Food

Top 20 Best Side Dishes for pizza

Top 20 Best Side Dishes for pizza

Transform your pizza night into an unforgettable meal with our top 20 side dishes. From cheesy bread to pasta salad, these sides are sure to delight.

Pizza is always welcome at my home. There’s so much goodness in a single slice, it’s impossible to eat just one! It’s meaty, saucy, savory, cheesy, and just absolutely delightful.

And while I can easily fill up on pizza alone, it’s fun to pair it up with a few complementing sides. But what do you eat with pizza besides salad and breadsticks?

Not to worry! Here are 20 appetizers, sides, and desserts that pair perfectly with pizza.

1. Soup

No matter what your main course is, soup always makes an excellent appetizer. And what I love about soup is there are so many different options to suit your preference.

For instance, if you want something light to start your meal, opt for a refreshing tomato soup. It offers a beautiful contrast to your hearty pizza.

If you don’t mind having something thick and creamy, how about a cream of mushroom soup? Mushroom soup has a wonderful earthy and umami flavor. It’s just as irresistible as pizza!

If you want contrasting temperatures, opt for a cold soup. A chilled gazpacho with raw vegetables is another refreshing soup perfect to start your meal.

2. Ratatouille

Oh, here’s another refreshing soup for you! Ratatouille is a super tasty and hearty vegetable stew made with eggplant, bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, and mascarpone cheese.

Just imagine all those flavors rolled into one fantastic dish! So good.

It’s a rich and savory dish that pairs perfectly with a few slices of pizza. Just make sure you’ve got a hungry crowd!

3. Italian Bruschetta Bar

Add another Italian element to your meal by serving antipasto for starters. Just pick whatever cold cuts, cheeses, crackers, and dried fruit you have on hand. Arrange them nicely in a platter and boom: a fancy Italian Bruschetta bar.

4. Caesar Salad

Caesar salad is my go-to side for pizza. It’s healthy, so it makes me feel less guilty about devouring one slice of pizza after another.

And, I love the crunchy contrast it adds to the pizza too. They may have similar flavors (creamy, salty, and cheesy), but at least it counterbalances the texture of your pizza.

 

5. Spinach Artichoke Dip

If you don’t mind having another rich and cheesy element for dinner, how about a spinach artichoke dip? You can use it to dip breadsticks, but I myself love spreading the dip on top of my pizza for that added umami flavor!

To make, just combine cream cheese, mayo, basil, garlic, spinach, parmesan, mozzarella, and artichoke hearts. It’s a simple, fool-proof recipe that makes the creamiest, cheesiest dip all the time.

6. Potato Salad

If you’re feeding a huge crowd, you’ll need something incredibly filling. A classic potato salad hits the spot!

It’s creamy, cheesy, and oh so hearty. No one can say no to this. Here’s how to make it:

Boil small red potatoes until fork tender. For the dressing, combine sour cream, mayo, chopped red onion, fresh dill, and garlic salt. Coat the potatoes with the dressing and watch as your delectable side disappears!

7. Garlic Cheese Bread

This is another side to serve or eat when you’re extremely famished. Bread on bread? It shouldn’t make sense, but it does!

And while sure, you can order garlic cheese bread with your pizza, where’s the fun in that?

Make your own by sauteing garlic cloves in olive oil. Mash the garlic until you form a spreadable paste.

Spread the paste onto your favorite bread and top it with shredded cheese. Bake the bread until the cheese melts, and you’re good to go.

8. Coleslaw

Let’s take a break from all the carbs, shall we? For another crisp and refreshing side, how about some creamy coleslaw?

The crunch in the cabbage and carrots does add a nice textural contrast to your pizza. Plus, it’s crisp and refreshing. The perfect contrast to your hot and savory pizza.

If you want to make your coleslaw a little less guilt-inducing, just use Greek yogurt instead of mayo for the dressing. A vinaigrette works well too!

When making your own coleslaw, be sure to chill it in the fridge for several hours before you serve it. That way, the veggies will absorb the flavors of the dressing, making it even tastier.

9. Mozzarella Sticks

If you’re like me who loves cheese, Mozzarella cheese is the way to go. It’s crunchy, cheesy, and ooey-gooey delicious.

In short, it checks all the boxes! Dip it in marinara sauce and it’s just like pizza in stick form!

10. Roasted Vegetables

Roasted veggies are perfect for counterbalancing all the carbs you’re about to gobble up. Not only are they healthy, but are crisp and yummy too! So, just because you’re serving veggies, doesn’t mean you won’t have a delicious meal.

Whether it’s roasted carrots, potatoes, onions, cauliflower, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts, you really can’t go wrong.

It’s easy to prep too! Coat the veggies in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs. Pop them in the oven and there you have it, a simple, nutritious, and tasty side.

11. Zucchini Fries

Want some fries to go with your pizza, but minus all the calories? I’ve got the answer: zucchini fries.

Sure, they may not taste exactly like French fries, but hey, they’re still just as yummy! And since they’re baked, you don’t have to fry them. Meaning, you don’t have to stand in front of a deep-fryer for minutes to get things done.

All that goodness minus the grease and effort!

12. Jalapeno Poppers

Add a nice kick to your meal by serving a side of jalapeno poppers. They’re not just spicy, but cheesy and crunchy as well. It’s fantastic with pizza!

Don’t worry, jalapenos aren’t as spicy as you picture them to be. Jalapenos lose some of their heat when they’re cooked, so it gives you just the right amount of spice.

13. Onion Rings

Onion rings are so good, even people who don’t like onions can’t say no to them!

Onion rings have that glorious combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy, making them oh so addictive. They’re the perfect finger food for your pizza!

14. Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is not only hearty and delicious, but looks so pretty as well. The combination of vibrant veggies and colorful pasta makes it such an appetizing addition to your plate.

15. Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dip

You’ll be eating pizza with your hands anyway, so might as well serve it with wings! Sure, Buffalo wings are messy to eat, but they’re definitely worth it.

Whether they’re baked or fried, you’ll still get incredibly flavorful, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside wings. Dip those bad boys in a creamy blue cheese dip and you’ll get a party in your mouth.

16. Meatballs

Not that you need more protein in your meal, but meatballs just make such a tasty pairing to pizza. They’re meaty, spicy, and oh so flavorful!

Whether you eat them on the side or top them over your pizza, meatballs will never disappoint. They can also be taken as breakfast

17. Tiramisu

And now, for dessert, how about a slice of creamy tiramisu?

Did you know that the word tiramisu is Italian for

pick me up? So this dessert is definitely a mood booster!

And it looks so elegant too. Those layers of espresso-dipped lady fingers, mascarpone cheese and cream, and that generous dusting of cocoa powder are a classic beauty.

18. Sorbet

Whether you eat it for dessert or a palate cleanser, you can never go wrong with a classic sorbet. It’s light, refreshing, sweet, and a wonderful way to end your hefty meal.

And it doesn’t even matter what flavor you get – chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut, mango, lemon – still works, regardless!

19. Cannoli

End your meal with this tasty Italian treat. It may not have the same shape, but if you think about it, a cannoli seems like the sweet version of pizza. So why not?

A cannoli is a cylindrical shaped fried dough with cheese, nuts, and chocolate filling. It’s crisp, sweet, and creamy, and makes a wonderful pairing with pizza.

20. Fruit

And finally, we’ve got a very simple sweet treat that’s perfect to round out your meal. You’re already serving something incredibly hearty, so you can’t go wrong with a nice and humble bowl of fruit for dessert.

So, how do bananas, berries, and pineapple slices sound? Not only are they refreshing, but they’re also packed with enzymes that aid in digestion!

If fruits are too basic for you, why not use them as an ice cream topping for a more satisfying dessert?

Some of the Best Spanish Fast Food Available in Madrid

Spanish Fast Food

If you are looking for the best Spanish fast food around, then you should be able to easily find it in your local area. There are a few places that have a number of different types of food items that are made in Spain. If you do a little research, then you will probably be able to find some pretty good deals as well.

This is one of the best Spanish fast foods out there, and it really is a must-visit if you are ever able to make it to Spain. The best thing about this place is that they serve some of the best Spanish dishes that you can find. For instance, they offer salads, as well as some really tasty dishes on the grill. Whatever you end up choosing, you are sure to love it when you go there.

Next, let’s take a look at La Dolce Vita. This is another wonderful Spanish restaurant that you are going to want to try out. It offers some delicious dishes that you can enjoy while sipping some fine wine. This restaurant is located in a beautiful part of town that you will not soon forget. It is one of those places you can always return to, and you will probably want to come back again and enjoy some fine Italian food. Finally, we have Vallejo’s Restaurant. This is a wonderful place that you will love if you happen to decide to make an outing to this particular Spanish restaurant. They also have some wonderful beverages to enjoy as well.

The best price with the magnificent quality of ingredients

This restaurant offers up some delicious dishes that are sure to please you. You will find some typical dishes, and you will also find some unusual dishes. Some people love the steak, while others prefer the fish. The best part about this restaurant is that it is a wonderful place to spend a few hours, sampling some wonderful Spanish cuisine. Of course, if you are not in the mood to sample Spanish cuisine, then you may want to stick to something a little bit more traditional. For example, you might enjoy a nice bowl of chicken soup. There are so many different types of chicken soup that you can find in the United States, that you should be able to find something that you enjoy.

If you would rather skip the traditional food and go with an alternative, then you may want to try the grilled shrimp. These shrimp tend to come with an awesome flavor. If you find this kind of dish in the best Spanish fast food, then you will know that it is truly one of the best you will ever have. It will have that great flavor that you are looking for, without getting heavy on the calories. Also, you can make a Madrid tapas tour and enjoy a delicious experience with your family and friends.

All you need to do is make sure that you are eating at a great establishment. Once you find a great Spanish fast food restaurant in your area, you will be hooked for life. You can start enjoying some incredible dishes right away. So you want to learn how to order the best Spanish fast food. Well first off, the fast-food industry is not that big on the English language. Especially so when you take the American and British cuisines into consideration.

For one, you may think that it’s really American. In actuality though, the dish is made differently in Spain than it is made here in the States. This dish is made with leftovers of whatever leftovers the restaurant has in their refrigerator. Here’s what you’d normally do with these leftovers: Chicken. The best Spanish chicken is usually boneless, skinless chicken. This means that you can pick the part that you like best and go ahead and throw that in with whatever else you’d like to put on your plate. I like a chicken with rice and a vegetable salad.

Delicious Spanish food for carnivores and vegetarians

Vegetables. The best Spanish dish for vegetables is probably a Spanish vegetable dish like fettuccine Alfredo with broccoli and squash. Not only is this delicious, but this is one of the best-looking Spanish dishes that I’ve ever seen. In actuality, there is really only one traditional Spanish meal that has fruit in it. This dish is called Pollo as in Italian and means literally red meat. So in Spain, you’d typically have a piece of red meat like pork or beef and some fruits like oranges or lemons.

Pastas. Another dish that I find really good is the so-called “pasta” or “conchas” as it’s commonly known in Spain. This dish usually consists of either white fish or shrimp along with chunks of potatoes and cheese on top. Again, you’ll typically just have a single piece of red meat or seafood and a few pieces of shellfish or shrimp. It’s really the star of the show, but the fact that it’s red meat or seafood makes it the best Spanish dish.

Vegetables themselves are not the star of the show though. Once again, chicken or seafood is the star of the show. You’ll get really good value for money eating fast food such as this because you’re getting an all-around healthy meal. Also, because the dish uses so many vegetables, you will be consuming a number of vegetables and therefore is bound to lower your daily sodium count significantly.

All in all, the best Spanish restaurants are probably the ones that serve food in the most healthy way possible. If you eat healthy food, that counts for a lot. I’m not saying that it’s easy to find the best Spanish food, but if you keep these things in mind, you should end up finding a restaurant that you like a lot. You can still get decent quality if you look hard enough. You’ll just have to watch out for hidden costs and the like. Look out for hidden costs by comparing the prices of similar dishes online and in nearby stores. Don’t be afraid to choose the cheapest you can find as long as it’s still good quality food.

Top 5 Food Trends That Will Define the Food Industry in 2021-22

Food Consumer Research and Demand Forecasting for the Food and Beverage Industry is a complex, multifarious zone. No matter how well you analyze the current situation and factor in future possibilities, there is always a margin of unpredictability. As a business owner in this sector, you need to be armed with the best resources to prepare yourself for any untoward situations. Relying on Data Science, Analytics, along with keeping pace with the latest trends is the best way ahead for present-day food and beverage brands.

Here are the top 5 food trend predictions for 2022 that are all set to define the food industry in the coming days:-

  1. ‘Plant-based’ is a Winning Trend

From plant-based fermented foods to plant-based meat and seafood, there is a higher inclination for consumers today to opt for food and beverage products that are plant-based. As per the food consumer research, this is true across all realms- health foods, immunity-building ingredients, alternative protein sources, as well as indulgence foods and home-cooking ingredients. There is a conscious effort on part of most consumers to shift from animal-sourced food and drinks to plant-based ones. This goes hand in hand with the recent focus on sustainability since the carbon footprint of plant-based foods is considerably lesser than that of animal-sourced foods.

  1. Multi-Channel Consumption

Just a few years ago, food and beverage consumption patterns were largely bifurcated into home deliveries, takeaway, and outdoor dining. With the advent of e-commerce (and of course, the aftermath of Covid-19 shutdowns), multiple food and beverage consumption channels have emerged. There are popular ready-to-eat kits with custom flavors and personalized meal solutions to savor the restaurant experience at home. Then there are artisanal home cooking packages, on-demand 3D Food Printing, and various other modes of richer indulgence.

  1. The Bustling Health Food Aisle

2021 Food Trend Predictions have unveiled the vast market potential for healthy food and beverage products. The Covid-19 pandemic has nudged consumers to reach out for immunity-building and nourishing foods and drinks. Apart from packaged foods fortified with Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants, the present-day consumer is also inclining a lot towards consuming fresh produce. Fresh fruits like apples, plums, berries, bananas, and fresh veggies like kale, spinach, avocado, broccoli, etc are witnessing a massive surge in demand.

  1. Transparency of Food and Beverage Brands

Maybe a decade or two ago, you could get away with not revealing the number of flavor additives, preservatives, sodium, or added sugar in your food and beverage products. As per the latest 2021 food trend predictions, there is no scope for brands that conceal important information from consumers. Social media is rife with controversial food takes and viral brand boycotts, and the last thing you want is to get embroiled in them. The best way ahead is to have crystal-clear brand communication, especially pertaining to nutritional information and supply chain practices.

  1. Cruelty-Free Dairy Products

PETA and similar organizations have been emphasizing the cruelty of the dairy industry, from forcible insemination to inhumane conditions of milk. Many dairy brands are therefore switching over from this much-criticized industrial setup to the traditional farm setup to source their products. Milk and milk products sourced from rural communities is not just a positive step to prevent animal cruelty, it also helps in boosting the income of marginalized farmers.

Conclusion

As listed above, the top 5 food trend predictions for 2022 have been meticulously compiled by top data analysts working in the food industry. For brands to thrive, flourish, and grow in these uncertain times, embracing digitization and efficient, AI-based solutions is a must. Be it for waste reduction, energy efficiency, dealing with safety hazards, or ensuring a robust supply chain, Big Data and AI can steer you in the right direction with potent solutions.