When you have a lot of leftovers to use up after a party or just a big dinner, an easy solution is to transform them into a pizza. Whether you have fresh produce or cooked meat on hand, you can make a creative pizza that is sure to please your entire family.

Not only will using leftovers to create a pizza save you time and money, but it may also be a healthier alternative to a pizza delivery or carry-out pies. You'll be able to control the ingredients that you put on it, possibly cutting back on the amount of sodium, fat, and overall calories that you consume.

If you don't want to make the pizza from scratch, you can simply add the leftover toppings to frozen pizza prior to baking it. As another option, order a plain cheese pizza from your favorite pizzeria and put the homemade ingredients on it to add flavor. 

You can also turn the pizza-making into a fun activity for your kids. Provide either a frozen, homemade, or delivery pizza, and set out bowls of leftovers, such as cooked vegetables or barbecued meat. Have the youngsters make their own pizzas using their preferred toppings. This will also make a hands-on party activity. 

Here are some pizza ideas using leftovers to get you started.

1. Roasted or Grilled Vegetable Pizza

Give a pizza a touch of healthy flavor with either oven-roasted or grilled vegetables, such as squash, broccoli, tomatoes, eggplant, onions, and mushrooms. You can add any type of meat you'd like, such as pepperoni or sausage, or you can keep it a vegetarian pie.

2. Taco Pizza 

If you had tacos for dinner the night before and have a lot of ingredients on hand, use them to create a mouthwatering pizza. Start with a basic crust, and slather on a mixture of tomato and taco sauce. Next, sprinkle on a shredded Mexican cheese blend, and then, top it with the seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and black olives. 

After the pizza is baked, add a sprinkle of green onions and a few dollops of sour cream if you'd like. You can also add crushed tortilla chips for extra crunch.

3. Barbecued Meat Pizza 

Revive leftover grilled meat, such as barbecue chicken, Italian sausage, or ribs, by using it to top a pizza. Add other complementary ingredients, such as canned pineapple or mushrooms, depending on the type of meat. 

This meat-heavy pizza will make a hearty meal for any occasion, such as a casual lunch or a dinner party. 

To learn more about your pizza options, contact a resource like Original Italian Pizza PA.

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