What is The Best Cheese For Pizza? Tasty Options From Pizza Experts

Nothing beats a perfectly topped cheese pizza. That's one thing we can all agree on. Typically, us pizza lovers tend to go for mozzarella cheese because this is the classic - the one you find on traditional Italian and New York-style pizzas. It's what gives your pizza that deliciously satisfying hot cheese pull with every single bite.

So why mix it up?

The truth is, there are so many other cheeses out there to choose from, and each one can bring something new to your pizza. From the rich and powerful taste of parmesan cheese to soft, creamy ricotta, mozzarella is only the tip of the iceberg.
If you're making your own pizza from scratch this week and you're looking to branch out when it comes to cheese topping, read on. We've got a few mouth-watering options that will give you tasty pizza every single time.

Our Top Cheese Recommendations

No two cheeses are created equally. Each one brings new flavors and different textures that work for different styles of pizza. One cheese may transport you to the cobbled streets of Italy, surrounded by the rich, mouth-watering scents of garlic and fresh herbs. Another may take you to the busy streets of Chicago, where piping hot, deep-dish pizza is just a step away.
Here at Prepa Pizza, we know a thing or two about pizza (including the best cheese for pizza.) Here are some of our top recommendations.

Mozzarella

Mozzarella cheese is the classic choice when it comes to pizza. You'll find this cheese topping traditional Italian pizzas, such as the famous Neapolitan-style pizza. Mozzarella is also sprinkled on top of New York-style pizzas to give them that satisfying cheese pull.

Traditional mozzarella is made from buffalo milk (that's “mozzarella di bufala” in Italian), but as time has gone on, cows' milk ("fior di latte") has become more popular, and this is what you'll tend to find in your store-bought fresh mozzarella cheese.
But why this cheese? Well, when it comes to melting and stretching, mozzarella is ideal. And, due to its moisture content, it won't burn as the pizza cooks, which is especially important for Neapolitans made in those big, high-temperature pizza ovens.
Furthermore, this cheese has a milky and mild flavor that pairs beautifully with fresh basil and tomato sauce, making for a truly standout pizza.

Our Tips For Using Mozzarella

Fresh is usually best; you can't beat fresh mozzarella for a creamy texture and that authentic Italian taste. However, it can also release a lot of water when it's cooked, which can actually make your pizza soggy. In that case, try low-moisture mozzarella.
If you can get your hands on buffalo mozzarella, we recommend it! It'll give you a truly authentic Italian pizza you won't want to waste a single bite of.

Fancy creating a traditional Italian pizza? Check out our Neapolitan pizza dough recipe.

Parmesan

Parmesan is another famous Italian cheese, famous for sprinkling on pasta. But does it work for pizza? The answer is: absolutely!

The first thing you should know is parmesan is not a melting cheese. It's a hard cheese with strong nutty, and salty flavors, which means a little bit can go a long way in giving a dish more flavor.

However, since it is a hard cheese with a low moisture content, this means it burns very easily. For this reason, we don't recommend using it as a cheese base for pizza, but instead sprinkling it on top after baking for more flavor complexity.

Our Tips For Using Parmesan

• Use parmesan with another cheese to give your pizza a bigger flavor kick. It works great with the gentle creaminess of mozzarella.
• Sprinkle this cheese on the pizza crust for more flavor.
• Don't bake it into the pizza! It could burn and ruin the whole taste.

Ricotta

Creamy and sweet with a high moisture content, this popular cheese works particularly well on white pizzas without a tomato sauce base (otherwise known as Pizza Bianca). It's the perfect cheese if you're in the mood for a rich, indulgent gourmet pizza or even if you're looking for something a bit different than your average tomato pizza.

You can also create a cheese blend with ricotta and another cheese, like mozzarella, for an even better flavor.

Our Tips For Using Ricotta

• If you're using ricotta as a pizza topping instead of a base, add it in dollops.
• Ricotta blends beautifully with ingredients like fresh spinach and basil, garlic, and chicken.

Provolone

Provolone is a semi-hard Italian cheese that works wonderfully for pizza. Although it's a little bit drier than most of the other cheeses on this list, it still has a mild and creamy cheese taste that balances beautifully with rich pizza toppings.

This cheese combines well with low-moisture mozzarella, creating a delicious creamy texture and a satisfying cheese pull. It's because of this that provolone is great for a variety of pizza types, from Italian to New York.

Our Tips For Using Provolone

• Provolone is great for meat-heavy pizzas such as pepperoni or sausage. So, if you're planning on making a meat feast at home, combine this cheese with your usual mozzarella.
• This semi-hard cheese is sold in both younger and more aged varieties. When it comes to picking the best one for your pizza, a younger cheese will give more of a stretch and a milder flavor that doesn't drown out the taste of other pizza toppings.
• If you're looking for a sharper flavor, go for an older provolone cheese.

Goat Cheese

Goat cheese is creamy but with a tangy flavor. Although it isn't your typical classic pizza cheese, it offers a great alternative if you're looking for something different - especially if you fall in love with bold flavors.

This cheese is a beautiful choice for gourmet pizzas to impress your friends and family. Goat's cheese is especially great for vegetarian and Mediterranean-inspired pizzas, as it balances out the flavors of the vegetables.

Our Tips For Using Goat Cheese

• This type of cheese works particularly well with gourmet toppings such as arugula, figs, and honey, making for a restaurant-quality pizza.
• Crumble it over the pizza instead of melting it like mozzarella.

Cheddar

Like goat's cheese, cheddar isn't a traditional pizza cheese. But that doesn't mean it won't make a great addition to your pizza! This cheese has a sharp, bold, and mature flavor that’s perfect for pizza lovers who prefer a deeper taste. You can also pick up pre-shredded cheese, which makes cheddar a convenient option if you're on the go.
However, you need to be careful with it, as cheddar cheese can burn, which will make your pizza taste bitter.

Our Tips For Using Cheddar

• We recommend mixing cheddar cheese with mozzarella. This will create a beautiful-tasting cheese blend that will actually melt and won't burn.
• If you're using cheddar for a more intense flavor, go for extra mature cheddar.
• This cheese blends deliciously with sticky BBQ chicken pizzas. Delicious!

Don't Be Afraid to Experiment

The above cheeses might be our top recommendations, but there's still a whole world of cheeses out there to use for your own pizza bakes. From blue cheese to smoked gouda, different cheeses can bring a whole new taste and rich flavor to your pizza.

Furthermore, different cheeses will pair better with certain types of dough. Something nuttier might suit a whole-wheat pizza dough best, whereas you might be looking for something more indulgent if you're using a sourdough pizza dough recipe.

There's also a range of vegan cheese options if you want to create a delicious plant-based pizza. (Don't forget to check out our article on making vegan pizza dough.)
Don't be afraid to try something new - you might just create a masterpiece.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Cheese For Pizza

What Cheese Do Italians Put in Pizza?

Typically, Italians like to use fresh mozzarella for their pizza, specifically mozzarella di bufala (otherwise known as buffalo mozzarella.) With its creamy flavor and texture, this soft cheese works beautifully for traditional Italian pizzas that embrace rich and simple flavors.

Do Italians Put Parmesan on Pizza?

Italians usually use mozzarella as their main cheese but sprinkle grated parmesan on top of their pizza fresh out of the oven for more flavor. They don't melt their parmesan, as this hard cheese is known to burn and lose that beautiful nutty flavor.
As a finishing touch, parmesan works wonderfully.

What is a Four Cheese Pizza?

Otherwise known as a “pizza quattro formaggi” in Italian, a flour cheese pizza is exactly what the name suggests. It combines four different types of cheeses for a richer and deeper flavor. Common choices include mozzarella, Parmesan, gorgonzola, and ricotta for a creamy and indulgent pizza perfect for cheese lovers.

However, if you're making your own homemade pizza, you don't have to stick to those cheeses. Experiment with your favorites, from cheddar cheese to pecorino romano, for a personalized pizza you'll enjoy until the very last bite. We just recommend using a mix of melting and non-melting cheeses for an unbeatable texture.

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Our Verdict on the Best Cheese for Pizza

As pizza experts, we understand the importance of choosing the right cheese for your pizza. And with a whole world of cheeses out there, the possibilities are endless. From traditional cheeses like mozzarella and parmesan to more unique options such as cheddar and goat cheese, the best cheese for you all comes down to the type of flavor you prefer.