Pizza lovers, we’ve assembled a giant list of the best toppings for homemade pizza just for you! Forget about being limited by whatever your local pizzeria offers; when you make pizza from scratch, you can top it with whatever you like.
For same-day homemade pizza, you’ll love our New York style pizza dough recipe. If you’ve got 24 hours for a slow rise, try our extra flavorful Poolish Pizza Dough or Spelt Flour Pizza Dough.
Check out this huge list of cheeses, meats, poultry, fish, veggies, fruits, herbs, greens, drizzles and sprinkles, and you’re sure to find a combination that pleases your taste buds. (My family’s current fave is Italian sausage, mushrooms, Fontina cheese and jalapenos.)
Be sure to drop a comment below and let me know what kind of creative pizzas you make!
Pizza Sauces
The sauce is the base of any good pizza pie. Whether you’re craving a traditional tomato sauce or something more adventurous, these sauces have got you (and your pizza) covered:
This homemade pizza sauce with tomato paste is thick, rich, and full of Italian flavor. Best of all, it takes about 5 minutes to make!
Fig jam
Cheeses for Pizza
Is there anything better than cheese on a pizza? It adds delicious flavor and also helps hold all the yummy ingredients on the crust!
One of the best things about cooking a pizza at home is that the cheese is hot and melty when you pull it out of the oven. These cheeses are all tasty choices for topping a homemade pizza:
Fresh mozzarella slices
Fresh ricotta cheese
Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
Grated mozzarella
Grated Monterey Jack
Grated Colby or mild cheddar
Brie cheese slices
Goat cheese crumbles
Shredded fontina cheese
Crumbled gorgonzola cheese
Meat Toppings
In addition to traditional combinations like pepperoni and sausage pizzas, there are so many tasty meat choices to add flavor and protein to your homemade pie:
Pepperoni slices – SO good on homemade pepperoni pizza!
Sliced ham
Cooked, crumbled ground beef
Cooked, crumbled pork sausage
Sliced smoked sausage
Sliced cooked bratwurst
Cooked, crumbled chorizo sausage
Cooked chopped guanciale or pancetta
Canadian bacon slices
Sliced meatballs
Sliced prosciutto
Gyros slices
Poultry and Fish Toppings
Whether you’re going for traditional anchovies or nontraditional roasted duck, these pizza toppings are unique and extra tasty:
Sliced grilled chicken
Chopped roasted turkey
Smoked salmon
Chopped cooked lobster
Sliced roasted duck
Anchovy filets
Baby shrimp
Chopped or whole clams
Lump crabmeat
Vegetable Toppings
Create an all-veggie pie or choose a variety of these tasty vegetables to add delicious, nourishing flavor to your homemade pizza:
Fresh tomatoes, sliced and drained
Halved cherry tomatoes, drained
Sun-dried tomatoes
Caramelized onions
Roasted baby onions
Thinly sliced red onion
Sliced mushrooms
Roasted or grilled eggplant slices
Sliced bell peppers
Roasted red peppers
Sliced giardineria or banana peppers
Sliced fresh or pickled jalapeños
Sliced black or green olives
Lightly steamed broccoli florets
Roasted garlic
Roasted skinny asparagus spears
Capers
Thinly sliced roasted new potatoes
Roasted fennel
Chopped artichoke hearts
Sauteed sliced zucchini or summer squash
Sliced pickles
Roasted baby onions
Sweet corn kernels
Fruit Toppings
Chopped fruits add a unique, complex sweet flavor that contrasts well with other ingredients on a pizza:
Pineapple chunks
Grilled peaches
Granny Smith apple slices
Pear slices
Herbs and Greens
Add flavor and bright green color to your pizza with these vibrant toppings:
Basil leaves
Chopped fresh oregano
Thinly sliced sage leaves
Lightly sautéed spinach leaves
Arugula leaves
Chopped romaine lettuce
Fresh mint leaves
Chopped Italian parsley
Drizzles and Sprinkles
Whether you’re garnishing your pizza with a flourish of chopped parsley or adding another layer of flavor with a sweet-tangy Balsamic vinegar glaze, these final touches will finish your pizza with flair:
Garlic butter – so good brushed on the crust!
Balsamic glaze
Extra virgin olive oil
Crushed red pepper flakes
Italian seasoning
Coarsely ground black pepper
Flake sea salt
Did we miss any of your favorites on this list? Drop a comment below!
Save for Later
If you use Pinterest to save and share ideas, here’s a handy pin:
Eliza Cross is the creator of Happy Simple Living, where she shares ideas to help busy people simplify cooking, gardening, holidays, home, and money. She is also the award-winning author of 17 cookbooks, including Small Bites and 101 Things To Do With Bacon.
