Pizza Inspired Recipes with Pizzazz
By: Leah Rodrigues
Published: August 24, 2014

Pizza is a guaranteed crowd pleaser but when making your own isn't option, anything inspired by pizza flavors will also be a winner.  You can stick with the basics - tomato sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella - or get gourmet and opt for non-traditional toppings such as caramelized onion, goat cheese, and sun dried tomatoes.  Anything from pasta to grilled cheese can be infused with a bit of pizza.
Barbecue Chicken Pizza Grilled Cheese
Recipe from The Cozy Apron
Made popular the late 1980's, barbecue chicken pizza is a staple at pizza joints. This grilled cheese sandwiches are filled with barbecue chicken , smoked mozzarella cheese, red onion, and fresh chopped cilantro.

Pizza Cupcakes
Recipe from Betty Crocker
These pizza cupcakes are a tasty alternative for the days that you're craving pizza but on a tight schedule.  Store bought crescent roll dough is formed in a muffin tin and filled with tomato sauce, sausage, pepperoni and cheese.

Pizza Pasta
Recipe from Kirbie's Cravings
Pizza pasta is a one pot meal that the whole family will love. Al dente pasta is tossed with your favorite marinara sauce and topped with melted cheese and pepperoni.  You can also add Italian sausage, peppers and onions.

Bagel Bites
Recipe from Spache the Spatula
These homemade bagel bites are a step up from the frozen variety.  Miniature bagels are made from scratch and loaded with a variety of toppings.  You can stick with the basics like pepperoni and mozzarella or take these bagel bites to the next level with cotija cheese, carnitas and pickled jalapenos.