17 Pizza Recipes That Beat Ordering Takeout
Ordering pizza can solve dinner fast, but the bill and wait time get old after a while. These 17 pizza recipes keep the same easy dinner energy while giving readers loaded taco pizza, thick Detroit-style slices, quick pizza-oven options, flatbreads, bagels, pinwheels, and a baked pasta casserole. The list covers fast weeknight pizzas, party-style bites, and larger pans, so readers can pick a homemade option that fits the time and appetite they have.
Loaded Taco Pizza
Layered with refried beans and seasoned beef, Loaded Taco Pizza serves 6 in 30 minutes. The recipe uses pizza dough, ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa, Mexican blend cheese, olives, and toppings like tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, and red onion. It makes takeout less tempting because the taco layer turns pizza night into something more filling. Serve it with guacamole, chips, queso, or a simple corn salad.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Taco Pizza
Detroit Style Pizza
Built with a thick crust and cheese to the edges, Detroit Style Pizza serves 6 in 3 hours, including resting time. The dough uses bread flour, instant yeast, salt, water, and olive oil, while the toppings bring homemade tomato sauce, brick cheese, and pepperoni. It fits a night when delivery sounds easy, but a square pan sounds better. Serve the slices with salad, roasted vegetables, or extra sauce for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Detroit Style Pizza
Neapolitan Pizza
Cooked fast in a pizza oven, Neapolitan Pizza serves 2 in just 6 minutes with a 12-inch pizza crust, pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, torn basil, olive oil, and a little flour for the work surface. A standard kitchen oven works just as well if you don’t have a pizza oven. This simple, classic pizza is an easy way to skip takeout without sacrificing fresh flavor. Serve it hot with a salad, roasted vegetables, or another pizza fresh from the oven.
Get the Recipe: Neapolitan Pizza
Artichoke Pizza
Topped with garlicky spinach and marinated artichokes, Artichoke Pizza serves 2 in 8 minutes. The recipe uses olive oil, garlic, baby spinach, marinated artichoke hearts, pizza seasoning, mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, Parmesan, and fresh basil. It gives homemade pizza night a different topping mix without adding a long process. Serve it with a green salad, soup, roasted vegetables, or extra basil on top.
Get the Recipe: Artichoke Pizza
Flatbread Pizza
Started with flatbread instead of pizza dough, Flatbread Pizza serves 4 in 8 minutes. The recipe uses flatbread or flatbread dough, pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, sliced vine tomatoes, torn basil, and optional red pepper flakes. It works when ordering takeout seems easier because the base is already ready to top. Serve it as a quick dinner, appetizer tray, or snack with salad, soup, or cut vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Flatbread Pizza
Better-Than-Delivery Cheese Pizza
Ready in 5 minutes with a pizza oven, Better-Than-Delivery Cheese Pizza serves 2 with a 12-inch pizza base. The recipe uses marinara sauce, Parmesan, mozzarella, goat cheese, basil, and flour for the work surface, with a kitchen oven method listed too. It keeps pizza night simple while making the cheese layer more planned than a plain box. Serve with salad, garlic sauce, or roasted vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Better-Than-Delivery Cheese Pizza
Garden Veggie Pizza
Loaded with fresh vegetables, Garden Veggie Pizza serves 4 in 5 minutes when made in a pizza oven. The recipe uses a 12-inch crust, pizza sauce, spinach, mozzarella, mushrooms, red onion, tomato, and orange bell pepper, with a kitchen oven option included. It beats ordering takeout when the goal is a pizza with more color and texture. Serve with soup, salad, fries, or extra sliced vegetables on the side.
Get the Recipe: Garden Veggie Pizza
Margherita Pizza
Made with a short ingredient list, Margherita Pizza serves 2 in 7 minutes. The recipe uses a 12-inch pizza base, marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella balls, torn basil, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and flour for dusting. It keeps homemade pizza close to the classic takeout order while letting the crust and cheese stay in your control. Serve it with Caprese salad, roasted vegetables, or a bowl of soup.
Get the Recipe: Margherita Pizza
Pesto Pizza
Baked on a pre-cooked crust, Pesto Pizza serves 4 in 20 minutes. The recipe uses basil pesto, shredded mozzarella, halved cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil, then bakes until the crust crisps and the cheese melts. It helps change pizza night without calling for a long topping list. Serve it for weeknight dinner, game-day slices, or a casual lunch with salad, garlic knots, or pasta salad.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Pizza
Caprese Pizza
Finished with balsamic glaze, Caprese Pizza serves 2 in 5 minutes when cooked in a pizza oven. The recipe uses a 12-inch pizza base, olive oil, fresh mozzarella, heirloom or grape tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, with a kitchen oven method available. It gives takeout night a fresh tomato and mozzarella route. Serve warm with salad, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Pizza
Olive Pizza
Topped with Kalamata olives and arugula, Olive Pizza serves 2 in 5 minutes. The recipe uses a 12-inch pizza base, marinara sauce, Parmesan, mozzarella, red onion, Kalamata olives, arugula, and flour for the work surface. It works when the usual delivery order seems too plain, but pizza still sounds right. Serve with sour cream and chive dip, garlic sauce, salad, or extra red pepper flakes.
Get the Recipe: Olive Pizza
Pizza Bagels
Baked on halved bagels, Pizza Bagels serve 6 in 20 minutes. The recipe uses 3 bagels, pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, vegetarian pepperoni slices, and fresh basil, with English muffins suggested as a swap if needed. It gives pizza night a smaller, faster option than ordering a full pie. Serve them for lunch, after-school snacks, game day, or a quick dinner with salad or fruit.
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Greek Pizza
Loaded with feta and vegetables, Greek Pizza serves 2 in 5 minutes. The recipe uses a 12-inch pizza base, pizza sauce or marinara, mozzarella, feta, sweetened red and yellow bell peppers, red onion, grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and parsley. It gives homemade pizza a briny, colorful topping mix instead of the usual delivery combo. Serve it with cucumber salad, roasted potatoes, hummus, or a bowl of soup.
Get the Recipe: Greek Pizza
Pizza Casserole
Baked with pasta and pepperoni, Pizza Casserole serves 8 in 55 minutes. The recipe uses ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, beef broth, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, marinara, penne, Parmesan, mozzarella, pepperoni, and Italian seasoning. It turns pizza night into a family-size casserole when a regular box will not stretch far enough. Serve it with garlic bread, salad, steamed broccoli, or extra marinara.
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Mushroom Pizza
Brushed with garlic oil before baking, Mushroom Pizza serves 2 in 25 minutes. The recipe uses olive oil, garlic, shallot, assorted fresh mushrooms, thyme, oregano or rosemary, pizza dough, mozzarella, arugula, and cornmeal or flour for dusting. It gives homemade pizza a clearer topping focus than a standard takeout mushroom slice. Serve with salad, soup, roasted asparagus, or extra arugula.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Pizza
Pizza Pinwheels
Rolled in puff pastry before baking, Pizza Pinwheels serve 4 in 1 hour. The recipe uses puff pastry, marinara sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian parsley, and then slices the chilled log into 8 pieces. It beats ordering when pizza night needs a snackable tray instead of full slices. Serve warm with extra marinara, tomato soup, roasted vegetables, or other small bites.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pinwheels
White Pizza
Spread with garlicky ricotta, White Pizza serves 4 in 25 minutes. The recipe uses olive oil, pizza crust, ricotta, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, mozzarella, Parmesan, and fresh basil. It gives pizza night a no-tomato option when the usual delivery order sounds repetitive. Serve it with a green salad, tomato soup, garlic bread, roasted vegetables, or extra basil after baking.
Get the Recipe: White Pizza
