Pizza toppings usually start with a type of cheese, but from there, you can pile on whatever your heart desires. Whether you’re making pizza at home, ordering delivery, or visiting a local pizza joint, deciding which toppings you want can be a lengthy process. Some pizza toppings can divide a room (ahem, pineapple), but others are universally loved. These are the best and most popular pizza toppings, plus recipes for you try them out with.
Pepperoni
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Poll after poll, pepperoni always tops the list of America’s favorite pizza toppings. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a classic. Keep it simple and let the pepperoni define the flavor on these Garlic Bread Pizzas.
Mushrooms
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
This earthy topping can be divisive in the kitchen, but many agree that mushrooms fit right in on a pizza. Add it to Sheet Pan Veggie Supreme Pizza with lots of other fresh veggies for a meatless but hearty pie.
Onions
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Whether they crisp up in the oven or go on the pizza caramelized, onions are a popular topping that add a little salty or a little sweet, depending how they’re prepared. Red onions often accompany barbecue chicken pizzas, while white and yellow onions are popular for supreme pizzas. This Tennessee Onion Pizza is a must when Vidalia onions are in season.
Bacon
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Bacon goes well with anything (try us), so of course it’s a popular pizza topping. A pizza gets salty, meaty flavor from just a few bacon crumbles. Sweet fruit, like the pears in this Pear, Bacon, and Gorgonzola Flatbread, give a satisfying salty-sweet flavor.
Peppers
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Green, red, yellow, or orange, bell peppers add a fresh, crunchy element to cheesy pizza. Chop some up to top Cauliflower Personal “Pizzas” made with a sturdy cauliflower base for a healthy and tasty weeknight meal.
Black Olives
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Montiel
People either love or hate olives, but even if you’re not a fan, you might actually like the salty bite black olives add to a generously topped Charcuterie Pizza. This pie is topped with a hefty 1 1/2 cups of halved mixed olives. Chopped almonds add crunch and give this pizza a delightful charcuterie-inspired spin.
Chicken
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
The winner winner of weeknight meals goes well on pizzas, too. Chicken is a favorite pizza topping, whether barbecue, Buffalo, or with bacon and ranch. This Chicken Parmesan Pizza uses fried chicken strips for convenience and maximum flavor.
Corn
Make this all-veggie pizza when summer’s favorite crop is in season. Make Mexican Street Corn Pizza with fresh corn, poblano chile, Cotija cheese, and lime for an unexpected but crave-worthy meal. You’ll get requests to make it again.
Banana Peppers
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Pickled banana peppers add some acidity to contrast with the sweet barbecue base on this BBQ Chicken Pizza. Use store-bought dough or make your own. Either way, it’s delicious.
Figs
Figs may not be on the radar for some pizza lovers, but their sweetness is the perfect match for caramelized onions, tangy goat cheese, and peppery arugula. Whip up a Fig Flatbread for dinner al fresco.
Tomatoes
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Easy Flatbread starts with a packaged crust. Top it with red sauce, plenty of shredded mozzarella, and halved cherry tomatoes. The tomatoes will soften as they cook, giving a burst of flavor to each bite.
Sausage
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Turn your favorite pizza toppings into a hearty, comforting meal. Loaded with sausage, peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, and a blanket of cheese, this Pizza Casserole has something for everyone and can be customized to your preferences. Use ground mild or hot Italian sausage for ultimate flavor.
Extra Cheese
Iain Bagwell; Food Stylist: Kelly Kellie; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis
There’s nothing like that cheese pull when you bite into a slice of pizza or break apart stuffed calzones. Besides a good portion of ground beef, these Beef Calzones are chock-full of veggies and extra cheese. Get pizza dough from the bakery to cut down on prep.
Barbecue Pork
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This popular topping combines a Southern dish with a weeknight favorite. Pulled pork tops a barbecue sauce base, and the rest is up to your imagination. Try toppings like peppers, onions, mushrooms, jalapeno, and pineapple for a Barbecue Pork Pizza that’s an unforgettable meal.
