Our Favorite Naan Pizzas Come Together Super Quickly — And Only Require 4 Ingredients

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Like laundry and the rising of the sun, the rolling around of dinner time is something that never ends. Day after day, the What’s for dinner? question surfaces yet again. 

Sometimes, it’s met with a thought-ahead meal plan and parents that, rightfully so, pat themselves on the back for having it all together — at least for this week! But perhaps just as often, plans and energy levels fluctuate and eating out, takeout, or cereal for dinner loom. 

Not that any of those choices is a bad thing! I’ll gladly pay for someone else to cook for, “host,” and clean up after my raucous family of seven. But some nights call for eating in, something that comes together quickly, and a meal that’s a bit more elevated than Cinnamon Toast Crunch or instant oatmeal. 

Whether for late dinners after soccer practice or weekend lunches that come together easily, having a few “formula meals” in mind is just the thing every caregiver loves to have in their back pocket for feeding their families. Naan pizzas are one of our family’s favorite formula meals. I first became inspired to make them years ago, when documenting guru, Becky Higgins, shared about them. They’ve since become a family staple, with a few modifications. 

We almost always have the ingredients on hand, they can be made in minutes, they’re a meal unto themselves (no sides needed!), and the whole family loves them. With spinach that your kids may not even notice at all and a hearty helping of protein from cheese, this dish is a straightforward, nutritious crowd-pleaser. 

Here’s how to make them for your own family: 

• Pesto
• Fresh spinach
• Shredded mozzarella
• Package of naan bread 

I get all of these ingredients from Costco and typically have them all already. The naan bread freezes really well and thaws quickly. I also freeze the pesto in muffin tins if I don’t use it all by the Best-By date. 

Making naan pizzas is so easy. You can even let the kids help without too much stress! All you need to do is pile on the ingredients. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Lay out your naan bread on one or more baking sheets. 
3. Spread pesto over the surface of each piece of naan. Use a spoon to scoop and then spread the pesto with the back side. Spread it nearly to the edge of each piece of naan. 
4. Pile fresh spinach over the pesto. Don’t be afraid to go high. The spinach will shrink and most kids don’t even notice it’s in there!
5. Sprinkle a handful of shredded mozzarella over the spinach. 
6. Bake until cheese is melted and naan begins to brown at the edges. 

I’ve been making these pizzas for years and here a few tips for making them even fancier or even more easily: 

• Fresh mozzarella is a delicious upgrade. Though not as cost-effective, using fresh mozzarella on these pizzas is delectable and makes them even more special. You can also get fresh logs at Costco. 
• Add toppings to jazz them up. The plain version of these pizzas is fantastic, but if you want to add more toppings, sun dried tomatoes and marinated artichokes are great choices with the pesto. I buy huge jars of each at —  you guessed it — Costco. They keep for a long time.  
• Parchment paper makes cleanup easier. Parchment paper on the baking sheets makes cleanup a snap. 
• “Slice” pizzas with scissors. Small naan pizzas are the perfect size for cutting with a pair of kitchen shears.