Quick-Fix Pizzas & Calzones

By Southern Living

Craving a slice of pizza with a crispy, buttery crust covered in cheese and flavorful toppings? Step away from the phone and put down the clipped coupons. With these quick and easy homemade pizza recipes and calzones, ordering delivery is completely unnecessary. Within the 45 minutes that it would take for a delivery pizza to arrive, you can whip up one of these delicious pizza recipes. The best part? You can add as many toppings as you’d like – no charge! From the ultimate homemade cheese pizza recipe to a quick Southern BBQ Chicken Pizza cooked directly on your oven rack, homemade pizza recipe options are unlimited. Get fancy with a savory, smoky Southern favorite, Smoked Chicken Pizza with White Barbecue Sauce. Opt for a traditional homemade pizza dough, or try whipping up your own crust from shredded potatoes, garlic bread, whole wheat, or even a flaky biscuit. Incorporate your favorite pizza ingredients into a steaming and savory potpie, or simply amp up a frozen pie with some homemade touches. So preheat the oven, or light the grill. You’ll be amazed to see how many weeknight dinner favorites you’ll invent when you look beyond delivery and into your own pantry.

 

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Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Photo: Jason Wallis

Recipe: Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Baking the pizzas directly on the oven rack gives you a crisp crust in less time. You can substitute shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese for fresh.

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Ultimate Cheese Pizza

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Ultimate Cheese Pizza

Fresh basil, Gouda, and Parmesan make this our favorite cheese pizza yet.

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Smoked Chicken Pizza with White Barbecue Sauce

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Smoked Chicken Pizza with White Barbecue Sauce

Enjoy a savory slice of grilled homemade pizza topped with smoked chicken, white barbecue sauce, tomatoes, and cheese. 

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Grilled Pineapple Dessert Pizza

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Grilled Pineapple Dessert Pizza

Pecans, pineapple, and caramel combine for this sweet backyard treat.

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Smoked Sausage, Grilled Corn, and Sweet Onion Pizza

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Smoked Sausage, Grilled Corn, and Sweet Onion Pizza

Smoky sausage, corn, and a simple kale pesto are the key elements of this summer treat.

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Potato-Crusted Pizza

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Potato-Crusted Pizza

We used Ore-Ida Crispy Crowns frozen seasoned shredded potatoes to create a fun and kid-friendly crust.

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Whole Wheat Pesto Pizza

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Whole Wheat Pesto Pizza

Ready in 40 Minutes
Double the recipe (making two pizzas) to feed four to six people. Make the Arugula Pesto while the dough stands.

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Pesto Biscuit Pizza

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pesto Biscuit Pizza

These delectable pizzas are a breeze. Make them as a snack anytime of the day.

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Grilled Sausage Salad Pizza

Photo: Jacob Snavely

Recipe: Grilled Sausage Salad Pizza

Equal parts salad and pizza, this hearty pie is a fresh, new spin.

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Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Pizza

Recipe: Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Pizza

Bring your homemade pizza to the next level by incorporating fresh ingredients. If you don't have time to prepare your own fresh dough, some supermarkets sell uncooked pizza dough on request from the bakery department.

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Chicken Parmesan Pizza

Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Pizza

A frozen garlic bread loaf and deli fried chicken strips ensure this five-ingredient pizza will be ready for the oven in only 15 minutes. Serve it with a simple romaine lettuce salad tossed with grated Parmesan cheese, croutons, and your favorite bottled Caesar dressing.

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Shrimp-Pesto Pizza

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Shrimp-Pesto Pizza

Tired of the same old, same old? Then try this delicious grilled pizza. Fresh shrimp and sautéed veggies all atop a pesto sauce make for great flavor and a unique slice of pie.

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Garden Eggplant Pizza

Recipe: Garden Eggplant Pizza

An assortment of vegetables and dried herbs add delicious flavor to this hearty veggie-packed pizza. Tip: To substitute fresh herbs, use three times more than dried.

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Quick 'n' Easy Chicken Barbecue Pizza

Recipe: Quick 'n' Easy Chicken Barbecue Pizza

Barbecue sauce, refrigerated pizza dough and packaged precooked chicken breast strips make Quick 'n' Easy Chicken Barbecue Pizza a snap to prepare. For even more flavor, sprinkle pizza with chopped cooked bacon and chopped fresh cilantro before adding the cheese.

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Muffuletta Calzones

Beth Dreiling Hontzas / Styling Rose Nguyen / Food Styling Marion Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Muffuletta Calzones

Our Muffuletta Calzones have all the tasty traits of the classic sandwich: crusty bread filled with layers of provolone, ham, salami, and the essential olive salad. For even more flavor, add 1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning and ½ tsp. dried crushed red pepper to the cheese blend.

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Individual Pizza with Day-by-Day Vegetable Medley

Recipe: Day-by-Day Vegetable Medley Recipe: Individual Pizzas

This quick, tasty pizza recipe starts with a versatile Vegetable Medley base that will last throughout the week. Simply spread the veggies over the crust and cover with your favorite toppings and mozzarella cheese.

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Antipasto Pizza

Recipe: Antipasto Pizza

Pesto, artichoke hearts, olives, and other refrigerator-door items make Antipasto Pizza a quick and colorful supper selection.

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Italian-Style Pizza Pot Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Italian-Style Pizza Pot Pie

This pie combines a winning trio of meats, cheese, and vegetables for an appetizing main dish.

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Roasted Vegetable-and-Goat Cheese Pizza

Recipe: Roasted Vegetable-and-Goat Cheese Pizza

Switch things up a bit and incorporate flavors such as roasted zucchini, goat cheese, fresh thyme and pine nuts to make a gourmet-style pizza.

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Grilled Tomato-Peach Pizza

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Grilled Tomato-Peach Pizza

The ingredient list for this recipe only involves six items, but the fresh peaches, tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella are all packed with summertime flavors.

 

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Grilled Pizza With Steak, Pear, and Arugula

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Pizza With Steak, Pear, and Arugula

Planning on having friends over? Impress them with a hearty steak pizza. The recipe serves four, so double it to serve six to eight. Most grills can handle two (12 inch) pizzas at a time.

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Calzones With Italian Tomato Sauce.

Recipe: Calzones With Italian Tomato Sauce

Refrigerated pizza dough is the timesaving secret to flavorful Calzones With Italian Tomato Sauce.

 

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Southwestern Pizza

Recipe: Southwestern Pizza

For bold, smoky flavor, try this with two sliced, grilled chicken breasts. Double the Black Bean Salsa, and use one portion to make Southwestern Pizza and use the other as a chip dip.

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Veggie Sausage Pizzas

Recipe: Veggie Sausage Pizzas

Surprisingly, these meatless miracles fooled even our fussy Foods staff. Try this recipe for Veggie Sausage Pizza on your finicky eaters, but don’t tell them till after supper.

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Pepperoni Pizza

Recipe: Pepperoni Pizza

Skip takeout and prepare this yummy and affordable Pepperoni Pizza at home. Feel good about feeding this recipe to your loved ones by incorporating ingredients such as prebaked whole wheat pizza crust, turkey pepperoni, and part-skim mozzarella cheese.

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Portobello Pizza

Recipe: Portobello Pizza

If you’re trying to eat more vegetables but have a tough time coming up with substantial meat-free dishes, try incorporating ingredients such as beans, mushrooms, and eggplant that are so satisfying, you’ll never miss the meat. Eggplant and Portobello mushrooms offer a smoky flavor and meaty texture, making them good meat alternatives.

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Nutty Pesto Pizza

Recipe: Nutty Pesto Pizza

Four different types of cheeses, pesto sauce, and a sprinkling of pine nuts gives new, fresh flavor to a quick and easy meal.

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Sicilian Pizza

Recipe: Sicilian Pizza

Making pizza crust from scratch may take longer, but it's definitely worth the wait. Add your favorite toppings to suit your family’s taste.

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