Each year introduces fresh pizza trends to the culinary world, and 2023 is no exception. At TerraMesaNexus, we keep a close watch on what excites pizza enthusiasts worldwide. Here’s our roundup of the most captivating and popular toppings making waves this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The focus on gut well-being has found its way into pizzerias, with pickled and cultured vegetables becoming a surprising hit on pizzas this year. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions bring complex tangy notes that complement the richness of cheese and sauce. These fermented toppings offer probiotic benefits and introduce exciting new textural dimensions to traditional pies.
Our new Fermentation Celebration pizza features house-made sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, finished with a drizzle of local honey to balance the tang. The combination might sound unconventional, but it’s rapidly becoming one of our most requested specialty pies.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
With plant-based eating continuing to rise in popularity, we’ve seen a notable uptick in pizzas featuring creative protein alternatives. Beyond the usual vegetable toppings, innovations in plant-based proteins offer options that satisfy even devoted meat lovers.
Plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, seasoned tempeh, marinated jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni are now regular on our menu. These proteins aren’t just for vegetarians—many guests choose them for their distinctive flavors and lighter digestive footprint.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Spice seekers, rejoice! 2023 has seen pizza fans embrace specific regional chili varieties rather than generic red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies remain popular, but we’re now seeing Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang appearing on pizzas.
Our Global Heat pizza features a medley of four different regional chilies, each contributing its unique flavor profile to different quadrants of the pie. It’s a fiery adventure that’s especially popular with our more adventurous diners.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The farm-to-table movement has evolved into forest-to-pizza, with seasonal foraged ingredients gaining traction. Wild mushrooms lead this trend, including chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods appearing through their peak seasons.
Beyond mushrooms, we’ve experimented with spring ramps (wild leeks), sea vegetables like dulse and nori, and even spruce tips for a distinctive aromatic touch. These ingredients connect diners to nature while delivering flavors that can’t be cultivated commercially.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The sweet-savory contrast of honey has solidified itself as more than a fleeting trend. Building on the popularity of hot honey in recent years, 2023 has seen a surge of specialty honey varieties being drizzled on pizzas just before serving.
Truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even CBD-infused honey are appearing on menus nationwide. These finishing touches add depth and elevate simple pizza combinations to gourmet status.
Honorable Mentions
A few other toppings that narrowly missed our top five but are still making an impact include:
- Cured egg yolks, microplaned over pizza like a golden snowfall
- Pickled fruits, particularly stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Heritage grain toppings, such as crispy farro or popped sorghum for texture
- Artisanal butter dollops (especially cultured or herb-infused butters)
Whether you lean toward the classics or enjoy bold, unconventional pairings, pizza remains one of the world’s most versatile and beloved foods. At TerraMesaNexus, we honor tradition while embracing innovation—that’s why you’ll find both timeless Margherita and cutting-edge specialty pies on our menu.
Have you tried any of these trending toppings? Or do you have a unique favorite combination you’d like to see us offer? Let us know in the comments or next time you visit!