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!
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
Pat the peppers dry and thinly slice them before piling them onto your pizza.
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
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
Roast it until the florets are just beginning to brown. They’ll brown up more on top of the pizza!
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
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
Season them with tamari and rice vinegar for an extra-savory, satisfying pizza topping.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Use them on any pizza that could benefit from some pop, spice, and crunch. Pat them dry before using!
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
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.
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!
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.
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 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.
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 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
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.
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!
Pizza Topping Ideas
Serves 3 to 4