An Italian-inspired 3-course feast with pizza salad, cheesy lasagna rolls, and a pizzelle ice cream sundae!

Welcome to the kickoff of my 3-Course Meal Recipe Collection! Each post will serve up a starter, main dish, and dessert—all meant to mix, match, and make dinnertime more fun. We’re starting with a Pizza Party twist: a zesty pizza salad, cheesy lasagna rolls, and a sweet pizzelle sundae to top it off. Perfect for a TGIF dinner to kick off the weekend fun!

The Recipe Rundown

Pizza Party 3-Course Meal

I love a good themed meal, so this new collection is right up my alley. I’m kicking things off with a classic Italian-inspired pizza party theme—because who doesn’t love pizza night?!

Course 1: Pizza Party Salad

This salad is loaded with all the best pizza flavors—romaine lettuce, mini pepperoni pizza slices, mozzarella pearls, garlic bread croutons, and creamy Italian dressing. It’s like a pizza in salad form, and I’m in love.

Pro Tip: If you make nothing else, try the garlic bread croutons. Seriously, they’re sensational! You can swap the creamy Italian for a regular Italian dressing, but trust me—creamy Italian is an underrated gem.

Course 2: Lasagna Rolls

Next up, lasagna rolls—aka comfort food perfection. These are fun to make and even more fun to eat. Fill lasagna noodles with ricotta, mozzarella, ground beef, and sauce, then roll them up and bake until bubbly.

Kids and adults will both love these. And if you’re a sauce lover (hi, same!), definitely serve extra sauce on the side for dipping.

Course 3: Pizzelle Sundaes

Finally, dessert—because no pizza party is complete without a sweet (and sprinkled) ending! Grab your favorite ice cream (I went classic with vanilla) and load up the toppings. I added chocolate sprinkles, maraschino cherries, and a fun surprise—chocolate pizzelle cookies.

If you haven’t had pizzelles before, they’re light, crispy, and make the perfect sundae scoop companion. Highly recommend!

Why It’s Perfect for TGIF Dinners

Growing up, Fridays were all about TGIF TV nights—Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, Boy Meets World, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and all those feel-good classics.

That lineup was everything. The laughs, the theme songs we all knew by heart, and the feeling that the weekend had finally arrived. Because, after all…

“It’s Friday night, and the mood is right.
Gonna have some fun, show you how it’s done—TGIF!”

This 3-course meal is my way of bringing back that Friday night magic—good food, good company, and kicking off the weekend with some fun.

So grab your people, queue up an old episode or two, and make this meal—it’s a pizza party, lasagna night, and sundae celebration all in one!

FAQ

1. Can I make any parts of this meal ahead of time?

Yes! The Pizza Party Salad components (like garlic bread croutons and chopped toppings) can be prepped a day ahead. You can also assemble the Lasagna Rolls earlier in the day and pop them in the oven when you’re ready. Even the Pizzelle Sundaes can be prepped by setting up a little topping station in advance!

2. What if I don’t have pizzelle cookies for dessert?

No problem! You can swap them for waffle cones, sugar cones, or even crushed cannoli shells. Anything light and crispy gives you that fun Italian sundae vibe.

3. Can I make the lasagna rolls vegetarian?

Absolutely! Just skip the ground beef and add sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or extra cheese to the ricotta mixture. You can even try a spinach and artichoke twist!

4. What’s the best store-bought creamy Italian dressing?

I personally love Ken’s Steakhouse Creamy Italian—it’s a hidden gem. But any brand works, or you can mix ranch with a splash of Italian dressing for a quick homemade version.

Sprinkle Some Fun

Kick off the weekend with a Pizza Party 3-Course Meal—an Italian-inspired TGIF dinner the whole family will love! Start with a pizza-topped salad, dig into cheesy lasagna rolls, and finish with a build-your-own pizzelle ice cream sundae. Set the table like an old-school pizzeria, play some Italian music, and let everyone ‘dress like a chef’—because dinner is more fun when it feels like a party!”

Ways to sprinkle some fun 🎉

• DIY Chef Hats: Let the kids (or fun-loving adults) decorate paper chef hats before dinner.
• Pizzeria Table Setup: Red checkered tablecloth, mason jars for drinks, and mini “pizza box” napkins.
• Build-Your-Own Sundae Bar: Sprinkles, sauces, and pizzelle pieces for toppings.

Pizza Party Salad (with Regular Italian Dressing)

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• Author: Taryn Camp

Ingredients

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For the Salad:

• 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup mini pepperoni slices
• 1 cup mozzarella pearls (or shredded mozzarella)
• 1 cup garlic bread croutons
• 1/2 cup Italian or Creamy Italian dressing

For the Croutons: 

• 1 loaf of frozen garlic bread (the kind that’s pre-buttered and seasoned)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp salt
• Optional: Grated parmesan, Italian seasoning, or chili flakes for an extra kick

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Instructions

 For the Salad:

1. In a large bowl, combine romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, mini pepperoni, and mozzarella pearls.
2. Toss the salad with the Italian dressing until evenly coated.
3. Add the garlic croutons just before serving to keep them crunchy.
4. Serve in individual bowls or as a shareable platter.

For the Croutons: 

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
2. Let the garlic bread thaw slightly, so it’s easier to cut. Chop into crouton-sized cubes—think 1-inch squares or thicker chunks for larger croutons. 
3. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, and any of the optional ingredients. Toss the garlic bread cubes in the oil mixture and fully coat them.
4. Lay the croutons out in a single layer (no crowding—it’ll give them space to crisp up).
5. Pop them in the oven for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway. You want them toasted and crispy.
6. Let them cool overnight so that they get fully crunchy!

Lasagna Roll-Ups

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• Author: Taryn Camp

Ingredients

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• 12 lasagna noodles
• 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (plus extra for topping)
• 2 cups marinara sauce plus extra for serving
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 cup cooked ground beef

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 9 x 13 baking dish lightly with baking spray.
2. Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and lay them flat on parchment paper to cool.
3. In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan, mozzarella, and Italian seasoning. Add cooked ground beef and stir.
4. Spread a thin layer of the ricotta mixture onto each lasagna noodle. Roll each one up tightly and place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
5. Pour the marinara sauce over the roll-ups, ensuring each is covered. Sprinkle with additional mozzarella cheese.
6. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 5–10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.
7. Serve with extra marinara sauce on the side.

Pizzelle Sundaes

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• Author: Taryn Camp

Ingredients

• Vanilla ice cream
• Crushed chocolate pizzelle cookies
• Chocolate fudge topping or chocolate syrup
• Whipped cream
• Maraschino cherries
• Chocolate sprinkles

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Instructions

1. Scoop vanilla ice cream into bowls or cups.
2. Sprinkle the crushed pizzelle cookies over the top.
3. Drizzle with chocolate syrup or fudge.
4. Add a swirl of whipped cream on top, if desired.
5. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and chocolate sprinkles.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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