Deep-dish pizzas don’t have to be a routine meal with the same ingredients you order every other day. What if every time you order one, there is a new way to customize it to give your taste buds a thrill and a whole new experience? There are several ways to customize your pizza. Think of the dough as a blank canvas and your toppings, veggies and everything in between as elements to create some pizza magic. 

If you’re unsure where to start customizing your Chicago deep-dish pizza, keep reading to find creative inspiration. 

The Secret Is in the Toppings

When it comes to Chicago-style deep-dish pizza recipes, the toppings you choose make a big difference. Whether throwing a pizza party or ordering takeout on a Friday night, you have several topping options and pairings you can try for the first time. Ready to explore a whole new world of toppings? Let’s dig in. 

1. Go Wild With the Protein

Good news: There is no set-in-stone Chicago deep-dish pizza recipe, so you’re not stuck with the same proteins. There’s more to deep-dish pizza than sausage and pepperoni. If you want to explore several new ways to customize your pizza, you must be ready to swap in different proteins. It’s all about getting creative with your choices — you can even mix and match proteins. 

Here are some protein options you can try when you next visit a Chicago deep-dish pizza place near you: 

• Anchovies: For people who love them, anchovies can add a salty, umami-rich flavor to your deep-dish pizza. Paired with other briny ingredients like olives and cheese, anchovies can enhance your pizza with a unique taste.
• Bacon: You can’t go wrong with classic bacon in your deep-dish pizza. Whether you want it chewy or crispy, bacon can give your deep-dish pizza a distinct meaty flavor.
• BBQ chicken: If you love some crispy protein smokiness, try BBQ chicken toppings. 
• Beef and pork meatballs: Imagine the rich, meaty texture and taste of meatballs topping those flaky layers of dough and buried under melted cheese. 
• Canadian bacon: This protein is a good choice if you want to add a mildly sweet flavor to your pizza. 
• Chicken breast: The tender, flavorful taste of well-prepared chicken breasts, soaked with the right sauces, can elevate the taste of deep-dish pizza. 
• Chicken sausage: Sliced or crumbled, chicken sausage brings a savory flavor that complements other deep-dish pizza ingredients. 
• Pesto chicken: Try pesto chicken toppings with your veggie choice for a fragrant, herby taste. 
• Salami: This topping comes in different textures and adds a bold, spicy flavor to give your deep-dish pizza a distinct taste. 
• Sausage or pepperoni: These two are a common pair that people love. Whether you’re topping your deep-dish pizza with mild or hot Italian sausages, thin or large-slice pepperoni, or both, you can expect a good balance of rich and crispy flavors.
• Seasoned ground beef: Everything about seasoned ground beef, from the flavors to the texture, makes it a popular topping that pairs well with veggies and several other proteins.

2. Throw a Veggie Party

Like proteins, veggies can be the icing on the cake of a good deep-dish pizza recipe. Beyond taste and nutrition, a good veggie combination can make your pizza look pleasing to the eye. Here are some fun veggie toppings you should try. 

• Artichokes: If you love the tangy taste of artichokes, you might also love them as veggie toppings on your pizza. Combined with spinach, cheese and any choice of protein, artichokes can turn a basic dough into a tasty masterpiece.
• Banana peppers: Another excellent choice if you want a tangy, sweet and mildly spicy combination. 
• Black olives: Are you craving salty and buttery flavors? The briny taste of black olives complements several different toppings and flavors of deep-dish pizza.
• Broccoli: The fresh, lightly sweet flavor of broccoli can bring several textures and a crispness to your pizza. Whether you get florets or stem pieces, broccoli can balance the richness of cheese and sauce.
• Fresh tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes will always add natural sweetness to any pizza recipe.
• Giardiniera peppers: These peppers are perfect for days when you want your pizza to taste spicier than usual.
• Green olives: Green olives are less preferred than black olives because of their more bitter taste. However, they are excellent for briny and salty flavors in your deep-dish pizza. 
• Green peppers: Thin slices of green peppers will add crunchiness and a slightly grassy taste.
• Jalapeño peppers: Perfect add-on if you want a bit of spiciness, sweetness and grassy flavor. 
• Mushrooms: Although mushrooms are among the least popular pizza toppings, they add a savory and umami taste to deep-dish pizzas. 
• Onions: Raw or caramelized, onions add texture and flavor and pair well with various veggies and proteins. 
• Pineapple: Pineapple on pizzas is a long-debated topic. Love it or hate it, pineapple adds a sweet punch to any pizza, including Chicago deep-dish pizza. Commonly paired with Canadian ham, pineapple toppings are a great complement to the savory taste of cheese and sauce.
• Spinach: Pair this topping with any protein or a combination of proteins for a fresh, earthy flavor.
• Toasted garlic: Nutty, mellow garlic flavors permeate the whole pizza, complementing everything from sausage to spinach. 

3. Don’t Forget the Cheese

How much do you love your cheese? Moderate, balanced or extra? Customizing your pizza doesn’t end with veggies and proteins. You can choose the amount of cheese you want for the perfect finish. You can also explore different cheese options, ranging from mozzarella to Parmesan. 

4. Customize in Sections

On some days, you’ll be sure of what you want on your deep-dish pizza. On others, you may have mixed cravings. Luckily, many pizza places offer options to customize your toppings in sections. So what’s to say you can’t have a deep-dish pizza with pineapple and Canadian ham toppings in one half, and BBQ chicken, spinach and black olives on the other? Choosing different toppings for each half of the pizza can also help appease picky eaters while letting more adventurous eaters try new flavors.

Make Your Own Deep-Dish Pizza at Giordano’s

With so many toppings and flavors to explore, you can customize your deep-dish pizza and have a new taste every time. No more same old, same old — now you’re a pizza artist creating new masterpieces whenever inspiration hits. If you’re looking for the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago, stop by Giordano’s for a treat. We enjoy it when our customers get creative, so you can customize your pizza to curate the flavor and taste you crave. Locate a Giordano’s pizza near you to start building your deep-dish pizza for carryout, curbside pickup or delivery.