Thrifty Meals Around $5 Or Less - Veggie Pizza

This Veggie Pizza is fast becoming a favorite around our house.  We made two of these and took them over to a friend's house when the girl friends all got together to play pinochle.  They raved about it.  This pizza is also making an appearance once again on our February Meal Plan.

Veggie Pizza

Pizza Dough

2 cups flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup hot water

Combine dry ingredients, work in water to form a dough ball.  Add more water or flour until dough is workable.  Allow to rest 10 minutes.  Divide dough in half.  Roll out two pizza crusts.

Veggie Topping

2 cups chopped vegetables (peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, onions, carrots, celery)

1 Tbs. oil

1 tsp. dried basil, divided

1 Roma tomato diced

1/4 cup sliced black olives

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

4 Tbs. Ranch salad dressing

In a medium pan over medium heat, heat oil and saute chopped vegetables with 1/2 tsp. basil until tender.  Remove from heat and allow to cool. 

Brush 2 Tbs. salad dressing on each pizza crust.  

Sprinkle each crust with 1 cup of grated cheese.  

Divide vegetables and spread evenly over cheese.  

Top with tomatoes and olives.  

Sprinkle with remaining basil.  Bake in a preheated 425° oven 14 to 16 minutes.

Makes 8 servings 

You know those big veggie trays I buy at Fred Meyer from time to time?  I used some of the veggies in one of those I got on markdown for $3.99 and some onion.  I chopped up the broccoli, a couple of the mini peppers, a big handful of carrots, the celery and half an onion I had in my crisper drawer.  I still had a bunch of veggies left in that tray for snacks and adding to salads.  In my opinion those trays are a bargain, even at full price.  But you can use whatever vegetables you want.  

I frequently snap these up when they are marked down to $3.99
Still fresh and they last at least a week

Here is the breakdown:

Pizza dough - 45¢

Vegetables - $1.15

Cheese - $1.10

Tomato - 20¢

Olives - 25¢

Salad dressing - 20¢

Total = $3.35

I don't know where you can buy delicious two pizzas like this for less.  And it makes a lot of pizza!  I can also throw together a little Caesar salad to go with it and still come in under $5!

Good, healthy food doesn't really have to cost a lot.

There was more than enough here for four people or in our case a mom and her two ravenous teenage girls.  In fact everyone had seconds and I still had plenty left over for another meal.

In some cases costs are approximated.  Groceries prices vary depending on where you live.  I don't include condiments, oils, herbs and spices when I figure the cost of a meal as it would be incredibly tedious to do so.  Plus condiments are subjective as each person uses more or less.