It’s quick to make, delicious, and comes in a whole range of different types, so it’s really easy to find a recipe you’ll love. People who adore meat and those who never eat it can enjoy pizza. A huge number of different toppings and add-ons makes it possible to fully customize this dish to your liking.
And many do so with much success, whether it is only in the quiet of their own kitchens or in their restaurants, bars, and food tracks. So no matter what your culinary preferences are, there is something for you in the pizza horn of plenty.
And to prove this to you, we prepared this article about various types of pizza. These dishes come from all around the globe. Some you know very well, while other types may surprise you. We were amazed as well when researching this topic, as to the nature of some of them.
Dessert pizza? Why not!
Here is our list of various pizza types and what makes every one of them so unique. Feel free to get inspired in the kitchen and prepare one or a few of them for yourself.
1. Neapolitan Pizza
At this point, so many countries and regions have their variations of pizza, but if you’re looking for true Italian pizza, this is the type to try.
It’s the blueprint for all other recipes, the first and original pizza. Invented in the 18th century in Naples, Italy, like many iconic dishes, it was the food of the poor. Neapolitan pizza is not very fancy – thin crust and a few basic, fresh toppings – but that simplicity is the key to its success.
It’s a light and delicious dish, perfect for summer afternoons in hot Italy.
Variations of Neapolitan Pizza
There are a few famous variations of this pizza. An honorable mention goes to Pizza Marinara and Margherita Pizza.
Well, since it’s the tradition we’re after here, the best Neapolitan pizza is made similar to how it has been for the past couple of hundreds of years. In a wood-burning oven heated to 800 – 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The thin crust should be baked for only 70-90 seconds with this method.
2. New York-Style Pizza
If there is one city that fell in love with pizza and truly made it its own, it’s New York City. New York Style pizza is one of the most recognizable variants of the dish in the world. It’s made with a characteristic large hand-tossed thin pizza crust, and what’s even more unique about it is the fact that it can be bought in singular slices.
Some people like to claim New York pizza offers a very specific flavor profile due to minerals present in the city’s tap water. Either way, the pizza is delish, and it’s one of the city’s staples, so definitely worth the try if you’re visiting The Big Apple!
New York-Style Pizza traditional toppings
tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and various add-ons like pepperoni, mushroom, oregano, red pepper flakes, and many more
New York-Style Pizza baking suggestions
You can bake this pizza in a wood, or coal-burning oven if you want to stick to the origins of the dish, but many use gas deck ovens as well, and the results are equally satisfying.
3. Chicago Pizza
Another contestant to win a crown when it comes to American pizza variants is, of course, Chicago-style pizza. This one is even more unique than the last position on the list. It’s what we call a deep dish pizza because, unlike the other variants, Chicago pizza is made in a pan to achieve a much higher crust.
It was invented by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s, who, instead of choosing the well-known path, decided to make a pizza similar to a pie. They went even further and reversed the order in which typically the toppings are placed on the crust.
Here, we put cheese first, then various toppings, and then a tomato sauce at the very end.
To make the best Chicago pizza, first, you need to reach for a pan. Remember to grease it before putting the crust in it to avoid sticking. You’re also looking at a longer cooking time. This pizza needs around 30 minutes to be fully baked and ready to eat.
4. Greek Pizza
We’re not leaving the States yet. Contrary to what the name might suggest, Greek pizza was not invented in Greece. This dish was created by Greek immigrants who liked Italian pizza and wanted to make something of their own.
Greek pizza steals the hearts of people in the New England states, where it’s a very popular variant. It can be characterized by a thick crust, which is cooked in shallow pans. This gives this pizza its recognizable look, with higher edges and a lower, deep-fried bottom.
Greek Pizza traditional toppings
lots of tomato sauce, mozzarella, feta cheese, black olives, Greek-style herbs, sliced lamb
Greek Pizza baking suggestions
With Greek-style pizza, you want to make sure you’re using enough oil to grease your pan. This will result in a fried crust that is chewy and absolutely delicious! Just like with Chicago deep dish pizza, you want to fry this pizza for about 30 minutes before it’s ready to be served.
5. St. Louis Pizza
Moving on from thicker pizzas for a while, it’s time to talk about a variant with one of the thinnest crusts – St. Louis pizza. The pizza dough for this type lacks yeast, which is why it’s very thin, offering you a light and heavenly meal.
Like always, it was first invented by immigrants, most specifically by Amedeo Fiore, who came up with a recipe in an Italian restaurant located near Chase Park Plaza Hotel.
St. Louis-style pizza is traditionally served in the tavern cut, meaning you get rectangular pieces instead of triangular ones.
St. Louis Pizza traditional toppings
a tomato sauce that is a little sweet, cheddar, provolone, and Swiss cheeses, various add-ons like sausage, bacon, and mushrooms
St. Louis Pizza baking suggestions
Because the crust is so thin, you want to pay attention to the baking time (which is rather short). The best practice would be to use a real pizza stone or a thin baking sheet. Pizza should be baked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Sicilian Pizza
We are going to sunny Sicily now, where our next pizza was brought to life. Sicilian pizza is thick, kinda like focaccia bread, but with different toppings. Traditionally known as sfincione, this pizza is served in rectangular pieces, perfect to grab and go.
What’s also interesting is the fact that Sicilian pizza is often made with cheese on top and underneath the sauce, which prevents the dough from getting too soggy.
Sicilian Pizza traditional toppings
tomatoes, onion, anchovies, and herbs (in States, you may see variants with meat, which is not how traditional Sicilian-style pizza is made)
Sicilian Pizza baking suggestions
You should bake your Sicilian pizza in a sheet pan in an oven. It’s also a frequent practice to let the dough rise for some time before working it and baking the pizza. This is what gives it its squashy texture.
7. Detroit Pizza
Detroit-style pizza will be the perfect proposition if you’re a fan of pepperoni. It’s one of the obligatory toppings featured in this flavorful and satiating pizza.
The recipe for the pizza was created in the 40s in the place called Buddy’s Rendezvous, and it calls back to the DNA of Detroit. First pizzas were made in square automotive parts pans since baking pans available on the market at the time were not suitable for this recipe.
Now cooks use special baking pans for this type of pizza. The recipe is one of Detroit’s biggest pride.
Detroit Pizza traditional toppings
pepperoni, Wisconsin brick cheese, tomato sauce, mushrooms, and olives
Detroit Pizza baking suggestions
To make the best Detroit pizza, use a specialized Detroit pan. Alternatively, you can reach for a jelly roll baking pan. Spread your dough evenly, pushing it to the edges of the pan. Make sure there’s no air in the dough. You should bake the pizza at high temperatures (500 to 550 degrees Fahrenheit) for 15 minutes.
8. California Pizza
There are many types of pizza in this world, but California pizza is definitely worth tasting at least once in your life.
Why you may ask? Well, California-style pizza is a thin-crust pizza (just like traditional Italian pizza) but made with a selection of fantastic regional toppings. This means we take the best of both worlds to create a dish that tastes phenomenal and is true to the Californian lifestyle.
If you miss your home or you want to know what it is like to live in the Californian sun, this pizza will give you that.
Variations of California Pizza
One of the most popular variants of California pizza is BBQ chicken pizza, made with grilled chicken and BBQ sauce.
Some choose to bake this pizza in a wood-fired oven, which offers a short baking time.
9. Roman-Style Pizza
Roman pizza was born, no surprises here, in Rome. But nowadays, it’s easy to find this dish all over the world. All the pizza lovers – keep your eyes open!
Not much differentiates Roman pizza from other types, especially Italian variants. This pizza has a thick crust, kinda like focaccia bread, and is usually served in slices, just like New York-style pizza. Typical for Italian recipes, it has a limited number of toppings to keep it fresh and easily digestible. Perfect for summer!
You can confidently pop a Roman pizza into the oven. Just remember to use slightly lower temperatures to ensure the pizza dough cooks properly, and the toppings don’t burn.
10. Mexican Pizza
Mexican cuisine left its mark on the world, and it’s only logical someone came up with the idea to combine it with the Italian smash. Mexican pizza was invented sometime in 1985 as a menu item at Taco Bell.
Many types of pizza mix two or more worlds, and the same can be said for this one. It’s half-burrito, half-pizza, but 100% delicious! If you’re a fan of Mexican cooking, this is something for you!
Mexican Pizza traditional toppings
seasoned beef, Bell peppers, chili peppers, cilantro, corn, onions, black beans, tomatoes
Mexican Pizza baking suggestions
Since the crust in this type of pizza is not the traditional dough but tortillas, you will need to first bake them separately on the pan. Then you can place one of them on a baking sheet and cover it with beef, another tortilla, and the remaining ingredients. The pizza should be baked in the oven for around 15 minutes.
11. Dessert Pizza
Last but certainly not least on our list is a Dessert pizza! Although the idea to merge pizza and a dessert might seem a little out there, it’s a good rule not to knock it down until you’ve tried it. Especially if you have a sweet tooth!
Dessert pizza can be, and often is, made with a wide range of toppings, which include fruits, chocolate, caramel, cream, or peanut butter. You can really experiment with different flavors and discover something unexpected and heavenly on your tongue while doing so.
Dessert Pizza traditional toppings
Anything you like!
Dessert Pizza baking suggestions
Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your dough.
Final Thoughts
One dish, so many stories. Learning about different types of pizza shows us how food transcends different cultures and flavors, simultaneously allowing us to express and expand our cultures, bringing something new to the table.
We only touched on a few types of pizza in this article, but there are many more ready to be discovered by you! We encourage you to take that step and find some new favorites of your own.Pizza doesn’t have to be boring. Find more amazing recipes for pizza here!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
