4th of July BBQ Ideas Right off the Grill

Ignite your 4th of July BBQ with our top grilling recipes. From classic burgers to unexpected treats, become the neighborhood grill master.
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Hangers steak on a grill with peppers and onions.Ignite your 4th of July BBQ with our top grilling recipes. From classic burgers to unexpected treats, become the neighborhood grill master.

The post 4th of July BBQ Ideas Right off the Grill appeared first on Girl Carnivore.

30 Easy Summer Desserts

Bring on the summer desserts! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for frozen treats like ice cream and popsicles. I’m ready for no-bake sweets that hit the spot on days when it’s too hot to use the oven. And I’m especial…


Bring on the summer desserts! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for frozen treats like ice cream and popsicles. I’m ready for no-bake sweets that hit the spot on days when it’s too hot to use the oven. And I’m especially ready for summer desserts that showcase the season’s best fruit. Cherry pie? Peach crisp? Blueberry cobbler? Yes, please! You’ll find 30 of my favorite easy summer desserts below. Some are perfect for packing up for picnics. Others are designed to help you cool off on hot days, and still others are celebration-worthy centerpieces like pies, cakes, and tarts. I love […]

45 Easy Summer Dinner Ideas

If you’re looking for new summer dinner ideas, you’re in the right place! Below, you’ll find 45 of my best summer dinner recipes. They include easy weeknight pastas, fresh summer salads, quick grilled meals, and more. These recipes ar…


If you’re looking for new summer dinner ideas, you’re in the right place! Below, you’ll find 45 of my best summer dinner recipes. They include easy weeknight pastas, fresh summer salads, quick grilled meals, and more. These recipes are the meals I make on repeat throughout the summer. I love them because they’re packed with the best produce the season has to offer—tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, basil, and more. Using these fresh ingredients is a simple way to add bold flavor to summer meals. I’ll be cooking with them as often as I can this season, and I hope you […]

25 Top Sides for Pizza

Need a few easy sides to go with a pizza party? Here are our top sides for pizza, the most…

Need a few easy sides to go with a pizza party? Here are our top sides for pizza, the most delicious and satisfying ways to complement your favorite pies.

Sides for pizza

Ready for a pizza night? It can be tricky to find the right sides to go with pizza. Salad is a natural, but it’s got to have the right vibe. Plus, it can’t be so much effort that it takes away from the main event!

Alex and I have pizza nights often, but it can be harder than we think to find the right side dishes to accessorize with our meals. We love to make sides that are vegetable-forward, because we feel more satisfied when we’re done with the meal (and we go through less pizzas!).

Types of sides to pair

Here we’ve combed through our library of thousands of recipes for the best sides for pizza! Salads are the most fitting choice: they’re full of colorful vegetables and you don’t have to use your oven. But we’ve also got a few ideas for sauteed vegetables or even veggie dips that mix up the standard salad. Either way, you won’t be using your oven for any of these side dishes.

You’ll find something for everyone here, from a casual pizza night to a dinner party. If you’re going for a family-friendly with kids, you might want to try our ranch dip with veggies with our cheese pizza. For a fancy night of entertaining, try a classy citrus salad or radicchio salad with a truffle pizza or burrata pizza. Ready to get started?

The recipes: our top sides for pizza!

More pizza resources

Love a great homemade pizza? Alex and I have got all the resources you need to make your own killer pizza at home: Here are a few more of our favorite pizza recipes:

Frequently asked questions

Do I even need sides with pizza?

Pizza is delicious on its own, but sides can add variety, texture, and well-roundedness to your meal. They can also help balance the richness of pizza with lighter options or offer a refreshing contrast.

What kind of sides are best with pizza?

The possibilities are endless! Here are some popular categories to consider:
Salads: A light and refreshing salad balances the heavier flavors of pizza. Opt for a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette, or get creative with chopped vegetables, fruits, and cheeses.
Appetizers: Finger foods like garlic knots, breadsticks, or mozzarella sticks add a fun and shareable element to your pizza feast.
Veggie sides: Roasted vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts add essential vitamins and a healthy counterpoint to pizza’s richness.

I’m looking for something healthy. What are some good options?

Caprese salad: Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil with a drizzle of balsamic glaze offer a light and flavorful option.
Grilled vegetables: Grill zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, or asparagus for a smoky and healthy side dish.
Arugula salad with shaved parmesan: Arugula’s peppery flavor pairs well with pizza, and the shaved parmesan adds a touch of salty richness.
Fruit salad: A refreshing fruit salad with a light honey dressing can cleanse the palate after pizza.

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Kale salad

25 Sides for Pizza: Tuscan Kale Salad & More!


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  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 3 to 4

Description

The best side to go with pizza is this incredible Tuscan kale salad! A dressing of lemon, garlic and Parmesan cheese transforms kale into tangy goodness.


Ingredients

  • 1 large bunch Tuscan kale (about 8 ounces)*
  • 1 very small or 1/2 medium garlic clove
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lemon (3 to 4 tablespoons juice, plus zest)
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • Homemade croutons (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry the kale. Then destem and roughly chop the kale leaves.
  2. Peel and mince the garlic clove. Sprinkle it with the kosher salt, then holding the blunt edge of the knife, scrape the sharp edge of the blade over the minced garlic, holding the knife at an angle and mashing the garlic into a paste.
  3. Place the paste in a medium bowl. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and fresh ground black pepper, and whisk to combine. Add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
  4. Toss the dressing with the kale leaves. Serve topped with lemon zest (and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired).  If desired, serve with homemade croutons.

Notes

*1 bunch of kale makes a moderate serving size of 4: consider doubling the recipe if feeding hungry eaters.

Adapted from 101 Cookbooks

  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Raw
  • Cuisine: Italian

41 Best Carrot Recipes

What are your favorite carrot recipes? If you said classic carrot cake or baby carrots and dip, you’re probably not alone. But I’m sharing 40+ of my best carrot recipes here in the hopes that you’ll try cooking this bright orange vege…


What are your favorite carrot recipes? If you said classic carrot cake or baby carrots and dip, you’re probably not alone. But I’m sharing 40+ of my best carrot recipes here in the hopes that you’ll try cooking this bright orange vegetable in a new way. They might seem humble, but carrots are insanely versatile. Roasted carrots make a wonderful side dish, for example, and carrot ginger soup is the perfect cozy meal for a cold day. Tangy pickled carrots are great for snacking, while a fresh carrot salad could be the star of your next picnic. Below, you’ll find […]

50 Best Easter Side Dishes

Easter is right around the corner, and I’m busy picking out which side dishes to make for our holiday feast. No offense to ham or lamb, but the side dishes are always my favorite part of Easter dinner. If you ask me, they’re what make the m…


Easter is right around the corner, and I’m busy picking out which side dishes to make for our holiday feast. No offense to ham or lamb, but the side dishes are always my favorite part of Easter dinner. If you ask me, they’re what make the meal memorable. Seasonal vegetables like carrots and asparagus add a pop of color to the table. Hearty potato recipes keep guests coming back for more, and spring salads like my strawberry salad or carrot salad offer bright, fresh flavor. I’ve rounded up my 50 best Easter side dishes below. If you’re still figuring out your […]

50 Best Vegetarian Recipes

If you want to find vegetarian recipes, you’re in the right place! ALL the recipes on Love & Lemons are vegetarian, and after 10+ years of blogging, I have hundreds of easy vegetarian meals on the site. To get you started, I’ve rounded …


If you want to find vegetarian recipes, you’re in the right place! ALL the recipes on Love & Lemons are vegetarian, and after 10+ years of blogging, I have hundreds of easy vegetarian meals on the site. To get you started, I’ve rounded up 50 of my most popular vegetarian recipes. They include meatless classics like vegetarian lasagna and hearty vegetarian chili, protein-packed veggie burgers, healthy grain bowls, easy comfort foods, and more. Whether you’re a lifelong vegetarian looking to refresh your dinner rotation or you’re experimenting with vegan or vegetarian meals for the first time, you’re sure to find something […]