Dish guides
What is a pizza quattro formaggi?
A pizza quattro formaggi is a "four cheeses" pizza: mozzarella plus three other cheeses, almost always including gorgonzola, melted together. In Italy it is often a pizza bianca, made without tomato sauce. You'll find it on nearly every pizzeria menu, sometimes written "4 formaggi".
- At a glance
- Pizza quattro formaggi
- Four-cheese pizza, usually mozzarella, gorgonzola and two other Italian cheeses.
- Pronunciation
- Say it like PEET-tsah KWAHT-troh for-MAHD-jee · IPA /ˈpittsa ˈkwattro forˈmaddʒi/
- Also written as
- quattro formaggi, 4 formaggi, pizza ai quattro formaggi, quatre fromages, cuatro quesos
What’s in it
Core ingredients
- pizza dough (wheat flour, water, salt, yeast)
- mozzarella
- gorgonzola
- two more cheeses, e.g. fontina, parmigiano, taleggio, provolone or pecorino
Often added
- tomato sauce (quattro formaggi rossa)
- smoked scamorza
- walnuts
- honey
- black pepper
Allergens
| Allergen | How likely |
|---|---|
| Dairy | Typically contains |
| Gluten | Typically contains |
| Tree nuts | Sometimes contains |
| Eggs | Rarely contains |
| Peanuts | Rarely contains |
| Shellfish | Rarely contains |
| Fish | Rarely contains |
| Soy | Rarely contains |
| Sesame | Rarely contains |
| Diet | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Depends — No meat, but several classic Italian cheeses, including parmigiano reggiano and usually gorgonzola, are made with animal rennet. |
| Vegan | No |
| Pescatarian | Usually |
| Halal | Depends — No meat, but the cheeses may be made with animal rennet, and pizzeria ovens are shared with pork toppings. |
| Kosher | Depends — Kosher rules need certified cheeses and a supervised kitchen, which ordinary pizzerias don't have. |
| Gluten-free | Depends — Only with a gluten-free base, which some pizzerias offer on request. |
Allergen and calorie details are AI estimates based on the menu and typical recipes. They can be incomplete — if you have a serious allergy, always check with the staff.
Which four cheeses?
There's no official list, which is why the cheeses change from one pizzeria to the next. Mozzarella is the base, because it melts smoothly and keeps the others from burning. Gorgonzola, the blue cheese from Lombardy and Piedmont, is almost always there and gives the pizza its sharp, salty bite. The other two are usually chosen from regional cheeses: fontina, parmigiano or grana, taleggio, provolone, pecorino or smoked scamorza. Some menus list them; many simply say "quattro formaggi".
Outside Italy you may meet very different combinations, such as emmental, edam or cheddar, and gourmet versions finished with walnuts or a drizzle of honey.
White or red?
In Italy a quattro formaggi is often bianca ("white"): cheese on dough with no tomato sauce, so the cheeses melt into one rich, creamy layer. Others serve it rossa, on a tomato base. If the menu doesn't say, ask "È bianca o con il pomodoro?". White pizzas are usually listed in their own section, pizze bianche, at the end of the pizza list. Read more about pizzeria menus in the Italy menu guide.
Typical price
Median price 11 EUR
Typical range 8–15 EUR.
Median of 20 menus, 2025-05 – 2026-01. Basis: Italian-language menus scanned with MenuGuide.
How to order it
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Una quattro formaggi, per favore. | A quattro formaggi, please. |
| Quali formaggi ci sono? | Which cheeses are on it? |
| È bianca o con il pomodoro? | Is it white or with tomato? |
Not to be confused with
- Pizza margherita — Tomato, mozzarella and basil: one cheese, not four.
- Pizza bianca — Any pizza without tomato; in Rome also a plain flatbread with oil and salt.
- Gnocchi ai quattro formaggi — The same four-cheese idea as a creamy sauce for potato gnocchi or pasta.
Frequently asked questions
What cheeses are on a quattro formaggi pizza?
Usually mozzarella and gorgonzola, plus two of fontina, parmigiano or grana, taleggio, provolone, pecorino or smoked scamorza. There is no fixed recipe, so the combination depends on the pizzeria and the region. If the menu doesn't list them, ask "Quali formaggi ci sono?" (Which cheeses are on it?). Abroad, the mix can include emmental, edam or cheddar.
Does quattro formaggi pizza have tomato sauce?
Often not. In Italy a quattro formaggi is frequently a pizza bianca, with the cheeses melted straight onto the dough. Some pizzerias make it rossa, with tomato sauce underneath. If you have a preference, ask "È bianca o con il pomodoro?" (Is it white or with tomato?) before you order.
Is quattro formaggi pizza vegetarian?
It has no meat or fish, so many vegetarians eat it. Strict vegetarians should know that parmigiano reggiano is always made with animal rennet, and gorgonzola and several other traditional Italian cheeses usually are too. If rennet matters to you, ask which cheeses are used, or choose a pizza with mozzarella only.
How do you pronounce quattro formaggi?
Say KWAHT-troh for-MAHD-jee: in IPA, [ˈkwattro forˈmaddʒi]. Both double consonants are held a little longer, and the final i sounds like "ee". In Italian, quattro formaggi simply means "four cheeses", and the dish is sometimes written "4 formaggi" on menus.
