Easy and deliciously cheesy way to use leftover pizza. A fun dinner or brunch recipe that can be made ahead, or prepped to be on the table in under an hour!
How do you divide 3 slices of leftover pizza among 4 children?
Make Cheesy Pizza Bread Pudding for 6, of course.
Whether you call it bread pudding. Or, call it strata. I call this cheesy casserole the best way to use up leftovers and avoid food waste. I make a version of it almost weekly. Here’s the simple formula you can follow:
1. Search the fridge for leftover dibs and dabs of cooked meat, veggies, cheeses, even rice and noodle dishes…or pizza. Chop leftovers into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, about milk, spices, salt, and pepper.
3. Toast whole grain bread and chop into cubes. Toss those leftovers and the toast cubes with egg mixture and let set 5-10 minutes.
4. Pour into a casserole dish, bake and top with cheese at the end.
And the best part about this casserole dinner plan? Many of your impromptu creations may become family favorites. My family discovered we’re happy when there are leftovers of chicken, roasted veggies and black beans; they create a killer combo in cheesy bread pudding, especially when topped with salsa. Over the years I’ve fine-tuned a few of these ‘leftovers’ recipes:
Sweet Potato, Bagel, and Blue Cheese Bread Pudding
Thanksgiving Leftovers Breakfast Casserole
Apple Cheddar Bread Pudding Bites
Today’s Cheesy Pizza Bread Pudding creation was specifically inspired by this month’s theme for The Recipe ReDux: Budget-Friendly Eats. We challenged our members to go as low as they could for their healthy recipe’s per-serving cost. With eggs and milk being as inexpensive as I can remember them, this recipe can probably fit most budgets:
4 eggs – $0.40
1 1/2 cup milk – $0.23
4 slices whole grain bread – $0.80
Frozen broccoli – $1.22
Leftovers – practically FREE – especially if they would have been tossed in the trash otherwise!
TOTAL cost per serving – $0.43
Before baking
Enough said. Add bread pudding/strata/casserole to your menu plan for this year and ‘add’ up the savings in terms of cost and less food waste. Easy Cheesy Pizza Bread Pudding uses leftover pizza to make a budget-friendly meal via @TspCurry #TheRecipeReDux Click To Tweet Print
Cheesy Pizza Bread Pudding
Easy and deliciously cheesy way to use leftover pizza. A fun dinner or brunch recipe that can be made ahead, or prepped to be on the table in under an hour!
- Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (crumbled between your fingers)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3-4 slices whole grain bread
- 3 slices leftover pizza
- 2 cups frozen broccoli, cooked in the microwave (or 2 cups leftover cooked vegetables)
- 4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (or any type of cheese)
- 1 cup leftover tomato sauce (with a sprinkle of garlic powder and dried oregano)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375-degrees-F. Coat 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, oregano, salt, pepper. Set aside
- Toast bread and cut into bite-sized pieces (about 3/4-inch cubes.)
- Cut pizza into bite-sized pieces (about 3/4-inch cubes.)
- Add broccoli, 1/3 of the cheese, toast and pizza to egg mixture and toss well. Let set 5-10 minutes for bread to soak up liquid.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and top with remaining cheese. Bake 5 more minutes until cheese is melted.
- Serve with tomato sauce.
How do you use up leftovers? Do you eat leftover pizza cold or warm?
Wow. Eggs are cheap in your neck of the woods. 4 eggs would be about $2 in Australia.
Love the recipe though. I’ve never thought of making a savoury bread pudding, even though I love eggy bread.
Glenda @ A Less Irritable Life recently posted..Eggs in Bread with Green Bean Bruschetta {low FODMAP}
I love what you call it: Eggy bread! Such a yummy name! Thanks Glenda.
How low can you go? This is brilliant!
diane recently posted..Chai Tea Latte Oatmeal
Thanks Diane. It was a super fun creation.
Wow! I love this idea! So much fun! Great recipe Serena!
Thanks Sara. I am NOT a fan of leftover pizza. I’m a BIG fan of the eggy, cheesy puffy pizza! (:
This is a genius use for leftover pizza! Makes me want to order some tonight just to have leftovers to try out your recipe.
Ha! Thanks Kelli! I’m not usually a huge sausage fan, but sausage in this casserole is really, really good. So if you order, order sausage and mushroom and green pepper. (:
what a super creative idea! you never have to ask my kids twice if they want pizza… in any form! winner!!
gretchen | kumquat recently posted..Garlic Tomato Soup
Yup. Pizza = winning for my kids too. It’s just the leftovers issue that gets tricky. #problemsolvedhere
What a clever way to use leftover pizza! I love this idea!
Autumn @ AutumnPTW.com recently posted..Rosemary Chicken and Roasted Winter Vegetables
Thanks so much Autumn. Let me know if you make it.
This is genius Serena! I love savory bread puddings and what a great way to use leftovers!
As I said I make savory bread pudding almost weekly to use up leftovers. And this routine has surprised me a little – as I used to only make sweet bread pudding – before kids!
I love bread pudding and I love pizza!! Such a fun idea 🙂
I think it’s what my kids called fun food…in a good way. (:
Oh good Lord! This is brilliant!
(: Thanks Anne. That’s very kind.
So you managed to put together two of the best comfort foods ever! Sounds so good! If I make this, I may not ever eat anything else!
Marisa recently posted..Smoky Chickpeas with Spinach
Comfort food creativity is my forte! (: Happy to help you out.
Sounds like a clever way to use leftovers in general! Looks delicious!!
Thanks Laura! Happy leftovers to you!