Easy & Cheap Pizza

[hermione]

We've never been able to justify spending $20 for delivery pizza, so for the past several years we've been buying cheese pizzas from the grocery store - usually whichever brand is on sale - Tombstone, Red Baron, Stater Brothers Store Brand - for $2.50-3.00 per pizza, and whichever toppings we feel like - usually olives ($1 a can), mushrooms ($2.00/pk) & pineapple ($1/can). Some we even do garlic, onion, spinach, Canadian bacon, turkey pepperoni, or even okra. It doesn't take much work to sprinkle the toppings on the pizza before putting it in the oven and it tastes pretty good. The toppings are usually enough to make 3-4 pizzas, so you can save quite a bit of money and still have a decent pizza for about 1/4 the cost of getting delivery (plus tipping the delivery person).

[rstlne]

I haven't ordered pizza delivery in ages either. In fact, the last time I was at a friend's place and he ordered pizza, I was shocked at how high pizza prices had gone. (And I was also shocked that he thought those prices were normal, which goes to show how out of touch I've gotten!) That said, getting frozen pizza from the supermarket and heating it up yourself is an inexpensive way to go. The A&P supermarket in my area also has freshly-prepared pizza in the deli section at a reasonable price. In addition, store brand personal-sized pizzas were a dollar each last time I checked.

[lucille]

We have been buying these frozen pizzas I think they are called Primo or Palermo. They are the super thin ones and pretty good right out of the box. The local grocery chain sells them for $4 each.

Ordering one large combo, small pack of wings and cheese bread is about $45 delivered. It also isn't very good pizza. We can go to the gourmet wood fired pizza place in town and feed everyone pizza, soda and salads for $38.

Pizza delivery used to be $20-$26 a year ago.

[markp1016]

Yes, getting pizza delivered can cost a ton of money!

I've been making my own pizza lately and it tastes so much better.
The recipe I received was frm someone who used to work at a pizza shop so I know it's just as good.

3 cups flour
1 packet yeast
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup water

mix it together and knead into a ball. let it sit for 1 hour. then form pizza, or freeze for future use.

[jkuo13]

Goodness, I didn't realize delivery pizza was that expensive. We usually make our own with pre-made Trader Joe's crust or fake it with baguettes. It's pretty easy to put some sauce, cheese and toppings on and just throw it in the oven. I used to make the crust from scratch, but I've been feeling a little too busy lately. When I want the authentic homemade taste, I go to the Italian market and buy some dough. Not as cheap as making it myself, but plenty affordable considering the time-savings.

Now I'm hungry with all this talk of pizza.

[gt0163c]

Some of the grocery stores around here, as well as Sams and Costco, sell large, premade but not yet baked pizzas for around $6-8. And they're pretty good basic pizzas. I think Sams and Costco will bake them for you, possibly for a slightly higher price. They're in the "fast food" area in the front of the store where you can get the soda and hotdog at prices that make the dollar menu at McDonalds look extravagant.

[purplefdu]

Wow, I feel really old fashioned and yet not. We buy frozen bread loaves (5 for $3) and make our own pizza. We've snagged the actual bagged dough (fresh or frozen, white and wheat) on manager sales as well to use and just freeze it for later at .50-.75 each. We buy the big bag of shredded Mozzerella and Provolone for $4, onions, peppers, mushrooms and pepporoni. Even assuming $1 per topping its only $5.50 or less for a large pizza. Fortunately my husband is a great dough tosser. I do ok, but they're closer to medium when I try to toss dough.

[cheapskate]

I found this AMAZING delivery pizza guide from this addicting pizza blog called Slice. They did it in celebration of Super Bowl Sunday and decided that Papa Johns was the best in terms of making the pie with love and care. But they found some crazy ones! Like the The Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza!!

[Megan]

Originally Posted by cheapskate

Like the The Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza!!

I distinctly remember that being one of our favorite pizzas to order when we were kids. Pizza Hut had it, and it was just a regular pizza with bacon and hamburger on it. But man, it was tasty.

Of course, now, it just sounds fairly disgusting to me.

I had some friends in last weekend and we tried Pizza Hut's new Pizza Mia pizza, which were $5 each if you ordered 3 or more. The pizza was fine, but I love that the ad campaign talks about how the pizza is made with whole milk mozzarella and vine ripened tomatoes... I wonder what their other pizzas are made with.

[jdp]

My kid absolutely loves making our own pizza instead of ordering in. I make dough ahead and keep it in the freezer. Next year I want to experiment on my own pizza sauce when tomatoes are fresh

I sat down last week and calculated what we spent on the two pizzas we made for dinner that one night - $6 - 2 pizzas (can't say # "'s because ours come out funny shapes lol). I think the cost would have been $4 but I splurged for a small pack of pepperoni for mine.

Its so easy too - not like we spent a lot of time in the kitchen. I let ds (5yo) mess with the dough and shape it while I grate or cut up toppings. He spreads on the sauce then "decorates" them. Not much work for me (beyond whenever I made the dough then I was most likely in the mood for some kitchen work).