7 Cheeses to Try on Your Next Pizza (Other than Mozzarella!)

Trust me, I’ll take a big slice of pizza topped with gooey mozzarella any day of the week (and twice on Tuesday). I love it so much that it’s easy to make pizzas with nothing but mozzarella. But sometimes I need a reminder that there are other cheeses out there. Here are seven of my favorites.

Creamy, mild ricotta works well on its own or in combination with gooey mozzarella. It’s great simply spread on the pizza like sauce for a white pie, but it’s also really awesome dolloped on a tomato sauce-based pizza so you get surprise pockets of creaminess.

Get a recipe: Roasted Asparagus & Ricotta Pizza

The salty, nutty, tangy flavor of this cheese is especially great with vegetable pizzas. Look for the fresher version (rather than the harder dry-aged version), which melts super well.

And if you don’t feel like you can pull yourself away from mozzarella, try its extra-creamy cousin. It’s softer, richer, and so much more luxe. You won’t be able to slice it like fresh mozzarella, so just dollop it all over your pie instead.

Related: What’s the Difference Between Mozzarella and Burrata?

Mild-flavored with a silky texture when melted, I think this cheese goes well with more strongly flavored toppings like spinach or peppery charcuterie.

Get a recipe: Spinach, White Bean, and Taleggio Pizza

This is a fun one to try with a whole range of toppings, from thin slices of potato to diced ham to even just lots of sweet caramelized onion. It has a fairly assertive savory flavor and melts like a dream.

This doesn’t melt like other cheeses, but drop spoonfuls over a pizza and you’ll get a tasty little burst of tangy, creamy cheese every few bites. Yum.

Get a recipe: Grilled Cherry Tomato, Corn, and Goat Cheese Pizza

My top choice for pizzas with pulled pork or shredded BBQ chicken. I love both straight and smoked varieties. Gouda delivers a buttery flavor and texture that’s always decadent.

What are your favorite cheeses for pizza?