What if you want to make a pizza and all you have are leftovers from last night? Can you use those leftovers as pizza toppings? With a little creativity we turn our leftovers into delicious pizzas.
Check out these ideas and then see what is in your refrigerator. You might be surprised at what you can use and how well it will turn out.
We make our own pizza dough. But that’s another post. These pizza toppings have become some of our favorites.
How About Barbequed Ribs?
Let’s say you had barbeque ribs a couple of nights ago and have a few left. For these pizza toppings first cut the meat off the bones. Caramelize some onions and some peppers if you have them. Drain them well.
Spread a thin layer of barbeque sauce on your crust. You can use the same one from your ribs or a favorite one. Don’t saturate the crust or it will stay soggy and won’t get crispy. It’s best to use a pasty brush and a light hand.
Add the cut-up meat and the onions and peppers. We like to add cheddar cheese and some leaves of spinach or arugula as additional pizza toppings.
That’s it. Enjoy.
How About Meatballs and Spaghetti?
Can you use meatballs and spaghetti as pizza toppings? Sure. Use the spaghetti sauce as the pizza sauce. Again, it is best to use a thin layer of sauce. Cut up the meatballs. Toss together with some basil, red pepper flakes, mushrooms, and mozzarella. It’s an Italian style pizza.
You can always use the spaghetti another night or warm it up and serve it with the pizza.
How About Baked Chicken?
Does baked chicken make great pizza toppings? Since you do not want your chicken to dry out, you could pour a small amount of olive oil over it and let it soak for a few minutes. Drain it and lightly spread the oil on the crust. You may not need all of it.
Depending on what spices were on your baked chicken you might need to add some additional spices to make these pizza toppings more flavorful. Italian spices including basil, oregano, and fennel are good. So are southwestern spices like cumin, cilantro, and red pepper.
Cut up the chicken into bite sized pieces. Add some spinach, onions, and cheese. We like gruyere cheese with chicken as pizza toppings. You may want mozzarella, pecorino, or parmigiano-reggiano. It really is your choice.
How About Grilled Vegetables?
Options for pizza toppings are endless with your leftovers.
Use a small amount of either tomato sauce, tomato paste, or herb-flavored olive oil on your crust. Spread the grilled vegetables sparingly over it. Add a cheese of your choice. When the pizza is done, add some fresh herbs like basil or parsley.
The key is not to saturate the crust with sauce and go easy on the toppings. Your crust will cook better and more evenly.
Pizza toppings can be found in your refrigerator any time you have leftovers. Enjoy.
For more ideas check out https://www.forkscorksandbrews.com/forks/