5 Healthy Sides That Make Pizza a Meal

While pizza night is a weekly staple in my house, it’s never just pizza. I grew up with the mentality that dinner isn’t dinner unless there’s a vegetable on my plate and I’ve never been able to shake that. That’s hardly a problem in my opinion, as incorporating a salad or side of veggies with our favorite pies keeps the meal well-balanced and, I’d argue, even more delicious, since there’s more to dig into.

Here are my five favorite healthy sides to serve with pizza.

A big pile of arugula tossed with lemon vinaigrette and finished with Parmesan shavings complements virtually any kind of pizza you’re enjoying. Make this salad once and you’ll hardly ever need a recipe for it again.

Iceberg lettuce might not be the fan favorite of the healthy eating world, but when combined with bitter radicchio, juicy tomatoes, and salty olives and tossed in a bright lemon caper vinaigrette, it’s surely something to celebrate.

Sauté kale with a slew of garlic, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and a bit of salty salami (just for good measure), and you’re got a warm pile of greens that may just steal the show from the pizza.

While this family-friendly recipe calls for grilling the broccoli, if you’ve already got the oven on for pizza, you can simply roast the broccoli at 450°F for 10 to 15 minutes. Or if you happen to be making grilled pizza, simply follow the recipe as is.

Broiling the cabbage before assembling this slaw adds a sweet and smoky note that’s unique. It’s the perfect choice when you are craving the crunch of a salad to offset your cheesy pizza but still want a little of the warm comfort a cooked veggie provides.