This post is sponsored by La Crema but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
"I’ve always said that food is my love language, but for all of the potential suitors out there looking to get a leg-up on the competition, pizza will win me over more than any other fare. So when it comes to hosting at home, you can bet your bottom dollar that a slice of pie will be on the menu. When I decided that it was time to stop serving my guests out of a cardboard pizza box, I made it my mission to bring takeout and frozen pizzas to life, and now, it’s my best-kept hosting hack. Because I’m not in the business of gatekeeping, I’ll let you in on all of my secrets. Get ready to wow your guests with a few simple ingredients that will bring whatever pizza you’re serving to the next level.
Not only have we rounded up some easy 10/10 recipes, but we kicked it up a notch and found the best wine pairings to go with each thanks to the help of Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami. You can now go from being a ride-or-die for takeout to knowing that pizzas topped with fresh veggies are best complemented by Pinot Noir. Now that’s a glow-up. So without further ado, here are eight frozen pizza recipes and their perfect wine pairings that’ll hard launch you straight into your cooking era:
MEET THE EXPERT
Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami, Executive Chef
After years working as an executive chef, Tracey Shepos Cenami was drawn to the wine industry, which she found to be a natural transition. Tracey has played a pivotal role in developing the culinary program at La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard, including introducing a VIP wine and cheese pairing experience – a lesson in the fundamentals of wine and cheese pairing which expertly pairs local artisan cheeses with La Crema wines. Her recipes have been published in magazines and newspapers, and she is a three-time winner of Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games.
1. Add Pesto, Mozzarella, and Italian Seasoning to Your Sausage Pizza
Quite literally, all you need to do is add however much pesto, mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasoning your heart desires to any basic cheese and sausage pie before you pop it into the oven. Just like that, you make it 10x better with nothing fancy in the slightest.
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Chef Tracey suggests pairing with the La Crema Russian River Pinot Noir to enhance the pizza’s bold flavors with its tannic boosts. This wine provides aromas of blackberry, raspberry, and spice cake, followed by flavors of fresh cherry, boysenberry, and pomegranate, presenting layers of flavor and a generous mouthfeel.
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping if you buy four or more bottles!
2. Add Arugula and Balsamic Glaze to Your Pizza
It’s unreal how these two simple ingredients can take a basic cheese pizza to the next level. After the pizza comes out of the oven, add as much arugula as you’d like and finish with a generous drizzle of balsamic glaze. If you want to take things a step further, toss your arugula with lemon, olive oil, and salt before topping. Chef’s kiss, truly.
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Because this pizza packs a lot of tang, Chef Tracey recommends smoothing it out with La Crema’s Saralee’s Chardonnay, which provides aromas of lemon blossom, apple, white peach, and subtle barrel spice followed by flavors of pear, tangerine, and lemon custard. It’s a very pure taste focused with gravelly mineral undertones and a juicy yet balanced acidity.
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping if you buy four or more bottles!
3. Add Goat Cheese and Hot Honey to Your Pizza
Yet another incredibly easy way to spice up your frozen pizza: Simply add your desired amount of goat cheese before tossing your pizza in the oven, then finish it off with a heavy hot honey drizzle– it’s one of our personal favorites.
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Chef Tracey recommends pairing this pizza with a fresh bottle of La Crema’s Monterey Pinot Gris. With aromas of citrus blossom, pear, Gala apple, Meyer lemon, Asian pear, and ruby grapefruit, this varietal’s multilayered, distinctive mineral notes offer a nice counterpoint to the pie’s acidity.
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping if you buy four or more bottles!
4. Add Garlic Butter, Fresh Parmesan, and Fresh Basil to Your Pizza
While you do technically need to do a tiny bit of prep work for this one, it’s still super easy and totally worth it. To make the garlic butter, melt two tablespoons of butter in a pan, add finely chopped garlic and a pinch of salt, and let it all simmer slightly until the flavors are combined. Once that’s ready to go, slice your basil into thin strips and set to the side.
When your pizza is almost done, pull it out of the oven, brush the garlic butter on the crust (or everywhere if you’re feeling wild), and sprinkle your fresh basil across the entire pizza. Pop it back in the oven for just another minute to finish, and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese (it tastes so much better than pre-shredded—trust us).
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Try playing up those aromatics with an equally aromatic white wine like La Crema’s Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, per Chef Tracey’s expertise. It combines fresh flavors of citrus bloom, lemon grass, passion fruit, and more, followed by vibrantly tropical notes of mango and guava.
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5. Add Red Onion, Artichoke Hearts, Mozzarella, and Red Pepper to Your Pizza
After chopping up your red onion, artichoke hearts, and red pepper, toss ‘em on your pizza with some fresh mozzarella cheese and have yourself a pizza that’s perfect for non-meat eaters who are looking for something hearty and filling.
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According to Chef Tracey, this veggie-heavy pizza will go best with a chillable red like La Crema’s Sealift Pinot Noir given its aromas of pomegranate, orange zest, and cedar along with its rich texture and vibrant acidity.
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping if you buy four or more bottles!
6. Add Truffle Oil, Bacon, and Red Pepper Flakes to a White Sauce Pizza With Spinach
Most frozen white pizzas already come with spinach, but if yours doesn’t, that’s no problem–you can either add some of your own or leave it out completely. Before popping it in the oven, drizzle the pie with white truffle oil and scatter some bacon pieces on top. Once it’s finished, sprinkle with as many red pepper flakes as you please depending on how much of a kick you’re looking for.
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While some are a bit divided on what compliments white pizza the best, bubbles make everything taste great, so Chef Tracey suggests opting for the La Crema Blanc de Blancs. Aromas of baked apple, Meyer lemon, and subtle hints of proofing bread dough are followed by flavors of lime and hazelnut, providing a deliciously balanced acidity.
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping if you buy four or more bottles!
7. Add Mushroom, Truffle Brie, Red Onion, and Arugula to Your Pizza
If any of these recipes are gonna give the vibe of a high-end restaurant, it’s this one. Once the pizza is about halfway through cooking time, pull it out of the oven and add your sliced mushrooms, finely diced or sliced onions, and slices of brie (the more the better, really). Add all of your arugula when it’s done and slightly cooled for a pizza worthy of even the most refined taste buds.
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If a pie has mushrooms, truffle, or both, Chef Tracey says it pairs oh-so-well with the La Crema Russian River Chardonnay, which carries aromas of lemon, pineapple and nectarine as well as subtle hints of brioche, spice, and oak.
Use code LCEVERYGIRL for 15% + free shipping if you buy four or more bottles!
8. Add Spicy Bomba Sauce, Burrata, and Arugula to Your Pizza
If you’ve never had Bamba sauce, this hot pepper spread is about to change your life for the better. Top your pizza with a layer of it (lay it on thick if you’re really trying to pack on the heat) and shredded burrata before popping it in the oven and finishing with good ol’ trusty arugula. You won’t have to break a sweat to deliver all of its tasty heat.
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Chef Tracey notes that a pie that’s packing spice will pair perfectly with the crisp flavors of La Crema’s Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc. This wine combines fresh aromas of citrus bloom, lemon grass, and passion fruit with subtle wet stone and flint, and it finishes off with more notes of guava and mango.
Get it delivered straight to your door today when you order on InstaCart!
This post is sponsored by La Crema but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.