Pizza Facts
Types of pizza: Do you know your Neapolitan from your Chicago deep dish?
11.01.2024
3 MIN READ
3 MIN READ
With a legacy built on crafting the perfect slice, we’ve tried more than a few different types of pizza in our time. Wherever you are in the world, the core elements of a good pizza, like fresh dough and quality ingredients, remain constant. But there are a range of unique global variations to enjoy, depending on where you are – or where you order your pizza from.
Understanding the various types of pizza, their origins, and their characteristics, is all part of the pizza experience. So, here’s our whirlwind tour of the top 5 tastiest pizza types – from the iconic Neapolitan to the hearty Chicago deep dish, and everything in between.
What is Neapolitan pizza?
Origin and characteristics
Neapolitan pizza, also known as “Pizza Napoletana”, hails from Naples, Italy. Its history dates back to the 18th century, making it one of the oldest types of pizza.
Famous for its simplicity, a Neapolitan style pizza features just tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil on a thin, soft crust baked in a wood-fired oven. Toppings are minimalistic – the base ingredients speak for themselves. The result is a delectable combination of flavours and textures.
What is New York style pizza?
Origin and characteristics
America had a pretty big hand in making modern pizza what it is today – more on that in our history of pizza. As for New York-style pizza, it’s characterised by its large, thin, and foldable slices. Italian immigrants brought this style to America, and it quickly became an iconic part of New York City's food culture.
The crust is crisp, the sauce must be smooth and mildly sweet, and it’s topped with dry, grated mozzarella. Classic New York style toppings include pepperoni, sausage, or meatballs.
What is a Chicago deep dish pizza?
Origin and characteristics
Head just a few States over, and you’ll be served a completely different type of pizza. In contrast to its New York cousin, Chicago deep dish pizza is a super indulgent creation.
This pizza is known for its tall, buttery, and flaky crust, resembling a pie more than a traditional pizza. Typically, deep dish pizzas are layered with toppings, including chunky tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and various meats and vegetables.
What is a Sicilian pizza?
Origin and characteristics
Also known as sfincione, Sicilian pizza comes in a distinct square shape with a thick crust that’s crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside.
This type of pizza traditionally featured a strong cheese, like sheep’s or goat’s, on top of a tomato sauce made with herbs, onions and anchovies. The more modern versions are known to be topped with classic mozzarella.
What is a Papa Johns Pizza?
Whatever style of pizza you like best, sometimes nothing can beat the convenience of a takeaway pizza.
With our fresh, hand-tossed dough, topped with tangy tomato sauce, high quality mozzarella cheese and almost any topping you could imagine, nothing quite beats a Papa Johns when you’re craving pizza satisfaction. Try something new today, you know it makes sense.
