Pizza is hands down a universal crowd pleaser, but deciding what kind of pizza to make or order may cause more of a divisive decision. However, the most popular pizza toppings in the US are somewhat predictable and include:

• Pepperoni (53%)
• Sausage (34%)
• Mushroom (31%)
• Bacon or plain cheese (20%)

These toppings might be preferred in such a classic "comfort food" although this list can and should not be exhaustive. Besides, there are hundreds of pizza topping combinations that taste gourmet ready to be prepared and enjoyed!

So instead of these traditional toppings, take pizza night to the next level with these homemade pizza recipes. (One, or all, might just be your next favorite pizza!)

10 Gourmet Pizza Topping Ideas

From dill pickle to grilled fruit, forego those traditional toppings and tuck into some unique pizzas at home!

1. Ranch and Dill Pickle Pizza

Ranch is one of the most popular dips/dressings, and pickles are beloved by most as a topping for sandwiches and burgers. Why not put these two popular toppings two together on pizza?

Ranch and dill pickle pizza combines these ingredients by using ranch in place of a tomato sauce. To enhance the dill pickle flavor, sprinkle dried dill on the pizza just before serving with optional hot sauce for dipping.

2. Grilled Fruit Pizza

Besides sweet dessert pizzas, pizza tends to be a savory meal with any fruit added typically being tomatoes. Oh, and the oh-so-controversial canned pineapple! However, other fruit pizza combinations provide a balanced, savory flavor with the health benefit of fresh fruit.

For instance, this grilled fruit pizza uses honey-based ricotta cheese as the base layer with various fruits, including peaches, strawberries, oranges, and mangoes. If fresh cherries are available, consider making grilled cherry, arugula, goat cheese pizza. Balsamic vinegar is drizzled on top of the pizza once baked to tie all ingredients deliciously together.

All-in-all, feel free to use any fresh fruit as desired and get creative with sweet and savory (or perhaps just sweet!) combos.

3. Chicken Enchilada Pizza

Chicken enchiladas and pizza are usually two totally different meals: one originating from Italy and the other from Mexico. However, enjoy these two usually separate meals together as one with this fun idea!

Chicken enchilada pizza basically has the inside ingredients and flavors of chicken enchiladas on top of pizza dough instead of these ingredients traditionally wrapped in tortillas. Enchilada sauce is used in place of traditional tomato pizza sauce.

Other Mexican/Italian unique pizza combinations could include Tex Mex pizza or taco pizza.

4. Butternut Squash and Broccoli Pizza

Hearing of and trying cauliflower crust for pizza is common, but putting other vegetables like butternut squash and broccoli on pizza may sound far fetched. However, adding these healthy vegetables on top of the pizza is actually a delicious way to eat these healthy veggies.

Butternut squash veggies pizza uses pureed butternut squash as the "sauce" for the recipe, which is blended with garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. This provides a balancing base for the other pizza toppings, including broccolini, red onion, chickpeas, and cheese.

If combining butternut squash and broccoli on pizza sounds like too much of a leap, try this harvest pizza! It combines roasted butternut squash and caramelized onions for one satisfying slice of pie!

5. Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza

What to do with all the Thanksgiving leftovers this year? Instead of just reheating them or making turkey sandwiches, make Thanksgiving leftover pizza!

Mashed sweet potatoes serve as the base layer and then is topped with leftover veggies, turkey (of course!), and shredded cheese. After baking, the pizza is topped with cranberry sauce for the ultimate savory-sweet pizza topping combination!

Another gourmet Thanksgiving-inspired pizza combo is cranberry, brie and turkey pizza. This includes a prebaked pizza crust, cranberry sauce, shredded cheese, shredded, cooked turkey, brie cheese, and red onion.

6. Shrimp and Crab Pizza

The no cheese with seafood rule goes out the window with this white pizza topped with shrimp and crab! Shrimp and imitation crab meat are sauteed with peppers, onion, and mushrooms before putting on top of pizza dough, Alfredo sauce and shredded cheese to go in the oven.

Have shrimp, real crab, and scallops on hand? Consider making this gourmet seafood pizza, which uses these ingredients of the sea with a rich tomato sauce.

7. Breakfast Pizza

Breakfast pizzas take favorite traditional breakfast foods, like eggs and ham, and put it on pizza. It does not take much prep time, so it can be made for an easy, quick weeknight dinner.

For a ham, egg and cheese pizza, simply crack an egg on top of the pizza before baking. The egg will be set but slightly soft after baking. This breakfast pizza recipe adds some fresh spinach and tomatoes to the pizza before cracking the egg on top.

Breakfast pizzas can be a canvas for using any veggies or breakfast style meats on hand, so have fun with experimenting!

8. French Fry and Cheese Pizza

No more deciding between fries and pizza…. This French fry cheese pizza effortlessly blends the two!

Russet potatoes are cut into 1/4" wide strips for quick cooking, crispy fries. While the fries and pizza are baked separately, this pizza combination can still be ready in about 45 minutes!

9. Banh Mi Pizza

This gourmet pizza combination merges two cuisines: Vietnamese and Italian. A Banh Mi sandwich is typically made with French bread, roasted pork, crunchy pickled daikon radish and carrot, cucumbers, cilantro, and sometimes a creamy sauce.

Banh Mi pizza has Vietnamese flavored pork meatballs, Banh Mi sauce, and a cracked egg on top before baking. When the pizza is done cooking, fresh Banh Mi vegetables are added atop to make it one nutritious power pizza!

10. Salad Pizza

Salad is often a side dish to pizza, but combining the two is an innovative twist to try.

Need some inspiration? This chopped salad pizza recipe is namely a simple baked pizza with chopped salad, which includes Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, chickpeas, salami, olives, and Italian dressing.

For a unique chicken pizza, prepare a chicken caesar salad pizza! Delicious toppings include caesar dressing, diced chicken, red pepper flakes, black olives, and Romaine lettuce.

Really, any leafy green-based salad can be combined with pizza to make salad pizza. If you normally serve a salad on the side with pizza, try combining the two next time!