Unique Sides for Pizza

Pizza night doesn’t need much help, but sometimes you want something on the side besides the same old garlic bread.

From crispy potatoes and roasted vegetables to fresh salads and a few unexpected sides, here are some easy dishes to serve with pizza. Pick something light to balance a cheesy pizza or go all-in with another comfort-food favorite.

Easy Sides to Serve With Pizza

One-Pot Pesto Orzo with Green Beans, Bell Pepper and Zucchini

This pesto orzo is loaded with vegetables and comes together in one pot. It’s a good choice when you want something a little more substantial alongside pizza.

Mediterranean Inspired Greek Pasta Salad

Cold pasta salad is a nice contrast to a hot cheesy pizza. Our Greek version is loaded with Mediterranean flavors and can be made ahead of time.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy outside, soft inside and made in the air fryer, these sweet potato fries are an easy side when pizza night needs something extra.

Easy Baked Potato Wedges

Sometimes pizza night calls for potatoes too. These oven-baked wedges get crispy without having to drag out the deep fryer.

Marinated Cold Green Bean Salad with Tomatoes

Green beans and cherry tomatoes tossed in a tangy dressing make a fresh, cool side for a rich pizza.

Butter Lettuce Salad

A simple salad is a classic pizza side for a reason. Butter lettuce, colorful vegetables and creamy balsamic dressing keep this one from being boring.

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Thick slices of cabbage get olive oil and seasonings before roasting until browned around the edges. Simple, inexpensive and surprisingly good with pizza.

Oven Roasted Zucchini and Squash

Zucchini and yellow squash are quick to prep and roast, making this an easy vegetable side while the pizza is cooking.

Roasted Sweet Potato Slices with Garlic Honey Butter

Sweet potatoes tossed in a sweet and savory garlic-honey butter give you something completely different from the usual pizza-night sides.

Cucumber Yogurt Salad

Think tzatziki in salad form: crunchy cucumber, Greek yogurt, dill, garlic and lemon. The cool, tangy flavors work especially well next to a hot pizza.

Garlic Butter Rolls

Okay, sometimes more carbs really are the answer. These rolls are tossed with garlic herb butter and Parmesan for a serious upgrade from plain dinner rolls.

Chopped Greek Salad

Fresh vegetables, chickpeas, feta and olives tossed in a lemon-herb vinaigrette make a crisp side that cuts through a rich, cheesy pizza.

Mango Avocado Salad

Sweet mango and creamy avocado make a fresh side that can be ready in about 15 minutes.

Artichoke Salad

Artichokes, tomatoes, chickpeas, olives and feta tossed with Mediterranean dressing make this almost tailor-made to serve with pizza.

10-Minute Greek Cucumber Salad

This fresh cucumber salad comes together in about 10 minutes with Mediterranean flavors and a zesty homemade dressing.

Balsamic Green Beans

A little balsamic gives simple green beans a bright, tangy flavor that pairs well with just about any kind of pizza.

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Balsamic and Feta

Fresh tomatoes, herbs, feta and balsamic make a quick summer side that makes even more sense when tomatoes are in season.

Kale Slaw with Apples

Kale, crisp apples and almonds give this slaw plenty of crunch, while a sweet and tangy dressing ties it together.

Garlic Parmesan Asparagus

Garlic and Parmesan are already right at home on pizza night. This asparagus takes about 15 minutes and can be roasted, sautéed, grilled or air fried.

Rainbow Salad with Chinese-Inspired Dressing

Loaded with fruits and vegetables, this colorful salad gives you plenty of crunch and a fresh contrast to a heavier pizza.

Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts

Crispy Brussels sprouts get tossed with a sweet and tangy maple-mustard sauce for a side with a lot more going on than plain roasted vegetables.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Sweet corn, jalapeños, avocado and crumbled cheese give this esquites-style salad plenty of bold flavor. This would be especially good alongside taco or Southwest-style pizza.

Ginger Ale Carrots

Yep, ginger ale. These glazed carrots use just three ingredients and give you a slightly sweet side that’s definitely not the usual pizza-night salad.

What Goes Best With Pizza?

If the pizza is rich and loaded with toppings, I’d go with one of the fresh salads, cucumbers, green beans or roasted vegetables. If you’re feeding a hungry crowd, add potato wedges, sweet potato fries, pasta salad or garlic rolls.

Really, there aren’t many rules here. Pizza night is supposed to be easy.