Slice, Slice, Baby: Trending Pizza Toppings in 2025

Pizza is a go-to indulgence for foodies of all ages thanks to its universal appeal, endless customization options and easy shareability. In 2025, brands and consumers are using  trending pizza toppings to take this Friday night fun food to new heights and redefine what it means to order a slice.

Trending Pizza Toppings: What Reigns Supreme?

The right toppings can make or break a piece of pizza. Gone are the days of basic add-ons like pepperoni and cheese – 2025 is all about bold flavors, surprising textures and spice kicks. 

Here’s what’s topping the charts in 2025:

• Gourmet cheeses like smoked gouda, brie and burrata 
• Specialty mushrooms like porcini, oysters and chanterelles 
• Fresh flavor bursts like pineapple slices, microgreens and green onion slivers 
• Sweet and tangy pickled ingredients like dill pickles, pickled onions and pepperoncini  
• Spice-packed protein options like buffalo chicken, Korean BBQ and Nashville-style hot chicken 
• Spicy-sweet sauces like hot honey, chili crisp and Calabrian chili oil 

All of these trends highlight consumers’ increasing desire for more elevated pizza experiences that balance the spirit of traditional toppings with bold, gourmet add-ons. According to data from Tastewise, consumers are still interested in classic flavors like garlic and mozzarella but are increasingly seeking out refreshing, new ways of enjoying their favorite pies. It’s all about the flavor combinations, and mixing things up is a sure-fire way to stoke the fire for pizza lovers across the country. 

Pizza Stats & Facts You Need to “Dough” 

Recent changes within the food and beverage industry coupled with the ever-changing expectations of modern consumers have fueled recent shifts in how brands develop, market and distribute their pizza products. Here’s a closer look at some of the important statistics influencing the popularity of various pizza toppings in the United States: 

• There are over 74,000 pizza restaurants in the U.S. 
• The U.S. pizza industry was valued at over $50 billion in 2024 
• 52% of Americans say pepperoni is one of their top 3 favorite pizza toppings, while 34% prefer sausage 
• According to Tastewise data, conversations about trending pizza toppings have experienced a YoY growth of 30.77%. 
• Frozen pizza sales have been on the rise in the United States due to inflation. 
• Younger consumers (18-34) are approximately 3x more likely to eat pizza on a weekly basis than consumers aged 55 and older. 
• 18% of pizza fans specifically seek out “attractive” products that align with their aesthetic preferences

As you can see, pizza remains a consistent sales driver for restaurants and retailers, but consumers’ preferences are evolving alongside broader cultural changes. Subsequently, restaurants and CPG brands must put in the work to better understand the needs of likely pizza purchasers in order to stay competitive in a crowded, high-value market.

Keeping Up With Trending Toppings: The Challenges 

While it’s important to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s hot among pizza-lovers, there are a few challenges brands may encounter when attempting to embrace the latest pizza trends. For one, change can be hard for some customers to swallow. 

Even as younger generations skew towards more creative and innovative pizza preferences, it’s important to remember that classic cheese pizza trends, deep dish pizza trends and frozen pizza trends will always appeal to a substantial customer base. Restaurants and CPG companies should work to balance their product offerings to avoid alienating long-standing customers while embracing the latest trends.  

Additionally, as gourmet pizza toppings continue to make waves within the food and beverage industry, some pizzerias may find themselves encountering supply chain issues or budgetary constraints that seriously impact their bottom line. In order to make elevated pizza products more accessible, brands will need to take advantage of engaging pizza marketing trends and earning opportunities to stay afloat. 

Looking Ahead: Future Pizza Topping Trends 

As pizza culture continues to grow and evolve, brands should expect the unexpected. Part of what makes pizza such a reliable staple for U.S. consumers is its customizable nature, and pizza-lovers are sure to up their game in the months and years ahead. Here’s what we can expect to see in the next generation of pizza consumption: 

• Global influence: Today’s food and beverage industry is perhaps more multi-cultural than ever before. Gone are the days of straightforward Italian flavor profiles like the margherita pizza trends of years past. The next era of pizza trends will likely be characterized by globally-inspired fusion flavors that suit a wide variety of consumer palates. 
• Healthy spins: Diet-friendly pizzas have already made appearances on store shelves and in restaurants, and that momentum is only expected to continue. From gluten-free and cauliflower crusts to pizzas topped with nutrient-rich ingredients, even the most health-conscious of consumers will soon have a variety of options to choose from when making pizza purchases. 
• Artisanal edge: Pizza offers upscale brands and restaurants a unique opportunity to turn a pedestrian product into an elevated experience. Looking forward, we can expect to see a wide variety of artisan pizza options hitting shelves and menus in order to appeal to consumers with high-end preferences. 

In addition to adding new toppings to their repertoires, pizzerias and food and beverage brands will want to invest in pizza marketing initiatives that tell a clear story and appeal to consumers who are ready to enjoy their favorite foods in new ways. 

Final Thoughts

2025’s trending pizza toppings clearly demonstrate that consumers are looking to expand their flavor horizons and add a sophisticated edge to their long-time favorite products. Whether you’re a small pizzeria or a nationwide CPG brand that offers pizza-related products, staying one step ahead of the latest trends is the best way to ensure that your product offerings can cut through the noise in a crowded market. 

From pickles and microgreens to hot honey and Buffalo chicken, foodies are constantly adding new toppings to their pizza rotations, giving brands of all shapes and sizes an unprecedented opportunity to put a 2025 spin on a family favorite.