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Kid-Friendly DIY Pizza Kits


Ask most kids what their favorite food is, and they’ll probably say pizza! Pizza makes a delicious lunch or snack for home or school, but it can be difficult to pack in a lunchbox. Store-bought pizza lunch kits are quick and convenient but can be expensive and contain unhealthy ingredients. Luckily, it’s easy to make homemade kid-friendly DIY pizza kits when you know how.

This article explores customizable DIY pizza-making kits, including their benefits, ideas for healthy ingredients and delicious and easy make-ahead recipes for sauce and crusts.

The Benefits of Making Homemade Pizza Kits

Store-bought pizza kits are a quick and convenient lunch or snack option for busy families and a fun treat for kids. However, with convenience often comes some not-so-convenient factors, such as:

  • Expense: Store-bought pizza lunch kits often contain a small amount of food for the price, which may not fill up every kid. Kids also don’t always like the ingredients of store-bought pizza kits. Due to the amount of food and lack of diverse ingredients, these kits can be an unwise way to spend money.
  • Unhealthy ingredients: Although some ready-made lunch kits on the market are sugar-free, low-sodium, made from organic ingredients, high-protein or vegan, they may not fit your family’s dietary needs. Depending on your goals and concerns, these ingredients may harm your child’s health. Always read the nutrition information to ensure the ingredients align with your family’s health goals.
  • No consideration of special diets: Researchers estimate that 1 in 13 children, or 8% of children in the United States, have a food allergy. With the incidence of food intolerance and allergies increasing every year, more and more parents must pay scrupulous attention to what their child eats. Prepackaged pizza kits may have some ingredients kids with food allergies and intolerances should not eat.
  • No personalization options: While prepackaged pizza kits are convenient, they’re not customizable. With no way of substituting ingredients, customers have no choice but to buy the kits as-is, even if their children don’t like everything that comes in it.

There are many benefits of making your own pizza kits at home, which include:

  • Lower cost: With a growing need for convenience across cultures, more parents are spending on prepackaged meals. This convenience comes at a price. Verified Market Research shows parents spent $137.8 billion globally on children’s food and beverages in 2023. It is much more cost-effective to make and assemble DIY pizza-making kits for kids that contain ingredients you can make ahead in large batches and refrigerate or freeze for future use.
  • Healthier ingredients: DIY pizza kits give you control over the ingredients you use and allow you to choose healthier options. For example, you can opt for sugar-free, high-protein or low-sodium. You can also incorporate more vegetables and fruits in the sauce and crust.
  • Control over portions and food pairings: With control over portions, you can be sure your child is getting a lunch kit that will nourish and fill them up. Pair them with other fun, healthy snacks of their choosing so they will genuinely want to eat the food.
  • Ability to tailor to special diets: Parents of children who require a special diet due to food allergies and intolerances must know every ingredient to the last detail. When you make your own pizza kit at home, you can ensure safe ingredients for your child.
  • Getting kids involved: Making homemade pizza lunch kits is a fun way to get kids involved in meal choice and preparation. It also encourages them to try new foods and help with family tasks. They are easy to prepare ahead of time and simple for a child to assemble quickly on their own at home or school.

What You’ll Need to Make Your Own Kid-Friendly DIY Pizza Kit

Put together a few basics like crust, sauce, cheese and toppings, package them in a fun and convenient container and you’ve got yourself a DIY pizza kit any kid will love! The list of ingredient combinations is almost endless. Keep in mind that it’s best to choose ingredients that will taste good if your kid has to eat them cold. You can prepare many of the ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze them.

Crust

There are many varieties of crusts you can use for your pizza kits, including:

  • Homemade crusts
  • Prepackaged crusts
  • Crusts made with vegetables such as cauliflower
  • Gluten-free crusts

Whether your child has a special diet or you just want a delicious way to incorporate vegetables into their diet, you can adapt the pizza crust to each child’s individual needs.

Sauce

You can also choose from a variety of sauces for your pizza kits, including:

  • Store-bought pasta or pizza sauce
  • Homemade sauce

Incorporating extra veggies into homemade tomato sauce is a great way to fill your child’s lunch with vitamins and nutrients without them even realizing it.

Cheese

No pizza kit is complete without cheese. Popular pizza cheeses include:

  • Mozzarella — available in whole milk and low-fat skim varieties
  • Cheddar
  • Parmesan
  • Lactose- and dairy-free cheese
  • Vegan imitation cheese

Choose one or a combination of different cheeses for a delicious lunch or snack that’s friendly for all kids.

Toppings

Here is where your kids can really get involved in their meal choice and have some fun. Popular pizza kit toppings include:

  • Pepperoni — available in turkey, low-fat and low-sodium varieties
  • Veggies (marinated mushrooms, sliced black olives, roasted veggies)
  • Diced or thinly sliced ham
  • Cooked shredded chicken
  • Cooked crumbled bacon or ground sausage
  • Pineapple

Toppings should be bite-sized and easy for kids to spread or distribute onto their pizza.

Containers and Utensils

Part of the convenience of a lunch kit is packing it in a small and portable container. Don’t forget a spoon or spreader for spreading pizza sauce and toppings. Other items to include in your DIY pizza kit include:

  • Plastic sandwich containers with a lid — also available with separate compartments for adding other snacks
  • Sandwich and snack-sized bags, either plastic or reusable
  • Plastic utensils

Enlisting your child’s help in packing their homemade lunch kits for school encourages them to help and allows them to feel like they’re part of their food choices.

Homemade DIY Pizza Kits

Homemade kid-friendly pizza kits are easy to prepare and assemble. Follow these guidelines for packing and assembling your do-it-yourself lunch kit:

Ingredients

  • 1 recipe for quick-and-easy pizza crust
  • 14-ounce jar pizza sauce, or use a homemade recipe
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Favorite toppings (pepperoni, turkey ham, shredded chicken, vegetables or more)
  • Small sandwich bags
  • 1 plastic spreader or spoon
  • 1 divided storage container

Directions

Follow the pizza dough recipe and divide it into 18 to 20 portions. Let rest for 10 minutes, then heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into 5-inch disks. Transfer to an oiled baking sheet and pierce each disk several times with a fork. Bake the pizza dough for eight minutes until lightly brown. Cool completely, remove from pan and place in freezer bags until needed.

How to Assemble the Pizza Kit

To assemble your homemade pizza kit:

  • Place two pizza crusts in the main compartment of the container
  • Fill a small zipper sandwich bag with a few tablespoons of sauce and seal
  • In a separate bag, combine ¼ cup of cheese and several tablespoons of your chosen toppings and seal
  • Seal the container and refrigerate until needed

Fun and Easy Recipes for Homemade DIY Pizza Kits

Try the following uncomplicated and adaptable recipes to help you make your DIY pizza kits nutritious and delicious:

No-Fail Pizza Crust

Yields 18 to 20 snack-size pizzas

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 cup of warm water
  • 1 tablespoon of baking powder
  • 4 tablespoons of butter, softened
  • 1 ¼ ounce packet of yeast — 2 ¼ teaspoons

Directions:

Mix the yeast in warm water and set aside. Combine salt, flour and baking powder. Add softened butter to the flour mixture, then add the yeast mixture and mix until a dough forms. Remove the dough from the ball and knead on a floured surface until soft.

Drizzle oil in a bowl and place the dough inside, turning to coat all sides. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 15 to 30 minutes until doubled in size.

Quick and Easy Pizza Crust

Ingredients:

  • 1 ¼ ounce packet of yeast, about 2 ¼ teaspoons
  • 1 cup of warm water
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil
  • 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons of cornmeal (optional) for sprinkling on the cookie sheet

Directions:

Dissolve yeast in warm water and add sugar. Let yeast sit for about 10 minutes until it is foamy. Stir in the remaining ingredients until blended. Beat vigorously for at least 20 strokes. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead until it is no longer sticky. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning the dough to coat all sides. Allow dough to rest for five minutes in a bowl covered with plastic wrap or a towel before separating into golf-ball-sized dough balls.

Gluten-Free Pizza Dough

This yummy pizza crust recipe is gluten-free for those with gluten allergies or sensitivities and yields 18 to 20 mini crusts.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of high-quality, all-purpose gluten-free flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons of xanthan gum (you can omit if your blend already contains it)
  • 2 teaspoons of instant yeast or 1 tablespoon of active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
  • ¾ cup of hot water — about 100 degrees Fahrenheit
  • ¼ cup of olive oil (3 tablespoons for the dough and 1 for drizzling)

Directions:

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, yeast, xanthan gum and sugar. Add the salt and whisk again to combine well.

Make a well in dry ingredients and steadily pour in three tablespoons of olive oil and water. Combine gently but constantly until a soft dough forms, using either a wooden spoon, the pulse setting on the food processor or medium speed on the stand mixer. If the dough is sticky, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it is soft but not sticky.

Coat a medium-sized bowl with olive oil and place the dough inside, turning it to coat with olive oil evenly. Cover the bowl, set it in a warm area and let the dough rest for 30 minutes to an hour until it doubles in size.

Divide the dough into 18 to 20 portions. Roll each between parchment paper into 5-inch circles and transfer to lined baking sheets. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for five to seven minutes until the crust starts to crisp. Cool completely before storing.

Cauliflower Pizza Crusts

Yields eight mini pizza crusts. You can make these delicious and healthy pizza crusts ahead and refrigerate or freeze them for up to one month.

Ingredients:

  • 1 head of cauliflower, chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • ⅓ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 teaspoon of dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon of dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Cut cauliflower into florets and pulse in a food processor in batches until finely ground. You could also use a box grater. Transfer the finely ground cauliflower to a microwave-safe bowl and cover loosely.

Microwave cauliflower for five minutes, then let it cool completely. Press through a clean kitchen towel to drain all moisture. Mix drained cauliflower with remaining ingredients until well combined.

Divide the mixture into eight portions on a parchment-lined baking sheet, using an ice cream scoop or big spoon to create circles. Brush or spray with oil and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely and store in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze for up to one month.

Homemade Tomato Spread

Perfect for eating cold

Ingredients:

  • 1 ¾ pounds of ripe cherry tomatoes
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • ¼ cups of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • Optional 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Halve the tomatoes and add them to a small Dutch oven with all your other ingredients. Stir everything, and pop it in the oven, covered, for an hour. Uncover, stir again and cook for another hour to let everything reduce.

Remove the Dutch oven from the oven. Let the sauce cool, then blend until smooth. Place the sauce in a container until it’s ready for use.

Italian Food for the Whole Family From Giordano’s

While pizza kits are perfect for daily dinners or quick lunches, feeding a larger group can be tricky. Giordano’s catering brings restaurant-quality Italian cuisine to your next event. From our famous stuffed deep-dish pizzas to fresh salads and Italian specialties, our catering team creates memorable dining experiences for groups of any size.

Whether you’re hosting a family reunion, school event or office party, our diverse menu options satisfy all ages and tastes. Select a location near you and order online today to transform your next gathering into an unforgettable Italian feast.