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Best Side Dishes for Pizza


Best Side Dishes for Pizza

When pizza night rolls around, it’s sure to be a fun-filled evening of indulging in delicious pie piled high with zesty tomato sauce, stringy cheese and just the right amount of toppings. But what can you serve alongside that delicious pizza that plays the perfect supporting role? The trick to finding the perfect pizza side dish is creating or ordering something that balances out the doughy, cheesy components of your main star.

The next time you’re racking your mind for the ideal pizza companion, take some of the suggestions we’ve laid out for you below. Each one can hold its own as the perfect side dish to your pizza, whether you make it yourself or order from our menu at Giordano’s.

11 Delicious Pizza Side Dishes You Can Make

11 Delicious Pizza Side Dishes You Can Make

If you’ve got a bit of time before your pizza arrives and you’re looking to flex your culinary muscles, you can make your own side dishes for your pizza. You can customize your meal to your family’s preferences or make enough food to feed a crowd. Check out some of our favorite recipes for things that go with pizza.

1. Roasted Lemony Asparagus

A hint of citrus can be the perfect complement to a pizza dinner. Pizza can sometimes be the heavy component, with its thick crust, warm sauce, melty cheese and tasty toppings. Lighten things up with the refreshing taste that lemon brings to this side dish. The bright colors of green and yellow also help brighten the plate because we all know we eat with our eyes — and sometimes our cameras — before we ever bring a taste to our lips.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious dish:

  • A single bunch of fresh asparagus
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash the asparagus and cut the thick bottoms off — this part usually has a hint of white and is the toughest part of the plant. Toss the bottoms in the trash. Place the asparagus stalks in a shallow baking dish and coat them in olive oil, making sure they are well covered. Add salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus for 20 minutes, tossing once in the middle of the cooking time.

Pull the asparagus from the oven and zest the lemon over the top. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice from one half over the asparagus. Give it a good toss with tongs. Serve immediately.

2. Cranberry Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

Bring a bright and flavorful side dish to your pizza night with the crunchy, sweet addition of Brussels sprouts. Slow-cooking the vegetables in a skillet gives them that beautiful light brown color that pops with flavor. This dish plays the perfect supporting role to your main course.

Here are the necessary ingredients:

  • 1 pound of fresh Brussels sprouts, cut in half
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup dried, sweetened cranberries
  • Zest of one lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once it’s warm, add the Brussels sprouts. Stir the vegetables every few minutes to ensure they brown evenly. The slow, low heat will allow the Brussels sprouts to develop that enticing caramel color. After about 10-12 minutes, when the Brussels sprouts are tender, stir in the dried cranberries and cook for another minute until heated.

Turn the heat off. Zest the lemon over the top and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

3. Spicy Bacon Roasted Broccoli

There’s nothing wrong with adding a dose of bacon fat to a crunchy side dish! Savory bacon crumbles perfectly highlight the power of broccoli, which complements the flavors you might find in your pizza without overpowering the delicious taste of the main course.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 pound of fresh or frozen broccoli
  • 4 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon bacon grease or olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. After you cook the bacon, set it aside to drain on a paper towel and reserve a tablespoon of the bacon grease. If you forget — or don’t get to it — opt for a tablespoon of olive oil.

Coat the broccoli in the bacon grease or oil. Toss with the red pepper flakes. Roast the broccoli for 20-30 minutes, or until it has crisped up or is slightly brown on the edges. With about 5 minutes left, remove the broccoli from the oven and toss it with the grated Parmesan cheese and bacon crumbles. Return it to the oven for the final minutes of cooking.

When the dish is done, serve the broccoli with the pizza and wow your guests with your culinary expertise.

4. Bright Citrus Salad

The refreshing flavors of a citrus salad heighten and complement the flavors of your pizza. Use this side dish to brighten your meal without overpowering your entree.

To make this dish, you’ll need to gather these ingredients:

  • 5 cups bibb lettuce
  • 2 oranges, peeled and sliced thin
  • ½ cup roasted pecans, chopped
  • 2 ounces of crumbled goat cheese
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 shallot, diced
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Wash and dry your lettuce. Pull it apart into smaller pieces and place it in a large salad bowl. Toss the sliced oranges on top, along with goat cheese and pecans. In a small bowl, mix the vinegar, diced shallot, olive oil, salt and pepper. Whisk with a fork until blended. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until it’s well coated. Serve right away alongside your main course.

5. Spinach Salad With Peppers

A hearty spinach salad is a fantastic complement to just about any pizza. Combine it with the sweet, crisp taste of fresh peppers, and you’re looking at a salad that knows how to hold its own. You might even eat the leftovers the next day — although we can’t guarantee you’ll have any leftovers to speak of.

Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need:

  • 6 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup whole wheat bread cubes
  • ⅛ cup olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 red onion, sliced thin
  • Your favorite balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss the bread cubes with the olive oil and minced garlic. Lay the bread cubes out on a lined baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cubes are crispy. Don’t let them burn!

Set the bread cubes aside to cool — warm bread cubes will wilt the spinach. While they cool, toss the clean spinach into a large salad bowl. Add the bell pepper, red onion and about 4-5 tablespoons of the balsamic vinaigrette. Toss until well coated. Top the salad with the homemade croutons and serve immediately.

6. Salami and Olive Salad

Travel to old-world Italy with this rustic and robust salad. It just about begs to be served with a pizza and big hugs from Nonna. While it’s a great complement to your pizza, it won’t steal the show from that heavenly, deep-dish pie you’re about to serve. It adds a nice balance to the whole meal, making you wonder how you ever ate pizza without this king of salads to serve alongside it.

To prepare this dish, gather the following ingredients:

  • 5 cups romaine lettuce
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped into small pieces
  • ½ cup salami, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ½ red onion, sliced thin
  • ¾ cup Kalamata olives, sliced thin
  • ⅛ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Wash the romaine lettuce and spin it dry. Add it to a large salad bowl with the chopped egg, salami, red onion and olives. In a small bowl, add the olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk with a fork until well combined. Pour it over the salad and toss until well coated. Serve immediately.

7. Simple Carrot Slaw

A fresh and bright companion to pizza, a carrot slaw can be whipped up in a hurry. It’s one of those side dishes that’s great to pull together when you don’t think you have any other ingredients on hand. It’s tasty, it’s crispy and it brightens a meal in a hurry. Plus, it incorporates the fresh flavors often associated with summer. And who doesn’t love that?

Here’s a list of everything you’ll need:

  • About 6 medium-sized carrots, peeled
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ cup walnuts, chopped
  • ½ cup dried, sweetened cranberries
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Using a kitchen mandolin or a food processor, thinly slice the carrots. You want them thin enough to absorb the vinegar dressing. Set the sliced carrots aside in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar and sugar. Mix with a fork.

Once combined, pour the mixture over the carrot slices. Stir in the walnuts and dried cranberries, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Serve chilled with your pizza.

8. Simple Roasted Summer Vegetables

Pizza night lets you take it easy. The whole point is to let someone else do the bulk of the work while you sit back and enjoy one of your favorite meals. So, when it comes to side dishes, simple is best. And nothing suits a tasty pizza quite like the wonderful flavors of roasted veggies.

This recipe doesn’t require much effort, but it has a big impact on your taste buds and the entire dinner experience. Whip these up the next time you need a pizza side dish.

Gather the following ingredients to prepare this dish:

  • 1 cup chopped zucchini
  • 1 red onion, cut into large wedges
  • 1 cup chopped yellow squash
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup small white button mushrooms, whole
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Chopped all of the veggies to be about the same size so that they cook evenly. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the chopped vegetables in a large bowl, pour the olive oil over the top and season with salt and pepper. Toss until well coated.

Lay the vegetables out on a lined baking sheet and roast for 20-30 minutes. Stir at least once during the cooking process. Serve in a large bowl while the vegetables are still warm.

9. Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

With flavors that complement your pizza without stealing any of the spotlight, these cheesy zucchini sticks are a delightful companion to your main meal. You can even dip them in marinara sauce for a flavor bonus. Roast them up while you wait for your pizza to arrive, and you’ve got a tasty side dish you can use time and again for your pizza nights.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 medium zucchini, cut into sticks
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • Olive oil for drizzling
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, crack the egg and whisk it with the water to make an egg wash. In another bowl, mix the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Coat the zucchini sticks in the egg and shake off any excess. Coat them again in the breadcrumb mixture. Lay the zucchini sticks out on a lined baking dish, and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

Roast for 25-30 minutes or until they are cooked through. Serve immediately with a small side of marinara sauce for those who might want to dip the cheesy sticks.

10. Basic Arugula Salad With Parmesan

An arugula salad has bright, fresh tones of green that can heighten most dinners, but it goes especially well with the flavors found in pizza. This delicious salad couldn’t be simpler, making it a delicious companion to your pizza night meal.

Gather the following ingredients to prepare this dish:

  • 5 cups arugula
  • Fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Add the arugula to a large salad bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Pour over the arugula and toss until well blended. Use a peeler, like one you might use on vegetables, to peel pieces of cheese over the salad. You want large, flavorful chunks. Serve the salad immediately alongside your pizza.

11. Mini Fruit Pizzas

While these might be more of a dessert than a side dish, there’s nothing like the freshness of fruit to lighten a meal and make it more refreshing. These act as guilty-pleasure palate cleansers after you’ve had a heavy pizza dinner — and you don’t even have to worry about baking or whipping together an extensive dessert.

This dish is a hit with adults and kids alike — though you might find it especially appealing if you’re serving kids since it doesn’t create a huge mess. Plus, it encourages them to eat fruit! It’s a win-win situation for your next pizza night.

To prepare this dish, you’ll need these ingredients:

  • About a dozen large sugar cookies
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries
  • 1 cup sliced kiwi
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • Cool Whip

Lay the cookies out on the table. Take a spoonful of Cool Whip and coat the top of each cookie with the creamy concoction. Layer the fruit, as desired, on top of the Cool Whip. Serve up as a DIY dessert or tasty side to your more traditional pizza dinner.

10 Yummy Pizza Side Dishes You Can Order From Giordano’s

10 Yummy Pizza Side Dishes You Can Order From Giordano's

When you dine with Giordano’s, pizza night is about more than pizza. It’s about coming together with family or friends with a spread of crowd-pleasing food and complementary flavors. Create the perfect meal for your family or a get-together with more from our menu. You’ll find the best side dishes for pizza from Giordano’s!

1. Caesar Salad

For a fresh side dish for pizza, go for something light from the salad section of our menu. You can’t go wrong with Caesar salad, which includes fresh and crispy romaine lettuce, tangy and creamy Caesar dressing, and a topping of Parmesan, Romano and Asiago cheeses. It perfectly complements your cheesy pizza dinner!

2. Chicken Wings or Boneless Nuggets

Pizza and wings are an iconic combination, and chicken wings are one of the best side dishes to go with pizza when you’re feeding a crowd. When you get chicken wings from Giordano’s, you get a choice between plain, Buffalo or BBQ wings — they’re perfect whether you’re feeling the heat or craving something sweet. Get a mix of Buffalo and BBQ wings when you’re hosting a big game day party or another get-together and want to please every visitor.

If you’re in the mood for nuggets, you can get those from Giordano’s, too. Like our classic chicken wings, our white meat boneless chicken nuggets come plain or tossed in Buffalo or BBQ sauce. 

3. Fried Mozzarella Triangles

If pizza night is a cheat night for you, you might as well go all out and indulge in some fried mozzarella triangles. These lightly breaded starters will satisfy your craving for mozzarella sticks and then some — there’s even more melty cheese. Pair fried mozzarella triangles with our house-made marinara dipping sauce for a flavor that mimics your deep-dish pizza but doesn’t overpower it.

4. Garlic Parmesan Fries

French fries are a crowd-pleaser and a great side to get for families, and garlic Parmesan fries give you a more flavorful version of a beloved classic. As a pizza lover, you know you love the delicious combination of garlic and Parmesan, so don’t leave your fries out of the fun. Get this starter with Giordano’s signature ranch dipping sauce for a tangy twist on a favorite. Got picky eaters at the party? Don’t worry — we make plain french fries, too. 

5. Calamari

Seafood lovers, we’ve got you covered. For a yummy yet refined finger food, you can’t go wrong with calamari! At Giordano’s, our calamari is lightly fried and served with lemon rings, banana peppers and our house-made marinara. If you’re “fishing” for a unique pizza side dish, give calamari a try. 

6. Italian Beef and Giardiniera Arancini

If you haven’t been introduced to giardiniera or arancini, you’re in for a treat — literally. Giardiniera is a special Italian relish made by soaking pickled veggies in vinegar or oil, and arancini are deep-fried rice balls. Stuff the rice balls with the veggies and beef, and you’ve got a distinctly Italian side dish to go with your distinctly Italian dinner! 

7. Cheesy Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is another classic side dish, and nothing enhances it like cheese. Our cheesy garlic bread is made with a mix of four cheeses melted to perfection. Our marinara sauce is the perfect dipping sauce if you’re longing for a zesty complement to the bread. 

8. Tomato Bruschetta 

Craving a fresh side dish but sick of salads? May we present the tomato bruschetta from Giordano’s. Crispy garlic toast creates the base for this dish, and we top things off with freshly diced tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze. Give it a try!

9. Pasta

If you’re hosting some extra hungry guests, or you’re feeling famished yourself, pair your pizza with pasta. It’s a classic combination, and at Giordano’s, you can order rigatoni with cream sauce, rigatoni bolognese, chicken Parmesan, fettuccini Alfredo, lasagna or spaghetti to go with your pizza. 

10. Giordano’s Sampler

If you’re hosting a get-together or have a family who can’t decide on what pizza appetizers they’re craving, try our sampler. You’ll enjoy a combination of delicious favorites like our bruschetta, boneless chicken bites in Buffalo or BBQ sauce, cheesy garlic bread, and mozzarella triangles. Try a bit of everything and make sure everyone gets their favorite with this starter.

Pair the Perfect Side With the Perfect Pizza

The next time you order one of Giordano’s classic Chicago-style pizzas, make sure you have the side dishes to accompany this iconic dinner. Whip up a dish yourself or order one of the tasty treats from Giordano’s. Whether you want an extra hit of protein from chicken wings, a crisp salad or some cheesy mozzarella triangles, we’ve got the dishes to delight your taste buds. 

Find a Giordano’s location near you to fill your next pizza night with a delicious deep-dish pie and plenty of flavorful sides. We can’t wait to see what you choose!

Pair the Perfect Side with the Perfect Pizza