As a pizza connoisseur, you might be curious about the differences between a deluxe and a supreme pie. In other words, is deluxe pizza the same as supreme? Or is it all in a name? The truth is that it depends.
Some restaurants and food manufacturers make both supreme and deluxe pizzas. While the exact toppings might vary, there’s little difference between them. There are also a few distinctions between supreme and deluxe pizzas made by different brands.
That being said, a supreme pizza must have at least two meat ingredients and two veggies. But for deluxe pizzas, there don’t seem to be the same rules. Some include a variety of meats, while others have both meats and veggies. Let’s find out what (if any) differences exist.
Is Deluxe Pizza the Same as Supreme?
On a supreme pizza, the most popular toppings are sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, and black olives. You might even find mushrooms thrown on there for more veggie variety. But pick up or order a deluxe, and all you’ll get is maybe sausage, pepperoni, and maybe ham.
At other restaurants, you might sit down to order a slice of heaven. On the menu, you’ll see both deluxe and supreme. You could even see the words “deluxe supreme” together. That’s because there isn’t a standard among pizzerias, and the terms are used interchangeably.
So, you could order a deluxe and have it resemble a slice of supreme from the frozen aisle or a different restaurant. That deluxe pizza will have green peppers, olives, pepperoni, and sausage. Confused yet? I know I was when I looked up the difference.
Generally, I was surprised there wasn’t an established line between supreme and deluxe pizza. They can be the same or completely different depending on your favorite brand or pizza joint. One thing about a supreme though is that you’re bound to enjoy a feast.
Make It a Supreme
A supreme pizza is just that – a supreme meal. You get a golden crust, hearty marina, oozy mozzarella, meats, and veggies. All major food groups in one!
Now if you’re a vegetarian, a traditional supreme pizza probably isn’t up your alley. But you might be able to find a veggie supreme pie. These are usually called veggie lovers or you’ll find frozen versions with tons of roasted red peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, and more.
But say you’re a carnivore and want to call up Domino’s. Here’s what you’ll get on the chain’s supreme pizza.
- Pepperoni
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Ham
- Beef
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Mushrooms
As you can see, this isn’t your conventional supreme combo. But who am I to argue with putting pineapple on a pizza? It’s the best and adds some sweetness to your pie.
Make It a Deluxe
So, you already know that a deluxe pizza tends to have more meat than a supreme at some pizza chains. Unfortunately, for veggie lovers, that’s a deal breaker. However, for meat lovers, it’s a dream come true.
If you order up a deluxe from Domino’s, here’s what you can expect on your slice.
- Pepperoni
- Smoked ham
- Mushrooms
- Green peppers
Domino’s does it a bit differently. There are fewer ingredients on the deluxe than on the supreme. Pizza Hut doesn’t officially have a deluxe pizza on the menu, depending on where you live. The supreme comes with pork, beef, pepperoni, shrooms, onions, and green peppers.
Overall, you may have a harder time finding a deluxe versus a supreme. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a deluxe in my grocer’s frozen food section. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist in your neck of the woods. Just take a gander down the aisle.
Can I Make My Own Deluxe?
Of course! If you buy or make your own crust, you can choose whatever toppings you want! You also can choose your own sauce and cheese. To make it a true deluxe, you might want to stick with your favorite meats. Think pepperoni, sausage, and smoked ham.
Most grocery stores have all the ingredients you need to make your own pizza. Some people prefer to buy premade crusts that resemble flatbreads. Speaking of flatbread, you can also use these to make flatbread pizza! Or, mix it up with a loaf of French or garlic bread.
Others will buy frozen or refrigerated pizza dough, roll it out, and start building their pizza from there. Really adventurous cooks will go full Italian and make that pizza dough from scratch, spinning it around until it forms the base of their future pie.
The next step is the cheese. You might want to stick to traditional mozzarella or liven things up with sharp cheddar. Or, spice up the crust with some shredded pepper jack. Just make sure the taste of the cheese meshes well with your chosen toppings.
Customizing a Slice of Supreme
You guessed it! If you can make your own deluxe, then you can make your own supreme! This is where you can get crazy by adding more veggies to the mix. Remember though that too many veggies can water down the top of the pie.
Even adding one watery vegetable like mushrooms can produce a taste you don’t like. Meats, on the other hand, tend to release juices during the cooking process. This can also add moisture to the top of a pizza, but it’s usually full of flavor.
Plus, juices of meat tend to simmer into the cheese and don’t necessarily dilute or make the cheese and crust unappetizing. That said, don’t be afraid to experiment with pairing various vegetables and meats together when you make your own supreme.
What About Crust?
Deep dish, hand-tossed, thin, extra crispy, gluten-free, even cauliflower and broccoli. There are so many crust options at your fingertips. Some are available at your local grocery store. Others are best served up on a checkered tablecloth in a greasy dive.
You can bet that both deluxe and supreme varieties are made on all these crust types. Depending on your taste and dietary preferences, you might want to try deluxe and supreme pizzas with several of these crusts.
Personally, my favorite is the deep dish. The buttery crust flavor really stands out and one slice is all you need. Yet, some people don’t want that many carbs so the thin or hand-tossed might be your best bet.
Now if you want to stay away from gluten altogether, there are cauliflower, broccoli, and gluten-free crusts. A cauliflower crust is not that bad once you get used to it. However, it’s not your traditional bread taste and if that’s what you crave, stick with gluten-free bread varieties.
Why Is Deluxe Pizza the Same as Supreme at Some Restaurants?
You might have heard the saying that the imagination knows no limits. However, when it comes to pizza flavors and topping combinations limits do exist. And restaurants are businesses that must cater to their clients’ needs while remaining profitable.
So given the very similar characteristics of supreme and deluxe pizza toppings, it makes sense that one would be cut from the menu. Supreme tends to be a more popular term and most people recognize it as “a little bit of everything.”
At the very least, people recognize a supreme pizza as having the best of the best ingredients. The word deluxe just doesn’t carry the same weight with most people. That said, there are some chains and food brands that still use the term because of their clientele.
In other words, there are market niches where the description “deluxe pizza” means something different than “supreme.” Brands and chains can further differentiate the two by using only meats on a deluxe and a combo of meats and veggies on a supreme.
Restaurant Special Orders
But even if your favorite pizza chain doesn’t have a deluxe on the menu, the restaurant may have a close alternative like a meat lovers or a meat trio. Look for these close options or ask if you can customize your pie. Many restaurants let you pick and choose your toppings.
Essentially, you can create a deluxe or a supreme by staying away from specialty pizzas and mixing and matching available toppings.
Final Thoughts
So, is deluxe pizza the same as supreme? It really depends on where you eat and live. A few restaurants keep deluxe and supreme flavors separate, while the majority only offer supreme varieties. However, traditional deluxe pizzas only use meat toppings.
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