You know those meme-like things on social media where you “can only have three,” and they list things like beer, pizza, football, new tools, coffee, and your dog? Yeah, well, we choose pizza. Or, to follow the instructions precisely, we choose pizza, pizza, and the dog. We choose two pizzas and our best friend. Every time. Even pickle pizza. Even a $5.99 two-topping, where both toppings are kiwi. Even a “hot and ready.” Think of the worst or most bland pizza you can think of — we’d still keep it on our must-haves because pizza is life.
Of course, some pizzas are just sub-par. Pizza with pineapple and bacon is excellent, but it’ll never hit the spot if you ask us. That place down the street that sells deep-dish is good sometimes, but it’ll never be Lou Malnati’s in Chicago… and you know it. You still get it because even the worst pizza — even a pizza made by your toddler and topped with something weird, like Froot Loops pizza — is still a greasy, saucy, good mess. So, what are the most popular pizza toppings? What are the best or most unique combos? And what are the worst pizza toppings we can find? We’re here to answer those questions.
Popular Pizza Toppings in America
It should come as no surprise that most people picked pepperoni when asked to choose one favorite pizza topping. Not every pizza place has the same kind of pepperoni, and some restaurants make better pepperoni pizza than others, but it’s still the ultimate favorite. As a matter of fact, in a poll done by YouGovAmerica in early 2021, pepperoni was on 64 percent of the lists for popular toppings.
American Top Five Most-Liked Pizza Toppings
- Pepperoni
- Sausage
- Mushrooms
- Extra Cheese
- Onions
Top Five Worst Pizza Combinations and Toppings
- Anchovies
- Eggplant
- Artichoke
- Broccoli
- Pineapple (Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.)
Popular Pizza Toppings Around the World
People around the globe obviously have very different tastes than us — our upbringing and culture play a big part in the food we like and the flavor combinations we find most satisfying. So, it should come as no shock to you that pizza from other countries looks far different from American pizza.
“Weird” Pizza Topping Combos
- Russia: Fish! In particular, mockba pizza is topped with mackerel, salmon, sardines, and tuna — then capped off with onions.
- Israel: Many popular pizza toppings in Israel are Mediterranean and make a lot of sense if you think about it. A pizza covered in roasted eggplant and warm goat cheese might certainly seem strange toppings, but they’re flavors you probably already like together. Another popular, less appetizing combo? Tuna and corn.
- Australia: After a million and one Outback commercials and that go-to “shrimp on the barbie” phrase, it should come as no surprise to anyone that one of Australia’s most popular pizza toppings is shrimp.
- India: Indian food and Italian food seem wildly different, right? It turns out they marry pretty well on a pizza crust, though. A popular pizza topping combo in India is minced mutton, pickled ginger, and paneer (it’s a kind of cheese). Sounds pretty tasty to us!
Best Pizza Combinations You Need to Try
We highly recommend any of the international pizza options above. However, if you’re looking for something slightly more familiar (but possibly new-to-you on your pizza), these are some semi-popular pizza topping combos that just work.
- Taco Pizza: Taco meat, cheese, shredded lettuce, taco sauce or salsa, and sour cream drizzle
- BBQ Pizza: Barbeque sauce (instead of tomato sauce), shredded chicken, and cheese
- Chicken Alfredo Pizza: Alfredo sauce (with or without red sauce) and chicken are the key ingredients here, although some people swear by adding mushrooms or mild white cheese.
- Pesto Pizza: Like a regular pizza, but with pesto sauce instead of red sauce.
- Cheeseburger Pizza: Ground beef, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded American cheese, and a drizzle of “special sauce.”
Did we miss anything? Tell us your favorite or least favorite pizza combos to add to the list!