Updated January 2, 2024. Most popular pizza toppings vary by region and even individual pizzeria. There are some universal pizza toppings that are popular across the U.S. Pepperoni is the No. 1 pizza topping in the U.S. but in areas of Illinois, sausage beats out pepperoni for the top spot.
Pizza topping lists are continually changing as Americans’ tastes change. Hot pizza toppings in the 2010s could drop on the list in favor of others. This is true even in the top five pizza toppings. In past years, onion, green peppers and olives have made the Top 5 toppings list. Not this year; meaty toppings reign supreme.
We sought to find a definitive answer so we can track and monitor the changes each year. We went straight to pizzeria operators to find out what are the most popular pizza toppings on their menu as part of our 2024 Pizza Industry Trends Report.The extensive operator survey received nearly 750 responses from across the United States. Pizzeria operators used their POS systems to identify the most popular pizza toppings. We analyzed the data to bring you the top pizza toppings in America.
What are the five most popular pizza toppings?
The Top 5 Pizza Toppings in the US are:
- Pepperoni
- Sausage
- Mushroom
- Extra Cheese
- Bacon
Now let’s break down each of the Top Five Pizza Toppings.
1. Pepperoni
This has long been America’s favorite pizza topping. What is pepperoni made of? It’s cured sausage made of pork and beef that has been seasoned with spices like paprika, chili pepper, cayenne, black pepper and even fennel and allspice. Pepperoni varies in size from thick or thin flat laid pepperoni and cup and char pepperoni to cubed pepperoni and Old World pepperoni.
Explore more on America’s favorite pizza topping in the Pep Talk: Styles of Pepperoni, America’s No.1 Pizza Topping feature.
2. Sausage
If you are from the Midwest, sausage is often a go-to pizza topping. If you’re in Chicago, sausage is the No. 1 pizza topping in the land. Sausage varies widely in type and style. While there are sausage links like kielbasa and andouille, we tend to think of the pizza topping as ground sausage. It is flavored several ways, from fennel and sage to Italian spiced.
Try a sweet Italian sausage recipe.
Today, pizzeria operators find unique and flavorful ways to make sausage stand out. Check out our Guide to Making Sausage in House and Pizza Topping Combos.
3. Mushroom
Mushrooms have remained a top pizza topping consistently, and for good reason. Varies are abundant. They can either stand out on a pizza or complement other pizza ingredients. The most common mushrooms used on pizza are white button mushrooms, followed by cremini and portobellos.
Get ideas on how to prepare mushrooms and whether they go over or under the cheese on pizza.
4. Extra Cheese
Extra Cheese is often a pizza topping that people don’t think of as a topping. Cheese is part of the holy trinity of pizza — crust, sauce and cheese. But Americans love cheese and lots of it, so pizzerias added an “extra cheese” option long ago that has become one of the most popular toppings.
Learn more about how to price extra cheese in Extra Cheese, a Top Five Pizza Topping — What to Charge.
5. Bacon
This brings us to the newbie on the list. We have watched bacon climb up the toppings list for years. As we analyzed the survey data, it was no surprise to us that bacon broke into the Top 5 Pizza Toppings. After all, bacon is a key ingredient on several popular specialty pizzas across the country. The mantra “everything is better with bacon” stands on pizza as well.
Deep dive into bacon pizza with these two features:
Bacon on Pizza: Crispy Business
You’re Bacon Me Crazy
What are the Top 10 Pizza Toppings in America?
Let’s go further than the Top 5 Pizza Toppings and look at the top 10 most popular pizza toppings in American according to pizzeria operators.
- Pepperoni
- Sausage
- Mushroom
- Extra Cheese
- Bacon
- Chicken
- Onion
- Red/Green Bell Pepper
- Ham
- Black Olives
Explore more about this year’s pizza topping trends including the Top 20 most popular pizza toppings in our 2024 Pizza Industry Trends Report.
Looking for more new topping ideas?
If you are looking for new pizza topping ideas, we have several stories that give you inspiration for pizza toppings to try in your kitchen. Check out these pizza toppings articles:
Hottest of Hot Pizza Topping Trends 2024 — New Pizza toppings to add right now
Unconventional Pizza Toppings: Beginner’s Guide
