pizza toppings matrix
With so many choices for pizza sauces and toppings, where do you start? Sure, sauce, cheese, and pepperoni are a safe bet but what if you want to get more creative and adventurous with your pizza toppings?
That’s where the Pizza Topping Matrix comes in. We’ve created this matrix to help inspire you to create interesting and delicious pizzas you and your family will love.
A few notes and suggestions:
- Always cook your proteins before adding the pizza. If you add them raw, they will not cook as the pizza bakes.
- Typically, your pizza will need about 2 oz of sauce, but feel free to use more or less.
- You can put your toppings under the cheese, but they usually are added over the cheese. Or, you can lay down a layer of cheese, then toppings, and then more cheese.
- Note the * for toppings which really should be added after the pizza bakes.
- See sample pizza combinations under the pizza matrix.
Sauce
Choose 1
- red sauce
- pesto
- alfredo sauce
- garlic cream sauce
- olive and garlic
- salsa
- greek yogurt
- hummus
- teriyaki sauce
- mustard cream sauce
- sauce
- ranch
- barbecue sauce
- buffalo sauce
- fig jam
- refried beans
- hoisin sauce
cheese
Choose up to 3
- hard mozzarella
- fresh mozzarella
- buffalo mozzarella
- burrata
- provolone
- fontina
- cheddar
- gouda
- ricotta
- manchego
- brie
- smoked gouda
- gorgonzola
- swiss
- parmesan
- Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Romano
- goat
- feta
- Monterey jack
- muenster
protein
Choose up to 3 meats from any group OR 1 seafood and 1 meat from any group
Pork
- bacon
- italian sausage
- capocola
- salami
- chorizo
- pepperoni
- pulled pork
- pancetta
- prosciutto
- Canadian bacon
- ham
- kielbasa
- bratwurst
Beef
- ground beef
- ribeye
- short rib
- flank steak
- meatballs
- corned beef
- pastrami
- roast beef
Other
- eggs
- hot dogs
- lamb
- ground lamb
- gyro meat
- game meat
- tofu
- ground meat substitutete
chicken, turkey, duck
- grilled chicken
- roasted chicken
- breast meat
- thigh meat
- ground turkey
- turkey breast
- duck breast
seafood
- shrimp
- calamari
- anchovy
- crab
- lobster
- clams
- mussels
- scallops
- sardines
- smoked salmon*
Other Items
Add the items below with care!
- honey
- reduced balsamic
- truffle oil
- tamari
- hot sauce
- mustard
- squid ink
Veggies & fruits
Choose up to 4 veggies/herbs/other OR 2-3 veggies/herbs/other and 1 fruit
Items marked with an * should be added AFTER the pizza come out of the oven for best results.
Peppers
- bell: green, red, yellow
- roasted red peppers
- pimentos
- banana
- jalapeno
- pepperoncini
- green chili
- red chili
- chipotle
Other
- black olives
- green olives
- capers
- artichoke hearts
- sauerkraut
- dill pickles*
- sweet pickles*
Herbs & Spices
- basil*
- thyme
- rosemary
- sage
- parsley
- cilantro
- oregano
- red pepper flakes
- Maldon sea salt
Fruit
- grapes
- lemon
- pineapple
- apple
- pear
- fig
- peach
- strawberry
- raisins
- cranberries
Vegetables
- yellow onion
- red onion
- shallot
- leeks
- garlic
- tomato
- sun-dried tomato
- green onions*
- red onion
- spinach
- garlic
- mushroom
- zucchini
- squash
- eggplant
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- broccoli-rabe
- broccolini
- beets
- radish
- brussel sprouts
- cabbage*
- carrot
- kale
- asparagus
- potato
- radicchio
- corn
- green beans
- bean sprouts
- ginger
- bok choy
- fennel
- arugula*
- peas
- swiss chard
- watercress*
Nuts and Legumes
- black beans
- white beans
- baked beans
- peanuts*
- almonds*
- walnuts*
- pine nuts*
- cashews*
Pizza Topping Suggestions
- Cilantro Pesto, Parmesan, Leeks, Shrimp, and prosciutto
- Refried Beans, Salsa, Black Olives, Corn, Red Onion, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Cilantro
- Garlic Cream Sauce, Flank Steak, Munster, Red Onion, Artichoke Hearts, and Reduced Balsalmic
- Olive Oil & Garlic, Pancetta, Mozzarella, Red Onion, Gorgonzola, and Arugula
- Hoisin Sauce, Duck Breast, Manchego, Caramelized Onions, and Brussel Sprouts
