By Jared Harding Wilson
We’ve all been there: you’re starving, you’ve got a frozen pizza in the freezer, but you’re just not feeling a “plain” meal. As much as I love a standard frozen cauliflower crust pizza from Sam’s Club, I’ve found that the real magic happens when you doctor it up.
Lately, nights like our recent movie 🎥 night, have been reminding me just how awesome it was to put together our home living room theater setup!
The Secret to the Perfect Doctored-Up Pizza 🍕
The mistake I have made with frozen pizza is following the box instructions too literally when adding fresh toppings. I’ve learned that when you load up a veggie-heavy pizza and put it directly on the oven rack, you’re often left with a soggy crust or, worse, a mess at the bottom of your oven!
My “Trial and Error” Tip: Always bake your loaded frozen pizza on a pan. Since fresh veggies release moisture, the pan helps the crust crisp up perfectly without risking everything falling through the rack. Yes! I’ve learned this through trial and error, and sometimes a couple of errors! Ha ha!
My “Bistro” Toppings:
Sautéed Veggies: I used zucchini, onion, sweet yellow pepper, and mushrooms. (I’m a huge fan of mushrooms!)
Fresh Additions: Thickly sliced fresh tomatoes and fresh spinach.
The Cheese: I didn’t have mozzarella, so I used freshly shredded sharp Tillamook cheddar. It adds such a deep, rich flavor that works surprisingly well with the cauliflower crust!
I baked everything at 425°F for 15 to 16 minutes. This timing is the sweet spot for getting that nice, golden crispness on the cheese and the crust.
Dinner Theater at Home 🏡
Once the pizza was ready, I headed to our “hidden” home theater room. Back when we were engaged, I asked my wife if I could somehow turn our living room into a home movie theater. She agreed on one condition: if I could do it completely discreetly so nobody would ever suspect it, I could go for it. Thankfully, I pulled it off! A little over four years ago, right around when we got married, I did a ton of research and put the whole space together using our wedding gifts.
We’ve had so many fun movie nights in here since then with family and friends. It’s been a blast building it on a budget: we’ve got a 4K projector hidden near an arch in our living room, a screen that tucks away cleanly into the ceiling, and a Vizio soundbar system with Dolby Atmos for that true theater experience.
We paired our gourmet cauliflower pizza with a screening of the classic Studio Ghibli film, My Neighbor Totoro. It’s amazing how a little creativity can turn a standard frozen pizza night into a full-blown dinner theater experience!
💬 I’d Love Your Expert Advice!
I love experimenting with these “doctored up” frozen pizzas, but I want to know what you do! What are your go-to toppings for leveling up a frozen pizza? Have you found any secret ingredients that make a frozen meal feel like a gourmet bistro experience?
Let me know in the comments below—I’d love to try out your suggestions next time we have a movie night! 🤩
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I just came to say I did NOT know Sam’s had cauliflower crust pizza. I’m going to have to stop by there asap. I’m not sure if this counts as a suggestion but a while back for National Pickle Day, my granddaughter and I made a pickle pizza with a garlic sauce base and it was magnificent!
Ooooo! Totally counts, Leslie! I love pickles! 🥒 Are you a dill or sweet pickle kind of person? For me, dill all the way! What a great way to celebrate National pickle day! And yes, our Sam’s Club does carry cauliflower crust pizza. 🍕 I have noticed in my travels that sometimes not all Sam’s has the same items, so I do wish you luck! 🍀 And thanks for stopping by! Great to hear from you!!! 👍😎
Yeah no, I can’t do those sweet pickles haha
Haha! 😂 I totally agree! 👍 Dill all the way! My mother is just the opposite, so whenever we make deviled eggs with pickles, she asked that we make them with sweet pickles instead of dill! I think everyone else in my family, our dill people, though!
Jared, Love the frozen pizza hack. Also appreciated the hidden home theater. Thank you for bringing us all along on Dinner & Movie night, in some way it was comforting. As for my go-to level up toppings… Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, and maybe sliced peperocini, with a little added cheese.
Thanks for the compliments, Ken! Yes, it was a great compromise with my wife! She wanted discreet, and I wanted serious movie 🎥 fun! 🤩 Worked out! And oh my!!! I think I’m going to have to get some sun-dried tomatoes 🍅 soon! I love their deep flavor! And be never tried them on a pizza! And coupled with pine 🌲 nuts! Yes, gotta give it a go! Thanks for sharing! 🙏😇
Yummy. Thanks for the vicarious dinner & movie expedition 🙂
You’re quite welcome, Dawn! It was a fun night! Out of curiosity, have you ever ver seen that film 🍿 or any movies 🎥 produced by Studio Ghibli? They’re brilliant!
That pizza looks yummy. 😋
Thanks, Chichay!!! It was actually really good! 👍
That looks delicious, Jared. I’m nowhere near as creative with a frozen pizza as all that. I usually just add more shredded cheese, whatever I have – cheddar, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, etc. (they never put enough cheese on them!) and maybe some mushrooms and/or black olives.
Oooo! Good idea with Monterey Jack cheese ! 🧀 I love Black olives, actually, I love olives 🫒 of all kinds for that matter. Kalamata, green with pimento, and just love them! Thanks for sharing, Jean! 🙏😇
The timing is everything! Mmmwaha, ha, ha… (and the fresh veggies) keep having fun during movie night 😊
Max, I could almost hear your evil laugh! Ha ha! Or should I say? Mmmwaha ha ha!!! Love it! Glad you’re a veggie fan as well! Thanks! 🙏
Hey sounds delicious and fun, anything I would add to the frozen pizza, I would then drizzle with olive oil and oregano can’t hurt!
Oooo! Brilliant idea. 💡 🍕
Gotta try the frozen pizza hack! and I loved watching Tororo!!
Right?!? Such a great story! 🎥
I’ve made many a pizza from scratch, but never with a cauliflower crust. And like you, I learned to use a pizza pan or cookie sheet to keep from making a mess in the oven. One of my family’s favorite is my Mexican pizza. I use refried beans for the meat, mild salsa for the sauce, then top with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, sliced tomatoes, sliced jalapeño (on half), and top with Monterey Jack cheese. And after cooking, add slices of avocado.
I’m h my heck!!! Gotta try it! I’m literally salivating right now reading your awesome idea! 💡 Thanks for sharing! 🙏
With all the yummy vegetables you added I would add a touch of slow roasted whipped garlic to the vegetables (slow roast garlic at 300F 45-60 minutes covered then whip and add a small amount of honey) then finish with a little mix of herbs (fennel, basil, oregano) top with a small amount of sea salt flakes and fresh ground pepper.
Ooooo! Oh my! Love it! And I love following you as well! Thanks for the share! Wouldn’t have thought of using fennel. What a truly awesome share! 👍😎