Nine Pizza Variations to Explore, with Homemade Recipes for Each Style
Dive into the tantalizing world of 9 unique pizza styles that'll leave your taste buds craving more! From New York's thin-crust swag to Chicago's deep-dish extravaganza, discover the distinct flavors and textures each style offers. Which one hits the jackpot for you?
Everyone has their own pizza holy grail. But with so many mind-blowing styles of pizza out there, it's impossible to crown a single champion. Here's a lowdown on 9 pizza phenoms to get your mouth watering.
Which pizza pie takes the crown?
There's no shortage of pizza critics trying to dictate what makes the ultimate pizza – and point you in its direction. But honestly, most of us will admit that our favorite pizza is the one we grew up devouring.
For me, as a dedicated NYer, that means a long, bendable slice of thin-crust pizza, kissed by the oven and seasoned with just marinara and cheese (or pepperoni when I'm feeling devilish). So let's just say there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to pizza perfection.
Instead of continuing the tireless debate, let's accept our bias and celebrate our differences. If there's only one pizza that feels like home, there's also a world of pizza adventure waiting to be explored.
Crack open the dough and warm up the sauce: These 9 recipes will satellite-guide you beyond your pizza comfort zone.
Ciao! 9 pizza styles worth checking out
- Regina di Sicilia (Regina Sicilian Pizza)
- Neapolitan Pizza
- Pizza Romana
- New York-Style Thin Crust Pizza
- Windy City Deep Dish (Chicago-Style Pizza)
- Gateway Desperado Pizza (St. Louis-Style Pizza)
- New Haven Cream Clam Pizza
- Motor City Style Pizza (Detroit Pizza)
- West Coast Avocado Surfboard (California-Style Pizza)
1. Regina di Sicilia (Regina Sicilian Pizza)
If you're taste buds are craving something rich and filling, Sicilian-style pizzas are your royal go-to. They're thick, pillowy, and practically a focaccia with extra toppings, perfect for feeding a crowd. Give this mouthwatering prosciutto-topped pie a try and find out why it deserves the queen's name.
Get our Regina di Sicilia (Sicilian Pizza) recipe.
2. Neapolitan Pizza
These pizzas are straight out of Naples, Italy, where they take their pies very seriously. In fact, there's even an association dedicated to certifying that pizzas are true to the city's style.
Made with ultra-fine 00 flour, Neapolitan crusts are known for their thin, crispy centers, and puffy, spotted edges produced by a quick firing at very high temperatures.
Get the Neapolitan Pizza recipe.
3. Pizza Romana
Rome's pizza scene can be a bit of a mystery. Different shapes and sizes can be found all over the Eternal City, but one slice stands out: pizza al metro. This long, thin delight is cut to order, making it the ultimate customizable pie.
Get the Pizza Romana recipe.
4. New York-Style Thin Crust Pizza
No matter where you go, you're bound to find someone claiming they can whip up a New York-style pizza. But unless you're actually in the city, most of them will disappoint. Don't settle for fake news; make it at home and taste the authenticity for yourself.
Get the New York-Style Thin Crust Pizza recipe.
5. Windy City Deep Dish (Chicago-Style Pizza)
When it comes to deep dish, there's no room for subtlety. It's all about the gooey oceans of sauce, bubbling pools of cheese, and the crust that miraculously holds it all together. Go into this pizza experience with an empty stomach and a can-do attitude, and come out victorious with a full belly.
Get the Windy City Deep Dish (Chicago-Style Pizza) recipe.
6. Gateway Desperado Pizza (St. Louis-Style Pizza)
St. Louis pizza is the quirky, underdog of American pizzas. It's thin, gawky, wears ill-fitting clothes, and is topped with an obscure cheese blend. But it's precisely those oddities that make it a beloved hometown icon.
Get the Gateway Desperado Pizza (St. Louis-Style Pizza) recipe.
7. New Haven Cream Clam Pizza
New Haven pizza has the rustic vibe of a Neapolitan and the no-nonsense attitude of a New Yorker. But where it really shines is the toppings, especially the clams that star in its most famous pie.
Get the New Haven Cream Clam Pizza recipe.
8. Motor City Style Pizza (Detroit Pizza)
Detroit-style pizza boasts crispy fried edges and an affinity for heavy toppings, all built on a pillowy crust that's close to a Sicilian. Crank up the heat and bake this bad boy in an industrial auto parts tray to get the authentic experience.
Get the Motor City Style Pizza (Detroit Pizza) recipe.
9. West Coast Avocado Surfboard (California-Style Pizza)
California pizzas are all about the toppings and aren't afraid to get creative. Cheese and sauce play supporting roles, leaving the spotlight for more eccentric ingredients like veggies. This summer squash pie proudly carries on the tradition.
Get our West Coast Avocado Surfboard (California-Style Pizza) recipe.
- The 9 recipes provided here will provide a distinct satellite-guiding experience, taking you beyond your pizza comfort zone.
- Each unique pizza style, such as the Regina di Sicilia or the New York-Style Thin Crust Pizza, offers its own distinct flavors and textures, ready to satisfy your taste buds.
- Although there are numerous pizza critics out there, each with their own notion of the ultimate pizza, it's worth remembering that our favorite pizza is often the one that reminds us of home.
- Whether your heart yearns for the Regina di Sicilia or the Windy City Deep Dish, or perhaps even the West Coast Avocado Surfboard, there's a distinguished pizza guide ready for you to explore and savor.
