How Much Cheese on a Pizza? (Size and Weight Guide)

By Kitchen Warrior | Pizza Baking and Cutting Tips

Cheese on a Pizza

What you put on a pizza is all about preference. But when it comes to cheese, many people wonder if there is a right or wrong amount to use. How much cheese you should put all depends on the type of pizza you are making, the size, and a variety of other factors. If you are making a pizza for the first time and need help figuring out how much cheese you should use, keep reading.

The Type of Pizza 

As mentioned previously, how much cheese on a pizza depends on a lot of things, including what type of pizza you are making. If you are just making a simple cheese pizza, you will obviously need to use more cheese than you would on any other kind of pizza. 

If you are making a cheese pizza, you will want to use at least four ounces of freshly sliced mozzarella as well as another cup of shredded mozzarella on top of it. If you want your pizza to be extra cheesy, you can always add a couple of extra tablespoons of a different type of cheese. Most people prefer parmesan. 

If you are specifically making a four-cheese pizza, you’ll want to add six ounces each of shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded parmesan cheese, shredded Monterey Jack, and shredded Asiago. However, you can switch the cheeses up, depending on your personal preference. 

For a Margherita pizza, you will have to use mozzarella cheese as that is what the classic recipe calls for. You will want to add eight ounces of sliced mozzarella cheese, making sure that the slices are about a half inch in thickness. 

A Hawaiian pizza, infamously known for having pineapple on it, requires about six ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese. This is enough cheese that it won’t overpower the pineapple and will blend nicely with the ham. 

A BBQ chicken pizza can use mozzarella cheese, but you may want to opt for gouda here instead. Whatever cheese you decide to use, make sure you use around two-thirds of a cup. 

For a Supreme pizza, you’ll want to add in a bit more cheese than usual given that it has so much meat on it. Two cups of mozzarella cheese will typically do for this particular type of pizza.

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The Size of the Pizza

This is yet another factor to consider when trying to figure out how much cheese you should use on your pizza. For the most part, a 12-inch pizza requires about four to five ounces of mozzarella. If you like your pizza to be extra cheesy, go ahead and add in an extra ounce. 

If you are making a 14-inch pizza, which usually feeds about four people, you will want to use six to seven ounces of cheese. With a 16-inch or 18-inch pizza, you will want at least 10 to 11 ounces for it to be cheesy enough.

Different Types of Cheese to Use on Your Pizza

There are dozens of different types of cheeses to choose from when it comes to making a pizza. Mozzarella is by far the most popular type of cheese to use. This is because of the fact that it has a subtle taste and a stringy texture when melted that people love. You can use mozzarella cheese alone or combine it with other cheeses when making a pizza. 

Gruyere cheese is another popular cheese option when it comes to making pizza. It is both sweet and savory and has a nutty aftertaste that gives your pizza a unique flavor. This is another type of cheese that melts perfectly, making it a great alternative to mozzarella. 

Parmesan cheese is typically served in powder form and added on top of your pizza. However, it can also be added prior to cooking. Add some shredded cheese on top of your finished pizza but prior to sticking it into the oven. When it comes out, you’ll have an extra layer of cheesiness. 

Provolone cheese makes another great mozzarella alternative. However, it also works great added in with mozzarella as it gives the pizza an extra sharpness to it.

Cheddar cheese isn’t always added to pizza but that doesn’t mean it can’t be. It not only works great sprinkled onto the crust but can also be blended with other cheeses to give your pizza an extra gooeyness to it.

Conclusion

When it comes to making pizza, you have an endless amount of choices topping-wise. Cheese is, hands down, one of the favorite toppings and some may even say that a pizza isn’t really a pizza without cheese on it. Now that you know just how much cheese to add to your pizza, go ahead and get to cooking!