I decided to start thinking about our Thanksgiving Day menu! I honestly don't know what made me think about it, but pizza popped into my head and I instantly thought, Thanksgiving Pizza.
For the last couple of years, we have paired down our Thanksgiving Day food. While all of it is great, we just decided that we wanted more family time and relaxation. The first year we did soup and everyone brought a different soup to share. That Thanksgiving was so easy it almost felt criminal!
The next year, my husband missed Thanksgiving Day food. Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday, so I made a super simple menu, with most items being made ahead and frozen. I don't think enough people take advantage of their freezer as they are preparing for the holidays. I learned when I was young from my grandma, that your freezer is your best friend especially when prepping for the holidays. It allows you to work at least a month ahead on most dishes, especially your baked goods.
While last year, we had mostly a traditional spread, it made for a long day, and for me, it meant most of the day in the kitchen, cooking, and then cleaning. This year, I found myself again trying to decide what I wanted on our turkey day table. Knowing that I would need to make my husband's staples, I decided to start thinking about the menu! I honestly don't know what made me think about it, but pizza popped into my head and I instantly thought, Thanksgiving Pizza.
When I first mentioned it, my husband was not sure, but I just couldn't get it out of my head. I kept thinking about how people would make sandwiches with Thanksgiving leftovers and so it made sense that this would work.
Enter, this weekend! It was the perfect weekend to be in the kitchen cooking up a storm! I made gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cooked some turkey cutlets, and grandma's cranberry salad in preparation for what would become Thanksgiving Pizza! Of course, I also made two of my mom's crustless pumpkin pies because no Thanksgiving Day meal, no matter when it happens is complete without one.
Once everything was cooked and the pizza dough had risen, we were ready for assembly. On a floured surface I worked the dough out into our desired size which is about 12-14'' round. Once I had the dough shaped I docked the crust and popped it into the oven to cook for about two minutes. Once the timer went off I pulled out the crust and docked any bubbles that had formed.
Then it was go time! I took a few spoonfuls of gravy because that was my "sauce" and slathered it on the crust. I then grabbed some sharp cheddar cheese and sprinkled some VERY lightly onto the gravy. The cheese is more of a binder, so go light, we are not looking for cheese pizza. I then placed dollops of stuffing and mashed potatoes all over on top the pizza. After that, I placed smaller chunks of turkey around to fill in the spaces, and then back into the oven it went!
One of our favorite crusts is the Dellao Pizza mix, it cooks and tastes so good. Since this is the second bake, we only needed to cook it for about six minutes to be perfectly done in our oven. I pulled the pizza and placed it on a wire rack to cook. After the pizza had cooled for a few minutes, I grabbed the dried parsley and sprinkled that on the top for a little color. Then grabbed the crem-de-la-crem, my grandma's cranberry salad, and drizzled that on top. OH MY, let me tell you, it is epic!
After my husband and I stuffed our faces, we sent pictures to our families, and yes, he even sent some to his. I think I knew it would be good, but I don't think either of us thought it would be THIS good! Needless to say, my family is excited to see what this pizza is all about on Thanksgiving day and I am excited to share it with them. All the flavors you know and love just delivered in a new way, who doesn't want that?
Thanksgiving Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 package Dellalo Pizza Mix If you decide to go with a pre-made crust, no worries, just cook to package directions. You can honeslty use whatever you like, this is just what we prefer!
- 1.5 cup gravy
- 1/2 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 1.5 cup Stuffing
- 1.5 cup Mashed Potatoes
- 1.5 cup Turkey (cooked)
- 1/2 cup Cranberry Sauce
- 2 Tbls Parsley
Instructions
- Pre-heat over to temp per instructions on pizza crust. We pre-heat ours to 550 degrees, and I know that is not what the Dellalo instructions say, but again, this is just how we make it.
- If making your own pizza dough, get that prepped now so as your oven is preheating it will be ready in time. Since we are using fresh dough, that is how the rest of this is written.
- Once your oven is to temp and your dough is stretched to your desired size. Dock the dough and place it in the oven for two minutes.
- After the timer goes off, remove the pizza and dock the crust again, especially any air bubbles that might have formed.
- Spoon gravy on the crust, then sprinkly half of the sharp cheddar cheese.
- Divide the stuffing, mashed potatoes, and turkey in half and add half on top of this pizza while reserving the other half for your second pizza.
- Place the pizza in the oven for the remaining cook time, for us, that was six min.
- Once the timer goes off, pull pizza and allow to cook on a wire rack for five minutes.
- After the pizza has somewhat cooled, sprinkler with half the parsley and drizzle with the cranberry sauce. Slice and enjoy!
