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Pizza is one of those meals that’s easy to over-order.
The leftovers are delicious eaten cold, but if you regularly end up with too much pie, you’re probably looking for something a little more exciting.
Here are six easy, creative leftover pizza ideas to elevate your next meal.
Pizza Breakfast Scramble
This quick and simple breakfast dish is super easy to make. Chop your pizza into small, bite-sized pieces and warm it gently in a pan with some oil. Meanwhile, beat eggs with a splash of milk and some salt and pepper.
When the pizza is warmed through, push the chunks to one side of the pan and add the egg mixture to the other side, gently scrambling.
When that’s almost done to your liking, fold in the chopped pie.
Eating eggs for breakfast can help you lose up to 65% more weight than a different option with equivalent calories.
That’s because eggs keep you fuller for longer and are nutrient-dense, so you can enjoy your scramble with a clear conscience.
Pizza Salad Croutons
Salads are healthy and nutritious, but they can get a little tired. This is one of those genius leftover pizza ideas that can really elevate a dish.
Cut your pie into half-inch cubes or squares and drizzle them with olive oil. You can also add a sprinkle of garlic powder if you like.
Bake in the oven or air fry — both methods will take around 10 minutes until the croutons are crispy.
Let them cool completely before adding to the salad of your choice for a delicious texture and flavor upgrade.
Pizza-Stuffed Peppers
If you have quite a lot of pizza, this can be a hearty, healthy midweek meal.
You can either use just the toppings and find another use for the crust — like making croutons — or scrape off the good bits first, blitz the base into a crumb-like texture and use that, too.
To prepare, wash the peppers, cut off the tops and remove the seeds. Put your toppings and crumbed base — if you are using it — into a bowl and season with garlic or onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add some grated cheese and combine.
Fill the peppers, cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 25 minutes until tender. Bell peppers — especially red ones — are rich in vitamin C, so this healthy meal can boost immunity and contribute to healthy hair and skin.
Pizza Sandwich
If you’re in a hurry and just looking for a quick way to elevate the traditional cold pizza slice, it’s hard to beat this almost instant twist.
Simply top one half of your slice with some salad, extra cheese or other new topping of your choice, fold it in half, and voilà, you have a sandwich.
Not all leftover pizza ideas have to be complicated!
Lightning fast and likely to appeal to your inner efficiency guru, you can hold this in one hand and eat it on your way out the door.
As an added bonus, it keeps your hands clean and your toppings safely confined.
Pizza Fries
This one is unusual among leftover pizza ideas because you could easily take it to a party or serve it at a buffet.
Warm up your slices first so they are easier to handle, then simply cut them into long, very thin strips. Bake them in the oven or an air fryer until crisp.
To make loaded fries, you could top them with melted cheese and chopped ham or drizzle on some pasta sauce and olives or jalapenos.
Pizza Panzanella
Panzanella is a traditional Italian bread-based salad, so leftover pizza works beautifully here.
Cut your pie into cubes and toss it with tomatoes, cucumbers and vinaigrette. Job done.
For a big boost of B-vitamins to help lower your blood pressure, add kale, spinach or any other type of leafy green.
These green powerhouses also help relieve a headache — great news if the reason you have leftover pizza is that you were partying hard the night before.
How Best to Reheat Leftover Pizza
There are multiple ways to warm up your pie:
Microwave: Try 30-second intervals and adding a mug of water to avoid a dried-out crust.
Preheated oven: Warm it through for around 10 minutes.
Air fryer: Cook one slice at a time for a few minutes.
Skillet: Put it in a pan on the stove top. Cover to help the cheese melt.
While you can eat leftover pizza cold, reheating it helps with preparation for any of the above recipe ideas, as it’s more flexible and easier to cut or handle when gently warmed.
No Slice Left Behind
Leftover pizza ideas range from the super-fast sandwich to a hearty breakfast or a healthful midweek meal.
The only limit is your imagination! Next time you over-order pizza, relax.
With some creative thinking, your leftover pie can bring just as many smiles as it did when you first opened the box.
