A Pizza for Every Palate (In Celebration of National Pizza Day)
February 9 is National Pizza Day! To help you get ready for the biggest pizza party in the United States, we've pulled together 38 of our favorite pizza recipes, from traditional to off-beat.
Move over Super Bowl, and hang on a sec, Valentine's Day. There's something more to love about February: National Pizza Day on February 9! Stop squabbling over which team was robbed or who hasn't made restaurant reservations yet; if ever there was something we can all agree on, it's a big ol' pizza pie. And while we don't need a special food holiday to justify grabbing a slice or five, we'll take the excuse.
But there's no need to wait in line at a pizza parlor to get your fix: Give the pizza chains a break and make your own! With so many variations, it's easy to find a recipe that's just to your taste. From thin crust to pan pizza, fork-and-knife Chicago deep dish to New York-style slices (eaten folded in half, of course), we've got recipes for you. Can't eat dairy? Got you covered. Looking for low-carb? Yup, we've got that too. Pepperoni pizza? Of course.
Roadtrip Around The US
Sure, we all love pizza, but what kind? Depending on where you've lived, these regional American favorites may offer a taste of home or just seem plain wacky. Check out the recipes below for some all-American pizza-making inspiration.
Who eats what?
Most of us are familiar with classic Chicago deep dish or traditional Italian wood-fired pizza from Naples, but what about Tomato Pie? This cheeseless focaccia-like bread smeared in tomato sauce is a specialty rarely found outside of upstate New York. Detroit-style pizza has (finally) garnered national attention as of late and sports a thick crust with crunchy sides (specialty pans are traditionally used, but the recipe below makes it accessible to any home cook).
A true St. Louis-style pizza features a cheese known as provel that's hard to find outside of St. Louis but can be approximated by mixing provolone, Swiss, and cheddar cheeses. White clam pizza is a classic in Connecticut, whereas Californians lean towards a wood-fired crust topped with fresh ingredients like figs, arugula, and aged balsamic vinegar. Whatever part of the country you're from, pick a favorite and dig in!
The Best New York Style Pizza Dough
Tomato Pie
Sicilian Pizza
Cal-Italia Pizza with Prosciutto and Figs
Neapolitan Pizza
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
St. Louis Style Pizza
White Clam Pizza
Zingerman's Detroit Style Pizza
Change Up The Crust
Sure, you might be looking for an alternate crust to avoid gluten, but how about switching it up just because it's delicious? We've got cauliflower and zucchini crusts to keep things on the lighter side; tasty paleo and gluten-free versions with coconut, rice, and/or garbanzo bean flours; keto creations with cheese and almond flour or — why not? — mashed chicken and pork rinds(!); and just for something different, we tossed in some ramen and naan crusts. These may not be traditional pizza crusts, but they just might be your new favorite food.
Ramen Crust Pizza
BBQ Chicken Naan Pizza
Gluten-Free Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
The Best Paleo Pizza
Chicken Crust Pizza
Fathead Keto Pizza
Julia Child’s Eggplant Pizzas
Zucchini Crust Pizza
Gluten-Free Cauliflower Crust Pizzas
Toppings Galore
Of course, the easiest way to customize a pizza is with the toppings. While there's absolutely nothing wrong with a plain slice of cheese, there are so many different flavors that complement a pizza pie. Sweet toppings like maple apples, pineapples, or honey provide a welcome contrast to salty cheeses and meats. Mozzarella will always be the darling of pizza, but gorgonzola or sliced burrata can offer welcome new flavors and textures to a pie. Your favorite meat recipes will be right at home on a pizza as well, be it buffalo chicken, carnitas, or Italian meatballs. And if you really want to make sure everyone around the table is happy, try making individual-sized pizzas and let everyone customize their own creations.
Carnitas Pizza
Maple Apples, Blue Cheese, and Bacon Pizza
Mediterranean Pizza
Vegan Caprese Pizza
BBQ Hawaiian Pizza
Spinoccoli Pizza
Shaved Asparagus and Gorgonzola Pizza
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Burrata Pizza with Pancetta
Italian Sub French Bread Pizza
Not Your Nonna’s Pizza
We're not here to debate what's "real" pizza and what's not ... we're just here for the food. As far as I'm concerned, if it tastes good, you can call it whatever you want. Waffles stuffed with cheese and sauce? Sounds good. Mac and cheese on top of dough? Well, that's kinda like mozzarella... S'mores pizza for dessert? OK, not really sure how that's pizza, but there's chocolate, right? Then sign me up! Bubble pizza? Never heard of it. Pass me a plate, please.
Bubble Up Pizza
Pizza Waffles
Bagel Pizzas
Rimini
Rimini by Epicurious