Best Pizza Toppings Ranked

Pepperoni

The undisputed king since it clawed its way onto American pizzerias in the mid-20th century, pepperoni became the default 'plain' order because its salty, spicy cup-and-char edges are basically edible confetti. It out-orders every other topping by a landslide in national polls. N

Popularity: 9.5/10Flavor Intensity: 7/10Calories Added: 140 calStatus: Classic

added by IJRin 2 rankingspepperoni

Sausage

Crumbled Italian sausage brought hearty, fennel-spiced richness to pizza and became the Midwest's answer to pepperoni's coastal dominance. It's the topping deep-dish loyalists in Chicago swear by, often paired with giardiniera for extra punch. Its savory depth makes it a steady r

Popularity: 7.5/10Flavor Intensity: 7.5/10Calories Added: 160 calStatus: Classic

added by IJRin 3 rankings

Mushrooms

Earthy and understated, mushrooms became the vegetarian standard-bearer, quietly appearing on 'combo' pizzas for decades without demanding attention. They soak up grease and cheese fat beautifully, adding umami without overpowering. A reliable, unshowy classic that never falls ou

Popularity: 7/10Flavor Intensity: 4/10Calories Added: 10 calStatus: Classic

added by IJRin 2 rankingsMushrooms

Extra Cheese

Technically not a 'topping' in the traditional sense, but ordering double cheese is one of the most common customizations in pizza history, turning any pie into a gooier, richer version of itself. It's the topping that amplifies everything else rather than competing with it. Chee

Popularity: 8/10Flavor Intensity: 5/10Calories Added: 110 calStatus: Classic

added by IJRin 2 rankings

Bacon

Bacon rode America's 2000s bacon-mania straight onto pizza menus, adding smoky crunch that pairs shockingly well with almost anything, from ranch drizzle to maple glaze. Chains built entire specialty pizzas around it as a premium upsell. It's the topping most likely to make a piz

Popularity: 7.5/10Flavor Intensity: 8/10Calories Added: 150 calStatus: Modern

added by IJRin 5 rankings

Onions

Sliced or diced, onions have quietly been part of pizza since its earliest Neapolitan roots, cutting through fatty cheese with sharp bite. They're rarely the star but almost always improve the supporting cast. Caramelized versions have even elevated them to gourmet white-pizza st

Popularity: 6/10Flavor Intensity: 5/10Calories Added: 15 calStatus: Classic

added by IJRin 3 rankingsOnions

Black Olives

A staple of the classic 'supreme' pizza lineup, black olives bring briny, slightly bitter contrast that either delights or gets picked off one by one by kids everywhere. Their dark rings became visually iconic on 90s pizza-chain commercials. Divisive at the individual level, but

Popularity: 5.5/10Flavor Intensity: 5/10Calories Added: 25 calStatus: Classic

added by IJRBlack Olives

Green Peppers

The bell pepper's crisp, slightly bitter crunch became a fixture of the 'supreme' pizza alongside olives and onions, adding textural contrast to heavier meats. It never tops rankings solo but is essential ensemble support. Its mild profile makes it a safe crowd-pleaser at parties

Popularity: 5.5/10Flavor Intensity: 4/10Calories Added: 10 calStatus: Classic

added by IJR

Jalapeños

Jalapeños surged as pizza chased the 2010s spicy-food boom, giving heat-seekers a reliable kick without straying into exotic pepper territory. They pair famously with pineapple and bacon on 'Hawaiian heat' style pizzas. A topping that turned pizza into a spice-tolerance contest a

Popularity: 6/10Flavor Intensity: 8/10Calories Added: 5 calStatus: Modern

added by IJRin 2 rankings

Pineapple

No topping has sparked more genuine internet warfare than pineapple, ever since Hawaiian pizza's mid-century invention in Canada (not Hawaii) paired sweet fruit with savory ham. Iceland's president once joked about banning it, and pizzerias still debate it passionately. Beloved a

Popularity: 6/10Flavor Intensity: 6/10Calories Added: 20 calStatus: Divisive

added by IJRin 4 rankingsPineapple

Grilled Chicken

Chicken toppings exploded alongside BBQ chicken pizza's rise in the 1990s California-cuisine wave, popularized by chains chasing a leaner, protein-forward pie. It plays especially well with barbecue sauce bases instead of tomato. A modern staple for anyone treating pizza as a ful

Popularity: 6.5/10Flavor Intensity: 4/10Calories Added: 90 calStatus: Modern

added by IJRgrilled chicken

Ham

Ham's mild, slightly sweet profile made it the natural partner for pineapple on Hawaiian pizza, cementing its place as one of the most recognizable combo toppings worldwide. It's less punchy than pepperoni or sausage but offers a gentler, kid-friendly meat option. A quiet classic

Popularity: 6/10Flavor Intensity: 4.5/10Calories Added: 60 calStatus: Classic

added by IJRin 2 rankings

Spinach

Spinach found its niche on white and Florentine-style pizzas, giving health-conscious eaters something green to feel good about atop all that cheese. It wilts into the pie rather than fighting for attention, making it a background player rather than a headline topping. Popular ma

Popularity: 5/10Flavor Intensity: 3/10Calories Added: 5 calStatus: Modern

added by IJRin 3 rankings

Garlic

Whether roasted whole, minced fresh, or drizzled as oil, garlic became the secret weapon of gourmet and white pizzas, adding pungent depth that plain tomato-and-cheese pies lack. It's a favorite among pizzeria purists who chase bold, aromatic flavor over crowd-pleasing simplicity

Popularity: 5.5/10Flavor Intensity: 7/10Calories Added: 15 calStatus: Modern

added by IJR

Banana Peppers

Tangy and mildly spicy, banana peppers became a regional favorite especially in the Midwest and on sub-shop-adjacent pizzerias, adding acidity that cuts through rich cheese and meat. They're less mainstream nationally but fiercely loved where they're a menu staple. A cult-favorit

Popularity: 4.5/10Flavor Intensity: 6/10Calories Added: 5 calStatus: Modern

added by IJR

Anchovies

Anchovies are the topping people love to hate, tracing back to old-school Italian and New York pizzerias where salty, fishy intensity was considered sophisticated rather than off-putting. They've become pizza's ultimate punchline topping, cited in movies and jokes as the worst po

Popularity: 3/10Flavor Intensity: 9/10Calories Added: 40 calStatus: Divisive

added by IJR