Pizza is delicious enough on its own. However, adding appetizers and sides enhances the meal because you get variety. Many good appetizers for pizza are finger foods, while others can be appetizers or side dishes.
We’re going to take you through more than 40 good appetizers including some fun twists and provide you with unique recipes.
While pizza is always the main course, read on to learn about some welcome additions to pizza night!
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1). Boneless Chicken Wings
Boneless chicken wings are a great appetizer for pizza. Choose from several types of sauce, like Buffalo sauce, and dip them in your favorite blue cheese. Boneless wings are also great with ranch dressing.
2). Onion Rings
Onion rings are a popular side dish but they’re also a great appetizer. Making onion rings is easy and all you need is flour, red onion and a fryer. Feel free to dip them in marinara sauce or your favorite dip.
3). Caesar Salad
With crisp romaine lettuce and creamy caesar dressing, caesar salad is an excellent pizza appetizer. To give it some extra flare, try adding croutons, feta cheese, and some red onion. Caesar salads are also perfect as a side dish.
4). Cheese, Meat, and Cracker Plate
Put out a charcuterie board full of a mixture of cheese, meats, vegetables, and crackers. You can make a different mix of snacks by changing up the kinds of meat, cheese and crackers you put out. We always recommend pairing provolone cheese with genoa salami.
5). Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks are simple and easy to make. All you need is mozzarella cheese, flour, and a side of marinara sauce. Mozzarella sticks are great for prepping your taste buds for the stringy cheese and golden brown crust on pizza.
6). Sautéed Corn
Corn is one of the most popular crops in the United States. You can have it popped, sautéed, on the cob, and as a side dish. That said, sautéed corn is the best way to prepare corn as an appetizer for pizza.
7). Potato Salad
Potato salad consists of mayonnaise and other ingredients. It’s a common addition to most barbecues but it’s also great with pizza. Feel free to change up pizza night with several unique potato salad flavors.
8). French Fries
French fries are a staple of American side dishes. However, french fries are also great as an appetizer. Make sure you slice potatoes thin and use the right oil for the best french fries.
9). Italian Bruschetta Bar
Italian Bruschetta bars are perfect for pizza night. All you need are the basic ingredients and you can make it however you like. Some of our favorite tips are to add some fresh veggies for a unique flavor.
10). Jalapeño Poppers
Jalapeño poppers are a common appetizer in restaurants and pizza places. They’re easy to make and only require Jalapeños and ingredients for the fried shell. That said, our favorite for Jalapeño poppers is a baked jalapeño popper recipe.
11). Garlic Bread
Garlic bread is perfect before your main course of pizza. All you need is a few whole garlic cloves, butter, a couple herbs and cheese. Once you have a recipe, bake it in the oven for 10 minutes.
12). Garlic Knots
Garlic knots and pizza go together perfectly. Plus, you can use the same homemade dough you use for the pizza. Roll the dough into balls, add garlic, and then add whatever else you feel is necessary.
13). Garlic Cheese Bread
Garlic cheese bread is similar to garlic bread. The recipes are also similar because you need bread, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Still, you can always add your own spin to garlic cheese bread.
14). Baked Sweet Potatoes
A baked sweet potato is the perfect balance of sweet and starchy. While the flavor isn’t right for everyone, it’s a great palate cleanser for pizza. Add some butter and salt to bring out even more flavor.
15). Zucchini Fries
Zucchini fries are french fries but without potatoes. Instead, zucchini fries are made with zucchini. When zucchinis are crusted properly they taste similar to french fries.
16). Antipasto Salad
Antipasto salad is delicious when you add the right flavors. The ideal antipasto salad is loaded with soft cheese, black olives, sliced meats, and cherry tomatoes. However, other Italian varieties add lemon olive dressings.
17). Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is, well, a salad made from fruit. While you can add any fruit to a fruit salad, you want to make sure it has a theme. For example, if you’re looking for tang, add lemon and oranges instead of strawberries or blueberries.
18). Kale Salad
Kale salad is one of the healthiest appetizers for pizza. While kale doesn’t always taste great, a lemon garlic kale salad will change your life. Instead of your usual dressing, add their custom lemon dressing recipe.
19). Potato Wedges
Potato wedges are similar to french fries but they’re larger and not always fried. Some people also compare potato wedges to steak fries. However, homemade potato wedges are their own unique side dish.
20). Tater Tots
Homemade tater tots don’t take much to make. In fact, it uses the same recipe as french fries but in a different shape and style. You need skinned potatoes, parsley, flour, and peanut oil or olive oil.
21). Spinach Salad
Spinach strawberry salad is a unique salad that mixes vegetables and fruits. The recipe calls for spinach as the base, strawberries, poppy seeds, and a balsamic dressing. It’s perfect to incorporate fresh veggies and fruit into pizza night.
22). Grilled chicken
Grilled chicken is easy and quick to make. Simply throw some chicken in a frying pan or on the barbecue to make grilled chicken. Add spices like lemon powder or garlic to enhance the flavor and bring out the juices.
23). Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a type of salad that uses pasta as the base instead of lettuce or cabbage. The best pasta salads typically have a Greek or Italian flavor. For example, the Italian three herb pasta salad includes many Italian herbs and spices like red pepper and green olives.
24). Nachos
Nachos consist of chips, cheese, beans, Jalapeños, and other ingredients. In fact, you can add almost anything to nachos, even beef. Still, the simplest recipes call for tortilla chips and cheddar cheese.
25). Tacos
Tacos are simple and easy to make with leftover pizza ingredients. As an appetizer, feel free to use chicken, beef, and cheddar cheese. Adding fresh veggies to tacos also improves the flavor.
26). Chips and Dip
Chips and dip are perfect on the side or before a pizza dinner. You can use any type of chip and almost any type of dip. That said, our favorite is spinach and artichoke dip. The recipe calls for spinach, artichoke, and tortilla chips.
27). Stuffed Green Peppers
Green peppers are tasty appetizers, even without stuffing them. All you need are green peppers and your choice of stuffing to make stuffed green peppers.
28). Soup
Soups are simple and easy to make, especially chicken noodle soup. Chicken noodle soup is easy to make with chicken, your choice of noodles, and additives like parmesan cheese. Add carrots and other fresh veggies for more flavor.
29). Roasted Broccoli
Fresh veggies like roasted broccoli are excellent when you add flavor with whole garlic cloves. Roasted broccoli with garlic is easy to make with fresh broccoli, onion powder, and fresh garlic.
30). Wonton Pizza Cups
Wonton pizza cups are a creative appetizer for pizza. To make pepperoni and cheese pizza cups you don’t need too many ingredients. Simply make the dough into a cup-like shape and add the pepperoni and cheese.
31). Flatbread
Flatbreads are simple and easy to make with extra pizza dough. Spread the dough flat and add ingredients like chicken, bacon, parmesan cheese, ranch, and fresh veggies. Then, place it in the outdoor oven for 20 to 30 minutes.
32). Pizza Rolls
Pizza rolls are a great way to make use of extra ingredients from a homemade pizza. Take pepperoni, fresh veggies, parmesan cheese, and garlic and roll it all into pinwheel-shaped rolls. Add whichever ingredients you like for additional flavor.
33). Meatballs
Meatballs are a staple in pasta dishes. Some people also use meatballs as a side dish. That said, it’s not hard to make authentic meatballs with Grandma’s Italian meatball recipe.
34). Pasta with Red Sauce
Pasta with red sauce is one of the most Italian dishes you can have aside from pizza. Having pasta as a side dish or before pizza prepares your stomach for tasty sauce and melted cheese. Feel free to get creative and add your choice of pasta and meatballs.
35). Chicken Nuggets
Chicken nuggets are a great appetizer. Plus, some people use chicken nuggets as side dishes. For some good chicken nuggets, all you need are breadcrumbs, eggs, and chicken.
36). Cheese Fries
Cheese fries are simple and easy to make. All you need are homemade or frozen french fries and your choice of cheese. However, our favorite cheese fries are bacon cheese fries. Instead of just cheese, get creative and add bacon, range, and other spices.
37). Vegetable Pizza
Everyone needs to eat fresh veggies from time to time. So, why not eat veggies on your pizza? With a tasty vegetable pizza recipe, you might be full before the main course.
38). Wraps
Wraps give you a fun twist as an appetizer because you can add what you like. Our example of a wrap appetizer for pizza is a caesar salad wrap. Add some chicken and red onions for even more flavor.
39). Bone-In Chicken Wings
For people who like to get their hands messy with delicious chicken wings, we have a bone-in recipe for you. In this baked chicken wings recipe, you don’t need much. Just your choice of sauce, garlic, and vegetable oil.
40). Pepperoni Pizza Bites
Never underestimate pepperoni pizza bites as an appetizer for pizza. These bites are made with pepperoni, mini bagels/muffins, and marinara sauce. You can use the same dough you use to make your pizza too.
41.) Chili
Chili is always a good choice. Adding cheese and other spices like green pepper will take this appetizer to the next level. To make classic chili, start with beef and beans and take it from there.
Final Thoughts
Appetizers for pizza show you there’s more to the main course than just pizza. While pizza is fantastic, it’s okay to let appetizers and side dishes steal the show sometimes. Overall, you’ll be surprised by how much of a difference a little red onion or some fresh vegetables will make.
Need more recipes or help with your pizza party? Read some of our other articles below:
- Topping Ideas for a Pizza Party
- Easy Outdoor Pizza Oven Dough-Never Fails!
- How to Cook Pizza for a BIG Group
Courtney Rosero is a seasoned author at GoodLifePizzaOvens.com, where her passion for cooking blends seamlessly with her love for writing. With a sharp eye for detail and a palate tuned to culinary delights, Courtney plays a vital role in crafting captivating and informative content that resonates with pizza enthusiasts across the spectrum.
