7 Easy Ways to Upgrade Frozen Pizza

It has gotten us through the best of times (college) and the worst of times (quarantine), but just because frozen pizza has always been there for you doesn't mean you have to settle for a subpar slice. If you're baking up a frozen pie, there are several avenues you can take to pep up a pizza.

Here are seven ways to improve upon frozen pizza. With these upgrades, you can even serve frozen pizza to the company.

1. Crank up the heat

Ignore the instructions on your pizza and instead try to emulate the high heat of a brick oven by cranking up the temperature on your oven to its max, often 550 degrees F. This will bring you an ultra-crispy crust and finish baking your dinner even faster. Just be sure to keep an eye on your pizza because it won't take as long as one baking at 400 degrees F.

2. Get stoned

Cooking your pizza on a pizza stone will make a significant difference. Preheat it along with your oven for a crispier crust that puts soggy pizzas to shame. If you don't have a stone, a cast iron pan can work in a pinch, or even put the pizza directly on the rack.

3. Season the crust

Frozen pizza crust is often pale, brittle, and flavorless, but by adding a seasoning finish, you'll turn it into everyone's favorite part of the pizza. In the last few minutes of cooking, brush a little butter or olive oil on your crust and then sprinkle it with seasonings. You may want to use classic pairings such as Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and minced garlic, or go a whole different route with choices ranging from curry powder to everything bagel seasoning.

4. Amp up the freshness

Adding some bright, fresh ingredients on top of a frozen pizza can almost make it taste homemade. Think about using slices of veggies such as tomatoes and red onions, chunks of deli-bought meats such as salami or rotisserie chicken, or even crack a few eggs over your pizza in the last few minutes of baking. By adding these more vibrant ingredients, you'll get a much more delicious pizza.

5. Always add more cheese

While it's possible to go overboard in the cheese department, an extra sprinkling of some higher-quality stuff can greatly improve a frozen pizza. If it's a melting cheese, layer it on just before you pop it in the oven. For less water-heavy cheeses, such as feta and blue cheese, crumble those on right after baking.

6. Add a swirl of sauce

After your pizza is fresh out of the oven, now is the time to add a little razzle-dazzle at the end. Choose your favorite condiments—such as high-quality olive oil, spicy honey, aged balsamic, or even ranch—and either use a spoon to drizzle it on top, or pour your sauce of choice into a squeeze bottle and put a swirl on your pizza.

7. Pile on the herbs

A handful of fresh herbs can add a bright flavor that's missing from most frozen pizzas. Chop up a handful of basil, oregano, or chives, and sprinkle on just before serving. You can also blend up your herbs of choice with a little olive oil for a quick infused oil that can be drizzled on top.