Best Three Topping Pizza Combos- You HAVE TO try these!

Since I bought my first portable pizza oven a few years ago, I have cooked a lot of pizzas and tried so many pizza toppings; now it is time to share my best three-topping pizza combos.

With an almost endless list of toppings that you can put on pizzas, there are just as many combinations if you want to put three toppings on your pizza.

I love pizzas with meat toppings such as pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, chicken, and anchovies.

However, I cannot disregard the delicious flavors from veggie toppings. They are fresh and light, so you get to eat more.

Whether you want sweet, savory, spicy, earthy, salty, or buttery flavors on your pizza, you can find them in this list where I gathered the best 3-topping combos for pizzas.

Aside from the flavors, you might also love how certain ingredients bring a unique aroma or texture, so check out this post to see which 3-topping pizza combo fits you best.

How To Make The Best Three-topping Pizza?

The key to making the best three-topping pizza is to use ingredients that you are familiar with and that you know will go well together.

I love experimenting with new flavors, but I have to admit that there have been failed attempts where I combined unusual ingredients, and they did not blend well in terms of flavor.

Do not let this discourage you from trying out new flavors, as pizza is about finding which flavors you want.

Also, the flavor of the pizza will not depend solely on the toppings, so according to the toppings you use, and you should also find the right sauce and cheese. done

Cooking at the right temperature is also a major key to creating the best 3-topping pizza at home.

Are Three Toppings Enough On A Pizza?

I do not treat the pizza sauce as a topping since it is a different part of the pizza. Mozzarella cheese is standard, so I disregard it as a topping.

So if I put the pizza sauce and cheese aside, adding three more toppings is enough on my pizzas.

Whether those toppings are all-meat or all-veggie, three toppings are enough on a pizza. The main reason is to prevent overcrowding and confusion on what flavor is on the pizza.

Some overloaded pizzas are great as they have a common flavor or a balanced flavor, but some pizza toppings have too many different flavors that confuse you.

Sticking with 3, maybe 4, toppings is just the right number on my pizzas.

Best Three-topping Pizza Combinations

Meat Options

1. Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, And Mushrooms

With a bit of spice from the Italian sausage and pepperoni, this combination is balanced with the earthiness and mild flavors from the mushroom.

I also recommend using sweet Italian sausage if you are not into spicy food.

2. Pepperoni, Bacon, And Onions

I love pepperoni because of the slightly spicy flavor. Bring in the savory sweetness from the bacon and onions and you have a perfect pizza at home.

This combination of flavors is perfect for kids and adults who love a meaty but fresh flavor on their pizzas.

3. Ham, Bacon, And Pineapple

Now, you know where I am going with this. Hawaiian pizza is a popular pizza , it is not my favorite pizzas; but I guess according to the consensus(I do not agree but this combos is a very popular one so give it a try)- yes, pineapple belongs on pizza.

Sweet and savory, these are the flavor profiles that you would get aside from the fresh and juicy texture that the pineapples bring.

4. Pepperoni, Chicken, And Bacon

All the meaty goodness. Pepperoni, chicken, and bacon combined in one pizza are to die for. They have a balanced savory flavor with a little bit of spice from the thick pepperoni slices.

I always try to make this pizza with leftover ham or BBQ chicken, which is truly great.

5. Chicken, Bacon, and Mushroom

Chicken is relatively bland, but with this recipe, you will get a salty mix of bacon and earthy flavors from the mushroom.

I recommend using chicken breast for a healthier option but if you want more flavor, go with wings or thigh part.

6. Pepperoni, Italian sausage, And Crispy Bacon

This combination is common among meat lovers of pizza from different pizza chains. Some add ham with it, but these three are perfect for that meaty flavor and crispy texture.

I usually make this with hot Italian sausage, but sweet sausages will also do the trick for the kids to enjoy.

7. BBQ Chicken, Bacon, And Onions

Crispy texture from the bacon, a chewy texture from the chicken, and a little bit of sweetness from the onions. This combination is trendy in backyard cookouts.

I like making this pizza at home to enjoy while watching movies. It is filling so three slices are usually enough for me.

Veggie Options

8. Bell Peppers, Olives, And Corn

Bell peppers have this slightly sweet flavor which is accentuated in this recipe. Add onions and corn for both sweet flavors and texture, and you have a great veggie pizza.

Corn is not the most common veggie topping on pizzas but it is actually great. Give it a try!

9. Garlic, Mushroom, And Spinach

Garlic and mushrooms are my favorite veggie toppings. They bring in this delicious aroma and earthy flavors that match both meat and veggie toppings.

Spinach brings in the freshness to the flavor and for some texture, this recipe also uses peanuts but you can skip that if you want.

10. Mushrooms, Asparagus, And Roasted Red Peppers

Mushrooms are popular pizza toppings mainly because of their savory and earthy flavor. Roasted red peppers also add a bit of smokiness and sweetness.

The asparagus topping mostly brings in the texture, but it is also a fresh addition to the flavors on the 3-topping pizza.

11. Kale, Garlic, And Artichoke Hearts

This 3-topping combo gives off a herby flavor that is popular with vegan diets. It is a healthy option that gives an intense veggie flavor, which kids might not be fans of.

Kale is great under intense heat as it becomes a bit crispy. Artichoke hearts also add a bit of chewy texture to the pizza.

3-topping Pizza Combo(Meat)	3-topping Pizza Combo(Veggie)
Italian sausage, pepperoni, and mushrooms.	Bell peppers, onions, and corn.
Pepperoni, bacon, and onions.	Garlic, mushroom, and spinach.
Ham, bacon, and pineapple.	Mushroom, asparagus, and roasted red peppers.
Pepperoni, chicken, and bacon.	Kale, garlic, and artichoke hearts.
Chicken, bacon, and mushroom.
Pepperoni, Italian sausage, and crispy bacon.
BBQ Chicken, bacon, and onions.

Why Some Pizza Combinations Work So Well?

The 3-topping pizza combinations I listed are fantastic mainly because of the flavor and texture. Some ingredients also bring a delicious aroma to the pizza.

So why do these work?

1. Flavours

Combining different flavors on a pizza is hit-and-miss. Ingredients such as mushrooms, pepperoni, and sausages go well in terms of flavor.

See, pepperoni has a slight spice while mushrooms give an earthy flavor. These flavors are great when combined and explode in your mouth.

One flavor does not overpower the other, so it is about finding the right balance.

2. Aroma

Garlic and onions tend to give intense aromas when raw. However, when they are cooked, they blend well with other ingredients.

Meat and veggies, when mixed, also have this savory smell that makes you hungry every time you smell it.

I love the combination of garlic and meat aromas. When cooked, they have this mild smell that seems to switch the brain to eat more automatically.

3. Texture

When cooked right, most pizza toppings become a little bit crispy on the outside. Bell peppers are the best example of this.

With a bit of crunch, you actually get to savor the flavors on each bite. Mushrooms are soft, but I also tend to chew them more like meat which gives me more earthly flavor.

The soft veggie toppings are also great for balancing the crispy texture of the crust.

How To Create Unique Pizza Topping Combos

Aside from listing out the topping combos that most people like, I also used this guide to create and cook unique pizza topping combos.

1. Use Toppings That Go Together

With a bit of research or trial and error, you will find what ingredients go well together on a pizza. For instance, I found out that pepperoni, peppers, and pineapples go well together by experimenting.

Other ingredients that go well together are ground beef, chicken, and mushrooms. They are savory and heavy so a slice or two of the pizza might get you full.

Garlic, onions, mushrooms, black olives, bell peppers, jalapenos, pepperoni, Italian sausage, and chicken are some of the best toppings on the pizza.

No matter which three you pick from these ingredients, they will go well together.

2. Toppings That Balance Flavour

Finding the right ingredients is the first step for making delicious pizza topping combos. The next is to mix the ingredients with similar flavors or those that counter each other.

For example, I mix sweet toppings like bell peppers, onions, and olives with slightly spicier toppings like pepperoni, jalapenos, and hot Italian sausages.

Sweet goes well with savory flavors, earthy flavors go well with smoky flavors, and salty flavors go well with savory flavors.

3. Use Different Sauces To See What Works

When making pizzas, the toppings are the main attractions, but for your pizza to be delicious, you must make sure you use the proper sauce.

The sauce on your pizza is like the flavor that combines all the other ingredients. So for me, I usually use ranch, BBQ sauce, or white alfredo sauce with chicken topping.

Pepperoni, mushrooms, ground beef, and sausages go well with the classic red pizza sauce.

Veggie toppings are great with pesto sauce or alfredo sauce. So make sure to see which sauce fits best with your toppings.

4. Play With Different Cheese To Top Your Pizza

Just like the sauce on your pizza, you can also experiment with the cheese you are using. Strong flavors require milder types of cheese and vice versa.

I like using cheddar and feta cheese with mild, meaty flavors like chicken and steaks.

Mozzarella, parmesan, and gouda go well with toppings like pepperoni, Italian sausage, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and anchovies.

5. Finally, Don’t Be Afraid To Try Out New Topping Combos

If you are curious about specific ingredients, go ahead and try them. Be creative and explore other ingredients to combine on your pizza.

That way, you will find something unique that you might like.

I even tried local produce and ingredients not usually found on pizzas which I found fun to do, and I made a pizza that everybody liked.

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