Pizza is a universally beloved food, enjoyed by people all around the world. This cheesy staple has a deep history that goes back centuries, with its origins tracing back to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans.
In America, people started grabbing slices in 1905 at one of the first documented United States pizzerias, G. Lombardi's, in Manhattan.
Today, people can order take-out pizza online in just a few clicks. HungerRush's study of American dining habits found that 79% of younger customers eat out more than 5 times a month, and Statista reports that 18.9 billion U.S. dollars were spent on carry-out pizza.
That's a lot of 'za.
There are countless pizza variations, and people debate over the best flavor, toppings, and crusts. We aren't here to take sides, but in this article, we will look at the different types of pizza, their crusts, and the Menufy team's favorite pies.
7 Pizza Styles To Slice Into
Neapolitan Pizza:
Neapolitan pizza is the original pizza from Naples, Italy, and is known for its soft, chewy crust. This style of pizza is cooked at very high temperatures (800 F to 900 F) for no more than two minutes and is guaranteed to burn the roof of your mouth.
Crispy and chewy Neapolitan pizza. Courtesy of Canva.
If you are looking for a diverse selection of toppings, Neapolitan pizza is not your journey. This pizza is traditionally topped with simple ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves.
Curious for a taste of Naples? The Neapolitan pies coming out of Giovanni Pizza are a slice of authentic Italy!
"Neapolitan pizza has got to be my number one pick. It is crispy and light and has the perfect amount of sauce and toppings." -Matt Dieden, Senior Product Marketing Manager, HungerRush
Chicago-style Pizza:
Chicago-style pizza, fondly known as deep dish, is truly a pie. It towers above all other pizzas with its three-inch (or more) high stature. The crust is notoriously buttery and flaky, providing the perfect base for a generous portion of cheese and toppings. Another defining characteristic of deep-dish pizza is that the delicious toppings are underneath a sauce, usually made with crushed tomatoes.
Rosati’s deep dish pizza. Courtesy of Facebook.
"My favorite is deep dish pizzzzzza. I love a flaky and crispy crust!" - Stacy Allen, Senior Product Coordinator, Menufy by HungerRush
People who love Chicago-style pizza know it's worth the wait–and that's a good thing because it can take up to 45 minutes to bake deep-dish pizza. When you slice into the pie, you can count on gooey cheese and tons of flavor.
Ready to sink your teeth into a deep-dish pizza? Rosati's Authentic Chicago Pizza features Chicago-style pie with a buttery crust filled with mounds of mozzarella cheese and topped with chunky pomodoro tomato, and it's available online for delivery!
Sicilian Pizza:
Pizza is only pizza if it's round, some say. But try telling that to Sicilian-style pizza, which is famous for its rectangular shape and for having a thick, fluffy crust that is soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.
The Sicilian's fluffy crust is similar to focaccia bread and was originally referred to as "sfincione," which translates to "thick sponge."
Traditionally, the dough is smothered with sauce and sprinkled with breadcrumbs and grated cheese before it's baked in a wood-fired oven. Sicilian pizza is a hearty dish with unique flavor and texture.
A thick slice of Sicilian pizza topped with Italian seasoning and breadcrumbs. Courtesy of Canva.
A Sicilian-style pizza that is sure to satisfy is made by Francis Garcia and Sal Basille, owners of Artichoke Basille’s Pizza. Order a pie from one of their 15+ locations to experience a twice-baked crunchy crust.
New York-style Pizza:
When you think New York-style pizza, one term comes to mind: foldable.
This style of pizza is famous for its large, wide slices featuring a thin, crisp crust. New York-style pizzerias use the hand-toss method to stretch the dough to the perfect thickness. Traditionally, these pies are cooked in a coal-fired oven, but nowadays, most pizza joints opt for a regular gas oven.
Due to the massive size of each pie (typically 18 inches across!), New York pizza is usually sold by the slice. Customers have the choice of almost any topping, but the most popular choices are cheese, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, or olives.
John's of Bleecker Street’s giant NY pizza. Courtesy of Instagram.
John's of Bleecker Street is the perfect example of New York pizza. They use a coal-fired brick oven that churns out hundreds of crispy pizzas daily to meet the demands of dine-in and online-ordering customers.
Gluten-free Pizza:
Various types of wheat flour are the building block for almost every pizza dough. But with gluten-free pizza, flour is nowhere to be found. This pizza variation has become a popular option for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
Instead of wheat flour, the dough is typically made with a combination of rice flour, cornmeal, and potato starch. Some dough recipes even utilize cauliflower, a gluten-free AND healthy pizza crust option.
Cauliflower is a suitable substitute for traditional gluten-based crusts. Courtesy of Canva.
"Well, it's hard to choose my favorite pizza style. BUT I love a good pizza of any kind with gluten-free crust or cauliflower crust. Any kind works because, well, pizza is just amazing no matter how it comes." -Barbara Maenza, Support Manager, Menufy by HungerRush
Detroit-style Pizza:
Detroit-style pizza takes inspiration from its older sister, Sicilian pizza. It is identified by its iconic square shape and crunchy, fluffy crust. Most notable are the cheesy, crisp corner slices that are coveted by Detroit pizza lovers.
"If it's Detroit, then I'm happy." -Andy Lowder, Technical Sales Manager, Menufy by HungerRush
The style of pizza also flips traditional pizza construction on its head. Toppings are layered directly on the dough. This allows the rich flavors of the meat and veggies to absorb into the spongy crust.
Before the pie is baked to perfection, pizzerias add the signature sauce in wide streaks painted across the top of the pizza.
8Mileπ Detroit Style Pizza’s crispy, fluffy, and rectangular pizza! Courtesy of Facebook.
Looking for Detroit pizza but don't live in Michigan? 8Mileπ is based in the Bay Area but serves Detroit pizza with an extra cheesy, crisp crust. Visit one of their five locations or order online directly from their website!
Brooklyn-style Pizza:
If you think Brooklyn pizza is the same as New York-style pizza, we are here to help. Pizza can be broken down into three important categories: crust, sauce, and toppings.
With Brooklyn-style pizza, cornmeal is cooked into the dough to achieve its characteristic crispy crust. In fact, the crown for pizza with the thinnest crust is proudly worn by Brooklyn pizza.
Brooklyn-style pizza with the thinest crust on the block!
Because the crust is so thin, the sauce is at risk of making the whole pie soggy. But pizzerias that are serving up Brooklyn pizza use only a thin layer of flavorful sauce.
"Actual Brooklyn, not New York, is my style pizza. Foldable, dippable goodness." -Carlos Gomez, Web Optimization Specialist, Menufy by HungerRush
While New York-style pizza sticks to traditional toppings, Brooklyn-style lets people flex their culinary creativity. There is no limit to what toppings can be baked into a Brooklyn pizza–except for pineapple.
Just kidding.
The Last Slice
Pizza takes many forms. The best combination of crust style and ingredients is a hot topic and causes heated discussions in the culinary world and at the dinner table.
What we learned is that pizza is a versatile dish that can be customized to suit individual tastes and preferences.
Whether you prefer a thin and crispy crust or a deep-dish pie, chances are there's a pizza out there for you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa Dimmitt, Marketing Manager
Melissa began her digital marketing career over a decade ago at a restaurant group. She worked with restaurant managers and executive chefs while coordinating seasonal menu releases, executing photoshoots, and creating fresh digital content.