American vs British Words on a Pizza Menu
This page teaches pizza toppings in American English. A few topping words are different in British English: Americans say eggplant and zucchini, while British speakers say aubergine and courgette. Americans also say cilantro where British speakers say coriander. Every topping name, spelling, and example sentence on this page follows the American style, so you can order pizza in the US with confidence.
Most Popular Pizza Toppings
Before the full A to Z list, here are the toppings people order again and again. Learn these food words first, with how to say each one and what it tastes like.
| Topping | How to say it | What it tastes like |
|---|---|---|
| Bacon | BAY-kun | Smoky and crispy. Often paired with extra cheese. |
| Basil | BAZ-ul | Fresh and sweet. The soul of a Margherita pizza. |
| Black olives | blak OL-ivz | Mild, buttery little rings. |
| Green peppers | green PEP-erz | Fresh crunch with a light bite. |
| Ham | ham | Salty and mild. Pineapple’s partner in crime. |
| Mozzarella | mot-suh-REL-uh | Mild, melty, stretchy. The classic pizza cheese. |
| Mushrooms | MUSH-roomz | Earthy and soft. A favorite on veggie pizzas. |
| Onions | UN-yunz | Sweet when cooked, sharp when raw. |
| Parmesan cheese | PAR-muh-zan cheez | Hard, salty, sprinkled on top after baking. |
| Pepperoni | pep-er-OH-nee | Spicy, salty cured sausage. The number one topping in the US. |
| Pineapple | PY-nap-ul | Sweet and juicy. The most debated topping on Earth. |
| Sausage | SAW-sij | Hearty Italian-style ground meat with fennel. |
Example Sentences With Pizza Toppings
Here are the topping words in real sentences, the way people actually say them when they order.
- “I’d like a large pizza with pepperoni and extra cheese, please.”
- “Can I get mushrooms and onions on my half of the pizza?”
- “She always orders a veggie pizza with green peppers and black olives.”
- “We tried pineapple on pizza last night. It was sweet and salty at the same time.”
- “A real Margherita pizza has tomato, mozzarella, and basil, nothing else.”
A To Z Pizza Topping Vocabulary
Here is the List of A to Z All Pizza Toppings:- A – Anchovies
- B – Basil
- C – Chicken
- D – Doner Kebab Meat
- E – Eggplant
- F – Feta Cheese
- G – Garlic
- H – Ham
- I – Italian Sausage
- J – Jalapeno Peppers
- K – Kale
- L – Linguica
- M – Mushrooms
- N – Nitrate- free Pepperoni
- O – Olives
- P – Pineapple
- Q – Quail Eggs
- R – Roasted Red Peppers
- S – Spinach
- T – Tomatoes
- U – Uncured Bacon
- V – Vegan Cheese
- W – White Onions
- X – (e)Xtra cheese
- Y – Yellow Pepper
- Z – Zucchini
Pizza Toppings That Start With A:
- Anchovies
- Artichokes
- Arugula
- Asiago cheese
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Apple slices
- Andouille sausage
- Alfredo sauce
- Australian ham
- Anaheim peppers
- Acorn squash
- Amaretti cookies
- Apricots
- Aged cheddar cheese
- Ahi tuna
- Almonds
- Ancho chile peppers
- Aleppo pepper
- Aged balsamic vinegar
- Angel hair pasta
- Alfredo chicken
- Amaretto liqueur
- Artisanal prosciutto
- Avocado aioli
- Al pastor meat
- Anchovy paste
- Applewood-smoked bacon
- Arancini balls
- Apple cider vinegar
Pizza Toppings That Start With B:
- Bacon
- Basil
- Beef
- Broccoli
- Black olives
- Bell peppers
- Buffalo mozzarella
- Blue cheese
- Barbecue sauce
- Breaded chicken
- Banana peppers
- Brie cheese
- Bratwurst
- Balsamic glaze
- Brown sugar
- BBQ chicken
- Beef meatballs
- Breakfast sausage
- Browned butter
- Buffalo chicken
- Buttered mushrooms
- Black beans
- Broiled steak
- Burrata cheese
- Beef pepperoni
- Biscuits
- Bacon bits
- Beer-battered shrimp
- Baked ziti
- Bruschetta
Pizza Toppings That Start With C:
- Chicken
- Cheddar cheese
- Canadian bacon
- Caramelized onions
- Corn
- Crumbled sausage
- Capers
- Cauliflower
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cream cheese
- Chorizo
- Chipotle peppers
- Cilantro
- Crawfish
- Cinnamon apples
- Cranberries
- Calamari
- Candied bacon
- Cottage cheese
- Corned beef
- Creamy garlic sauce
- Caramelized pears
- Chicken fajita
- Clams
- Crostini
- Caramelized mushrooms
- Cumin
- Crispy prosciutto
- Caramelized garlic
- Cumin-spiced lamb
Pizza Toppings That Start With D:
- Double cheese
- Duck confit
- Diced ham
- Deli meats
- Diced tomatoes
- Dill pickles
- Danish blue cheese
- Drunken chicken
- Deep-fried onions
- Dijon mustard
- Dulce de leche sauce
- Dates
- Dungeness crab
- Durian
- Daikon radish
- Donair meat
- Dragon fruit
- Duxelles (mushroom paste)
- Demi-glace
- Duck sausage
- Dry-cured chorizo
- Dark chocolate chips
- Duck prosciutto
- Diced bell peppers
- Dulce de leche cream
- Dolce gorgonzola cheese
- Dried apricots
- Dried cherries
- Dried cranberries 30
Pizza Toppings That Start With E:
- Eggplant
- Extra cheese
- Edamame
- Emmental cheese
- Enoki mushrooms
- English peas
- Elderberry jam
- Elk sausage
- Espresso powder
- Eel
- Edible flowers
- Empanada filling
- Escargot
- Egg wash
- Epazote
- Enchilada sauce
- Espelette pepper
- Elk meat
- Elote (grilled Mexican street corn)
- Eucalyptus leaves
- Emmental and Gruyere cheese blend
- Elixir of tomatoes (tomato jam)
- Elderflower liqueur
- Elbow macaroni
- Endive
- English muffin bread crumbs
- Espresso balsamic vinegar
- Egg noodles
- Everything bagel seasoning
- Edible gold flakes
Pizza Toppings That Start With F:
- Feta cheese
- Fresh basil
- Fresh garlic
- Fried eggs
- Fresh mozzarella
- Fig jam
- Fontina cheese
- Fried chicken
- French fries
- Fajita veggies
- Falafel
- Fried calamari
- Frank’s RedHot sauce
- Fennel sausage
- Fleur de sel
- Four-cheese blend
- Fire-roasted peppers
- Fuji apple slices
- Fried onions
- Fresh spinach
- Flat iron steak
- Fried rice
- Fresh sage
- Frisee lettuce
- Fried artichoke hearts
- Frico cheese crisps
- Focaccia bread crumbs
- Fried green tomatoes
- Fried plantains
- Flank steak
Pizza Toppings That Start With G:
- Goat cheese
- Green peppers
- Grilled chicken
- Garlic butter
- Greek olives
- Ground beef
- Gorgonzola cheese
- Garlic sauce
- Grilled shrimp
- Green olives
- Gouda cheese
- Grilled onions
- Green chilies
- Ginger
- Green onions
- Guacamole
- Grilled zucchini
- Ghee (clarified butter)
- Grilled artichokes
- Gnocchi
- Goat meat
- Grape tomatoes
- Grilled eggplant
- Garlic shrimp
- Grilled pineapple
- Giardiniera (pickled veggies)
- Gochujang sauce
- Grilled peaches
- Grits
- Green beans
Pizza Toppings That Start With H:
- Ham
- Hot peppers
- Honey
- Havarti cheese
- Herbed chicken
- Hamburger meat
- Hummus
- Horseradish
- Hot sauce
- Honey glazed chicken
- Herb-infused olive oil
- Harissa sauce
- Honey mustard sauce
- Hatch chiles
- Honeycomb
- Halloumi cheese
- House-made sausage
- Hearts of palm
- Hawaiian-style ham
- Hoisin sauce
- Hungarian sausage
- Habanero peppers
- Haggis
- Hazelnuts
- Hickory-smoked ham
- Heirloom tomatoes
- Honey-roasted cashews
Pizza Toppings That Start With I:
- Italian sausage
- Iberico ham
- Irish cheddar cheese
- Iceberg lettuce
- Infused olive oil
- Indian-style chicken
- Imitation crab meat
- Israeli couscous
- Italian dressing
- Inca berries
- Ink squid
- Iced tea reduction
- Indian paneer cheese
- Idaho potatoes
- Italian bread crumbs
- Italian seasoning
- Islay scotch whiskey
- Ice wine syrup
- Imperial stout beer
- Irish bacon
- Iced coffee syrup
- Iron-rich greens
- Irish whiskey
- Idiazabal cheese
- Italian salami
- Italian mortadella
- Iceberg wedge lettuce
- Italian truffles
- Italian tuna
- Irish butter
Pizza Toppings That Start With J:
- Jalapenos
- Jack cheese
- Jerk chicken
- Jicama
- Japanese eggplant
- Jamon serrano
- Juniper berries
- Jabuticaba fruit
- Jalapeno cream cheese
- Jaggery (unrefined sugar)
- Jambalaya
- Jujube fruit
- Jamaican curry powder
- Jasmine rice
- Jicama slaw
- Jerk pork
- Jalapeno poppers
- Jardiniere (pickled veggies)
- Japonica rice
- Jaboticaba compote
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Jamon iberico
- Jamaican patty filling
- Jumbo shrimp
- Jalapeno aioli
- Jaffa orange slices
- Juniper-smoked salmon
- Jalapeno jelly
- Japanese-style mayo
- Jalapeno cornbread
Pizza Toppings That Start With K:
- Kalamata olives
- Kimchi
- Kale
- Kabobs
- Kielbasa
- Kidney beans
- Kaffir lime leaves
- Kasseri cheese
- Karashi mustard
- Katsuobushi
- Ketchup
- Kirsch liqueur
- Knackwurst
- Kashmiri chilies
- Kalette
- König Ludwig cheese
- King trumpet mushrooms
- Kachumbari
- Khoya
- Kamaboko
- Kokoretsi
- Kalonji
- Kachori
- Kucai
- Königsberger Klopse
- Katsu chicken
- Kugel
- Kahlua
- Khoresh gheymeh
- Kanafeh
Pizza Toppings That Start With L:
- Lobster
- Leeks
- Linguica
- Lamb
- Lox
- Lemon slices
- Limburger cheese
- Lasagna noodles
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- Lychee
- Lavender
- Lardons
- Lattice-cut potatoes
- Lutenitsa
- Licorice
- Loquat
- Lemon zest
- Lardo
- Liverwurst
- Leberkäse
- Lechon
- Lapsang souchong tea leaves
- Lapskaus
- Lemon thyme
- Lilikoi
- Lecithin
- Lime juice
- Lapskaus
- Lutefisk
- Lardo di Colonnata
Pizza Toppings That Start With M:
- Mushrooms
- Meatballs
- Mozzarella
- Margherita sauce
- Mascarpone cheese
- Marinara sauce
- Merguez sausage
- Mango slices
- Mustard greens
- Muenster cheese
- Marmite
- Mackerel
- Marinated artichokes
- Macadamia nuts
- Maple syrup
- Matzo
- Mornay sauce
- Mamey sapote
- Miso paste
- Molasses
- Marjoram
- Muscadine grapes
- Montasio cheese
- Mortadella
- Muffuletta
- Madras curry powder
- Maggi sauce
- Manchego cheese
- Mixed herbs
- Mesclun salad greens
Pizza Toppings That Start With N:
- Napoli sauce
- Nectarines
- Nutella
- Nduja
- Nopales
- Nigella seeds
- Nueske’s bacon
- Napa cabbage
- Noodle nests
- Nasturtium flowers
- Nonya curry powder
- Nabulsi cheese
- New York strip steak
- Nankhatai
- Naan bread
- Neufchâtel cheese
- Neapolitan ice cream
- Nori flakes
- Nutmeg
- Nantua sauce
- Nesselrode pie filling
- Naga chilies
- New Mexico green chilies
- Nudja
- Nag
Pizza Toppings That Start With O:
- Olives
- Onions
- Oregano
- Oysters
- Octopus
- Orange slices
- Okra
- Oaxaca cheese
- Olive oil
- Orzo
- Omani halwa
- Oyster mushrooms
- Osso buco
- Onion rings
- Ox tongue
- Osetra caviar
- Orgeat syrup
- Oat crumbles
- Ossau-Iraty cheese
- Obatzda
- Onion jam
- Orangina
- Orange blossom honey
- Okonomiyaki sauce
- Ogbono
- Oxheart tomatoes
- Oka cheese
- Oca
- Onion flakes
- Ossenworst
Pizza Toppings That Start With P:
- Pepperoni
- Pineapple
- Peppers
- Parmesan cheese
- Prosciutto
- Pesto
- Pancetta
- Pepperoncini
- Peppadew peppers
- Poblano peppers
- Pickles
- Pastrami
- Pumpernickel breadcrumbs
- Pâté
- Pecorino Romano cheese
- Padron peppers
- Piri piri sauce
- Pinto beans
- Pistachios
- Palak paneer
- Paneer cheese
- Peppermint
- Plantains
- Pork sausage
- Pappardelle pasta
- Poblano peppers
- Penne pasta
- Piquillo peppers
- Pita bread
- Piccalilli
Pizza Toppings That Start With Q:
- Quail eggs
- Quattro formaggi cheese
- Quinoa
- Quark cheese
- Quince paste
- Quorn
- Queso blanco cheese
- Queso de bola cheese
- Queso de bola spread
- Queso fresco cheese
- Queso Oaxaca cheese
- Quahog clams
- Qatayef
- Quarkballchen
- Quarkspätzle
- Quahog clams
- Quaker oats
- Quatre épices
- Quick pickles
- Quince jam
- Qaimak cheese
- Qottab
- Queso fundido
- Queso de bola dip
- Quenelles
- Quince syrup
- Quimchi
- Quarkstollen
- Queso Cotija cheese
- Queso Chihuahua cheese
Pizza Toppings That Start With R:
- Ricotta cheese
- Roasted garlic
- Red onions
- Romano cheese
- Roasted red peppers
- Rosemary
- Raisins
- Ravioli
- Red pepper flakes
- Radicchio
- Ranch dressing
- Roquefort cheese
- Red pepper pesto
- Rabbit meat
- Rice
- Radishes
- Ramps
- Rocket arugula
- Rambutan
- Raspberry sauce
- Redcurrants
- Red chard
- Red wine reduction
- Rhubarb compote
- Red
Pizza Toppings That Start With S:
- Sausage
- Spinach
- Salami
- Sundried tomatoes
- Shrimp
- Scallions
- Sweetcorn
- Smoked salmon
- Swiss cheese
- Sliced tomatoes
- Serrano ham
- Saffron
- Szechuan peppers
- Sesame seeds
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Soppressata
- Soy sauce
- Sweet peppers
- Sage
- Smoked gouda cheese
- Scrambled eggs
- Squash
- Sauerkraut
- Scamorza cheese
- Spicy Italian sausage
- Sriracha sauce
- Snow peas
- Sultanas
- Sweet potato fries
- Sourdough croutons
Pizza Toppings That Start With T:
- Tomatoes
- Tuna
- Turkey
- Tofu
- Truffle oil
- Thyme
- Tabasco sauce
- Taleggio cheese
- Tarragon
- Toasted almonds
- Taleggio cheese
- Teriyaki sauce
- Toasted breadcrumbs
- Tandoori chicken
- Thai basil
- Tequila
- Tatsoi
- Tangelo
- Tamarind chutney
- Tobiko
- Tzatziki
- Tapioca pearls
- Tarhana soup
- Tawilah cheese
- Tomato jam
- Truffle salt
- Tamales
- Tortilla strips
- Tripe
- Tahini sauce
Pizza Toppings That Start With U:
- Udon noodles
- Uni (sea urchin)
- Umeboshi
- Urfa biber
- Ugli fruit
- Urad dal
- Uruguayan cheese
- Urfa pepper
- Ube
- Urdă cheese
- Utica greens
- Ulster fry
- Upside-down pizza
- Ume plum sauce
- Udon soup
- Umami powder
- Unleavened bread
- Uitsmijter
- Utica-style tomato sauce
- Upma
- Uyghur naan
- Umeboshi paste
- Ube halaya
- Ulva seaweed
- Urap
- Ugali
- Udon noodle soup
- Usal pav
- Umm Ali
- Umbrian lentils
Pizza Toppings That Start With V:
- Vegetables
- Veal
- Vodka sauce
- Vine-ripened tomatoes
- Vegan cheese
- Venison
- Vanilla extract
- Vidalia onions
- Valdeón cheese
- Vacherin cheese
- Vadouvan spice
- Vindaloo sauce
- Violet mustard
- Vermouth
- Valencia oranges
- Vinegar peppers
- Västerbotten cheese
- Venison sausage
- Veggieslami
- Violet petals
- Vietnamese coriander
- Viande des Grisons
- Valtellina casera cheese
- Violet syrup
- Vleeskroket
- Vinho verde
Pizza Toppings That Start With W:
- Wild mushrooms
- Walnuts
- White onions
- Watercress
- Wasabi
- Wilted spinach
- Worcestershire sauce
- White truffle oil
- Whipped cream cheese
- Wensleydale cheese
- Wild rice
- Wakame seaweed
- White anchovies
- Whiskey-marinated steak
- Waldorf salad (apples, celery, and walnuts)
Pizza Toppings That Start With X:
- Xigua (Chinese watermelon)
- Xnipec (Yucatecan salsa)
- Xacuti (Indian spice blend)
- Xouba (sardine)
- Xiao long bao (soup dumplings)
- Xingren doufu (almond tofu)
- Xo sauce (spicy seafood sauce)
- Xató (Catalan sauce)
- Ximénez-Spínola vinegar
- Xmas ham (Christmas ham)
- Xigua seeds (watermelon seeds)
- Xnipec de venado (deer meat Yucatecan salsa)
- Xylitol (sugar substitute)
- Xacuti chicken (chicken cooked with Indian spice blend)
- Xinjiang lamb skewers (lamb kebab from Xinjiang, China)
Pizza Toppings That Start With Y:
- Yellow squash
- Yams
- Yellow bell peppers
- Yeast flakes
- Yuzu fruit
- Yellowfin tuna
- Yak sausage
- Yaki onigiri (grilled rice balls)
- Yorkshire pudding
- Yuba (tofu skin)
- Yalancı dolma (stuffed grape leaves without meat)
- Yabbies (Australian freshwater crustaceans)
- Yum woon sen (Thai glass noodle salad)
- Yassa chicken (Senegalese marinated chicken)
- Yalda night fruits (special Iranian fruits eaten during the winter solstice)
Pizza Toppings That Start With Z:
- Zucchini
- Ziti pasta
- Za’atar seasoning
- Zinfandel wine
- Zesty Italian dressing
- Zucchini blossoms
- Zongzi (Chinese sticky rice dumplings)
- Zampone (Italian sausage)
- Zabaglione (Italian dessert)
- Zwiebelkuchen (German onion pie)
- Zampogna (Italian bagpipe)
- Zesty pepperoni
- Zabaione ice cream
- Ziti al forno (baked ziti)
- Zalzett tal-Malti (Maltese sausage)
How to Order Pizza in English
Knowing topping names is only half the game. Here is the vocabulary native speakers actually use at the counter.
- Extra cheese means more cheese than the standard amount. “One large with extra cheese.”
- Half and half means two topping sets on one pizza. “Half pepperoni, half mushroom.”
- Thin crust / deep dish describes the base. Thin crust is crispy, deep dish is thick and filling.
- Well done asks them to bake it a little longer for a crispier crust.
- For here or to go is the classic question. It means eat at the restaurant or take away.
- The works orders a fully loaded pizza with many toppings at once.
Pizza Topping FAQs
What is the most popular pizza topping?
Pepperoni. It has topped every major pizza survey in the US for decades, followed by sausage, mushrooms, and extra cheese.
How many pizza toppings are there?
Hundreds. This page lists toppings from A to Z, from everyday mozzarella to wild cards like amaretti cookies and matzo. New ones appear every year.
Does pineapple belong on pizza?
Hawaiian pizza (ham plus pineapple) was invented in Canada in the 1960s and has fans on every continent. Whether it belongs is a matter of taste, and arguing about it is half the fun.
What is a white pizza?
A pizza made without tomato sauce, usually with ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, and olive oil instead. Try saying “una pizza bianca” if you want to impress an Italian.
What does “extra cheese” mean on a pizza order?
It means a larger amount of cheese than the standard recipe. Cheese lovers order it, and some pizzerias charge a little more for it.
Keep Playing With Words
Done with toppings? There is more English to play with.
- Fun English tools: translators and word games, including the famous hieroglyphics translator.
- Food words: the whole category of tasty English vocabulary.
- From the blog: fresh word lists and language fun every week.
