12 Classic Italian Pizza Recipes That Are Pure Happiness

Manuela Zangara

June 25, 2024 at 12:45 AM·4 min read

Pizza in Italy is a serious matter. You may not believe this, but there are different kinds of crusts, depending on the area of Italy you are eating in. There are also rather strict rules on what is acceptable or not—as far as sauce and pizza toppings go.

This collection of 12 best Italian pizza recipes includes classics like Margherita Pizza, Prosciutto Rocket and Grana Cheese Pizza, Tuna and Onion Pizza, Blue Cheese Prosciutto Pizza and Sausage Arugula Pizza and Pizza Ortolana (made with grilled vegetables). There are also lesser-known recipes such as Sicilian Style Pepperoni Pizza, Pizzette, Fried Pizza and even Nutella Pizza. Yep, you read that right! This is often found on a pizzeria menu—as dessert.

Different Types of Italian Pizza Crusts

As a rule of thumb, the pizza crust is thicker in the south and thinner in the northern part of the country. So, Sicilian pizza is thick and fluffy, while pizza in Milan is thin and crusty. As for the sauce, Italians only use plain tomato sauce. You can add some salt, extra virgin olive oil and oregano to the tomato purée or leave it plain if you like, but anything other than that is not what Italians use on their pizza. The basic cheese is always fresh mozzarella, the one that melts but remains soft and stretchy. We don’t use any shredded cheese.

What are the best real Italian pizza toppings?

When it comes to the remaining toppings, there are many classic combinations. Whatever you choose, however, remember that Italian pizza does not come overflowing with toppings. Generally speaking, we use vegetables (often grilled or raw), different cheeses, tuna and cured meats. We NEVER put meat (or chicken!) on our pizza, with the only exception being sausage.

Another fun fact: Italians don’t usually eat pizza by the slice. When we eat our pizza, we have a full one each, no sharing!

Related: 65+ Best Homemade Pizza Recipes