The Best Pizza Toppings You’re Not Trying
Updated: Nov. 07, 2023
These pizza toppings might seem out-of-the-ordinary, but trust us: they're amazing! Just don't try using more than one wacky topping per pizza or things might get a little weird.
Want to learn how to upgrade a standard Margherita pizza? We’re going way beyond tomato sauce and cheese with this collection of best-ever pizza toppings. Some may surprise you!
While you’re at it, you can also check out the best premade pizza crusts!
BBQ Pork
For some reason, it feels odd to put shredded pork on a pizza, but BBQ has a place outside the bun. Use your favorite barbecue sauce instead of marinara, and don’t forget to drizzle the pie with ranch before you serve it up. It really takes pizza to the next level!
Psst: You could also use barbecue chicken if pork isn’t your thing.
Pickle Chips
You wouldn’t dream of putting cucumbers on a pizza (that would be weird). But soak those same cucumbers in vinegar and spices and it sounds like a winner! This Dill Pickle Hamburger Pizza combines our two favorite foods, and we’re not even mad about it.
Mac ‘n Cheese
This pizza combination is EXACTLY how you imagine it: pizza dough loaded up with ooey, gooey mac and cheese. If you love pizza and macaroni and cheese, there’s really nothing to hate about putting them together. Just get ready for a serious carbo-load.
Leeks
Leeks are one of those vegetables I often overlook because they seem hard to clean (spoiler: they’re not). They make a perfect pizza topper because they go well with everything–chicken, prosciutto, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, roasted garlic, potatoes…you name it, it works. Toss them on raw or caramelized them first to deepen their flavor.
Smoked Salmon (Lox)
Turn your favorite bagel into a pizza! Use cream cheese as the base and load that dough up with smoked salmon, red onions and capers before finishing it off with a spritz of lemon juice. I often sprinkle everything bagel spice onto this pizza, too, just for effect.
Apples
While you could make a sweet dessert pizza, you don’t actually need cinnamon or sugar to use apples on a pizza. We love combining them with sweet, caramelized onions and goat cheese for a vegetarian pizza, and adding chicken sausage or Canadian bacon if we want it a bit meatier.
Eggs
You can use eggs to make a killer breakfast pizza, or you can simply add an egg to your favorite pizza for a rich burst of flavor. If you’re going to crack a raw egg on the pizza, just make sure it’s in the oven long enough to cook the whites. Otherwise, you’ll want to cook the egg on the side and add it when the pie comes out of the oven.
Pastrami
If you can use bacon, sausage and pepperoni on a pizza, why not use pastrami? Mimic your favorite pastrami sandwich by adding all the same toppings to the pizza. I’ll let you in on a little secret: adding a few toasted caraway seeds to the mix makes the dough taste like rye bread.
Mashed Potatoes
This is the perfect way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. Skip the marinara sauce and use your mashers instead. The more garlic-forward they are, the better! Then, top ’em with cheddar cheese, bacon bits and chives to make this pizza taste just like a loaded baked potato. Speaking of baked potatoes…
Burgers
Why choose between burgers and pizza when you can have them both? All you need is ground beef, bacon, and the cheese of your choice. You can really take things to the next level by using ketchup and mustard as the pizza sauce.
Kimchi
Asian food and cheese might not sound like a natural combination, but somehow it totally works with kimchi! I especially like this combination if it involves bacon (which somehow makes everything taste better). Don’t be afraid to add other traditional Asian ingredients to this pie, like green onions, ginger, or soy sauce. Learn all about the health benefits of fermented food.
Shrimp Scampi
The best part about this idea is that it makes the sauce AND the pizza topping. Simply saute up the shrimp in garlic and butter and spread the entire mixture over pizza dough. Top it with mozzarella cheese and red pepper flakes, and you’re good to go!
Cherries
The first time I saw cherries on a savory pizza, I thought it was a joke. As it turns out, it was one of the prettiest pies I’ve ever seen and it was also delicious! Have some fun with this one by playing around your different toppings. We especially like using shredded duck and baby arugula.
Root Vegetables
So long as you cook them ahead of time, there’s no reason you can’t celebrate winter with a roasted root veggie pie! Here’s how to roast veggies like a pro. Using a white base (like garlic oil) instead of tomato sauce really allows the vegetables to shine, and you’ll definitely want to top it all off with fresh herbs as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Wild Game
You’ll find crocodile, emu and kangaroo on pizzas in Australia, Haggis pizzas in Scotland and smoked reindeer meat in Sweden and Finland. So, why not put boar, elk, buffalo or venison on your pizza? Take your favorite steak pizza and swap in wild game instead.
Chocolate
This might be one of the most bizarre pizza toppings on the list; it’s more like a giant cookie than a pizza! I definitely wouldn’t recommend using mozzarella cheese, but whipped ricotta or marscapone totally work! Think sweet toppings with this one, like peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, sprinkles or crumbled Oreo cookies.
