5 Smarter Ways to Eat Pizza at Home — Comfort Food Feast

Why wait for delivery when you can have healthy homemade pizza on the table in well under an hour?
By: Emily Lee

Save your napkins for mopping up spills at the dinner table. There’s no need to blot any grease when you serve one of these healthy homemade pies from Food Network. Start with whole-wheat pizza dough — store-bought is ideal on a busy weeknight — or prepare a high-fiber crust using chickpea flour. Have plenty of fresh, in-season toppings on hand. You can’t go wrong with a basic marinara sauce or pesto, plus your favorite cheese and a handful of fresh herbs. The No. 1 perk to preparing pizza at home? These easy pies cook up in the same amount of time you’d spend waiting for your delivery to arrive — maybe even less, if you have help. Even the littlest sous chefs can chip in with the toppings.

Without further ado, here are five better-for-you pizzas to save you from another humdrum weeknight dinner:

Broccoli Pesto Pizza (pictured at top)

Dress up nutty whole-wheat pizza dough with soft goat cheese, sliced tomato, fresh basil and homemade broccoli pesto. If you're used to traditional pesto, you'll love the taste of the earthy florets when combined with Parmesan and olive oil in your food processor.

Instead of waiting for delivery, you can prepare this comforting pie at home in just 30 minutes. Ellie Krieger opts for whole-wheat pizza dough and tops it off with tender cubes of butternut squash, sliced red onion and gorgonzola cheese.

CHICKPEA CRUST PIZZA
Keri Glassman
The Food Network Blogpost Recipes/Trying New Foods
Food Network
Chickpea Flour, Garlic Powder, Salt, Olive Oil, Onion, Garlic, Carrot, Sea Salt, Pepper, Crushed
Tomatoes, Chicken Sausage, Provolone Cheese

CHICKPEA CRUST PIZZA Keri Glassman The Food Network Blogpost Recipes/Trying New Foods Food Network Chickpea Flour, Garlic Powder, Salt, Olive Oil, Onion, Garlic, Carrot, Sea Salt, Pepper, Crushed Tomatoes, Chicken Sausage, Provolone Cheese

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Those who give up gluten often pine for pizza, but there’s no need to dream of the crisp-yet-chewy crusts of the past: This pizza is completely gluten-free when you prepare the crust with chickpea flour in place of wheat flour. Top with a homemade tomato sauce, provolone cheese and chicken sausage.

Food Stylist: Jamie Kimm
Prop Stylist: Leslie Siegel

TacoPizza__00023.tif

Food Stylist: Jamie Kimm Prop Stylist: Leslie Siegel

Photo by: Charles Masters

Charles Masters

Cuisines collide in this mash-up: pizza topped with refried beans, sour cream and salsa. Kids will love getting in on the action, so let them take a crack at helping to sprinkle the lettuce and grated cheddar on top. For quick assembly, use store-bought dough.

Ellie saves time by using store-bought whole-wheat pizza dough for this simple pie. Cut down on the fat by using part-skim mozzarella and ricotta cheeses.

Related Links:

Next Up

Pasta Pie Is the Ultimate Fall Comfort Food

You’ll want a big slice of them all.

Chilled-Out Takes on Comfort Food Favorites

Some of our most beloved hot comfort food favorites have ice-cold, chilled-out alter egos that are well worth your time this summer.

Bring on the Cozy Vibes with 6 Healthy Ways to Eat Chili

You’re one dish away from instant comfort.

Is It Ever Safe to Eat Food Off the Floor?

The science behind the "five-second rule."

5 Signs You've Gotten a Good Night's Sleep

How to tell when you've actually slept well.

5 Things to Know About Choosing a Prenatal Vitamin

Many healthcare providers recommend prenatal vitamins for those who are pregnant or trying to conceive.

How to Make Whatever Dinner You're Craving — Even If You Don't Have the "Right" Protein

Want chicken parm but only have tofu and pork chops in the fridge? These recipes prove that flexibility can still be satisfying.