Your Ultimate Summer Pizza Ideas and Inspiration
As Memorial Day weekend comes and goes, my mind goes to bounty of summer produce that will soon ripen. This year, I decided to grow a “pizza” garden filled with my favorite pizza toppings – plus a few experimental ingredients that I can’t wait to test. Every day, I watch my garden looking for signs that new varieties of pepper and tomato plants are blossoming, that the baby basil, sage, rosemary and oregano are expanding. Fruits such as mulberry, blackberry and Pink Lady apples (next year, I’ll have elderberry) are turning from flower to fruit. I’m excited to pair them with cheeses on delicate, Neapolitan style dough.
I’ve been browsing the farmer’s markets to peek at what’s starting to be harvested. I’m lucky to live in a city that has nearly 30 farmer’s markets spread throughout the metro area. Every week, I pick an item that I’ve never cooked with to see how I can make it shine.
My foraging friends will share their hiking finds, such as stinging nettles, garlic mustard and (my favorite) chicken of the woods and chanterelle mushrooms.
Finding Summer Pizza Inspiration
Summer produce can come from several sources. The more you know about what is available in your region, the more creative you can get with your summer seasonal pizza menu. I can share all the delectable offerings in my area of Louisville, Kentucky, but there are many amazing items found in every region of the country. For example, I’m jealous that Montanans get to snack on huckleberries. What unique finds grow in your area? Four ways to find summer pizza inspiration near you are:
- Check with your mainline food distributor to see what local products they have available to clients. They often work with local sources to supply produce.
- Go to your local farmer’s market and check for other markets in your region. You also can look for markets that operate on days other than Saturday to avoid crowds. Some farmers allow merchants to pre-order produce for pickup during market hours.
- Visit area farms and set up tours to learn when various produce peaks. Need help finding farmers? Contact your County Extension Office.
- Local food co-ops and groceries can be a great resource to find out what is grown locally.
What are the hot pizza toppings this summer?
Photo by: Tierney /adobestock.com
One of the biggest food trends in Pizza Today’s 2025 Pizza Industry Trends Report is Seasonal Ingredients and Specials. Adding seasonal produce, limited-time offerings and seasonal menus provides separation from competitors.
The pizzeria operators we surveyed shared ingredients they are looking to add to their menus or test in their pizzerias during the coming year. Many of those can have a fresh, seasonal approach. They include:
Microgreens
There is nothing like the look and pop of flavor with microgreens, from arugula and basil to beet, endive and Swiss chard. It’s important to note that these are used as finishing ingredients.
Berries
Don’t think just dessert pizzas here. Cranberries, blueberries, raspberries and other local berries are being paired with meats and creamy cheeses to create savory pies with a hint of sweet.
Green Chilies
These mild yet spicy peppers are spreading far beyond the Southwest. You’ll find chilies paired with pepperoni, chorizo, pulled pork, corn and creamy cheeses.
Lemon
This citrus fruit – either slices, wedges, juice or zest – has found its way onto pizza. It’s providing a beautiful contrast to pizza’s often savory and creamy flavors that adds that hit of acidity.
4 Incredible Summer Pizza Recipes from Chris Decker
Chris Decker is Founding Pizzaiolo & Partner at Truly Pizza, in Dana Point, California. He has become synonymous with breathtakingly beautiful pizza creations using balanced and unique ingredients. I wanted to share four of his summer pizza recipes that will inspire you to experiment with summer produce in your pizza kitchen to create a pizza that would make Chris Decker proud. In no particular order:
Summer’s Bounty Pizza
Edible flowers add a pop of color and pair with sweet squash, a creamy goat cheese ricotta mixture and a salty and herbaceous salsa verde. GO TO THE RECIPE.
Photo by Chris Decker
Peach and Burrata Grilled Pizza
Chris Decker says in-season peaches and a cool, creamy burrata are summertime favorites, and we agree. This one is paired with Serrano peppers, basil and balsamic. GO TO THE RECIPE.
Photo by Chris Decker
Berry Belly Pizza
Fresh, in-season berries are perfectly paired with creamy, whole-milk mozzarella, fatty delicious pork belly, scallions, habaneros and micro arugula. GO TO THE RECIPE.
Photo by Chris Decker
Summer Time Pizza
Chris Decker offers a “choose your own adventure” with this pizza. He suggested summer favorites. His pizza creation features zucchini and summer squash, spinach, goat cheese and finished of edible flowers and a little splash of white balsamic. GO TO THE RECIPE.
More Summer Pizza Ideas from Pizza Today
We love to provide inspiration for your next pizza special. And we have covered summertime … EXTENSIVELY. We invite you to enter the vault of summer pizza features. Binge reading is encouraged! Here goes …
Fresh salad toppings bring vibrance and bite to summer pizzas
Pizza and salad are one of those pairings that just make a lot of sense. The lightness of greens cutting through the greasy goodness of pizza creates a complete meal. So why not just make salad pizza? Done, right? I’m all in on this idea… — READ MORE —
8 Summer Pizza Toppings to Add to your Menu
Summer is the absolute best time to feature seasonal specials. With an abundance of summer fruits and vegetables, creativity in America’s pizza kitchens will be at an all-time high. We asked our Pizza Today social followers which summer produce they were most excited about… — READ MORE —
Photo by Josh Keown
Berries on Pizza: Taste of Summer
Summer means berry season. As a child, enjoying a strawberry shortcake was the ultimate way to end a backyard family barbecue. Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries aren’t just for smoothies, cobblers and pies, either… — READ MORE —
Spring into Summer Menu Ideas
Summer brings sun, fun and relaxation. It also harkens the advent of barbecuing, home cooking and my customers vacationing away from town. When I first opened, this meant fewer sales, less cash flow and less profitability … until I did something about it… — READ MORE —
Corn is the hit Pizza Topping of the Summer
It’s corn! A year after a kid went viral with his declaration of corn’s deliciousness, his words are top of mind as we see piles of corn on the cob at farmer’s markets and grocery stores. “It’s corn! A big lump with knobs. It has the juice (it has the juice). I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing. It’s corn”… — READ MORE —
Killer Summer Tomatoes – Varieties and Ways to Make Them
A Look at Summer Tomato Varieties, Prep and Recipes. Harvesting fruitful tomato rewards from a seedy past … — READ MORE —
Fresh Tomatoes – Selection, Preparation & Recipes
Tomato season is my favorite time of year, and I wait with baited breath for the best of the best. Consider: Hydration. All really great fresh tomatoes get soggy on a pie. You’ll have to either slice them thin … — READ MORE —
Think differently about how you use bell peppers on pizza
It’s time to ring the bell. Bell peppers, of course. Bell peppers ranked as the No. 8 most popular pizza topping in America, according to the pizzeria operator survey published in our 2025 Pizza Industry Trends Report. In some areas of the U.S., bell peppers break into the Top 5 Pizza Toppings… — READ MORE —
