New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Cauliflower. What do all of these have in common? They’re all kinds of pizza! With 13% of Americans eating pizza on a given day, it’s safe to say that pizza is a favorite food of consumers. While pepperoni comes in the number one spot as the most popular topping, pizza lovers are still interested in expanding their repertoire with new flavor combinations. Let’s check out what trends you should be on the lookout for in 2022:

Pizza Passport

When choosing a second pizza to enjoy, many opt for tomato-less options. Global flavor toppings such as Thai Peanut, Korean BBQ, Mexican, and other non-traditional pizzas are finding their place on more menus. These international toppings have seen a 58% rise on menus since 2018.

Seeing Red? We’re seeing blonde. A blonde pizza, also known as a white pizza, is a pizza that (you might have guessed it) doesn’t feature a tomato-based sauce. While white pizzas date back to 1738, they’re making a comeback in 2022. You’ll find that blonde pizzas are the perfect canvas to let your favorite toppings shine. There are many options for building the perfect blonde pie, from a simple ricotta layer to topping your crust with a delicate bechamel or a creamy alfredo sauce.

Pizza, but Make it Portable

Your favorite toppings can annoyingly fall off of a slice while a calzone hides all the tasty goodness inside; the solution? Pizza cones! Easily consumed on the go, a “cone” crust is filled to the brim with all your favorite toppings. This fun, hand-held treat is the perfect combination of dough, sauce, cheese, and everyone’s favorite: Instagrammable.

Lettuce Turnip the Beet with Plant-Based

A whopping 39% of Americans stated that they eat plant-based at least once a week; the plant-based trend should not be ignored. Vegetarians and vegans are looking for more than just pineapple, green peppers, and black olives on top of their pizzas. Vegan dishes are showing up on 187% more menus with options like Vegan Lovers Pizza, featuring Beyond and Impossible plant-based meats.

Think outside the vegetable box; experiment with less traditional pizza vegetables like potatoes, beets, or seasonal produce like ramps and squash blossoms. Avocado toast? That’s so 2019. Millennials now want to buy houses, so they’ve moved on to putting avocado on top of their pizza. As a result, you’ll find avocado and other superfoods like kale and arugula making their way to the ever-growing list of available pizza toppings. These unsuspected toppings add a new flavor element to the traditional cheesy goodness.

While many have turned their pandemic exercise bikes into clothing racks, others are trying to shed those few extra pounds they’ve put on. Weekly pizza nights are hard to give up, so consumers are looking for healthier alternatives. Cauliflower crusts are on the rise for those choosing to eat low-carb or gluten-free. 11.4% of menus feature gluten-free pizza, and it’s projected to grow another 27% over the next four years.

Primed for Pizza Night

Whether it’s for dine-in, carryout, or delivery, pizza is food that brings people together. With the seemingly endless possibilities for pizzas and an expected 2.9% increase in the Pizza Restaurant industry in 2022, it’s safe to say that the equipment you choose for your business is more important than ever. The right equipment can help you effortlessly meet the demands of your customers without overwhelming your staff. Pizza night is serious business; be sure to check out our blog, “Should I Buy an Electric or Wood-Burning Pizza Oven?”