Pizza Toppings

What are pizza toppings? Simply put, they are the tasty ingredients added on top of pizza dough with sauce, turning a basic base into something special. Toppings are what give a pizza its flavor, look, and feel. Whether you prefer classic meats and gooey cheese or a mix of fresh veggies and even seafood, pizza toppings are what make each pie unique. Whether you like a simple Margherita or want to try new and different combinations, knowing about pizza toppings helps you make and enjoy better pizza.

What Are Pizza Toppings?

Pizza toppings are the foods you put on top of the pizza, usually after spreading sauce and sometimes mixed with or placed under cheese. These toppings are picked not only because they taste good by themselves but also because of how they blend together as the pizza bakes. Toppings can be traditional, inspired by different cultures, or simply what you have at hand. Basically, any food that cooks well in a hot oven and makes the pizza taste or look better can be used as a topping.

Toppings let you change your pizza any way you want. You can pick your favorites or try new mixes, making every pizza different. Good toppings are picked so that each one can be tasted – you don’t want to pack on too many and lose the flavor balance. Whether you’re making a quick meal or something special for a party, choosing fresh and tasty toppings will always make your pizza better.

What Types of Pizza Toppings Are There?

Pizza toppings come in all shapes and flavors, so there’s something for everyone. From the usual cheese layer to the final greens sprinkled on top, each type of topping adds something different to your pizza.

Cheese Toppings for Pizza

Cheese is used on most pizzas, bringing a creamy, stretchy texture. While mozzarella is most common, there are many cheeses used on pizza. Fresh mozzarella melts softly and has a milder taste. Parmesan or pecorino add sharpness and saltiness. If you want to try something different, try feta for a crumbly, salty touch or Gruyère for a stronger, nutty flavor. Some even use scoops of Greek yogurt or cream cheese for a tangy, creamy base.

Many pizza lovers suggest shredding your own cheese from a block instead of using pre-shredded cheese, since bagged shredded cheese often contains extra powders that can change how it melts and tastes. Freshly grated cheese melts better and tastes fresher.

Meat and Protein Pizza Toppings

Many people love meat on their pizza. Pepperoni is a classic in the US, known for crisping up in the oven. Some other favorites are sausage, ham, and bacon. For a fully loaded meat pizza, people sometimes use several kinds at once. Others try fancier options, like prosciutto with roasted peppers and a drizzle of sweet vinegar, or meats from other countries, like bulgogi beef or chicken tikka.

Plant-based proteins are growing in popularity too. Veggie sausage or shiitake “bacon” can fill the place of meat for those looking for vegetarian and vegan options.

Vegetable and Plant-Based Pizza Toppings

Vegetables bring color and lots of flavors to pizza. Roasted tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, and artichokes add sweetness and earthiness. Other choices include corn, asparagus, and beans. Roasted squash and thin potato slices are great for a filling pizza. Greens like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale add a healthy crunch. Caramelized onions and roasted garlic are especially tasty for their sweet, deep flavors. If you’re adding vegetables with a lot of water, it’s a good idea to cook them a bit first or slice them thin to avoid a soggy pizza.

Seafood and Unusual Pizza Toppings

Seafood toppings are common in Asian countries, where people use shrimp, crab, squid, anchovies, and more. Some locations even use things like fish eggs or pickled fish. Other unique toppings from around the globe include pickled ginger, unusual spice blends, rice cake, pears, frog meat, kangaroo, crocodile, and even banana with cheese. These choices show that pizza can be made with almost anything that sounds good to you.

Sauces and Spreads for Pizza Bases

The sauce is the first layer on most pizzas and sets the main flavor. Tomato sauce is the classic and goes with almost anything. Pesto gives a nutty, green taste that fits well with certain veggies and cheeses. “White” pizzas skip tomato sauce and can use garlic oil, soft cheeses, or creamy blends like cashew cream or zucchini butter. Thick mushroom sauces or spiced nut creams are sometimes used too, especially for international-style pizzas.

Finishing Touches and Garnishes

The last toppings are added after baking, so they stay fresh and colorful. Herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, and chives are common, and a handful of arugula gives a spicy twist. Flavored olive oils, chili crisp, and hot honey are trendy additions for spice or sweetness. Other popular extras include Za’atar spice, crunchy kale chips, citrus zest, and pickled chilies. These add layers of flavor and finish off your pizza nicely.

What Are the Most Popular Pizza Toppings?

Some toppings are favorites almost everywhere. In the US, pepperoni tops the list. Other meat choices like sausage, ham, and bacon are also common. Vegetables like mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers make it onto a lot of pizzas. And of course, mozzarella cheese is used more than any other cheese, often combined with Parmesan or others for extra flavor.

Survey Results: Most Ordered Toppings

Most pizza surveys in the US show pepperoni as the most-ordered topping. Plain cheese is high on the list too. Other strong contenders are sausage, mushrooms, and onions. Combo pizzas with several meats and veggies, like “Supreme,” are also favorites. Despite mixed opinions, Hawaiian pizza (with ham and pineapple) is a top seller, showing that sweet and salty combos can be very popular. These main choices shape most pizza menus and reflect what many people like best.

Classic Pizza Topping Combos

Some topping mixes are famous and loved for a reason-they’re well-balanced and tasty, and many people judge pizza by these classics.

• Margherita: Simple tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil. The colors match the Italian flag.
• Pepperoni: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni slices. The edges get crispy, and the flavor spreads throughout the pizza.
• Veggie Lovers: A mix of vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, olives, spinach, and sometimes broccoli. Usually on tomato sauce and topped with cheese.
• Supreme: A mix of meats (pepperoni, sausage) and veggies (peppers, onions, olives, mushrooms) for a bit of everything.
• Meat Lovers: Stacked with different kinds of meat-pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, sometimes beef-making it filling and strongly flavored.
• Hawaiian: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, and pineapple. Some versions include bacon or veggie versions with grilled pineapple.

Unique Pizza Toppings from Around the World

While Italian-style toppings are very common, other countries have added their own flavors and ingredients to pizza, often based on what’s local or traditional for them.

Regional Differences

• France: Some pizzas use crème fraîche instead of tomato sauce, and may have goat cheese, apple slices, or even burger sauce.
• Germany: Toppings can include pickled cucumbers, lettuce, and sauces along with regular meats and cheese.
• Iceland: You might find cream cheese, hazelnuts, salted cod, hot dogs, potatoes, and bananas together!

Popular Toppings in Asia

• Japan: Seafood like shrimp, squid, crab, and seaweed. Other toppings include corn, mochi, mayonnaise, and fish eggs.
• China: Unusual choices like pear, pork belly, egg yolk, crayfish, durian, ketchup, and sometimes frog meat.
• India: Pizza often features local spices, chicken tikka, paneer, pickled ginger, and tandoori flavors.
• Vietnam: Ingredients like mango, lychee, lemongrass, more seafood, and mayonnaise are popular.
• Korea: Beef bulgogi is common.

Popular Toppings in Australia and Oceania

• “Aussie pizza” often has tomato or barbecue sauce, cheese, bacon, ham, and eggs, making it similar to a breakfast pizza. Some places add kangaroo or crocodile meat for something extra local.

Popular Toppings in Europe

• UK: Toppings like Roquito peppers, cranberry sauce, goat cheese, and spicy meats.
• Netherlands: Grimbergen cheese, falafel, and tuna are found on many pizzas.
• Hungary: Corn and fresh tomatoes are often added.

Popular Toppings in Africa and the Middle East

• Kenya: Toppings like kachumbari salad and peri-peri spices.
• Ghana: Chichinga (grilled, spiced meat).
• Palestine: Cinnamon and nutmeg add warmth and unique flavor.

Popular Toppings in the Americas

• USA: Regional favorites include lobster (in Boston), Provel cheese (in St. Louis), and Spam (in Hawaii).
• California: Pizzas feature lots of fresh produce and sometimes things like carrot or smoked salmon.
• Canada: Toppings like maple bacon, butter chicken, poutine (fries, cheese curds, and gravy), and Montreal-style pepperoni.
• Mexico: Chorizo and jalapeños.
• Brazil: Corn, hard-boiled eggs, and cream cheese are favorites.

How Do Pizza Toppings Change the Taste and Texture?

The best pizzas work because their toppings are picked and combined carefully. Each topping affects the taste and feel of each bite.

Mixing Toppings for Good Flavor

Choosing toppings that go well together is important. Too many strong flavors can clash. Savory meats like pepperoni taste better when balanced with tangy tomato sauce and smooth mozzarella. Fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon after baking can keep flavors bright. Sweet toppings, like caramelized onions or squash, taste good with salty cheese or herbs. You want each topping to be noticed, not hidden or lost underneath others.

Different Textures from Toppings

Texture matters as much as flavor. Melted cheese can be gooey, meats are chewy, and veggies can be soft or crispy. Roasting or sautéing vegetables beforehand helps them cook all the way and keeps them from being too watery. Crispy meats or toppings like kale chips add crunch, while soft cheeses or sauces add creaminess. Mixing these textures makes each bite interesting and enjoyable.

How to Choose Your Pizza Toppings

Picking toppings for your pizza is fun, but the many options can be confusing. Here are some tips to help you make good choices:

Tips for Making Your Own Topping Combos

• Use the freshest ingredients you can find.
• Don’t overload your pizza-less can be more.
• Balance flavors: use some salty, some sweet, a bit spicy, and maybe something tangy.
• Think about texture: some soft, some crispy, some chewy.
• Try new ingredients, or write down combos you like best for next time.
• Follow the seasons or use up what you have in the fridge.

How to Match Toppings with Sauces

• Tomato sauce goes with almost any topping.
• Pesto works well with mild vegetables and lighter cheeses.
• White sauces (like garlic oil or creamy bases) are good with roasted garlic, mushrooms, and gentle cheeses.
• Stronger, spicy sauces need toppings that can stand up to them.
• Think outside the box: mushroom sauces boost mushroom flavor, for instance.

Working with Dietary Needs

• Vegetarians and vegans can use lots of veggies, plant-based cheese, and meat alternatives.
• Try nut-based sauces instead of cheese for a dairy-free white pizza.
• Gluten-free crust is available for those who need it.
• Check labels and be careful with allergies, especially when serving others.
• Pizza is easy to customize for almost any diet.

Creative Pizza Topping Ideas

If you want to try something different, here are some ideas that may surprise you in a good way:

Unusual Ingredients

• Hot honey for a spicy-sweet drizzle, especially over pepperoni.
• Pickled items like red onions or serrano chilies for tang and crunch.
• Roasted garlic or caramelized onions for extra umami taste.
• Try fruit, such as apple slices with goat cheese, or grill pineapple with jalapeño for something sweet and spicy.
• Mix different spices like Za’atar, or use Indian blends like chana masala with chickpeas and paneer.

Seasonal and Local Toppings

• Spring: Asparagus, peas, spring greens.
• Summer: Tomatoes, corn, zucchini, eggplant.
• Fall: Squash, apples, mushrooms.
• Winter: Kale, root veggies, touches of citrus zest.

Visit local markets to get new ideas and use what’s fresh and available near you.

Preparing and Cooking Pizza Toppings

How you get your toppings ready and how you cook them matters. Good prep prevents soggy, undercooked, or uneven pizza. Here’s how to do it right:

Precooking Meat and Vegetables

• Cook thicker meats like sausage, bacon, or beef all the way before adding to pizza.
• Roast or sauté vegetables with lots of water (like mushrooms, squash, or kale) to make them taste better and not drench your pizza.
• Dry roasted peppers or canned items before adding.
• Pre-cooking makes sure everything is cooked just right when the pizza’s done.

How to Spread Toppings Evenly

• Spread sauce in a thin, even layer, leaving the edges bare for a crispy crust.
• Cheese goes next to hold other toppings in place.
• Don’t pile too much of anything-instead, use small amounts spread out evenly.
• Cut big veggies or meats into small, bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
• Remember: a few well-chosen toppings make a tastier pizza than piling on too many.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pizza Toppings

Do Toppings Go Over or Under the Cheese?

There’s no single answer-sometimes toppings go under the cheese, sometimes on top. Most people put sauce down, then cheese, then toppings. Some toppings (like pepperoni) are often placed on top so they crisp up. Fresh herbs almost always go on after baking. Another way is to add a layer of cheese, then toppings, then more cheese.

How Do I Keep Pizza from Getting Soggy When Using Wet Toppings?

• Cook vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, and peppers before adding them-this takes away a lot of moisture.
• Dry canned or jarred items like olives or roasted peppers well.
• Use less sauce and don’t add too many “wet” toppings.
• Bake at a high heat (450-500° F) to get moisture cooked off quickly.
• Move the pizza onto a rack or board as soon as it’s done to keep the crust crispy.

Are There Healthy Pizza Toppings?

Yes! Load up on vegetables like spinach, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, onions, and artichokes for lots of vitamins. Use lean meats like grilled chicken or plant-based proteins. Try lower-fat cheeses or use less cheese overall. Choose a whole wheat or cauliflower crust for more fiber. Add fresh herbs and a light drizzle of olive oil instead of heavy sauces. Pizza can be made healthy by balancing toppings and using more plant-based foods.