Whether it’s National Pizza Day, National Pizza Month or just about any day, there’s always a good time to order a pizza. Whether you prefer a greasy by-the-slice cheese pizza or a decadent fig and prosciutto flatbread, pizza is the go-to for just about everyone. But how did pizza become the phenomenon it is today?

A Brief History of Pizza

The modern-day pizza hails from Naples in Italy’s Campania region. Invented to provide people with an easy and inexpensive way to eat and sold mostly by street vendors and informal restaurants, pizza was the original fast food. 

It wasn’t until the late 19th century and early 20th century that pizza’s popularity spiked worldwide. Immigration from Italy to the United States was quickly followed by pizza shop openings in major cities across the country, especially on the East Coast. One of the first documented U.S. pizza joints opened in 1905 and is still there today: Lombardi’s pizzeria on Spring Street in Manhattan. By 1945, newspapers across the nation were touting pizza as the newly popular food trend.

Today, we still eat pizza en masse. Americans eat up to 3 billion pizzas each year, averaging out to almost 40 pizzas per person. That’s at least 6,000 slices over the course of your life. That’s a whole lot of pizza!

The Top 10 Most Popular Pizzas of 2023

Pizza has become an integral part of our culture and diet. It’s on the menu for most of our big events, from birthday parties to game day festivities. It is an absolute crowd-pleaser and tasty any way it’s made, though most people have strict opinions on the best toppings.

To find out what the current most popular pizza types are, we looked at all ezCater orders for the past year. Predictably, the most popular was the ubiquitous cheese pizza, followed closely by pepperoni. These two are classic and reliable, making them an obvious choice in any situation. After the reigning king and queen though, things get interesting. The full top 10 list of most-ordered pizzas are:

1. Cheese Pizza

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life. Given the flexibility of a simple cheese pizza, it’s no surprise that it tops the list as the King of Pizzas.

2. Pepperoni Pizza

If I say pepperoni, you say pizza! The two go hand in hand, and that easily secures pepperoni’s spot the second most frequently ordered pizza on our list. 

3. Custom (Build Your Own) Pizza

Pepperoni, mushroom, and olives, please. And can I get prosciutto, arugula, and goat cheese on the other half? For those driven by creativity and vision, the standard pre-constructed fare will never do. Endless combinations of toppings make custom pizza the chameleon of the pizza world.

4. Meat Lovers Pizza

If you’re looking for a pie with a bit more heft, a meat lovers pizza is the perfect choice. Ground beef, sausage, and pepperoni? Bring it on!

5. Veggie Pizza

The blank canvas of a cheese pizza cries out for the vegetarian treatment. From mushrooms, arugula, olives, and spinach to grape tomatoes, eggplant, onions, and peppers, the palette with which to paint it is only limited by your imagination.

6. Margherita Pizza

A classically simple spin on cheese pizza, the Margherita is made with basil, fresh mozzarella, and tomatoes. An Italian staple, and one of the most popular types of pizza in the country.

7. BBQ Chicken Pizza

This tangy cult favorite of sports fans and college kids is a fusion of pizza and BBQ, with a unique flavor that’s proud to be included in the hallowed halls of pizzadom.

8. Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Akin to BBQ Chicken pizza but with a bit more kick, buffalo chicken pizza is buffalo wings re-imagined as a pizza. What’s not to love?

9. The Works Pizza

A wise man once said, “I want it all. And I want it now.” For those who simply can’t decide on a single pizza topping, this baby’s got it all. The “works” usually includes onions, olives, mushrooms, bacon, and pepperoni.

10. Hawaiian Pizza

Nothing sparks pizza controversy like pineapple. But no matter what pizza purists might think of it, there are enough people out there loving that sweet and savory combination of pineapple and ham to land the Hawaiian pizza a spot in our top 10. 

So there you have it, the Top 10 Pizzas of 2023. Be sure to keep those topping choices in mind when ordering for your crew, and allow for an average of 2-3 slices per person. Plan your Pizza Day celebration now; we’ve got lots of pizza catering available near you!