In America, pizza is the most often consumed dish. Every day, one in eight Americans consumes pizza. Additionally, it isn’t simply an American thing; this traditional meal is served in more than 100 different nations throughout the world.
The Greeks noted that their predecessors prepared flatbreads with toppings as early as 2000 BC, whereas the Italians assert that they originated it. But there are always a variety of options available, regardless of where you go or what you name it.
Eleven different varieties of pizza from across the world are listed here. All of them are delicious, whether you’ve heard of any of them before or not.
1. Neapolitan Pizza
The original pizza is traditional Neapolitan pizza, with toppings so light you can still see the shadow of dough underneath. The way it is served in Naples, Italy, is emphasized with a thin crust and fresh ingredients.
This pizza is made with a very basic dough that includes water, yeast, salt, and flour. It’s baked in a scorching wood-fired oven. A Neapolitan pizza is usually four inches across and always includes fresh ingredients like basil, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and mozzarella cheese.
Traditional toppings
- Mozzarella cheese
- Tomatoes
- Basil
- Garlic
- Olive oil
Where to buy Neapolitan pizza?
Neapolitan pizza can be hard to find outside of Italy. The best places to look for authentic Neapolitan pizza are in Little Italy neighborhoods in major cities. Yet, traveling across the world for a slice of pizza may not be optimal :).
Since this type of pizza is protected and awarded by UNESCO, you can try to order it from a place that the Neapolitan Pizza Association has awarded.
There are certificated restaurants across the globe where you can order original Neapolitan pizza, made with reverence to the tradition and the ingredients required in the recipe.
Sattebello is a California-based restaurant that is on the list of certified pizzerias in the U.S.
How to make Neapolitan pizza at home?
To make Neapolitan pizza, try always to use high-quality ingredients. Find the best tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese you can, because these are the key ingredients for this pizza. In case you want to make the dough from scratch, aim for 00 types of flour.
2. New York-Style Pizza
New York-style pizza has a thin crust and a large, foldable slice. It was created in New York City in the early 1900s.
It is usually cut into large, wide slices that are meant to be folded in half lengthwise so that the inside ingredients don’t fall out. Some people call this type of slice a “flag” because of the way it is folded.
New York-style pizza dough is very lean and contains only yeast, flour, salt, and water. It is made with high gluten content “00” flour so that it can be rolled by hand without breaking. The crust should have a crunch on the outside when baked at a high temperature.
It is best eaten fresh, but you can store it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Traditional toppings
- Tomates
- Mozzarella cheese
Where to Buy New York-Style pizza?
Most pizzerias across the world offer New York-style pizza. Pizzeria Di Fara Pizza in Midwood, Brooklin is known to make one of the best NY-style pizzas you can find.
How to make it at home?
Put all of your efforts into mixing the dough correctly. Look for high-gluten “00” flour and allow your dough to rise for at least a few hours. You can also try baking the pizza on a stone to get that New York-style taste! The crust should be thick and crunchy when baked.
3. Chicago/Deep-Dish Pizza
Chicago-style pizza is a deep-dish pizza with a very thick and heart crust. It is not meant to be eaten by hand but requires knives and forks (and maybe even a spoon!)
The dough is made of butter or sometimes beef fat along with salt, sugar, water, yeast, and flour. The result is a pastry-like crust with a crunchy outside, while the inside is soft and chewy.
Chicago-style pizza is baked in a round pan. The ingredients are added to the dough on top of each other with cheese first, followed by meat, veggies, and sauce.
The time it takes for the pizza to be ready will depend on how much stuff you put inside. The more ingredients, the longer it takes to bake!
Traditional toppings
- Cheese (usually mozzarella)
- Pepperoni or other meats
- Mushrooms or canned vegetables like spinach and olives
- Sauce (usually tomato sauce)
- Oregano for extra flavor
Where to buy Chicago/Deep-Dish pizza?
Uno Pizzeria and Grill is the first and most popular Chicago/Deep-Dish pizzerias in The Windy City. If you want to give it a try at home, here is a recipe that will help you recreate your favorite dish!
How to make it at home?
First of all, let your dough rise for around 30 minutes before pressing it down to the pan. Pinch the sides so that they are raised. The crust should be thicker than for regular pizza!
Add your sauce on top of the dough and spread it out evenly using a spoon. Add your cheese first, then top it with any meat or vegetables you want to use
Put the pizza in the oven and let it bake for around 30 minutes at a high temperature.
4. Sicilian Pizza
The shape of this pizza is typically rectangular with thick dough. It originates from Sicily, Italy.
Sicilian-style pizza dough is thick but not fluffy or light. The crust is crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside. It tends to be very large, so it can easily be cut into small squares for selling by the slice.
Traditional toppings
- Strong cheeses (Scamorza cheese)
- Olives
- Tomatoes
- Anchovies
- Aglio Olio pasta
Where to buy Sicilian-style pizza?
If the pizzeria also makes other types of Italian-style pizza, then there’s a chance you might find Sicilian-style too. L&B Spumoni Gardens offers the best original Sicilian-style pizza in Brooklin.
How to make it at home?
Sicilian-style pizza dough has a high yeast content because the longer rising time helps develop more flavor, so aim for around 2 hours of proofing before using the dough.
The resulting crust should be thick but soft and chewy deep within. You can also try baking the pizza on a stone to get the most authentic taste!
5. California Style Pizza
The Californian pizza has a white crust and is usually topped with a blend of vegetables – such as avocado, tomato, onion, and garlic. In addition to that, other common toppings include cheese, chicken, salmon, or even shrimp.
This type of pizza is commonly served with a side of ranch dressing or mayonnaise for dipping the crust in after it has been baked.
Traditional toppings
- Cheese (goat)
- Tomatoes
- Red onion
- Smoked salmon
- Mushrooms
- Red pepper
- Chicken
Where to buy it?
California Pizza Kitchen is a good place to purchase this kind of pizza. It offers a wide range of toppings to choose from.
6. Detroit Pizza
The Detroit pizza is a square pizza that has a thick, crispy crust. It is usually topped with a sweet tomato sauce and mozzarella or other cheese.
Before baking, it was frequently brushed with butter to develop that delicious crust.
Traditional toppings
- Cheese (mozzarella)
- Tomato sauce (sweet)
- Mushrooms
- Pepperoni
Where to buy Detroit pizza?
If you want to try a slice of this pizza for yourself, Buddy’s Pizza can hook you up! The restaurant chain has locations in Detroit and Michigan and serves its pizzas in blue steel pans.
How to make it at home?
The first step is to make your dough. Make the dough the day before for a result that is as close to authentic as possible.
7. St. Louis Pizza
The St. Louis pizza is round and has a fragile crust. To achieve such crust, the dough is made without yeast, making this pizza have a cracker-crisp crust.
An interesting fact about this kind of pizza is that it is cut into squares rather than the typical wedges.
St. Louis pizza is typically covered with Provel cheese – a blend of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone that melts into a gooey consistency.
Traditional toppings
- Cheese (Provel cheese)
- Bacon
- Oregano
- Tomato sauce
Where to buy St. Louis pizza
If you want to try this kind of pizza for yourself, check out Guido’s Pizzeria & Tapas – the restaurant is based in St. Louis itself!
How to make it at home?
It is really simple! All you have to do is mix flour, olive oil, salt, and water for the dough, leave it for a couple of hours, then roll it out.
This simple dough will make a crispy and delicious cracker-like crust, and your pizza will be ready in no time.
8. Greek pizza
The Greek pizza is a flatbread that is topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients. It often features olives, feta cheese, oregano, or garlic.
Typically, these pizzas are cooked in shallow pans, and the unusual part is that the dough isn’t stretched.
Traditional toppings
- Cheese (feta)
- Oregano
- Mushrooms
- Olives
- Tomato
Where to buy Greek pizza?
If you want to try a slice of this pizza, Arri’s Pizza in Jefferson City, Missouri, is the place to go. It brings the flavors of Greece and Italy to your table with its mouthwatering pizzas.
How to make it at home?
All you have to do for this kind of dough is to mix flour, olive oil, salt, and water together until it forms a smooth ball, then let it sit for an hour or two before using it.
For the topping use your favorite ingredients, and you’ll have yourself a delicious Greek-style pizza in no time!
9. Breakfast Pizza
The breakfast pizza is a type of pizza that often features eggs and bacon. It can also include green peppers, mushrooms, and onions as required. In other words, it tries to replace your morning breakfast or toast, by placing the breakfast ingredients on a pizza base. The base of the pizza is usually a standard pizza dough or thin crust.
Traditional toppings
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Bacon
- Green pepper
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Salt and Pepper
- Parsley flakes where required/optional.
Where to buy it?
Rico’s in Burbank, LA is where you should go for this kind of pizza. The restaurant offers a wide range of gourmet pizzas made with fresh and high-quality ingredients.
How to make it at home?
All you have to do is mix flour, yeast, sugar, butter, salt, and water together until it forms a dough. Then press out onto a lightly floured surface, and roll out until it is flat.
Put all the ingredients you wish, and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. Dessert Pizza
A dessert pizza is exactly what it sounds like – a pizza that serves as a sweet treat. This kind of pizza often features chocolate, marshmallows, nuts, and other such ingredients. Typically, the base is made using sugar cookie dough for this type of pizza.
Traditional toppings
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Cream
- Nuts
- Powdered Sugar
Where to buy it?
If you’re interested in trying a slice of this pizza, check out Ferazzoli’s Italian Kitchen in Rutherford, New Jersey. The restaurant uses only the best ingredients to bring you its dishes with amazing flavors.
How to make it at home?
All you need to do is mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter together until it forms a dough. You may also add chocolate or other fruits to the dough if you like.
Bake your base and add your toppings, and you’ll have yourself a dessert pizza in no time.
The Gear You’ll Need to Make Pizza at Home
The ingredients needed to make pizza at home are not that difficult to find. Most of them can be found in any grocery store or online, but for those that aren’t easily accessible, there is always the option to order online.
- Pizza stone – the best way to make pizza at home is with a baking stone. These are specially designed for cooking pizzas and ensure that the base comes out crispy while the top of the dough cooks evenly. They also help draw the moisture from the dough, resulting in a fantastic texture.
- Pizza oven – a good pizza oven is a must-have if you want to make good pizza at home. It helps cook the crust evenly and keeps it crispy.
- Pizza kit for your kettle grill – a pizza kit is a perfect companion if you want to try out cooking pizza on your kettle grill and get great results.
- Pizza Cutter – to cut your pizza into slices, you need a good-quality pizza cutter. It helps get the job done easily and has many uses in the kitchen.
- Kitchen scale – this has multiple uses in the kitchen and helps ensure that your ingredients are measured accurately.