Pick Or Pass On These Pizza Toppings And We'll Guess Your Favorite Movie
- by Lacey Womack
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Pizza is a food that originated in Italy and some form of pizza dates back thousands of years. The first pizzeria in the US was opened in the early 1900s in New York City and is known as Lombardi's. The location is still open today and there are countless other pizza restaurants both around New York City and the rest of the country as well as around the world. From large pizza chains to small, local pizza shops and brands that sell frozen pizza that can be made at home, pizza is everywhere! For people who like this delicious food, that's definitely a positive thing.
Anyone who likes pizza will know that there are a ton of different ways pizza can be made. Just about everything when it comes to pizza can be changed. Whether it's the crust, the sauce, or the toppings, pizza can really be customized to be exactly how the person who is eating it wants it to be. Thick crust with tomato sauce and tons of cheese? Delicious. Thin crust with barbecue sauce and pieces of chicken? Yum! The options for pizza toppings are basically endless and although there are some classics, there are also a lot of really creative ones.
Pick or pass on these pizza toppings and we'll guess everyone's favorite movie!
Pineapple
Does pineapple belong on pizza? This is a question that many pizza lovers have some strong feelings on! Pineapple is a really sweet, slightly tart fruit that typically grows in tropical places that is known for its unique appearance and brightly colored, yellow fruit. Hawaiian pizza is a staple at many pizza places and features chunks of pineapple all over the pizza to add some sweetness to the pizza's cheesy, savory flavor. This topping is definitely one that not everyone wants on their slice, though!
Avocado
These days, it's pretty hard to avoid avocado. Avocado is seriously everywhere. It's found in dips like guacamole, spread on toast, sliced up to be put on sandwiches, and some people even make sweet treats with avocado in them like ice cream or pudding! Since pizza is such a popular food and avocado is such a popular fruit, it's no surprise that avocados have made their way onto pizza. An avocado is super creamy with a slightly buttery or nutty taste.
Fries
Fries are typically a side that come with different foods like burgers or chicken strips. There are definitely some restaurants that use fries as a topping on their food and fries can be found between the buns of cheeseburgers and in other menu items at daring restaurants that want to stand out a little. At some even more daring pizzerias and for people who like to go all out on their pizza nights, fries can even be a pizza topping!
Cherry tomatoes
A cherry tomato is a type of small tomato that typically only get about as big as a golf ball and are typically a little smaller than that. Cherry tomatoes are often put on salads and can also be used as a pizza topping. Unlike a full-size tomato, a cherry tomato can just be put onto a salad or pizza whole instead of being sliced. Another thing that sets them apart is the fact that cherry tomatoes taste so much sweeter than their full-size counterparts.
Pepperoni
When it comes to pizza toppings, there are a few that are pretty much classics at this point. While there are endless options for different toppings that people can choose from when they're making a pizza at home or ordering one for delivery, there are a few that come to mind almost immediately for many people when they're planning their perfect pizza pie. Pepperoni is one of the most popular types of pizza and is a classic topping. Is it a classic for a reason or are you not a fan?
Bell peppers
Although every pizzeria is different and is sure to have different toppings on the menu, there are some that appear on the menu of just about every pizza restaurant. In the veggie section of the toppings, most pizzerias feature bell peppers. Bell peppers come in three different colors - red, yellow, and green - and each color tastes different because of the fact that it's a different level of ripeness of the vegetable. All three colors tend to be popular on pizzas.
Ham
There are a ton of different meat options when it comes to pizza toppings. One of them is ham which is often part of Hawaiian pizzas. These pizzas are typically covered in cheese, ham, and slices of pineapple. Even if the pizza doesn't have pineapple on it, slices of salty and slightly sweet ham can still be chopped up and put onto a pizza for a really tasty topping. Whether by itself or with other toppings, is ham a topping you'd want on your pizza?
Extra cheese
No matter what toppings you choose to put on your pizza, most of them are going to be going onto a base of a pizza sauce and cheese. For some people, the best topping is just more cheese! Instead of putting any other toppings like meats or vegetables onto their pizza, these people prefer to just have even more cheese sprinkled onto the pizza and melted into the crust. We have to admit, it's hard to resist those gooey strings of cheese that come with each bite of pizza.
Sausage
One thing any foodie will know is that sausage can be made with a ton of different kinds of meat including pork, beef, or even veal. And one thing that any pizza lover will know is that sausage as a pizza topping typically refers to a type of pork sausage that has some really tasty herbal seasonings in it. After the sausage is cooked up, it gets sprinkled over the pizza and then tossed into the oven to finish browning while the cheese melts.
Jalapeño
Not a fan of spicy food? Then this pizza topping is definitely one that you should be staying away from! A jalapeño is a small chili pepper that is typically picked while it's green but can sometimes be left to ripen until it's orange or red before being picked. This pepper's Scoville rating ranges from around 3,000 to 8,000 which is relatively low compared to the Carolina Reaper, rated one of the world's hottest peppers at an average of 1.5 million Scoville Heat Units.
Anchovies
Anchovies are definitely a pizza topping that not everyone is going to be into. Anchovies are small fish that are typically found in different oceans. Most people are probably familiar with anchovies because of the fact that they're often preserved after being caught by being put in brine and then packed in salt and oil. Anchovies are a fairly salty fish that are often placed onto the pizza after it's done baking to ensure that the texture doesn't change in the oven.
Pesto
Typically, the sauce on a pizza that comes directly between the crust and the toppings is made of tomatoes with different herbs and seasonings in it. But, there are some pizza recipes that can call for different types of sauce. One other type of sauce is pesto, a sauce that usually goes on pasta that is made from basil, pine nuts, cheese, and seasoning like garlic. For people who want their pizza to be a little different, pesto can be a tasty topping.
Mini pizzas
Putting pizza on pizza as a topping? That sounds pretty strange, right? While this is definitely not something that you're likely to find at many pizzerias, it's something that can be made at home for someone who just can't get enough pizza. This double pizza is made by taking a regular pizza and topping it with miniature pizzas before baking them together. Delicious! These pizzas can be made with just about any topping, making mini pizzas a great pizza topping for people who love this food.
Bacon
Bacon is basically everywhere these days. It comes on cheeseburgers, it gets covered in chocolate, there's bacon-flavored soda, and bacon can even find its way onto pizza. Although bacon has traditionally been a breakfast food in the past, it's obvious that these days, bacon can be eaten during any meal and with basically anything, not just eggs and toast anymore! For people who like bacon, this is great and they'd definitely love to see some crispy bits of it on their pizza.
Ground beef
For people who like to eat meat, pizza is definitely a great idea for any dinner or lunch because of the number of different meats that can be used as pizza toppings. One of them is ground beef which can be sprinkled on the pizza with a little bit of seasoning on it. This adds a delicious texture and flavor to the pizza. Ground beef is typically put on the pizza after it's cooked before the pizza goes into the oven to ensure it comes out perfectly browned.
Peach
A peach is a fruit that comes into season during the summer months and is known for being really sweet, juicy, and full of flavor. Although peaches are typically eaten on their own or included in a fruit salad or smoothie, they can also be incorporated into a huge variety of other recipes. Even on a pizza! With a crispy crust and some balsamic vinegar and basil leaves, a peach can be a delicious pizza topping that brings some sweetness to the table.
Meatballs
Just like pizza, spaghetti is another food that originated in Italy and features a lot of delicious tomato-based sauce and often some cheese on top. Another thing that spaghetti often comes with is a pile of tasty, seasoned meatballs. For some people, keeping these meatballs on the spaghetti is just not enough. This is why adding them to another delicious dinner from Italy like pizza is such a great idea! Meatballs can be sliced up and tossed onto the pizza once they're cooked.
Pulled pork
For people who like the savory and tangy taste of barbecue sauce or rub, pulled pork is definitely a favorite. This food is typically served in sandwich form with plenty of barbecue sauce covering the tender, shredded up pieces of pork. But there are also people who think that it goes delicious on pizza. Typically, pulled pork is put on pizza with barbecue sauce in place of the marinara sauce and has the pulled pork spread on between layers of melted cheese.
Arugula
Arugula is a leaf vegetable that is typically found in salads. It's well-liked among people for its peppery and distinct flavor, meaning that it adds a special touch to any salad. Although pizza and salad are typically considered very different foods, vegetables can still go pretty nicely on pizza for people that want some more fresh toppings on their pie. Arugula is one of these fresh veggies that is becoming a more and more popular pizza topping for homemade pizzas.
Ranch dressing
Even though ranch dressing is typically used as a dressing on salads, it can also be used as an ingredient in other recipes or, yes, even a pizza topping! Ranch dressing is known for its creamy texture, slightly tangy and savory flavor, and is a great addition to a ton of recipes. There are a lot of people who like to use ranch dressing to dip their slices of pizza in or can even use it as a topping after their pizza is taken out of the oven.
BBQ Sauce
When making or ordering a pizza, you have to start from the crust and work your way up. Will the crust be thick or thin? Crispy or stuffed with cheese? This is an important question and the next really important question is the type of sauce that's going to be used. Typically, pizza sauce made with tomatoes and herbs is used but other sauces can also be delicious on a pizza. One alternative option is barbecue sauce. Is this tasty or too different?
Macaroni and cheese
Pizza is a popular food that is covered in lots of ooey, gooey cheese. Another food that has a lot of tasty cheese on it is macaroni and cheese, a pasta dish made with elbow macaroni noodles in a cheesy sauce. What's better than one delicious food? Two of them! One really unique pizza topping is macaroni and cheese. After the pizza dough is rolled out and baked, the macaroni and cheese can be spread on it and then popped into the oven for a minute to melt the cheese just a little more.
Broccoli
Broccoli isn't just a side dish for dinners when we're trying to get our veggies in! Although many pizzas are cheesy and greasy and not exactly healthy, there are definitely ways to make pizzas just a little bit better for us. The major way is to consider the toppings. Instead of loading it with cheese, pepperonis, and pieces of sausage, some people choose to put other toppings that are just a little better for them like broccoli. Does it belong on pizza?
Sun-dried tomatoes
Sun-dried tomatoes are a popular ingredient that have been appearing in a lot of different foods for decades. From salads to pizzas, sun-dried tomatoes can add a really unique texture and flavor to a lot of different dishes and they even became the flavor inspiration for a lot of other snack foods like chips and crackers. Despite their name, many sun-dried tomatoes sold in stores began being dried out in dehydrators but that didn't make them any less delicious. Do they sound good on pizza?
Black olives
Olives are a food that come from a tree native to the Mediterranean. Olives can either be black or green, depending on what point in their ripening stage they were picked during and how they were cured after they were picked. When it comes to pizza, black olives are definitely the more popular variety. They're often chopped up and tossed onto the pizza before it heads into the oven to give the pizza an extra salty and savory flavor in every bite.
Onions
There are a lot of different kinds of onions, as anyone who has ever browsed the produce section at the grocery store is probably aware of. One really popular variety of onion is the red onion, known for its bright purple skin and its slightly more mild, sweet flavor. For people who want to add a nice crunch and some sweetness to their pizza, tossing on some slices of onion can be a pretty tasty option. Do onion slices go on pizza?
Basil
Basil is an herb native to different tropical parts of the world. It comes in leaf form and is distinctive for its deep green hue and herbal, peppery and slightly minty flavor. Basil leaves are part of many recipes and there are a lot of people who like to toss them onto their pizza in order to add some irresistible green color to the top of their pie as well as a little extra flavor in each bite that they take.
Strawberry
Fruit on pizza? Although this sounds a little unusual, it can also be really delicious. Some fruity pizzas are really sweet and can be made with Nutella instead of sauce and served as a dessert. But then there are others that take the strawberries and use them as a slightly sweet addition to anotherwise savory dish. Some strawberry pizza recipes add the slices of fruit onto a pizza that has spinach, chicken, and balsamic vinegar on a crispy pizza crust.
Shrimp
For people who love seafood, cooking up some shrimp to their favorite recipe and working it into a pizza could be a delicious dinner option. This may not be found on the menus of pizzerias, but it's still tasty for seafood fans! Shrimp can be made in a ton of different ways which means that the different flavors that it could bring to a pizza are pretty much endless and really up to the person who is making it. Is shrimp on pizza a delicious idea or should it be tossed out to sea?
Artichoke
An artichoke is a food that is technically not a fruit or a vegetable. Instead, it's actually a thistle and the part of the artichoke that is eaten is the flower of the thistle. Artichokes are harvested before this flower blooms though meaning that the thistle is slightly immature when it's harvested for eaten. The center of the artichoke, known as the heart, is the most tender and most often eaten. It is often made into dip, roasted, or even put on pizza.
Green olives
Olives come from trees that originated in Asia and are said to have first been cultivated over 6,000 years ago! No one who likes to eat olives will be surprised to hear that they pretty quickly spread all throughout the Mediterranean as a really popular ingredient in many recipes. Black olives are ripened before they're picked whereas green olives are picked slightly before they ripen, giving them a slightly different flavor. Another thing that gives them a different flavor is the way they're preserved. Green olives are slightly more bitter and salty.
Banana peppers
Banana peppers are a bright yellow pepper that have a really mild and slightly tangy taste. Despite the fact that they are a pepper, they're unlike other peppers that they're related to because of the fact that they have a really low rating on the Scoville scale and max out at around 500 Scoville Heat Units. Instead of being spicy, banana peppers tend to have a slightly more sweet and tangy taste. These can be used in a lot of recipes including on pizzas!
Spinach
Spinach is a really versatile vegetable. There's a reason Popeye loved it so much! Spinach is a feature of many different recipes from green smoothies to dips and pastas. It can even be used as a topping on pizza to add some fresh greens to a pizza and add a really unique flavor. Spinach is unlike many other vegetables in that it's not exactly a staple on the topping selection at many pizzerias but it can still be a tasty choice.
Prosciutto
Prosciutto is a type of dry-cured ham that is sliced up super thin and then served uncooked. Prosciutto originated in Italy but is now a popular food in a ton of other countries a well. On a pizza, prosciutto tends to be put on top of the pizza after the crust has baked and is often paired with other ingredients that are also put on the crust once it's taken out of the oven like fresh, leafy greens and freshly sliced parmesan.
Feta cheese
Feta is a cheese that originated in Greece and is typically either made from sheep's milk or a combination of sheep and goat milks. Feta cheese has a really grainy texture that breaks apart easily and is often used as a topping on salads because of how easily it crumbles up to be sprinkled on top. Along with being used in dishes like salads, feta can be sprinkled on top of pizza in order to add a really unique flavor and texture.
Mushroom
Mushrooms are a fungus that typically grow above ground and are eaten in a ton of different recipes. When it comes to pizza, white button mushrooms are typically the kind that get sliced up into pieces and put onto the pizza before it gets tossed into the oven. These mushrooms have a really mild flavor and add a lot of texture to each bite of the pizza that a person is making. They taste slightly nutty and woodsy and are delicious on pizza for people who like mushrooms.
Corn
What would a summertime barbecue be without some deliciously sweet, buttery pieces of corn on the cob? Corn on the cob is in season during the warmer months of the year and it's definitely a classic food to serve during the summer but corn can found frozen or canned during any months of the year. For people who want to add a little sweetness and some interesting texture to their pizza, having these pieces of sweet corn on top of their pizza can be a delicious topping.
BBQ Chicken
When it comes to barbecue, there are a ton of different interpretations. Depending on where a person orders their barbecued meat, it could be getting its flavor from a mix of dry rubs or from a mix of sauces and the amount of time that it gets cooked for as well as the way that it cooks can vary greatly! No matter how it's cooked, BBQ chicken tends to be a the perfect mix of sweet, tangy, and savory from the barbecue sauce.
Salami
Salami is a type of sausage that is typically made from beef or pork that is cured and air-dried in a way that traditionally made it really easy to store at room temperature for a long period of time without worrying about it spoiling like many other meats would. Salami is one of many different meats that is popular as a pizza topping because of the really distinctive flavor that it brings to every slice of pizza. Is this a good topping for pizza?
Alfredo sauce
One trendy recipe for pizza is known as the "white pizza." Instead of using red tomato sauce, a white pizza uses a different kind of sauce like alfredo sauce on top of the crust and before the toppings are applied onto the pizza. Toppings that go well on top of a pizza made with alfredo sauce include chicken, fresh vegetables like spinach, and garlic but, like with other pizzas, toppings are totally up to the person eating it. Is alfredo sauce good on pizza?
