Build Your Own Pizza: An Easy Formula with 20+ Pizza Recipes

An easy formula to build your own pizza with topping suggestions and combinations for everything from child-friendly to gourmet pizzas.

In my children’s book, Olive’s Plate Dream, Olive’s journey ends in the most unexpected and delicious way: on top of a pizza.

If you’d like to make your own pizza, with or without olives (which are an acquired taste and not to everyone’s liking), I have you covered. Here you’ll find everything from classic pizza combinations to gourmet pizzas. You can make it your own, following the formula, or try any of the pizza topping combination ideas I provide.

Let’s build a pizza!

Formula to build a pizza

1. Choose your type of pizza base

2. Choose the type of pizza sauce

Your sauce sets the flavour foundation for your pizza. You can keep it simple or experiment with something new.

• Classic pizza sauce: a tomato-based sauce seasoned with herbs and garlic for that traditional pizza flavour.
• Tomato paste: a quick option with a strong tomato flavour. Add a sprinkle of dried herbs for instant flavour.
• Cranberry sauce: adds a sweet and tangy twist, especially delicious with chicken or brie.
• Olive oil with crushed garlic: warm olive oil with crushed garlic until fragrant, then brush over the pizza base for a light, aromatic flavour.
• White garlic sauce: a creamy alternative to tomato sauce.
• BBQ sauce: smoky and sweet flavour that complements chicken or beef.
• Pesto: fresh, herby flavour that pairs well with vegetables or feta.
• Hummus: a creamy plant-based base that adds extra protein and fibre.

3. Select legume or meat toppings for your pizza

Meat and legumes add a protein topping to our pizza. However, because pizza is made with protein-rich cheese, protein additions are optional for a balanced meal. Try:

• Chicken: shredded or sliced, poached, roasted or grilled, pairs well with almost any sauce or veg.
• Ham: a salty classic, great with pineapple or mushrooms.
• Pepperoni: adds a spicy, savoury kick that crisps up in the oven.
• Salami: gives a slightly smoky taste.
• Sausage: a great complement to onions and capsicum. Choose pork, chicken, chorizo, vegetarian or vegan.
• Meatballs: Perfect for a chunky, comfort-food-style pizza.
• Bacon: crispy bacon pieces add a smoky, savoury flavour that pairs well with vegetables, cheese or pineapple.
• Chickpeas: a plant-based protein, which can be flavoured and roasted for a spicy or smoky flavour.
• Baked beans: a fun twist that adds a savoury-sweet flavour.

4. Select fruits and vegetables that go on top of pizza

Fruits and vegetables add colour, texture and freshness to your pizza. Slice, roast or lightly sauté them depending on your base and cooking time. Delicious on pizza are:

• Tomato slices: add freshness, colour and flavour.
• Capsicum (raw or roasted): adds sweetness and a satisfying crunch or smoky depth.
• Onion (red, brown or white): thinly sliced, raw or sautéed; adds heat and sweetness when baked.
• Mushroom: has a savoury flavour and is a classic topping that pairs with most ingredients.
• Pineapple: sweet and juicy for a tropical twist (love it or hate it!).
• Artichoke heart: a tangy gourmet touch.
• Roasted eggplant: delicious with feta or pesto.
• Roasted vegetables: pumpkin, carrot, courgette (zucchini); use up leftovers.
• Broccoli: adds texture and greens to balance rich toppings, like blue vein cheese.
• Spinach: wilts perfectly under heat.
• Rocket (arugula): peppery and refreshing, best added after the pizza is cooked.

5. Boost the flavour of your pizza

Select toppings that add a boost of flavour to your pizza:

• Olives (green, black or kalamata): adds a salty, umami flavour.
• Sun-dried tomatoes: adds rich, tangy sweetness and a chewy texture.
• Caramelised onion: brings a sweet, savoury flavour.
• Capers: a sharp, tangy burst that cuts through creamy ingredients.
• Jalapeños: adds a spicy kick.
• Chutney: gives sweetness and spice, perfect for pairing with cheese or chicken.
• Cream cheese: gives a creamy, mild base that enhances both savoury and sweet toppings.
• Anchovies: adds a rich, salty and umami flavour.
• Fresh chillis (red or green): finely sliced and scattered over pizza raw.

6. Herbs and spices to balance your pizza flavour

Enhance your pizza with herbs, spices and seasoning to lift the flavours and make it uniquely yours. Try:

• Dried Italian herbs: a herb blend for instant Mediterranean flavour.
• Dried oregano: gives an authentic pizza taste.
• Fresh or dried basil: adds sweetness and a burst of freshness.
• Rosemary: delicious with roasted vegetables.
• Thyme: pairs beautifully with mushrooms and cheese.
• Finely chopped parsley: adds colour and freshness before serving.
• Chilli flakes: gives some heat.
• Balsamic vinegar or glaze: gives a sweet, tangy flavour, delicious with toppings like rocket (arugula) and prosciutto.
• Sweet chilli or satay sauce: add spicy flavour, either as the base sauce or drizzled over top.

7. Layer with cheese

Cheese binds everything together and adds that irresistible gooey texture. Experiment with combinations or stick to your favourite.

• Mozzarella: classic, melty, stringy cheese.
• Cheddar: sharp and rich for extra flavour.
• Parmesan cheese: adds a salty, nutty finish, best sprinkled on top.
• Blue vein cheese: bold and tangy, ideal for gourmet pizzas.
• Feta: salty and crumbly, it complements vegetable toppings.
• Brie: creamy and melty.

You can add cheese beneath or on top of your toppings, depending on whether you prefer it golden and crisp or soft and melty.

Tip: It is best to freshly grate cheese for pizza. It melts better because store-bought, pre-grated cheese is coated with an anti-caking agent, which affects its melting. It also generally gives better coverage.

How to make your own pizza

Once you’ve gathered your favourite base, sauce, toppings and cheese, it’s time to bring your creation to life.

1. Preheat your oven: set your baking tray or pizza stone in a 200–220°C (400–425°F) oven.
2. Prepare your base: lightly brush it with olive oil, then precook it for 3-7 minutes, unless it is already precooked.
3. Spread your sauce: once the base is precooked, spoon with a thin, even layer of your chosen sauce (e.g., tomato, pesto, BBQ or garlic-olive oil). Leave a small border around the edge for the crust.
4. Add your toppings: layer on your protein, vegetables and flavour boosts.
5. Add cheese: sprinkle your favourite cheese evenly over the top or try layering some beneath the toppings.
6. Boost with herbs: finish with dry or fresh herbs.
7. Bake to perfection: bake for 10–15 minutes (less for thin bases, more for doughy ones) until the cheese is golden and bubbling, and the base is crisp.
8. Add fresh toppings (optional): after baking, top with rocket, fresh herbs or a drizzle of olive oil or balsamic glaze for a finishing touch.
9. Slice and enjoy: let your pizza rest for a minute or two before slicing.

20+ pizza topping combinations to try

Below are delicious flavour combinations to get you started with making your own homemade pizzas.

Classic and gourmet pizza toppings

1. Margherita: pizza sauce, grated or sliced mozzarella and fresh basil. Try with tomato slices and kalamata olives.
2. Hawaiian: pizza sauce, smoked ham, pineapple pieces and mozzarella.
3. Pepperoni: pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella and chilli flakes. Try with jalapeños or olives.
4. Supreme: pizza sauce, smoked ham or bacon, pepperoni, chorizo, mushroom, green capsicum, white onion, kalamata olives and mozzarella. Try with pineapple and chilli flakes.
5. Chicken, cranberry and brie: cranberry sauce, cooked chicken slices, brie slices and mozzarella. Try with red onion, dry or fresh herbs, or rocket added after baking.
6. BBQ chicken: BBQ sauce, cooked chicken, red onion, mozzarella and green onion or coriander.
7. Sweet chilli, chicken and pineapple: sweet chilli sauce base, cooked chicken, pineapple pieces and mozzarella, sprinkled with fresh coriander or parsley.
8. Satay chicken: satay peanut sauce base, cooked chicken, red onion, capsicum and mozzarella.
9. Grilled chicken, avocado and cherry tomatoes: tomato or pesto base, grilled chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and avocado added fresh after baking.
10. Salmon, cream cheese and capers: garlic-olive oil base, smoked salmon, dollops of cream cheese, red onion, capers and spinach or fresh rocket added after baking.
11. Breakfast pizza: tomato or BBQ sauce, cooked sausage and/or bacon, mushrooms, mozzarella and an optional egg cracked on top before baking.
12. Olive’s Plate Dream: tomato paste, mushrooms, salami, dry oregano, kalamata olives, mozzarella and fresh basil leaves, just as illustrated in the children’s book.

Vegetarian and vegan pizza toppings

13. Vegetarian: pizza sauce, mushrooms, capsicum, red onion, spinach, feta and mozzarella. Try with olives and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. You can omit the mozzarella and drizzle with this vegan white sauce if you are vegan.
14. Mediterranean: pesto base, roasted eggplant, artichoke hearts and mozzarella (or Parmesan cheese) with spinach or fresh rocket added after baking. Try with roasted chickpeas or ham, crumbled feta or olives.
15. Mushroom: garlic-olive oil base, mixed mushrooms, thyme and mozzarella.
16. Roasted vegetable and cream cheese: tomato or pesto base, roasted vegetables (e.g., pumpkin, carrot, eggplant, zucchini), dollops of cream cheese, mozzarella and a drizzle of balsamic glaze after baking.
17. Pumpkin and blue vein cheese: garlic-olive oil base, roasted pumpkin, caramelised onion, blue vein cheese (or feta), mozzarella and baby spinach, or fresh rocket after baking.
18. Brie and cranberry: cranberry sauce, sliced brie, red onion, mozzarella, and rocket added after baking.
19. Taco pizza with jalapeños: tomato, salsa or BBQ sauce base, kidney or black beans (or cooked mince), corn kernels, jalapeños and cheese; top with lettuce and sour cream after baking. Try with smoked paprika, fresh coriander and avocado slices.
20. Chickpea and spinach: hummus base, roasted chickpeas, spinach, cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of cumin, dukkah or vegan Parmesan.
21. Potato and rosemary: garlic-olive oil base, thinly sliced potato, fresh rosemary and a sprinkle of sea salt. Try with caramelised onion, Parmesan cheese, sliced almonds or pepitas.
22. Blue vein cheese, broccoli and pesto: pesto base, small broccoli florets and crumbled blue vein cheese.
23. Artichoke and spinach: garlic white bean purée, Alfredo sauce or garlic-olive oil base, roasted or chargrilled zucchini slices and artichoke hearts, topped with fresh rocket after baking. Delicious with green olives and Parmesan cheese (incl, vegan alternative).

Enjoy your pizza creation

The toppings you choose for your pizza are up to you. What matters most is that you create a pizza you enjoy and can savour each bite, noticing textures, flavours and how the ingredients complement each other.

Pizza is a great reminder that there are no rules and that the flavour combinations you choose are a personal choice. Certain flavours work together, but ultimately, it is your pizza, and if it brings you joy, that is all that matters.

What to serve with pizza

Pizza is a satisfying meal on its own, but if you’re serving it as part of a gathering or family meal, a few sides can complement your pizzas. Try pairing it with:

• Traditional Greek salad
• Chickpea cucumber feta salad
• Garlic bread
• Polenta chips
• Antipasto platter with dips and veggie sticks

Have you made your own homemade pizza?

Have you tried any of the topping combinations here or created your own? Share them in the comments below. Your ideas might just inspire someone else’s (or my) next pizza creation!

Download the illustration ‘Build Your Own Pizza’ from my children’s book, Olive’s Plate Dream.