From briny little fish to sweet tropical fruit, let’s dive into the pizza toppings that split households, spark heated debates, and occasionally end friendships. These are the ingredients that—depending on who’s eating—are either pure genius or absolute crimes against crust.
1. Anchovies – The Tiny Fish That Causes Big Drama
Anchovies are basically the culinary version of a strong personality—small but mighty, and definitely not for everyone.
These little fillets are oily, intensely salty, and loaded with umami (that fancy “fifth taste” food enthusiasts never shut up about). If you’re a fan, you can’t imagine pizza without them. If you’re not, a single anchovy can make the whole pie taste like low tide.
Are they technically considered gourmet? Sure. Do they start arguments? Absolutely.
Honestly, anchovies are the reason some people scan the topping list three times before taking a bite. Approach with caution.
2. Pineapple – Tropical Treat or Pizza Heresy?
Ah, the eternal Pineapple Debate™.
This one’s been causing chaos for decades. People have Very Strong Feelings about it. On one side: devotees who insist the sweet-savory combo of pineapple and ham is absolute perfection. On the other: folks who believe fruit has no business anywhere near melted cheese.
My take? Cooked pineapple gets weirdly juicy. Like, why is my crust suddenly damp?
That said, millions of people love it—and if it convinces kids to eat something besides chicken fingers, maybe it’s not all bad.
3. Sardines – Anchovies’ Bolder, Bulkier Cousin
If anchovies are confident, sardines are downright audacious.
They’re larger, oilier, and even more aggressively fishy. Fantastic if you grew up eating Mediterranean street food. Less fantastic if your seafood comfort zone ends at “fried shrimp basket.”
Honestly, sardines on pizza feels like someone took a dare too far. Unless you’re actually in Italy, in which case it’s probably incredible and I’m just revealing my unsophisticated palate.
4. Durian – The Topping That Smells Like Bad Decisions
If you’ve never encountered durian, here’s what you need to know: it’s actually banned on public transportation in some countries because of its overwhelming smell.
The flesh is creamy, custard-like, and genuinely beloved by many. But on pizza? Alongside sauce, cheese, and crust?
That’s a hard no for most people.
Durian pizza absolutely exists—especially throughout Southeast Asia—and it has genuine fans. But if you didn’t grow up with it, you’re basically biting into sweet, garlicky pudding on bread that carries the faint aroma of gym locker. Sorry not sorry.
5. Blue Cheese – Sophisticated or Just Stinky?
Blue cheese is that friend who shows up overdressed to casual events—bold, memorable, and impossible to ignore.
It brings a sharp, tangy punch that some people absolutely crave. Others? They catch one whiff and immediately pass.
The flavor comes from actual mold (Penicillium, if we’re being fancy), which sounds gourmet until you realize your pizza now smells like the forgotten back of your refrigerator drawer.
Delicious to some. Way too much personality for others.
6. Canned Tuna – Kitchen Staple or Pizza Sabotage?
Canned tuna definitely has its moments—tuna salad, casseroles, late-night snacks eaten straight from the tin. But on pizza?
It’s… polarizing.
Several European countries embrace it. Tuna pizza is genuinely popular in Germany, for instance. But for many, combining fish, cheese, and tomato sauce feels like a culinary dare. Throw on some onions and olives, and suddenly you’re tasting someone’s reheated office lunch.
Hard pass for plenty of people, though protein enthusiasts will defend it passionately.
7. Pickles – Did We Go Too Far?
This one feels like something that escaped from a viral TikTok challenge.
Thin dill pickle slices, arranged over cheese and sauce, do deliver a tangy, briny crunch. But here’s the thing: it also tastes suspiciously like a cheeseburger… minus the actual burger.
Pickle devotees (and you know who you are) insist it’s brilliant. Everyone else? They’re quietly wondering who ordered the gag pizza and why it tastes like a practical joke.
8. Olives – You Either Get It or You Don’t
Black olives have been showing up on pizzas forever, and yet they remain surprisingly divisive.
They’re salty, faintly bitter, and have that distinctive chewy texture. Either they provide the perfect briny contrast or they completely overwhelm every bite.
If you love them, great. If you don’t, picking them off just leaves greasy little ghosts behind—and somehow, the olive flavor lingers anyway.
9. Hot Dogs – What Are We Even Doing Here?
Hot dogs on pizza feels like one of those “just because we technically can doesn’t mean we should” situations.
Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s budgeting. Maybe someone genuinely thought, “What if we turned cafeteria lunch into dinner?”
Whatever the reason, chopped hot dogs on pizza just feels… wrong. The smoky, processed flavor clashes with sauce and cheese, and the texture gets genuinely strange upon reheating.
Kids love it. Adults find it deeply confusing.
10. Corn – Little Golden Balls of Controversy
Corn seems innocent enough—until you realize it’s quietly dividing pizza eaters everywhere.
In places like South Korea, Brazil, and Japan, corn on pizza is completely normal. Sweet, colorful, and surprisingly mainstream.
Elsewhere? People spot corn and instantly assume the pizza isn’t for them.
It’s sweet, slightly chewy, and definitely disrupts the expected savory experience. But hey, food fusion exists for a reason—maybe corn is just ahead of its time.
11. Eggplant – Satisfying or Soggy?
Eggplant on pizza sounds wonderfully virtuous. Grilled vegetables! Mediterranean flair! Grown-up choices!
But here’s the reality: if not prepared perfectly, eggplant turns problematic. Mushy. Slightly slippery. The flavor? Pretty neutral at best.
To its credit, it absorbs sauce beautifully and remains a vegetarian favorite. But for dedicated meat-lovers or cheese-obsessed diners, eggplant pizza can feel like a disappointing compromise.
Final Thoughts: Just Keep Your Toppings Off My Slice
Pizza is deeply personal. What disgusts one person might be another’s absolute favorite. Some folks swear by shrimp and mayo. Others insist banana curry pizza is where it’s at (yes, Sweden, we’re looking at you).
So yeah—taste is subjective. But if you ever spot anchovies, durian, or hot dogs anywhere near my slice?
Feel free to take it. I’ll happily wait for the next pie.
Now It’s Your Turn
What’s your absolute dealbreaker topping? The one that makes you suddenly “not hungry” even when you’re starving? Drop it in the comments—and don’t worry, no judgment here.
(Unless it’s durian. Then we might need to talk.)
