Frozen pizza isn’t exactly the most exciting thing, even if you decide to go with the best brands. However, there are still many ways you can turn cheap frozen pizza into a meal that is way more interesting and satisfying.

In fact, the vast majority of them don’t require much planning or money, so there’s really no reason not to upgrade the next frozen pizza with one of these hacks. Now, you will know how to save a couple of bucks and make the best dishes for your guests, with little effort and maximum reward. So, shall we start, or what? I’m hungry!

All the cheese

Well, let’s face it: there’s really never enough cheese on a frozen pizza, so you might as well take matters into your own hands and add some more. It doesn’t even have to be something fancy: you just have to add whatever shredded cheese you already have in your fridge.

Naturally, if you really want to get a bit fancy with it, you can. We recommend crumbled blue cheese on a chicken pizza, sliced fresh mozzarella (you can dry it with paper towels first, so it won’t make your pizza too soggy) on pepperoni, and a generous sprinkle of parmesan and pecorino on anything.

Fresh herbs

Adding your dearest, freshest herbs can be quite simple, and it definitely goes a long way to making your frozen pizza taste as if it costs more than it really did. As a general rule, basil is the herb of choice, and all you really need to do is just tear the leaves a bit and scatter them on your pizza, preferably right away.

Now, of course, if you’re a herb aficionado, you’re more than welcome to try oregano, thyme, cilantro (for Mexican twists), and even dill.

Pesto drizzle

If you would normally keep a jar of pesto in your fridge, then you might as well dig out for your next frozen pizza night. Drizzle or even dot some on it before or even after baking, whichever you like, to be honest.

If you use homemade pesto (and kudos to you if you do), then try to stick to adding it after the pizza is fully baked. This way, you make sure it stays vibrant and fresh.

Dipping sauce

Come on, dip those slices! Why not? Ranch is the most obvious choice when it comes to a culinary feast, even if it’s really a hate-it-or-love-it kind of thing when it comes to pizza. But if you’re a proclaimed hater, then there are other sauces you can try instead.

Jarred marinara or pizza sauce, your favorite barbecue sauce, and even buffalo wing sauce are all great choices, worth trying. If you have any salad dressing in your fridge, those also work pretty well, including Caesar or creamy Italian.

Garlic butter crust

Let’s be honest: who doesn’t love garlic butter? You can melt a bit of butter in a small bowl in the microwave, add a minced clove of garlic or any garlic powder, for that matter, and brush it all over the crust of your frozen pizza.

You can also do it before or after baking, but the real secret here is to do it before AND after. Also, if you feel more inclined to just add garlic all over the pizza, you will probably be the family’s hero.

Makeshift margarita

If you have a plain cheese pizza just hanging around, you can easily turn it into a simple margherita-style pie by adding a few ingredients. First, slice a couple of tomatoes (Roma tomatoes work like a charm, since they’re not too wet), then put them on your pizza, then tear some fresh basil on top when it’s out of the oven or almost done baking.

This works even better with Home Run Inn pizzas, as we found out.

Pickled additions

Any pickled toppings will definitely make your frozen pizza stand out, because of the overall tang it adds to an otherwise rich and greasy food. Pickled jalapenos are ideal if you want some added heat, or jarred banana peppers or cherry peppers if you prefer it a bit milder.

Pickled red onions are also wonderful, since they are marinated artichoke hearts, basically. Olives and capers will also add a tangy, salty pop of flavor.

Cured meats

Pepperoni isn’t actually the only cured meat you should consider putting on a frozen pizza. In fact, pretty much anything that goes on a charcuterie board will work just fine on pizza, including salami and capicola.

Prosciutto is also wonderful, especially if you put it on after the pizza is fully baked, along with arugula. Moreover, make sure you don’t forget about bacon! You can simply chop it and cook it before putting it on the pizza, so you’ll know it’s cooked enough and crispy.

Broil it

Does your pizza seem cooked through but still look a bit pale? Well, why don’t you turn your oven’s broiler on to get that top all nicely done? That’s quite an important step, especially if you are adding plenty of wet toppings, which might not cook through in the time it takes the pizza to cook. All you have to do is make sure you watch it like a hawk, since it can easily go from golden brown to burnt in a matter of seconds.

Grill it

Yes, you can easily throw a frozen pizza on the grill. It will pick up that nice, smoky, backyard barbecue flavor and aroma, which is especially nice with pizzas that include chicken, bacon, or even fruit like pineapple. You can also put the pizza right on the grill grate, use a pizza stone, or at least make sure you preheat the grill first, to avoid direct flames.

Seasoning sprinkle

There are all sorts of seasonings you can easily add to frozen pizzas. But, if you would like to have a little heat, red pepper flakes are definitely a classic choice. Italian herb blends are also a must, and some spice companies even have blends specifically designed for frozen pizza. Are you looking for out-of-the-box seasonings? Well, there’s Old Bay, everything bagel seasoning, and Cajun seasoning.

Hot honey

Well, all the fancy pizza places are doing it, so why not try it, too? When your pizza is baked, drizzle some hot honey all over it for a sweet and heat combo. What you want to do is make sure you don’t miss the crust. It’s truly impressive on pepperoni or plain cheese pizzas, but go wild with whatever combination you prefer. Well, it goes without saying that we’ll wait for a review from you!

Crack an egg

This is the old school way to go about it, and even if eggs aren’t exactly the cheapest thing out there right now, they are still very tasty on pizza. The runny yolk is the key here, so what you want to do is bake your pizza until it’s almost done.

In fact, when you think there are three or four minutes of cooking left, just crack an egg on top. Take it out when the white is firm enough, and the yolk is cooked just the way you love it. Try it on a pizza with bacon, spinach, and mushroom pie.

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