An excellent homemade pizza doesn’t require a huge amount of cheese, but choosing the right kind can make a big difference. While mozzarella is the ultimate pizza cheese, it can be paired with other varieties. Here are some of my favorite Italian cheeses that transform your homemade pizza.

7 Italian Cheeses That Transform Your Pizza

Italian cheesemaking offers everything from stretchy, milky mozzarella to pungent gorgonzola and rich, aged cheeses. There are plenty of options for transforming a simple pizza into a memorable treat. Here are some Italian cheeses worth trying the next time you fire up the oven.

1. Fior di Latte

If you are looking for a cheese that melts beautifully without overpowering other ingredients, fior di latte is an excellent choice. Made from cow’s milk, this cheese offers a clean, milky flavor and a soft, elastic texture. When making pizza at home, drain the cheese thoroughly and tear or slice it into small pieces before spreading it over the dough.

Try pairing it with: tomato, basil, mushrooms, prosciutto, or roasted vegetables.

2. Mozzarella di Bufala

Made exclusively from fresh buffalo milk, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP features a creamy texture, subtle acidity, and a richer flavor than standard mozzarella. It is particularly delicious on a simple tomato pizza, where its rich character can truly shine. Buffalo mozzarella has a higher moisture content, so be sure to drain it well before baking. For an even more luxurious result, add some of the cheese towards the end of the baking process rather than putting it all on the pizza at the start.

Try pairing it with: San Marzano-style tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, or prosciutto.

3. Burrata

Burrata resembles mozzarella in appearance, but its center holds a creamy blend of mozzarella shreds and cream. That is why it isn’t really a cheese for baking, but rather a finishing touch. Don’t add it before baking; instead, tear the burrata over the hot pizza base immediately after taking it out of the oven. The residual heat gently softens the cheese without ruining its luxuriously creamy interior.

Try pairing it with: cherry tomatoes, basil, prosciutto, arugula, or chili oil.

4. Gorgonzola

If you want your pizza to have real character, choose gorgonzola. This Italian blue cheese brings salty, earthy, and sharp flavors, and its creamy texture melts beautifully. You don’t need much of it; small pieces scattered across the pizza are enough to add flavor to every slice.

Try pairing it with: pear, walnuts, honey, caramelized onion, or radicchio.

5. Taleggio

Don’t let Taleggio’s distinctive aroma put you off. When heated, this soft Italian cheese becomes wonderfully creamy and buttery. It is particularly well-suited for white pizzas, where tomato sauce won’t compete with its flavor. It also works excellently in a cheese pizza alongside gorgonzola and harder, aged cheeses.

Try pairing it with: mushrooms, potato, radicchio, pear, or walnuts.

6. Parmigiano Reggiano

Parmigiano Reggiano is excellent for finishing a pizza. Grate a little over the pizza before or after baking to add salty, nutty, and rich depth. It works particularly well when paired with a milder, easily melting cheese.

Try it with: prosciutto, mushrooms, zucchini, tomato, or arugula.

7. Pecorino Romano

Made from sheep’s milk, Pecorino Romano has a sharper and saltier character than Parmigiano Reggiano. Think of it as a seasoning just as much as a cheese. A fine grating over a hot pizza provides a bold, rich finishing touch without requiring a large amount of cheese.

Try it with: potato, artichoke, black pepper, guanciale, or white pizza.