If there’s one food in the world that transcends borders and is universally beloved for its comfort and convenience, it’s pizza. Versatile, flavorful, and easy to prepare, Americans alone are estimated to consume approximately 3 billion pizzas every year. When dinner time rolls around, pizza is a surefire way to satisfy everyone at the table, but as much as we love a fresh, hot pie, sometimes it’s fun to mix things up with some pizza-inspired recipes instead. Here are a few of our favorites.
Pizza Monkey Bread
Monkey bread is a fun and easy snack traditionally made with cinnamon sugar, but this recipe by The Girl Who Ate Everything gives it a savory spin with some garlic butter, cheese, and plenty of pepperoni. We love to put it out as a shareable snack at parties and on game days—with marinara sauce for dipping, of course.
Cheesy Vegan Pizza Beans
Vegans like pizza, too! Minimalist Baker knocks it out of the park with this nutritious and delicious pizza-inspired entrée. Made with cannellini beans and a homemade cashew cheese sauce, it’s filling, flavorful, and oh-so comforting. Enjoy it on its own, or as a dip with some toasted garlic bread.
Pizza Pasta Bake
Half the reason we like to order pizza in the first place is that it’s convenient, but when we’re feeling lazy and don’t want to spend extra money on takeout, this pasta recipe by Salt & Lavender is a great alternative. With just 4 simple ingredients, it takes only 10 minutes to whip up and is really to serve in less than an hour—like delivery, but better.
