What Is The Most Unpopular Pizza Topping?

Pizza is one of the most beloved foods in the world, with an almost endless variety of toppings that allow people to customize their pies to their exact tastes. Some toppings, like pepperoni, mushrooms, and extra cheese, are almost universally loved, while others, such as pineapple or anchovies, tend to divide opinions. However, when it comes to the absolute most unpopular pizza topping, there are a few contenders that most people would agree should never touch a pizza. But what truly earns a topping the title of “most unpopular”? Is it something that people simply dislike, or something so unusual that it makes most pizza lovers shake their heads in disbelief? Let’s take a deep dive into the world of strange and controversial pizza toppings to determine the answer.

From Pineapple to Mayonnaise: The Worst Pizza Toppings Ranked

Unconventional and Controversial Toppings

Before identifying the single most unpopular pizza topping, it’s important to examine some of the toppings that have sparked controversy among pizza enthusiasts. One of the most famous divisive toppings is pineapple. The mere mention of pineapple on pizza can lead to heated debates, with some people loving the sweet and savory combination while others insist that fruit has no place on a pizza. Despite the controversy, however, Hawaiian pizza still has a sizable fan base, meaning that pineapple is not the most unpopular topping—just one of the most argued-about. Anchovies are another topping that many people find off-putting due to their strong, salty, and fishy flavor. While some pizza purists argue that anchovies have a place on traditional Italian-style pizzas, the reality is that they are often one of the least-ordered toppings at mainstream pizza chains. However, anchovies still have a small but dedicated following, making them a questionable candidate for the worst pizza topping. Olives and green peppers are also frequently named as toppings that people either love or hate, but again, they are common enough that they can’t be crowned the most unpopular topping. Instead, we must look to toppings that are so strange, so bizarre, or so unappetizing that they have almost no fans at all.

The Worst Offenders: Bizarre Pizza Toppings That Almost No One Likes

If we move beyond the standard list of controversial toppings and look at truly bizarre additions to pizza, we start to find some real contenders for the least popular topping. Consider, for example, canned tuna on pizza. While seafood on pizza isn’t unheard of (shrimp and even clams make occasional appearances on gourmet pies), canned tuna is widely regarded as an unpleasant choice. The texture and strong fishy smell of canned tuna, combined with the idea of it being baked into melted cheese, is enough to turn most people off. In fact, in many parts of the world, the idea of putting tuna on pizza is met with outright disgust, although it does have some popularity in certain European countries. Another strong contender for the worst topping is corn, which is surprisingly common in some parts of the world but is generally considered an odd choice by most pizza lovers. The idea of biting into a cheesy, tomato-covered slice only to be met with the sweetness and pop of corn kernels doesn’t sit well with many people. Peas are another unexpected topping that has been spotted on some pizzas, particularly in parts of Brazil, but the general consensus is that they simply don’t belong.

Then, there are the toppings that take things to an extreme level of weirdness. Some restaurants have experimented with things like cicadas (yes, the insect), ranch dressing drizzles, or even chocolate and marshmallows in an attempt to create new and unique flavor combinations. While these toppings may be meant as novelties, they are widely rejected by the general public as being too strange to be considered real pizza toppings. However, even among these odd choices, there is one topping that consistently gets ranked as the absolute worst.

The Most Unpopular Pizza Topping: Mayonnaise

Of all the strange and disliked pizza toppings in the world, mayonnaise seems to take the top spot as the most unpopular. While some people enjoy using mayo as a dipping sauce for pizza crust, the idea of spreading it directly on the pizza itself or using it as a topping is almost universally met with disgust. In some countries, particularly Japan, mayonnaise pizza is not unheard of, often paired with seafood or corn. However, in the majority of places, mayo is viewed as an out-of-place and unappetizing addition to an otherwise perfect food. The rich, fatty texture of mayonnaise, combined with its tangy, slightly eggy flavor, does not mix well with melted cheese and tomato sauce. Additionally, when mayo is baked in the oven along with the rest of the pizza, it can develop an unappealing consistency that many people find off-putting.

Another reason mayonnaise is often considered the worst pizza topping is that it goes against what people expect from pizza. Traditional pizza flavors revolve around savory, salty, and sometimes spicy notes, but mayonnaise introduces an overwhelming creaminess that can make the entire dish feel greasy and heavy. Unlike controversial toppings like pineapple, which at least have a dedicated fan base, mayonnaise on pizza is something that few people actively seek out. While there may be some regional variations where mayo-based pizzas have found a niche audience, it remains one of the most widely rejected toppings in the world.

The Final Verdict

While there are many unpopular pizza toppings, from anchovies to canned tuna to peas, mayonnaise consistently ranks as the most disliked topping of them all. Unlike other toppings that at least have some loyal supporters, mayonnaise is widely seen as an unnecessary and unappetizing addition to pizza. Its overwhelming richness, strange texture when baked, and lack of compatibility with traditional pizza flavors make it the clear winner (or loser) in the debate over the worst pizza topping. So, the next time you order a pizza, you might want to think twice before adding anything too adventurous—because while some toppings are just controversial, others are almost universally despised.