21 Next-Level Pizza Toppings That Will Convince You To Skip Delivery
There's more to pizza than pepperoni.
Any way you top it, pizza is maybe the most perfect food of all. Crispy thin (or deep-dish and ultra-rich!) crust, melty cheese, and sauce are always a good time, but we've got a few clever and, dare we say it, unconventional ideas on the best toppings for your next pizza pie. Got pickles? Add it to this pickle pizza, especially with some bacon. Want to venture south of the border? Try our Mexican pizza for the ultimate mash-up. As you can tell, everything is basically fair game with all 21 of these genius pizza topping ideas, so do yourself a favor and get to making some dough!
Some of our favorite pizza toppings have come from simply running out of marinara sauce. And, not gonna lie, they might be better than any red sauced slice, which is something you'll definitely find after one bite of our white pizza, carbonara pizza, or Buffalo chicken pizza. If you love California Pizza Kitchen as much as we do (and that's a lot), you'll flip over how spot-on our copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ chicken pizza is compared to the original.
Want to play around with all the classic pizza flavors, but maybe take them a few steps forward? We've got you covered there, too. In the case of our recipes for grandma pizza, Detroit-style pizza, and matzo pizza actually involve topping the pies with cheese before the sauce. It's a simple tweak that makes a huge difference, one you'll want to bring to all the pizzas you make going forward. And if you need even more pizza in your life (we don't blame you), we've got even more homemade pizza recipes for you to try next!
Copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza
Whether you'd rather skip going out or don't live close to the famous pizza spot, recreate the well-loved pie with this copycat recipe for California Pizza Kitchen's BBQ chicken pizza. If you can't get enough of the flavor combo of saucy BBQ, tender chicken and creamy ranch, then you'll go crazy for this homemade version.
Get the Copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe.
White Pizza
Don't let the deep hues of caramelized mozzarella fool you—this is indeed a white pizza pie with absolutely no sauce. White pizzas can be boring without the acidity of tomatoes, but we've made a pie that takes advantage of the flavors from three different cheeses.
Get the White Pizza recipe.
Detroit-Style Pizza
If you’re the type to prefer deep-dish over thin crust pizza, let us introduce you to your new obsession—Detroit-style pizza. With a tender, airy crust (think focaccia), lots of crispy edges, tons of melty cheese, and savory pepperoni slices, there's a lot to love about this unconventional pizza.
Get the Detroit-Style Pizza recipe.
Carbonara Pizza
If you can't get enough of Rome's famous spaghetti carbonara, then we have a sneaking suspicion you'll love this extra-cheesy pizza version. Keep it simple with a side of peppery arugula dressed with olive oil and lemon juice to cut the richness of the pie!
Get the Carbonara Pizza recipe.
Chicago-Style Thin-Crust Pizza
That’s right, the Windy City, celebrated for creating colossal deep-dish pizza, has a lesser known thin crust pizza subculture. The cornmeal (added beneath the dough in the skillet) is indispensable for its signature texture, and you’ll likely find the pizzas cut into squares, not triangles. The sauce and cheese go right up to the edges of the dough, so the perimeter gets nice and crispy.
Grandma Pizza
Grandma pizza has a thin, crispy crust topped first with cheese, then dolloped with a garlicky tomato sauce. It's not the usual way of assembling pizza, but the cheese melting right into the crust really makes some magic happen.
Get the Grandma Pizza recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Got some leftover roasted chicken? This pizza is the PERFECT way to use it! If you don't, shredding rotisserie chicken is a great alternative. If neither of those options is available, it's easy to boil some chicken breasts and shred them for topping.
Get the Buffalo Chicken Pizza recipe.
Deep Dish Pizza
Homemade pizza night calls for something extra special, and this deep-dish pizza is just the thing! Dress it up any way you want and add a layer of your favorite topping under the sauce! If you love a more traditional pizza, then try out our best pizza recipe.
Get the Deep Dish Pizza recipe.
Vegan Pizza
This hearty vegan pizza (topped with BBQ cauliflower and a homemade vegan ranch) will convert any carnivore into a fan.
Get the Vegan Pizza recipe.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
If you've ever been to California Pizza Kitchen, then chances are you know the joys of a good BBQ Chicken pizza. Our recipe uses tangy gouda, creamy mozzarella, and a hefty dose of red onions and cilantro for freshness. We happen to think it gives good ol' CPK a run for their money.
Get the BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe.
Pickle Pizza
This unlikely pairing is actually a match made in heaven. Pickles, bacon, and pizza lived happily ever after (especially when you dip a slice into some ranch).
Get the Pickle Pizza recipe.
Mexican Pizza
This Taco Bell copycat isn't actually Mexican, nor is it a pizza. It's actually more of a Tex-Mex quesadilla, and we love it for a lightning fast dinner. The ease of flour tortillas straight from the bag can't be beat, but if you want to be true to the Taco Bell recipe, shallow-fry them in vegetable oil!
Get the Mexican Pizza recipe.
Matzo Pizza
Whether you observe Passover and have leftover matzo to use up or are just looking for a crispy, crunchy, thin-crust pizza, this matzo pizza is going to be a hit. You’ll notice we add a portion of the cheese first before adding any sauce; this is so the cracker-like matzo retains its crispiness and doesn’t become soggy (because nobody wants soggy pizza).
Get the Matzo Pizza recipe.
Primavera Skillet Pizza
This fresh, spring-y pizza is easy and so cheesy. Veggies on pizza are better than any salad on the side, in our opinion.
Get the Primavera Skillet Pizza recipe.
Ham, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Pizza
If you're short on time and crave breakfast for dinner (wait, isn't that every night?), this super-simple pizza has your name all over it. You can really use any cheese you have, but don't forget those mouthwatering eggs on top!
Primavera Skillet Pizza
Everything you could want—veggies, sausage, and pepperoni—in one pie. Because you deserve all the toppings.
Get the The Works Skillet Pizza recipe.
Chili Cheese Dog Pizza
Pizza and chili cheese dogs finally found each other. We know the kids will love it but we believe the adults will to. It's basically a giant frito chili pie and we are here for it.
Get the Chili Cheese Dog Pizza recipe.
Pizza Niçoise
Pizza Niçoise is exactly how it sounds—a mashup of classic Niçoise salad toppings piled on top of a warm, doughy crust. Layer on the thinly sliced potatoes before baking. Then, once it’s golden and cooled slightly, go to town with all the fixings: peppery arugula, bright green beans, sweet tomatoes, salty olives, crisp red onions, and rich, savory chunks of tuna packed in olive oil.
Get the Pizza Niçoise recipe.
Garlicky Grilled Chicken Pizza
Come summer, we’ll take any excuse to fire up the grill. And what better excuse is there than a pizza loaded with garlicky chicken? This recipe uses the grill both for the chicken and the pizza dough, resulting in super-crispy, deluxe slices that will rival any you can get from your local pizzaiolo.
Mushroom-Fontina Pizza with a Fried Egg
When in doubt on how to make any meal, including pizza, more tasty, #putaneggonit.
Watch Next
