat these two in the same sitting. You’re looking at way too many carbs, a ton of fat, and a generous amount of sodium.
10. French Fries
Call us crazy, but we just can’t vouch for carbs on carbs. French fries are great—they’re easy to make at home and even easier to keep healthy, but they just don’t belong with pizza. Both tend to sit in your stomach, and the last thing we want is crispy, golden fries and greasy pizza to cause all that heartburn.
Now that we have some of the heavy stuff out of the way, we can dive into a few lighter options that still taste great and work much better!
1. Light Salads
Cucumber salad. Chickpea salad. Simple greens and dressing. There are dozens of different ways you can make a light, hearty salad—the best kinds that work with pizza. They won’t overload your plate, and they provide just enough crunch to work up a serious appetite.
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2. Garlic Knots
Okay, garlic bread is a bit too much for your everyday pie. However, garlic knots are the little brother that packs all the flavor in a bite-sized form. A simple brush of garlic butter over pastry dough (topped with a pinch of salt) is the side dish you’ve been looking for.
3. Chicken Wings
Where would we be without this iconic duo? Nothing works better than pizza and wings, and the best thing about this dish is that you can make it at home for a fraction of the cost. You control the amount of sauce, how many drumsticks you get, and which spices work best for your palate. Personally, we’re big fans of black pepper or a pinch of chili powder!
4. Nachos
Nachos are only as hearty as you make them. While they can be a meal all on their own, they can also be an easy-peasy side dish that only has a handful of toppings. Skip the ground beef and pulled pork for lighter ingredients like pico de gallo, bell peppers, and a dollop of sour cream.
5. Grilled Vegetables
Who said you couldn’t have pizza and veggies? (Sorry, green peppers on your pizza don’t count!) Grilled zucchini slices and crunchy broccoli florets increase your daily serving of vegetables, letting you indulge in both food groups without any guilt.
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6. Cherry Tomatoes
If you want something cold to balance out that piping hot pie, you can always invest in a bowl of cherry tomatoes. It sounds a little uninspired, but you’d be surprised what a handful of tomatoes and a little seasoning could do.
7. Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed peppers are a bit too hearty, but mushrooms are your new best friend! They’re just as simple to make, don’t require as many ingredients, and leave out all the heavy stuff like ground beef and rice. With a little panko, parm, and cayenne pepper, you’re all good to go.
8. Fresh Fruit
Sometimes, we have to pick our battles with kids around. Sure, they want pizza, but they refuse to eat anything good for them. Fruit platters are a simple way to mix the best of both worlds. Anyone—from rugrats to picky eaters—can find something to nibble on that provides a nice, juicy dose of vitamins.
9. Pigs in a Blanket
Corn dogs are just too much of a good thing with pizza. But pigs in a blanket? Now you’re talking! It’s all about portion size, and this app is incredibly easy to make at home, often done with just a few ingredients. They aren’t as hearty either, allowing you to make space for both dishes.
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10. Caprese Skewers
There’s a reason caprese salad is so expensive in restaurants! We’re not saying you have to splurge on the good cheese, but mozza balls, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil go the distance, too. A gooey balsamic glaze brings all those flavors together for a terrific, light option.
