National Pizza Day is celebrated every year on February 9th, dedicated to one of the most universally loved foods on the planet: pizza, in all its endless topping combinations and styles.
History of National Pizza Day
Pizza’s origins trace back to Naples, Italy, where flatbreads topped with simple ingredients like tomatoes, cheese, and oil became popular among the working class in the 18th and 19th centuries. The now-iconic Margherita pizza, topped with tomato, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colors of the Italian flag, is said to have been created in 1889 in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy, giving pizza a royal origin story alongside its humble street food roots.
Pizza made its way to the United States through Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the first American pizzeria widely credited to Lombardi’s in New York City, which opened in 1905. From there, pizza slowly spread across the country, gaining massive popularity after World War II as soldiers returning from Italy brought a taste for it home with them. Regional American styles soon developed, from New York’s thin, foldable slices to Chicago’s deep dish, each with passionate loyalists defending their favorite.
Today, pizza is one of the most consumed foods in the world, and National Pizza Day gives pizza lovers everywhere a dedicated excuse to celebrate their favorite style, topping combination, or local pizzeria.
How to Celebrate National Pizza Day
- Order from your favorite local pizzeria instead of a chain
- Make homemade pizza from scratch (recipe below)
- Try a regional pizza style you’ve never had before, like Detroit-style or Chicago deep dish
- Host a pizza night with friends or family, letting everyone build their own
- Debate the age-old topping controversies, like pineapple on pizza, with friends
- Share your favorite pizza order on social media using #NationalPizzaDay
Simple Homemade Pizza Recipe
Ingredients (makes one 12-inch pizza):
- 1 lb pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
- 1/2 cup pizza or marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Toppings of choice (pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc.)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while preheating.
- On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch round.
- Transfer dough to a pizza pan or parchment paper if using a stone.
- Brush the edges of the dough lightly with olive oil.
- Spread sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce, then add desired toppings.
- Sprinkle with oregano or Italian seasoning.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Popular Pizza Styles Across America
- New York-Style: Thin, foldable crust with a light, crisp base, typically sold by the large slice.
- Chicago Deep Dish: A thick, buttery crust baked in a deep pan, layered with cheese first and sauce on top.
- Detroit-Style: Baked in a rectangular pan with a thick, airy crust and cheese pushed all the way to the crispy, caramelized edges.
- Neapolitan: The traditional Italian style, with a thin, soft crust cooked quickly at very high heat, often in a wood-fired oven.
- California-Style: Known for creative, non-traditional toppings, often thin-crust with a focus on fresh, unusual ingredient combinations.
Fun Facts About Pizza
- The Margherita pizza was created in 1889 in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy, using toppings meant to represent the colors of the Italian flag.
- Lombardi’s in New York City is widely credited as the first pizzeria in the United States, opening in 1905.
- Americans eat billions of pizzas every year, making it one of the most popular foods in the country.
- Hawaiian pizza, topped with ham and pineapple, was actually invented in Canada, not Hawaii, in the 1960s.
- The world’s largest pizza ever made covered over 13,000 square feet, according to Guinness World Records.
- Pizza dough relies on gluten development for its chewy texture, which is why kneading and resting the dough are important steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Pizza Day?
National Pizza Day is celebrated annually on February 9th.
What’s the difference between New York-style and Chicago deep dish pizza?
New York-style pizza has a thin, foldable crust typically sold by the slice, while Chicago deep dish features a thick, buttery crust baked in a deep pan with the cheese layered underneath the sauce.
Why do pizza recipes call for high oven temperatures?
High heat helps the crust cook quickly and develop a crisp exterior while keeping the inside soft, closely mimicking the intense heat of traditional wood-fired pizza ovens.
Can I make pizza dough ahead of time?
Yes, pizza dough can be made a day or two in advance and stored in the refrigerator, or frozen for longer storage, then thawed and brought to room temperature before shaping.