50 Alternative Ways To Use Pizza Dough

Pizza is one of the world’s most popular foods, however, eventually, we all get tired of eating the same old pizza day after day. Luckily, there are plenty of other ways you can use pizza dough that don’t involve pizza at all. We’ve gathered 50 of the best alternative pizza dough recipes for when you’re looking to mix things up a little bit.

Pizza dough is great for all occasions, whether that be breakfast, lunch or, dinner, and in this slideshow, we’ve included something for everyone. It’s time to bring some variety back into your life. Try out one of these delicious dishes today and let us know what you think.

1. Reuben calzones

Calzones are a great way to use pizza dough. Instead of just going with a standard Italian one, why not get a little creative? Next time, try cooking yourself a reuben calzone that uses a pizza pocket instead of the rye bread normally associated with the sandwich.

2. Crackers

If you’re like us, your homemade crackers almost never come out right. Luckily, this pizza dough cracker recipe is delicious and hard to mess up. You’ll just want to make sure to roll the dough as thin as possible.

3. Cinnamon rolls

Pizza dough actually works great for making cinnamon rolls. Basically, all you really need to add is some butter, sugar, and cinnamon. If you want to make them extra sweet, you can also top them with icing.

4. Pizza on a stick

Shish kebabs are a whole lot of fun, but how about a pizza shish kebab? Putting pizza on a stick is an entirely new way to consume the world’s favorite food. The pizza sauce can go on the side in a little dipping cup.

5. Garlic knots

Garlic knots are super easy to make. Twist your dough up into small knots. Apply some garlic butter with a brush. Then top with parmesan cheese and bake. You can add a little Italian seasoning if you want as well.

6. Apple Galette

Apple galette is a fancy French name for an apple tart. It is a great and hearty dessert that uses both pizza dough and fruits. Plus, it’s also quite simple to make. Just take some store-bought dough and top it with butter, apples, apricot preserves, and sugar.

Food Schmooze/Tom Hopkins
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Food Schmooze/Tom Hopkins

7. Maple Cran-Apple Breakfast Pizza

Pizza isn’t just for lunch or dinner. Especially when you mix up the toppings. Add some sausages, cranberries, and apples to the pie to create a breakfast pizza that is way different than anything most people have tried before.

8. Mediterranean turkey pot pie

Realistically, in a pot pie you can pretty much put anything you want. Just throw some vegetables and any type of meat in and you’re good to go. For a unique recipe, try doing a Mediterranean turkey pot pie using lots of olives!

9. Focaccia bread

Use your pizza dough to bake a focaccia bread. The bread is a great complement to any dinner. There are loads of recipes, but one thing you can try is loading it up with cheese, onions, tomatoes, sugar, and Italian seasoning.

10. Herbed Cheese Sticks

Making herbed cheese breadsticks is a great way to use up extra dough. Topped with Italian spices and some mozzarella, they are absolutely delicious and will give your local pizza joint’s breadsticks a run for their money.

11. Dumplings

There are lots of different variations on dumplings. You might be surprised to learn that you can actually use pizza dough for them. Pizza dough not only works for making fluffy dumplings but also for the flat Southern-style ones as well.

12. Pigs in a blanket

Pigs in a blanket is the name given to basically any type of little sausage wrapped in dough. You can use breakfast sausages or hot dogs, or really any other type of meat… the choice is yours. For the dough, some people use crescent rolls, however, pizza dough definitely works great too.

Simple Comfort Food
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Simple Comfort Food

13. Buffalo wing bites

Buffalo wing bites make for a great snack and are the perfect dish to serve at a party or tailgating event. They are significantly less messy to eat than regular Buffalo wings, while still delivering all that awesome spicy flavor that people love.

14. Quichzza

Quichzza is the name given by one inspiring chef for her variation on the classic quiche. As the name implies, it is a cross between a quiche and a pizza using pizza dough instead of the standard pastry crust. They are best cooked in the oven in a cast-iron skillet.

15. Stromboli sandwich

Pizza dough when baked and sliced works great for sandwiches too. This awesome Stromboli recipe is guaranteed to be a hit at your next get together. Serve it with some marinara on the side for a nice added touch.

16. Pinwheels

Pinwheels are the ideal game-day snack, and there are lots of ways they can be prepared. We recommend using low-fat cheese, chicken, and shredded zucchini or spinach. Bacon is also a fun type of meat to use with these.

17. BBQ chicken pizza roll-up

Wrap some chicken, red onion, and mozzarella up just like you would a calzone. Then add some honey barbecue sauce in to make a fantastic BBQ chicken pizza roll-up. Bake it as normal, then slice it afterward into small bite-sized pieces.

18. Fruit and cheese bakes

Essentially, fruit and cheese bakes are just like making a typical fruit tart, except that you use pizza dough instead. Top the dough with a cottage cheese spread, then add on apples, pears, and bake. It’s that easy. It doesn’t hurt to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top as well.

19. Muffin tin pizzas

Cut your dough into little squares and then bake your mini pizzas in a muffin tray instead of using a normal pizza pan. The crust will get extra crispy. Muffin tin pizzas are especially loved by kids, and you can add whatever toppings you would like.

20. BLT

The secret to crafting the perfect BLT (bacon lettuce tomato) is to use pizza dough to make a grilled flatbread for the sandwich. Instead of using regular mayo, the chef also recommends using a basil aioli. It sounds delicious!

21. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Flat Breads

Everyone likes cheesy bread, and everyone loves pizza, so why not combine the two? The trick to making these yummy cheese and tomato flatbreads is to cook them on the grill. It adds a special charred flavor that you just can’t replicate with a regular oven.

22. Pretzel bites

The only difference between pizza and pretzels is how you prepare the dough. In order to make pretzel bites, just toss your pizza dough into a pot of boiling water and baking soda for a few minutes first before putting them in the oven. After they puff up, remove them from the stove and bake as normal.

23. Pull apart pizza

You can’t go wrong with pizza pull apart bread. You pretty much will be using the exact same ingredients that you would for a regular pizza — pepperoni, mozzarella, marinara sauce, etc. However, for a pull apart pizza, the ingredients get mixed in with the dough versus putting them on top of the pizza.

24. Salads

Adding a pizza dough flatbread on the bottom of your salad is a great way to spice things up and make your salad more exciting. Go vegan, or if you’d like these also taste great when you add some grilled chicken on them. Feel free to use your hands and fold it up for easy eating.

25. Caramelized onion & fig pizza

You could just use your pizza dough to make pizza. However, that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Try making a caramelized onion and fig pizza for something completely different.

26. Crab cups

Yes, that’s right, crab meat and pizza go great together. You can use the dough to create these awesome little crab cups. The melted cheese on top is what makes them extra special.

21. Spinach Stuffed Pizza

Stuffed pizzas are a whole lot of fun and are kind of like a pizza “pie”. The sauce goes on top, with additional cheese and other toppings packed in the center. Our recommendation is you go with a spinach stuffed pizza.

28.Mini deep dish pizzas

These mini deep dish pizzas serve as a great appetizer at any party or event. You get all the flavor of a regular deep dish pizza in one bite-sized little package. They are cooked in a muffin pan.

29. Overnight baked eggs bruschetta

When having guests over, it always helps if you have a few dishes you can prepare ahead of time to streamline things a little. These overnight baked eggs bruschetta are great for that. Then, on the day of your get together you can focus all of your efforts on the main dish.

30. Doughnut holes

Pizza dough can be used for desserts also. One fabulous choice is whipping up some doughnut holes. While you can technically fry these on the stove, they are easier if you have a Cake Pops Maker.

31. Quick cheesy onion focaccia bread

This simple and delicious recipe for quick cheesy onion focaccia bread is sure to make the whole family happy. As long as everyone likes onions and cheese, you are good to go. Total prep time is only about thirty minutes.

32. Naan bread

While technically this cheater’s naan bread isn’t 100% authentic, it still tastes just as good. It’s super easy too. Just divide up your dough into little balls, roll them out, and fry them in butter or ghee.

Dinner a Love Story
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Dinner a Love Story

33. Bacon breakfast pizza

Here we have another great excuse to have pizza for breakfast! This bacon breakfast pizza is sure to be both filling and delightful. It is the perfect breakfast for when you are on the go. Just prepare a big batch ahead of time, and heat up a slice in the morning before you hit the road.

34. Cinnastix

Cinnastix can be both an appetizer and a dessert. It all depends on your preferences. They are simple and quick to make also. Just roll your dough into breadsticks and bake. Then top them with icing and cinnamon.

Eat Cake for Dinner
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Eat Cake for Dinner

35. Italian meat Stromboli

Earlier we talked about Stromboli sandwiches, but you can also just make a classic Italian meat Stromboli. While all you really need is meat, cheese, and marinara, some people like to add in a few vegetables as well. We recommend green peppers, mushrooms, and onions.

36. Zeppoles

Zeppoles are one of the tastiest fried desserts that exist. They are essentially just fried balls of pizza dough. You can top them with either cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar. Serve some Nutella or cannoli cream on the side for dipping.

La Buona Cucina
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La Buona Cucina

37. Cheesy pizza rolls

The best way to bake these cheesy pizza rolls is in a cast-iron skillet. That way the outsides get all browned and crispy. You can use whatever pizza toppings you would like, just don’t forget the cheese!

38. Monkey bread

Monkey bread is a dish that is both savory and flavorful. It can be made with homemade dough or store-bought pizza dough. Either way, it should turn out super tasty. Top it with a mix of Monterrey jack cheese and parmesan.

39. Mac & cheese pizza

For a dish that is both pizza and pasta, try this delicious mac & cheese pizza out. Kids will love it. It combines two of their favorite foods into one amazing meal.

40. Three-cheese calzone

Each individual has their own preferences for toppings and it is hard to satisfy everyone. Sometimes it is best to just go with a simple three-cheese calzone using ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan. If you want to spice things up, you can add in a little spinach too.

41. Scrambled egg pockets

Here is another awesome pizza dough inspired breakfast dish. You can make scrambled egg pockets! They are packed with protein and if you make a bunch of them, they are really easy to reheat and take with you on the go.

42. Cinnamon sugar messy bread

They call it “messy bread” for a reason. When you eat this cinnamon sugar bread, you are bound to get sticky icing and cinnamon all over your fingers, but it is well worth it. The bread is so good.

Spoon Fork Bacon
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Spoon Fork Bacon

43. Spinach-egg breakfast pizzas

These spinach-egg breakfast pizzas come out looking great. They taste amazing too. The over-easy egg on top is the perfect complement to pizza dough. You can use the crust to soak all that amazing runny yolk right up.

44. Triple tomato flatbread

Preparing a triple tomato flatbread is a great way to use up the fresh tomatoes you have growing in your garden. They are made with three types of tomatoes — sun-dried, plum, and cherry tomatoes. Top them with a little shredded asiago cheese.

45. Enchilada chicken tart

Instead of using your pizza dough to make a fruit tart, you can also use it to prepare an enchilada chicken tart. Some would say these are even better than normal enchiladas, and while tarts are normally desserts, this variation can serve as a main dish.

46. Sausage, pepper, & mozzarella calzones

Another excellent type of calzone you can make is a sausage, pepper, and mozzarella calzone. It is essentially a “cheesesteak calzone”. It has all the classic ingredients of a Philly Cheesesteak delivered in a tasty pocket of baked dough.

47. Stromboli squares

There are so many ways to make Strombolis. These Stromboli squares are another cool variation. They are easy to make and bake pretty quickly, which makes them a perfect choice for your next family dinner.

48. Quick & easy deep dish pizza

A lot of people are put off from making deep dish pizzas at home because they think it is going to be too complicated. However, it doesn’t have to be. Use this quick and easy deep dish pizza recipe and you’ll be churning out classic Chicago style pizzas in no time.

49. Cheese & egg breakfast braid

These cheese and egg breakfast braids are great for when you’re having company over. It is easy to make enough portions to feed lots of people at once. The green chili in them adds a nice touch too.

50. Spinach asparagus quiche

At first, asparagus and egg might seem like a strange combo. However, they turn out great. Pizza dough makes for the perfect quiche crust too when you want to mix things up.

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