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18 Unique Pizzas That Go Way Beyond the Usual Slice

These aren't your typical pies.

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unique pizza recipes
C.W. Newell

Pizza night doesn't have to mean the same old slices of mozzarella and marinara (although you can never go wrong with a classic cheese pizza). The best pizza recipes borrow ideas from everywhere: creamy spreads not just tomato-based sauces, unexpected crusts that bake to a flaky or extra crispy texture, and toppings that range from salad-inspired greens to a delicious mixture that resembles French onion soup.

Try tangy labneh or ranch as a base sauce, pesto that turns the whole pie bright in color and herbal in flavor, or even fig spread for a sweet, jammy contrast to salty prosciutto. Swap traditional pizza dough for French bread, naan, or puff pastry when you want something faster, crunchier, or just a little different. Then lean into toppings that bring real personality, like lemon slices with hot honey, shrimp with Alfredo, or a Caesar salad piled on after baking for cool crunch against a hot crust. On this list, you'll also find a steakhouse-inspired pizza, briny dill pickle pizza, and breakfast pizza stacked with eggs and bacon.

Each of these homemade pizzas prove that pie can be playful, bold, and totally unexpected. So, if you love pizza (who doesn't?) but are craving something new, this is your sign to skip the usual and try flavors that surprise you in the best way.

1

Shrimp Alfredo Pizza

shrimp alfredo unique pizza
Ryan Liebe

For a seafood-forward twist on pizza, try this recipe that ditches red sauce for Alfredo sauce. Tender grilled shrimp are scattered over fluffy naan, along with juicy cherry tomatoes and plenty of mozzarella. A final addition of lemon, parsley and red pepper flakes keeps it bright, fresh, and just a little spicy.

Get Ree's Shrimp Alfredo Pizza recipe.

2

Dill Pickle Pizza

dill pickle pizza
David Malosh

Pickle lovers will definitely think this pizza is a big dill! (Get it?) The crust gets a thick layer of ranch, plus mozzarella and white cheddar. Dill pickle chips are scattered over the top so they bake into salty, tangy pockets. Don't forget a sprinkling of fresh dill at the end!

Get Ree's Dill Pickle Pizza recipe.

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3

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

chicken bacon ranch unique pizza
C.W. Newell

Get ready to go all in on ranch flavor with this pizza! It's piled with melty cheese, then loaded with cooked chicken, crispy bacon, and thin-sliced red onion for smoky, savory crunch. A drizzle of ranch and sprinkle of fresh chives makes it taste like your favorite ranch-dipped snack, only hot and sliceable.

Get Ree's Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza recipe.

4

French Onion French Bread Pizza

french onion unique pizza
Ryan Liebe

Pizza night feels special when you whip up this pizza. Instead of dough, it starts with split French bread that gets brushed with garlic butter and toasted until crispy. Then, it's piled with sweet, jammy caramelized onions, a melty mix of gruyère and mozzarella, and a few briny olives.

Get Ree's French Onion French Bread Pizza recipe.

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5

Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza

unique pizza recipes
David Malosh

It's the ultimate salad-meets-pizza mashup! Brush the crust with olive oil and top with parmesan, then pour a light drizzle of dressing. After baking, it's topped with a romaine lettuce and rotisserie chicken. The dressing is bold and tangy, so each slice tastes crunchy, creamy, and savory.

Get Ree's Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza recipe.

6

Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza

mushroom puff pastry unique pizza
Antonis Achilleos

Yes, you can swap dough for puff pastry! Start with a flaky, golden sheet scored with a knife so it bakes up like a crisp, buttery tart. Brush it with olive oil, then top with garlicky baby bella mushrooms sautéed in butter and finished with a splash of dry white wine, plus a generous helping of mozzarella and chives.

Get Ree's Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza recipe.

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7

Caprese French Bread Pizzas

caprese french bread unique pizzas
Ralph Smith

Caprese salad is the inspiration for this quick pizza using a split loaf of bread as the crust. You'll add a bright homemade pesto, then top with fresh mozzarella and bake until melty and golden. Finish with juicy tomato slices, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, and torn basil for that classic sweet-tangy bite.

Get Ree's Caprese French Bread Pizzas recipe.

8

White Zucchini Pizza

white zucchini unique pizza
Doaa Elkady

This pizza leans bright, creamy, and veggie-forward. Garlicky labneh is whisked with olive oil and oregano, then slathered over the dough as the base. It's topped with mozzarella, plus thin-sliced zucchini and summer squash, then finished with a pinch of crushed red pepper for gentle heat.

Get the White Zucchini Pizza recipe.

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9

Salad Pizza

salad unique pizza
Caitlin Bensel

For this creative pizza, the crust is actually formed into a bowl to hold a full antipasti chopped salad. It's piled high with toppings: marinated artichokes, roasted red peppers, black olives, pepperoncini, salami, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella pearls, and diced provolone.

Get the Salad Pizza recipe.

10

White Pizza with Butternut Squash and Prosciutto

unique white pizza with butternut squash and prosciutto
Ralph Smith

This pizza tastes like autumn in a slice. Thin half-moons of butternut squash are roasted with rosemary and olive oil, then layered over refrigerated pizza dough with shredded whole milk mozzarella and grated pecorino. Dollops of ricotta melt into creamy pockets as it bakes, and torn prosciutto finishes it off.

Get Ree's White Pizza with Butternut Squash and Prosciutto recipe.

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11

Breakfast Pizza

breakfast unique pizza
Caitlin Bensel

This one is basically a full sheet-pan breakfast you can eat by the slice. It uses crescent dough sheets as the no-fuss crust, then layers on crispy bacon, golden shredded hash browns, and soft scrambled eggs. Complete with plenty of shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, and hot sauce for a hearty meal to start your day.

Get the Breakfast Pizza recipe.

12

Pesto Pizza with Arugula and Prosciutto

unique pesto pizza with arugula and prosciutto
Ryan Dausch

This pie tastes fresh and fancy. Basil pesto stands in for the typical sauce, then the crust is topped with fontina, and baked until bubbly. After it comes out, spread the pesto and dollop small spoonfuls of ricotta. On top is a peppery arugula and mushroom salad with lemon and scattered slices of prosciutto.

Get Ree's Pesto Pizza with Arugula and Prosciutto recipe.

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13

Potato and Leek Pizza

unique potato and leek pizza
KEVIN J. MIYAZAKI

A creamy, savory white pie that feels like comfort food in pizza form. Thin-sliced Yukon Gold potatoes and tender sautéed leeks replace red sauce, with dollops of whole-milk ricotta melting into a rich base as it bakes. Add crispy bacon, fresh parsley, parmesan, and a hit of lemon zest at the end.

Get Ree's Potato and Leek Pizza recipe.

14

Steakhouse Pizza with Blue Cheese

unique steakhouse pizza
Ryan Liebe

It's pizza night and steak night! To make this pie, store-bought dough gets topped with a thick layer of shredded mozzarella, sweet balsamic-caramelized red onions, and crumbles of soft blue cheese, then bakes until bubbling. Right after it comes out of the oven, add peppery baby spinach, parmesan, and thin slices of medium-rare skirt or flank steak.

Get Ree's Steakhouse Pizza with Blue Cheese recipe.

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15

Broccoli and Tomato Flatbread Pizzas

broccoli and tomato flatbread unique pizzas
Ryan Dausch

Don't want to deal with baking dough? Naan is the base of this pizza! They're covered with a layer of mozzarella, then topped with roasted broccoli and juicy cherry tomatoes. A sprinkle of chopped green olives and salted roasted pepitas adds a briny crunch, and a pinch of red pepper flakes adds just the right amount of heat.

Get Ree's Broccoli and Tomato Flatbread Pizzas recipe.

16

Fig and Arugula Pizza

fig and arugula unique pizza
KEVIN J. MIYAZAKI

Check out this salty and sweet pie! Fig spread gets smeared over the dough, then it's blanketed with mozzarella and baked until the crust turns deeply golden. After it comes out, pile on thin prosciutto and a bright arugula salad dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.

Get Ree's Fig and Arugula Pizza recipe.

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17

Grilled Breakfast Pizza

grilled breakfast unique pizza
Ralph Smith

Turn your morning breakfast into a crisp, smoky pie cooked right on the grill. The dough gets lightly charred, then topped with eggs, breakfast sausage, a hash brown-vegetable mixture, and plenty of melty cheese. It's a hearty, breakfast-for-dinner pizza that's anything but basic.

Get Ree's Grilled Breakfast Pizza recipe.

18

Lemon Pizza

lemon unique pizza
Ashley Alexander

Paige Drummond served this pizza at her bridal shower! It's an unexpected pie that tastes like sunshine on a crust. The base is made with parmesan, two kinds of mozzarella, garlic, and thin-sliced shallots, then topped with paper-thin lemon slices that caramelize at the edges. Just add a drizzle of hot honey and a sprinkle of fresh basil.

Get the Lemon Pizza recipe.

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