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National Cheese Pizza Day

When it comes to satisfying your pizza cravings, nothing hits the spot quite like a warm, gooey slice of cheesy goodness.

Cheese Food & Drink Pizza72

Marketing angleinferred

Drive foot traffic and online orders for pizza chains and food retailers by promoting limited-time cheese pizza deals and DIY pizza kits during September.

Relevance 72high intent

Flash deal: Free large cheese pizza with specialty purchase—tag a friend to split it
DIY cheese pizza kit challenge—show us your homemade creation for a chance to win
70,000+ pizzerias in the US—find your local spot and claim your National Cheese Pizza Day discount
Nostalgia angle: Cheese pizza, the original comfort food—celebrate the $40B industry that feeds America

Marketing playbookideas

Notable campaigns6

Lou Malnati's (2025): Ran a "Cheese Pull Challenge" on social media where customers ordered pizza, posted videos showing their cheese pull skills, and tagged the brand with #LMCheesePullChallenge for a chance to win free cheese pizza for a year (in partnership with Proudly Wisconsin Cheese)
Round Table Pizza (2025): Offered personal cheese pizzas for $5 with any purchase during National Cheese Pizza Day (Sept 5-8) exclusively for rewards members, leveraging their Punchh loyalty platform
Fired Pie (2023): Promoted 50% off cheese pizzas on National Cheese Pizza Day as a one-day promotion
Domino's (2024): Engages with trending hashtag holiday #NationalPizzaDay on social media using a confident, playful brand voice with high-quality pizza photos and behind-the-scenes content
Marco's Pizza (2025): Offered XL Big Cheese Pizza for $13.99 with promo code XLBC13 on Sept 5-6
DiGiorno (2024): Partnered with TikTok influencers to create original content around pizza products, driving a 13% increase in new customer acquisition from competitors

Campaign ideas5

Launch a limited-edition specialty cheese pizza featuring premium cheeses (burrata, truffle, aged cheddar) exclusively for the day
Run a "Cheese Pull Challenge" contest: customers post social videos of their cheese pull and tag your brand for a chance to win free pizza for a year
Offer tiered discounts (e.g., 25-50% off) on cheese pizzas, encouraging add-ons like sides or desserts to boost check totals
Partner with local dairy/cheese farms or food brands for co-promotions and tag them in social posts to expand reach
Host a pop-up pizza tasting event showcasing 3-4 different cheese varieties with pairing suggestions and educational content

Social angles5

"It's National Cheese Pizza Day—our favorite excuse to talk about the REAL star of the show 🧀 Tag someone you'd eat a whole pie with. #NationalCheesePizzaDay #CheesePull"
Behind-the-scenes content: Close-up videos of melting cheese, cheese stretching, or wood-fired oven shots with captions like "Liquid gold" or "That's the sound of perfection"
Nostalgic angle: "Keep it simple, keep it cheesy. No judgment on toppings—just pure, iconic cheese pizza. What's your go-to? #CheesePizzaForever"
User-generated content: Repost customer photos of their cheese pizzas with captions crediting them: "This is how [Customer Name] celebrates National Cheese Pizza Day 🍕"
Humorous/personality-driven: Pizza zodiac sign/personality type posts—"Your pizza order says a lot about you. What's yours? #NationalCheesePizzaDay"

Ad copy starters4

“The Cheese Pull is Real: 50% off all cheese pizzas today only. No toppings needed. Just pure magic. Order now 🧀”

“National Cheese Pizza Day calls for REAL cheese. Ours comes from [Local Farm Name]. Limited time deal inside 👇”

“One day. One pizza. Endless cheese. Celebrate with us—$2 off any large cheese pizza with code CHEESE”

“This is what happens when you focus on one thing and do it RIGHT. 🧀 Cheese pizza. September 5th. You're welcome.”

Tips4

Plan & promote 3-10 days in advance via email, social, and local ads—don't wait until the day of. Research shows advance notice keeps promotions fresh in customers' minds.
Keep it SIMPLE: cheese pizza is all about the fundamentals. Market the quality and source of your cheese, not complicated toppings. Educate guests about cheese varietals.
Leverage contests and user-generated content—81% of consumers would participate in brand contests. Cheese Pull videos, photo submissions, and memes drive massive organic reach.
Staff up and ensure kitchen capacity can handle the surge. National food holidays drive traffic spikes, so plan inventory, staffing, and delivery logistics ahead of time.

History

Bizarrely, pizza – especially a basic cheese pizza – was regarded by its Italian inventors as a food for the lower classes who could not afford the luxury of meats.

The ingredients are cheap, requiring just flour, yeast and water to make a basic dough, with toppings often being picked from local trees and made from local milk. But even if it’s cheap, the results are still absolutely delicious!

It is estimated that there are more than 70,000 pizzerias across the United States, demonstrating how pizza has been adopted into the national psyche, and the industry is worth more than $40 billion dollars each year in the US.

Even beyond that, pizza is a well known dish that has made appearances all over the world. But no matter where people are located on the map, now is the time to celebrate National Cheese Pizza Day!

How to celebrate

Eat a Cheese Pizza

Easy to access, Cheese Pizza is usually one of the least expensive items on the menu. Affordably priced and easy to come by, the best way to celebrate National Cheese Pizza Day would be to grab some friends and enjoy a few slices of cheese pizza together.

Make a Cheese Pizza

For those who want to try to make their own pizza in honor of the day, it’s really not that hard! Making the dough at home can be pretty simple, with flour, warm water and yeast (and possibly a bit of sugar). But, to make it even easier, it’s possible to buy pre-made refrigerated pizza crust which can be used to make the dough. Then, simply top with some red sauce doctors up with herbs and spices, and then add a pile of delicious shredded mozzarella cheese on top. For a special touch, brush some olive oil along the edges of the crust and sprinkle some garlic salt on too. Bake and then enjoy!

Get Free or Discounted Pizza on National Cheese Pizza Day

Some pizza chains are into giving away free or super cheap pizzas on this most excellent day. The deals change each year so it’s best to check what’s current, but in the past these restaurants have offered special deals for National Cheese Pizza Day: Pasqually’s Pizza and Wings. The lesser known cousin of Chuck E. Cheese’s, this pizza joint has been known to offer a free large cheese pizza with the purchase of a large speciality pizza. This is great news for a family or a group of friends. Stoner’s Pizza Joint. Known throughout the southwestern states of the US, this pizza place also offers a free large cheese pizza with the purchase of a large pizza. Marco’s Pizza. With more than a thousand stores in this chain, Marco’s has certainly been willing to give away a LOT of pizza for this day! They have been known to offer a free medium cheese pizza with the purchase of a large or extra large pizza when ordered for pickup.

Get the World’s Most Expensive Pizza

Whether certain people are fans of a deep dish from Chicago, or they prefer the more authentic Italian thin base pizza, now this day offers a special excuse to indulge! For those who really want to spoil themselves, head down to Pizza Luis XIII restaurant in Salerno, Italy, where the world’s most expensive pizza has been created – costing something in the ballpark of $12,000!

FAQ

Did ancient civilizations have a version of cheese pizza?

Flatbreads with cheese existed long before modern pizza. The ancient Greeks topped their bread with herbs, oil, and cheese. The Persians, around the 6th century BCE, baked flatbreads with cheese on their shields during military campaigns. These early dishes set the foundation for what would later become pizza in Italy.

Is there a cheese pizza that never goes bad?

Scientists developed a pizza for the U.S. military that stays fresh for up to three years. The special cheese blend resists moisture buildup, preventing mold. It was created for soldiers in combat zones where fresh food is scarce. While not gourmet, it ensures pizza cravings can be satisfied anywhere.

Why do some cheeses melt better on pizza than others?

Mozzarella remains the top choice because of its high moisture and fat balance. Cheeses like cheddar or parmesan lack the right stretch and can burn quickly. Scientists even studied cheese meltability, confirming that mozzarella’s protein structure creates the best gooey texture. The perfect melt is what gives cheese pizza its signature appeal.

Has cheese pizza ever played a role in politics?

In 2011, an attempt to classify pizza as a vegetable caused controversy in the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers ruled that the tomato sauce in school lunches counted as a serving of vegetables. This decision sparked debate about nutrition policies in public schools. Cheese pizza became a symbol of government loopholes and food industry influence.

What’s the strangest cheese ever used on a pizza?

Some pizzerias experiment with maggot-infested Casu Marzu, a Sardinian cheese considered illegal in many places. The live maggots break down fats, making it extra soft and creamy. While risky, some daring food lovers claim it adds a bold, nutty flavor. This extreme pizza topping isn’t for the faint of heart.

Did astronauts ever eat cheese pizza in space?

In 2001, Pizza Hut sent a six-inch pizza to the International Space Station. It had extra spices because microgravity dulls taste perception. Mozzarella was the safest choice since greasy toppings wouldn’t float around in zero gravity. It marked the first official pizza delivery beyond Earth.

Why do some people put honey on their cheese pizza?

In Brazil and some parts of the U.S., drizzling honey over cheese pizza enhances the contrast between salty and sweet. The trick works best with strong cheeses like gorgonzola or sharp cheddar. The combination of warm cheese and sticky honey creates a unique balance of flavors. It’s a growing trend among food lovers looking for new ways to enjoy pizza.

What’s the biggest cheese pizza ever made?

In 2023, a team in Los Angeles created the largest cheese pizza, measuring over 13,000 square feet. It used thousands of pounds of dough, sauce, and mozzarella. The massive pizza was made in sections, then baked with industrial heaters. It set a world record while also feeding thousands of people.

Are there superstitions about cheese pizza?

Some believe dreaming of cheese pizza signals good luck or financial gain. In Italian folklore, dairy-rich foods represent abundance and prosperity. A few people even use pizza slices for fortune-telling, interpreting cheese bubbles as omens. While not widely practiced, pizza-based superstitions add a fun twist to food lore.

Why do some people fold their cheese pizza before eating?

New Yorkers popularized the fold to keep thin-crust slices from drooping. The technique traps steam, slightly altering the cheese’s texture. Some argue folding enhances flavor because it concentrates the toppings with each bite. While practical, others insist pizza should always be eaten flat.