Last Updated on June 13, 2019 by HodgePodgeDays
When I read this week about the favourite family meal of New Zealand Prime Minister, Bill English, I knew I had to try it. Bill had come in for quite a lot of criticism after making tinned spaghetti pizza for his family, despite it actually looking quite nice. It sounded just about bonkers enough for me to try and make one for myself.
It’s fair to say that his recipe would probably have most Italians weeping into their cappuccino, but it’s not completely insane. Ok, so his pizza contains that love/hate pizza ingredient pineapple, but I’m one of those people who loves pineapple on pizza so I was prepared to go with it. His version also looks like it has a generous helping of ham on top, which I didn’t include on this occasion.
His pizza didn’t look terrible, and with all of the ingredients sat in the cupboard I thought it was worth trying to recreate this classic New Zealand recipe. I made three different pizzas, all of which I’d make again. I admit they’re a bit of a carb overload, but as an occasional novelty I would be happy to dish them up.
In each of the recipes I use some homemade pizza dough. You can buy packets to make up some, or you could just use ready made pizza bases. It’s entirely up to you.
Tinned Spaghetti Pizza
Ingredients –
1 pizza base
1 tin of spaghetti in tomato sauce
Two rings of tinned pineapple, roughly chopped
Half a ball of fresh mozzarella
A couple of handfuls of grated cheddar cheese
Dried herbs – I used oregano
Pepper
Method –
1. Pre-heat your oven following the instructions on the packet of pizza dough, or the pizza base.
2. Place your dough on a pizza or oven tray. With a sieve drain some of the excess sauce from your tinned spaghetti. If you don’t do this your pizza will be soggy. Once drained, spread the tinned spaghetti over the pizza base.
3. Scatter your finely chopped pineapple all over the spaghetti. If you’re adding ham to your pizza, now is the time to put that on too. Season with pepper and sprinkle over a few pinches of dried herbs. I used oregano, but mixed herbs would be fine.
4. Tear your half ball of mozzarella cheese into pieces and evenly distribute over the pizza, then sprinkle your grated cheddar cheese over the top.
5. Bake in the oven following the instructions on your pizza dough or base. My pizzas took around 20 minutes to cook.
Tinned Meatball Pizza
Ingredients –
1 pizza base
1 tin of meatballs in tomato sauce
Half a ball of fresh mozzarella
A couple of handfuls of grated cheddar cheese
Dried herbs – I used oregano
Pepper
Method –
1. Pre-heat your oven following the instructions on the packet of pizza dough, or the pizza base.
2. Place your dough on a pizza or oven tray. Open your tin of meatballs in tomato sauce and tip into a bowl. With a spoon spread most of the sauce onto the pizza base, spread it around until the base is covered. I used whole meatballs, but I’d be tempted to halve them with a knife and me more generous with my meatball topping next time. Make sure your meatballs are evenly distributed.
3. Season with pepper and sprinkle over a few pinches of dried herbs. I used oregano, but mixed herbs would be fine.
4. Tear your half ball of mozzarella cheese into pieces and evenly distribute over the pizza, then sprinkle your grated cheddar cheese over the top.
5. Bake in the oven following the instructions on your pizza dough or base. My pizzas took around 20 minutes to cook.
Tinned Spaghetti Bolognese Pizza
The spaghetti bolognese pizza already has a thick tomatoey-meaty sauce, which makes it excellent for topping pizza with.
Ingredients –
1 pizza base
1 tin of spaghetti bolognese
Half a ball of fresh mozzarella
A couple of handfuls of grated cheddar cheese
Dried herbs – I used oregano
Pepper
Method –
1. Pre-heat your oven following the instructions on the packet of pizza dough, or the pizza base.
2. Place your dough on a pizza or oven tray. Pour your tinned spaghetti bolognese into a bowl and with a spoon evenly spread it over the pizza base until it’s covered.
3. Season with pepper and sprinkle over a few pinches of dried herbs. I used oregano, but mixed herbs would be fine.
4. Tear your half ball of mozzarella cheese into pieces and evenly distribute over the pizza, then sprinkle your grated cheddar cheese over the top.
5. Bake in the oven following the instructions on your pizza dough or base. My pizzas took around 20 minutes to cook.
I think tinned spaghetti pizza is an excellent store cupboard meal. I had everything I needed already to hand and it’s the find of thing I’d throw together on a Friday night for my family. It might not be the healthiest meal ever, but I reckon it would be great for hiding veg in if you’re that way inclined and it is excellent cold. Really excellent.
What do you think? Is tinned spaghetti pizza brilliant or bonkers? Will you be giving it a try?
Bonkers! Tbh the bolognaise as base is actually quite a good idea….
That’s what I thought and I was right. They boys loved them. I liked mine best cold which really, really works!
This is a brilliant idea.
Ha! I thought it would be horrible until I tried it, now it all makes sense, especially the bolognese one!
These sound epic – spaghetti rings on toast are my hangover cure. I’d definitely give them a go (hate pineapple tho) The meatball one sounds ace. Love bec
I never tried spaghetti pizza but would definitely try it! Had once a spaghetti sandwhich and was not that bad.
got to admit that this does sound like the ultimate lazy dinner idea…. one I’ll be doing soon I expect!
What can I say very innovative and great use of tinned spaghetti. Not sure I would try this my self but it sounds great.
Sounds like the kind of recipe people will either love or hate…I’ve got to try it though as your look so tasty!
The Italian girl in me is mortified but it does kind of look good… Hope my dad never sees this comment! Ha!
I love the sound of this classic New Zealand dish – I’d definitely give them a go!
I would love to make a Tinned Meatball Pizza.
Ooh I quite like the tinned spaghetti idea, not one I would ever have thought of before x
I think this is a fab idea! Never heard of it before but brilliant combination, I will definitely be trying it with my family!