In New York City, pizza isn't just food, it's a way of life. But which iconic NY-style dish reigns supreme: the Sicilian square or the classic round pie? In the series premiere of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell faces off against Best Pizza's Frank Pinello to find out which slice is the true king of New York. And who better to judge the event than legendary actor and pizza obsessive Michael Imperioli? Tune in to find out if Nicole’s thin and crispy round pie is enough to beat out a “secret weapon” Frank picked up from nonna.
Which movie-inspired pizza reigns supreme: the broccoli-topped pie from Inside Out, or “pizza in a cup” from The Jerk? As host Nicole Russell continues her quest to become the world’s next master pizza-maker, Binging with Babish has challenged her and Pro Home Cooks’ Mike Greenfield to take his silver-screen recreations to the next level. Will Nicole’s Cup O’ Pizza earn her a much-needed victory following a tough loss to Frank Pinello in Episode 1? Tune in to a brand-new episode of Pizza Wars to find out!
Ramen, tacos, cheeseburgers, fried chicken—Mike Hauke of Tony Boloney's can turn just about anything into a pizza. But has the undisputed king of Instagramable pies finally met his match? In a brand new episode of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell attempts to wrestle the crown from Dr. Franken-slice in a viral pizza showdown for the ages. Will Nicole's popcorn-crusted bar pie be enough to topple Mike's bone-in "Flaming Cowboy"? Only pizza pros Mark Iacono and Scott Wiener can decide.
Can two thin-crust loving New Yorkers make deep dish pizza fit for a Chicago native? As host Nicole Russell continues her quest to become the world’s next master pizza maker she must face off against Josephine Giordano of Lenny’s Pizza to see if she can conquer the Windy City’s most controversial culinary export. Will Nicole’s chicken parm-packed deep dish be enough to the win the favor of Muchies’ Farideh Sadeghin and Chicago native Sean Evans? Tune in to an all new episode Pizza Wars and find out!
Detroit is home to some of America's most delicious pizza. But who can create the ultimate Motor City-inspired slice? As host Nicole Russell continues her quest to become the world's next master pizza-maker, she must face off against chef Cliff Skighwalker in a good ol' fashioned pan-pizza throwdown. Judges Adam Richman and Reina Scully have eaten all over the world, and now they're looking for that crisp, caramelized cheese and soft, pillowy dough that combines for the ultimate Detroit-style slice. Who will the judges award the golden pizza trophy this week? Tune in to an all-new episode of Pizza Wars and find out!
Pizza is the ultimate blank canvas for culinary innovation. In this episode of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell faces off against Mythical Chef Josh to see who can create the ultimate “mashup pie.” At Mythical Kitchen, Josh has perfected the art of fast-food fusion, but will his Doritos Locos Taco Pizza be enough to take down Nicole’s Jamaican beef patty-inspired pie? The choice is up to this week’s judges: Complex’s Speedy Morman and chef Jae Lee of Nowon in NYC.
It's the season finale of Pizza Wars, and host Nicole Russell must now battle the final boss: master pizzaiolo Vito Iacopelli. Will Nicole's tandoori-inspired pizza be enough to impress food review legend Daym Drops, or will Vito's "connolo-style" slice steal the golden pizza trophy away from her for good? Only one oven can handle a pizza cage match of this magnitude: The Ooni Koda 16. Tune in to a very special episode of Pizza Wars to see who comes out on top.
Nicole Russell is on a mission to become the greatest pizza maker in the world. But now she needs the help of two of her friends to really push her pizza powers to the next level. On Season 2 of Pizza Wars, pizza icons Frank Pinello and Josephine Giordano will challenge Nicole with a new competition every episode. From Neapolitan-style masters like Giorgia Caporuscio, to YouTube heavyweights like Binging with Babish, Nick DiGiovanni, and Inga Lam, Nicole will need to defeat some of the pizza world’s toughest warriors in order to reach her goal. Get ready, people. Pizza Wars is back
For Nicole Russell, pizza is the perfect blank canvas for personal expression and culinary creativity. But what happens when she goes up against YouTube's most creative rapper-turned-chef, Meyhem Lauren? On a very special episode of Pizza Wars, Russell heads back to her home in Rockaway, Queens to challenge the Fridge Diving host to a freestyle pizza battle for the ages. Will Nicole's Russ & Daughters smoked salmon be enough to best Meyhem's Old Bay-seasoned soft shell crab? Judge Frank Pinello and Josephine Giordano have a tough decision ahead.
In the food world, no topic is more controversial than pineapple pizza. But today, Andrew Rea—a.k.a. Binging with Babish—returns to Pizza Wars to do the impossible: Create a fruit-topped pizza so delicious it silences all of the haters (even himself). But will Andrew's al pastor-inspired "taco-pizza" be enough to beat out Nicole's pickled pineapple and Philly cheesesteak-smothered pie? Frank Pinello and Josephine Giordano must risk their reputations as "pizza purists" in order to judge this event and crown a winner.
Almost every culture on earth has a dish that resembles pizza. On the very special, Season 2 finale of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell must face off against baking prodigy Bryan Ford in an international pizza showdown. Will Nicole's Turkish-inspired lahmacun be enough to take down Bryan's cheese-stuffed fugazzeta from Argentina? Pizza pros Frank Pinello and Josephine Giordano must choose a winner, and decide if Nicole achieved her goal of becoming a master pizza maker this season.
You've seen Nicole Russell cook up some incredible slices on the set of Pizza Wars—but where did her hero's journey actually begin? As Russell gets ready to take on the competition in Season 3, the Last Dragon Pizza founder brings us back to where it all started: her home in Rockaway, Queens. Here, Russell tells the inspiring story of how her passion for pizza turned into a life calling in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. And make sure to stick around until the end of the video to catch a sneak peek of Pizza Wars Season 3, launching Monday, May 9 at 11AM ET!
Biting into a freezer-aisle pizza snack is like mainlining nostalgia. But what happens when two of the Internet's best chefs take beloved treats like Bagel Bites and Pizza Rolls and make them gourmet? On the very special Season 3 premiere of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell faces off against Victor Nevarez (AKA Internet Shaquille) to see who can successfully level-up their favorite frozen pizza snacks. Will Nicole and Victor impress Artichoke Pizza's Francis Garcia and social media star Cugine with their creations? Watch and find out!
Caviar. Truffle. Platinum. Gold. Today's episode of Pizza Wars is all about taking one of the world's most beloved cheap eats and tricking it out with ultra-luxe, high-end ingredients. Will Mythical Kitchen's Nicole Enayati avenge Mythical Chef Josh and take home the coveted golden pizza trophy? Bronx rapper DreamDoll is known for having expensive taste, and the decision is up to her.
If you think Chicago-style pizza is all about deep dish, you've got another thing coming. On this episode of Pizza Wars, Nicole Russell faces off against Not Another Cooking Show's Stephen Cusato to see who can make the best tavern-style pizza this side of the Windy City. And for a pizza battle this legendary, it's only right to bring in a couple of iconic judges: culinary juggernauts Wolfgang Puck and Adam Richman. Can Nicole and Stephen change Wolfgang's mind about Chicago-style pizza? Will Adam hand Nicole another much-needed W? Watch an all-new episode of Pizza Wars and find out!
The grandma slice is a staple of every New York City pizzeria. Thin, crispy, and covered in sauce, the dish is reminiscent of the old-school pan pies Italian grandmothers would cook at home. On an all-new episode of Pizza Wars, Nicole Russell faces off against Pennsylvania pizza legend Norma Knepp to see who can make the perfect grandma pie. Will Nicole's meatball-topped creation win over pizza-loving judges Sam Morril and New York Nico? Watch as Nicole and Norma cook for some of our toughest critics yet.
Meat lover's pizza has long represented peak excess on a pie. But what happens when you swap out plain old pepperoni and sausage for oxtail, pork belly, bacon, and chicharrón? On this episode of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell faces off against Mokbar's Esther Choi to see who can create the ultimate carnivore's feast. Will Nicole's oxtail-packed pizza be enough to defeat Esther's Korean army stew-inspired pie? Meat-loving comedian and cookbook author Eric Wareheim is here to judge the event, and he means business.
Ghostface Killah is a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, and has collaborated with everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Kanye West. But the Staten Island-raised emcee is also one of rap's pickiest pizza eaters. Will Wu-Tang super fans Nicole Russell and Justin Sutherland be able to create two custom pies delicious enough to impress Ironman? Watch this very special season finale of Pizza Wars and find out!
Pizza Wars is back, baby! And you know what that means: More. Pizza. This season, host Nicole Russell continues her quest to become a master pizza maker by facing some of her toughest challenges yet. Whether it's serving ultra spicy slices to Hot Ones host Sean Evans, tricking out frozen pizzas for late night host Amber Ruffin, or whipping up a custom pie for rapper Lil Yachty and food TV legend Carla Hall, Nicole must reach deep into her bag of tricks in order to best the competition.
Pizza Wars is back with a bang! On the Season 4 premiere, Nicole Russell must create a pizza spicy enough to make Hot Ones host Sean Evans break a sweat. Will Nicole’s Nashville hot chicken-inspired slice bring home the golden pizza trophy, or will she lose out to Down North Pizza's Mike Carter and his Thai curry-smothered Detroit pie? Only Sean can decide!
We all have a special place in our hearts for frozen pizza. On this episode of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell faces off against James Beard Award-winning chef JJ Johnson to see who can take their favorite frozen pie to new heights by using better ingredients. Will late-night host Amber Ruffin and pizza expert Scott Wiener appreciate Nicole's guanciale-packed breakfast pizza, or will the judges fall in love with JJ's lobster-and-crab-covered seafood slices? Watch an all-new episode of Pizza Wars and find out!
Eating stuffed crust pizza is like mainlining nostalgia. But what happens when you take one of the world's cheesiest dishes and stuff it with even more cheese? On an all-new episode of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell faces off against TikTok phenom Salvatore Mandreucci—aka Sally Slices—to see who can fit the most fillings inside their crust. Only Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña, and AEW professional wrestler Britt Baker, can decide if these stuffed crust creations pack enough punch.
Buffalo chicken pizza. It's the OG specialty slice that nearly ever pizza shop offers. But what happens when you take the concept of a chicken wing-inspired pie and crank it up to outrageous new heights? On this episode of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell cooks up a lemon pepper chicken pizza for slice-obsessed judges Lil Yachty and Carla Hall. But will Nicole's lemon pepper pizza be good enough to beat Mike Hauke and his Flamin' Hot Cheetos-crusted creation? Watch an all-new episode of Pizza Wars and find out!
The dollar slice is the lifeblood of New York City. For just a buck, anyone can fill up on a hot slice. On this episode of Pizza Wars, host Nicole Russell faces off against resident pizza nerd Scott Wiener to see who can make the ultimate budget-friendly pie—a pizza that won't break the bank, but also tastes delicious. And judging the event is dollar-slice obsessive and New York hip-hop legend Raekwon the Chef. Can Nicole whip up a slice good enough to make Raekwon part with a hard-earned dollar? Tune in to an all-new episode of Pizza Wars and find out!
Few foods feed off of fire like pizza and barbecue. The pairing is a match made in heaven, so on the season finale of Pizza Wars host Nicole Russell is on a mission to create the ultimate barbecue slice for Houston hip-hop legend Bun B. Will Nicole’s jerk pork pizza help her close out the season with a perfect record? Chef Dale Talde and his shrimp-and-bacon-topped tavern pie are all that stand in her way.