25 Best Pizza Topping Ideas

Tired of the same old pizza toppings? These fresh, flavorful pizza topping ideas are here to help. Mix and match them to create a combination you love!

pizza topping ideas - 3 pizzas with tomatoes, cheese, basil, and pesto

It’s pizza night! Jack is already prepping the dough, and later, I’ll be in charge of the toppings. When it comes to pizza toppings, I certainly have a few favorites (I’ll always use fresh basil, roasted tomatoes, and artichoke hearts if I have them on hand), but what I love most is coming up with new pizza topping ideas that I haven’t tried before. Butternut squash and sage? Yes, please. Fennel, mushroom, and tarragon? Delicious! Grilled pineapple and pickled jalapeño? Bring it on.

I’m sharing 25 of my best pizza topping ideas in the post below, along with suggestions on how to put them together. I hope you’ll use them as inspiration for your own homemade pizza nights. They’re all fun, flavorful, and flexible. Pick a few that sound good to you, and mix and match them to create a pizza you love!

Roasted Veggie Pizza Topping Ideas

When you make pizza at home, you only need to bake it for a few minutes, typically 10-13 in a 500°F oven. Unless you cut your veggie pizza toppings very small, they won’t cook through in that time, and they might release water onto the pizza. No, thanks! For these reasons, I often roast my veggie pizza toppings ahead. Tender and caramelized, they add SO much flavor to a homemade pizza.

Roasted Tomatoes
My all-time favorite pizza topping! These roasted cherry tomatoes have an intense umami flavor and an irresistible chewy texture, and they go well with so many other pizza topping ideas. In the picture above, I’ve paired them with plant-based sausage, artichoke hearts, red onion, roasted red peppers, and dollops of vegan pesto. Find the recipe here!

Roasted red peppers

Roasted Red Peppers
Pat the peppers dry and thinly slice them before piling them onto your pizza.

Hand drizzling baby artichokes with olive oil - best pizza topping ideas

Roasted Artichokes
Fresh baby artichokes have a short, sweet season, so put them on your pizza while you can! I roast halves and then quarter or roughly chop them before baking them on a pizza.

Roasted butternut squash - veggie pizza topping ideas

Roasted Butternut Squash
The ultimate topping for a fall or winter pie! It’s great with fresh sage, thinly sliced red onion, and my vegan cashew cream.

Roasted broccoli - healthy pizza topping ideas

Roasted Broccoli
Roast it until the florets are just beginning to brown. They’ll brown up more on top of the pizza!

Roasted fennel on a baking sheet - veggie pizza topping ideas

Roasted Fennel
Because fennel seed is a classic ingredient in sausage, I love using roasted fennel to add complex, “sausage-y” flavor to a vegetarian pizza. Roast it in wedges. Roughly chop them before adding them to your pizza.

Roasted cauliflower and arugula veggie pizza

Roasted Cauliflower
Nutty and caramelized, roasted cauliflower is SUCH an underrated veggie pizza topping! Find the recipe for this Roasted Cauliflower & Pear Pizza on page 105 of my first cookbook.

Grilled and Sautéed Veggie Pizza Toppings

I grill and sauté some veggie pizza toppings for the same reason I roast others: it gives them extra time to cook through, and it amps up their flavor.

Sautéed mushrooms in skillet with wooden spoon

Sautéed Mushrooms
Season them with tamari and rice vinegar for an extra-savory, satisfying pizza topping.

Sautéed kale in skillet - healthy pizza topping ideas

Sautéed Kale
We’ve all ordered sautéed spinach on a pizza from a restaurant. Why not sautéed kale? Try pairing these tender, garlicky greens with sautéed mushrooms and roasted fennel or roasted butternut squash and caramelized onions.

Grilled eggplant on a tray - veggie pizza topping ideas

Grilled Eggplant
One of our go-to pizza topping ideas in the summer! We like the charred, meaty eggplant with grilled zucchini, roasted tomatoes, and lots of fresh basil. Tip: chop it up before putting it on your pizza!

Grilled zucchini on a tray

Grilled Zucchini
Another summer favorite. Chop it up as it comes off the grill. Then, serve it on a pie with roasted red peppers and dollops of pesto.

Grilled pineapple rings on a platter with serving spoon

Grilled Pineapple
For a vegetarian twist on a Hawaiian pizza, top your pizza with chopped grilled pineapple and my vegan shiitake bacon. This combo checks all the classic sweet/smoky/savory boxes!

Extra-Umami Pizza Topping Ideas

With their rich umami flavor, these two ingredients will take any pizza to a whole new level! They both take some time to prepare, but luckily, they also freeze well. Make a big batch on a weekend, and keep a stash on hand for spontaneous homemade pizza nights.

Roasted garlic in a baking dish - best pizza topping ideas

Roasted Garlic
Arrange whole cloves across your pizza, or chop them up for a subtler garlicky bite. Try pairing them with sautéed mushrooms, kale, and a blend of Gruyère and mozzarella cheese.

Caramelized onions in a skillet - best pizza topping ideas

Caramelized Onions
Once you start using these sweet, jammy onions as a pizza topping, you’ll never want to make a pizza without them! I love using them on a white pizza with roasted butternut squash, chopped sage, dollops of ricotta, and a shower of Parmesan cheese.

Briny, Pickle-y Pizza Toppings

Black olives aren’t the only way to add briny, pickle-y flavor to a pizza! Have fun experimenting with these out-of-the-box pizza topping ideas:

Pickled jalapeños - pizza topping ideas

Pickled Jalapeños
Use them on any pizza that could benefit from some pop, spice, and crunch. Pat them dry before using!

Pickled red onions

Pickled Red Onions
They give a pizza the same sweet, oniony flavor that regular red onions do, but with an extra-bright, tangy finish. Pat them dry before you use them.

Capers and caper berries in small bowls - best pizza topping ideas

Capers
Move over, olives! Capers are a delicious pizza topping, too. I always have a jar on hand, so I often scatter a spoonful across a homemade pizza before I stick it in the oven. They add unique salty, briny flavor.

Essential Sauces

We can’t talk about pizza topping ideas without mentioning sauce! These three sauce recipes are the ones I use most. Once you have them in your back pocket, you’ll be able to dream up almost any type of homemade pizza.

It’s worth noting here that there is one type of pizza where I simply skip the sauce: a white pizza made with cheese. Then, I cover the dough with a medley of cheeses like creamy ricotta and mozzarella or another melty cheese. I also sometimes use a base of white cheddar because I love its sharp flavor with fresh veggie toppings.

Hand spreading pizza sauce on homemade pizza dough

Homemade Pizza Sauce
My go-to base for a classic homemade pizza. Spread it over your pizza dough, and top it with mozzarella cheese and whatever toppings you like. P.S. Leftover sauce freezes well!

Hand picking up slice from homemade vegan pizza

Cashew Cream
Want to make a white pizza without all the cheese? This lemon cashew cream sauce is just what you need. Spread a layer over the dough before adding toppings. After the pizza comes out of the oven, drizzle on more cashew cream before serving. The pizza will be totally vegan, but just as satisfying as one made with cheese! Test out the technique in this vegan pizza recipe.

Bowl of basil pesto with spoon - healthy pizza topping ideas

Basil Pesto
Who doesn’t love a pesto pizza?! Spread a thin layer of pesto over the dough before adding toppings. After the pizza bakes, dollop on more. That way, you’ll really be able to taste the pesto’s aromatic flavor.

Finishing Touches

Wait! Your pizza might not be 100% ready when it comes out of the oven. Try finishing it off with one of these flavorful garnishes.

Balsamic reduction

Balsamic Glaze
Drizzle this sweet, tangy reduction over your pizza when it comes out of the oven. It’s fantastic on everything from a summer Margherita pizza to a wintry white pizza topped with ricotta, squash, and caramelized onions.

Veggie pizza topped with labneh, apples, and leeks

Homemade Labneh
I love adding dollops of this creamy, tangy cheese to a white, sauceless pizza after it bakes. If you want to achieve something similar and you don’t have time to make labneh (it has to strain overnight!), use soft goat cheese instead. Find the recipe for this Pizza with Apples, Leeks & Lemon Zest Labneh on page 183 of Love & Lemons Every Day.

Vegan Parmesan in a food processor - pizza topping ideas

Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Skip the shaker Parmesan! This vegan Parmesan is made with simple, plant-based ingredients, and it keeps for weeks in the freezer. Sprinkle it over your pizza for a hit of savory, nutty flavor.

Za'atar spice blend

Za’atar
This tangy, aromatic Middle Eastern spice blend is a wonderful finishing touch for a homemade pizza. Stir some into olive oil and drizzle it on top, or sprinkle the spice blend on directly. I love it with toppings like sautéed mushrooms or roasted garlic and grilled zucchini.

Vegetarian pizza topped with fresh herbs, pesto, and zucchini

Fresh Basil or other herbs
If you try just one of the pizza topping ideas in this post, let it be this one. Fresh herbs like basil, tarragon, and thyme will elevate even the simplest cheese pizza. Once you start using them, you’ll never go back!

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Pizza Topping Ideas

rate this recipe:
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Serves 3 to 4
These are some of our favorite homemade pizza toppings. Choose a variation below to make a delicious pizza! For more topping ideas, see the blog post above.

Ingredients

  • Cornmeal, for stretching the dough
  • 1 recipe Pizza Dough, or 1 pound store-bought pizza dough
  • â…” cup Pizza Sauce, skip for Pesto variation
  • 2 cups shredded low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese, 1 cup for Super Veggie variation

Supreme Pizza Toppings

Super Veggie Pizza Toppings

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 500°F and dust a large baking sheet with cornmeal.
  • Prepare a batch of pizza dough according to this recipe, and prepare your desired pizza toppings.
  • Stretch the pizza dough into a large oval on the prepared baking sheet. Top with the pizza sauce, cheese, and desired toppings. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, or until the crust is browned. Slice and serve.

3 comments

5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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  1. Cookie from MN
    12.21.2022

    5 stars
    I’m so excited to try these new ideas!! Thank You!!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      12.22.2022

      Hope you enjoy!

  2. Danielle
    02.24.2022

    This is an amazingly extensive post. I thought I had exhausted all the pizza toppings I’ve tried, but you still brought up much more. Really excited about trying some new things!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.