My partner's family is coming over next weekend--if I order pizzas, is it weird to make sides to go with it?

Question

I really don't want to have a super formal dinner, but I wanted to cook a little. Is it weird to order pizza or something and then also make sides like macaroni and cheese or a casserole?

Should I just stick with casual sides like chips and pretzels?

Answer 1

If you are serving pizza, the ONLY side you need is a nice green salad.

Forget about mac and cheese, casseroles, chips or pretzels.



If you are serving pizza and you want to COOK, try making the pizza from scratch, including the dough.

I suggest you try it out a few days beforehand if this is something new for you.



OR you could make your own raspberry-vinaigrette dressing for the salad. Or make your own Caesar salad dressing.



Pizza does NOT want "side dishes", and salad is the only reasonable accompaniment.

Answer 2

It depends on what you want, do you want a meal, or do you want a collection of snacks.



My fave and easy salad to go with Italian foods is to slice tomatoes thick, mozzarella sliced, a few black olives, and some torn up basil. Stack the tomato and cheese like a deck of cards, drizzle with homemade Italian dressing, and toss the olives into the drizzle at the bottom of the flat bowl. Very good, easy, and not cheap looking.

A copycat Olive Garden salad recipe would work.



I have been places that served spaghetti as a side dish for pizza.



Pay attention to your dessert, and try something Italian, like some spumoni, or Italian ice cream.



Another thing you could do is check out the yellow pages, some restaurants do carry out, and have some great dishes. A local spot here has chicken, spaghetti, salad, and lots more. It comes in a foil pan with lid, and a plastic spoon to serve it with.



there are so may easy recipes, especially casseroles, out there. cook some chicken, pick a recipe with lots of cheesy sauce. Go to Pinterest, they have lots of ooey gooey recipes.



another idea is to go to the Colonel, and buy a bucket. Serve it right beside your pizza as a second entree, maybe get some coleslaw, too to go with it.

Answer 3

You could order pizza, and still make the sides. I am pretty sure they would highly enjoy every last bit of it. It's great also because it's not a huge party and its not a small two people thing, so it's perfect for a family gathering.

Answer 4

For pizza, I'd stick to homemade bread sticks. Mac and cheese or a casserole will be too heavy.

You can also make an antipasto salad.

Answer 5

A casserole and pasta is fine ! don't ask them to go halves ...it could be taken badly..

But you can make things more interesting by adding a "starter" : one cucumber, 2 tomatoes and some white cheese ( traditionally mozzarella) cut in slices, and arranged prettily on a plate. That will not cost you the price of one pizza !

That way, you show them you care for them, and your partner can be asked to slice the cucumber ?

Answer 6

Cool

Mac n cheese

Garlic bread

Pretzels

Salads

Answer 7

I wouldn't make mac and cheese or a casserole if you are ordering pizza...if you want to cook a casserole, skip the pizza and make a salad and some nice crusty bread to go with the casserole.

Answer 8

No, because if you order sides with the pizzas, they wont be as good as you could make and they would be pricey. A nice cheesy garlic bread, a fresh chopped salad, Pico de gaio salsa, Tomato/mozzerella platter, would be some good sides to try. perhaps you could cheat and buy a nice dessert?.

Answer 9

I still haven't gotten past the "we're having family for company and we want to order pizza for dinner" part.

Answer 10

Pizza is a heavy food. Pair it with a light food. A complex salad is ideal. Fruit slices or fruit salad would also be good. If you go heavy, stay Italian - maybe buy a lasagne.

Answer 11

Go for it LS, not weird at all. Not keen on the Mac and Cheese with pizza, be a little heavy.

Answer 12

Not at all. I would go with a tossed salad and wings if I were gong to make sides for a pizza dinner. I'm sure anything you make will be appreciated.

Answer 13

as long as it goes well then go for it. mac n cheese and pizza sounds great. very american.



if you wanted to make sushi along with pizza.. i wouldn't recommend it, although it won't necessarily be bad in itself

Answer 14

I used to order a small antipasto, and a small pizza.

nothing weird about eating things as well as the pizza at a meal.

Answer 15

Yes that's fine. But why would you serve a heavy pasta and cheese dish with a heavy bread and cheese dish?

Answer 16

Mac and cheese comes too close to being a duplicate dish. Go with a casserole.

Answer 17

No, that's not weird at all

Answer 18

I would say pair it with a light salad, and a light dessert for after. Something like vanilla pudding with fruit, chocolate mousse or fruit mousse, poached apples or pears, or some angel food cake with whipped cream / fruit syrup.

Answer 19

as long as it goes well then go for it... mac n cheese and pizza sounds awesome... very american...



if you wanted to make sushi along with pizza...... i wouldn't recommend it, although it will definitely not necessarily be bad in itself

Answer 20

Options are always welcome for casual dinners. I'd do a salad, wings, bread sticks, veg and dip. Casual dessert items like brownies, ice cream and cookies would perfect.

Answer 21

very weird