The State of Frozen Pizza Today
Let me tell you something that might surprise you – frozen pizza isn’t what it used to be. According to reported market data, the frozen pizza subcategory in the United States has seen significant growth in recent years, with billions in sales across various retail channels. That’s a lot of pizza flying off those freezer shelves! And honestly, after testing all these brands, I can see why people are warming up to frozen options.
The U.S. frozen pizza market has been valued in the billions and is expected to continue expanding in the coming years according to various market research reports. We’re not just talking about cardboard crusts with rubbery cheese anymore – these companies have seriously stepped up their game. Some of these pizzas genuinely surprised me with how good they tasted.
My Testing Method
Before we dive into the rankings, let me explain how I approached this taste test. I stuck to pepperoni pizzas because that’s the most popular variety, and it gives you a good baseline for comparing crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings all in one bite. Each pizza was cooked exactly according to the package directions in a standard home oven – no fancy tricks or modifications.
I judged each pizza on four main criteria: appearance (because we eat with our eyes first), crust quality, topping distribution and flavor, and overall taste. I also considered value for money because let’s be real – nobody wants to pay premium prices for disappointing pizza. The testing happened over several days to avoid palate fatigue, and I made sure to cleanse my palate between each slice.
DiGiorno – The Heavyweight Contender
Let’s start with the brand everyone knows. DiGiorno has been telling us “it’s not delivery, it’s DiGiorno” for decades, so they better deliver on that promise. Full disclosure, I didn’t want DiGiorno to be the winner here, but personal preference can’t get in the way, and thus this DiGiorno pie earned the title of Best Crust. DiGiorno undeniably had the most doughy and authentic crust.
The rising crust really does rise beautifully in the oven, creating that pillowy texture that makes you forget you’re eating frozen pizza. The cheese blend is generous and melts evenly, though some testers found it could be a bit bland. At around seven to eleven dollars depending on the variety, it’s definitely on the pricier side, but the quality justifies the cost for most people.
Red Baron – The Crowd Pleaser
Red Baron is the crowd pleaser, with a balance of flavors and textures that are just right. You get the distinct taste of crust, sauce, and cheese in each bite. “Overall, this one exceeded my expectations,” said Lauren Friedman, who heads up CR’s health and food team. What I love about Red Baron is that it doesn’t try to be fancy – it just tries to be good pizza.
The crust strikes that perfect middle ground between thick and thin, and the cheese goes right to the edges. The pizza is topped with mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan. It’s quite cheesy, and the cheese goes right to the edges of the crust. Most of us felt the blend of cheeses gave this pizza quite a lot of flavor. At around five dollars, it’s also one of the better values on the market.
Totino’s – The Budget Champion
Don’t sleep on Totino’s just because it’s cheap. A true winner we have here. It’s easier to make, easier to eat, and almost gives you that elementary school pizza taste you’ve been missing all these years. Totino’s knows exactly what it is, and we respect that. And at under $3, it’s the cheapest pizza we found. Sometimes you want gourmet, and sometimes you want nostalgia in pizza form.
The square shape makes it perfect for toaster ovens, and the thin crust gets satisfyingly crispy. Sure, the cheese isn’t going to win any awards, but for two dollars, you’re getting a solid pizza experience that’ll definitely fill you up. It’s perfect for college students, late-night snacks, or when you just want something quick and easy.
Amy’s – The Gourmet Option
The frozen pie from Amy’s Kitchen somehow tastes really, really fresh. The crust is just the right combination of sweet and savory, and the sauce is unique with a real made from scratch quality. In terms of all-star ingredients, the mozzarella and basil on Amy’s Margherita Pizza in particular are a real showstopper.
Amy’s pizzas cost significantly more than most frozen options, but you’re paying for organic ingredients and artisanal quality. If you have dietary restrictions or just prefer cleaner ingredients, Amy’s is worth the extra money. The flavors are more complex and nuanced than most frozen pizzas, though some people might find them too sophisticated for their pizza comfort zone.
Rao’s – The Sauce Star
As major fans of the brand’s sauce (it was also named the winner in our jarred marinara taste test), we weren’t all too surprised to see Rao’s frozen pizza earn the highest honors. Brian, our executive director of people operations, ranked this pizza as his top choice and raved over its “super delicious tomato sauce and perfectly cheesy topping.” When a company famous for making the best jarred pasta sauce enters the frozen pizza game, you know they’re going to nail the sauce.
The thin New York-style crust divides people – some love its authenticity while others find it too thin. But that sauce is genuinely spectacular, with the perfect balance of herbs and tomato flavor that doesn’t overwhelm the other ingredients. It’s pricey at around ten dollars, but pizza purists will appreciate the quality.
Motor City Pizza – The Detroit Darling
When I was gathering frozen pizza picks from my colleagues, Costco shoppers raved about Motor City. Our testers enjoyed taking this rectangular pizza for a spin, gushing about its flavorful cheese, hint of garlic and juicy, well-spiced pepperoni. But where this pizza really stood out is its crust, which is thick, pillowy and brushed with garlic butter. Motor City’s frozen pizzas come in their own baking pan to help you achieve the crispy edges that are a hallmark of Detroit-style deep dish.
This pizza is a game-changer for Detroit-style lovers. The rectangular shape and crispy, caramelized edges make it feel like you’re eating at an actual Detroit pizzeria. The only downside? You’ll need to find it at Costco, Walmart, or Target – it’s not as widely available as some other brands. But when you find it, grab a few boxes.
Newman’s Own – The Feel-Good Choice
I told him Newman’s Own. It’s the truth! My preference for Newman’s Own also is because I like that their profits goes to charity. It makes me feel even better about buying it. Beyond the charitable aspect, Newman’s Own makes genuinely tasty frozen pizzas with quality ingredients.
The thin and crispy varieties are particularly good, with a nice balance of flavors and a crust that actually crisps up properly. It’s usually a dollar or two more than budget options, but knowing your purchase supports charitable causes makes it feel worth the extra cost. Plus, the pizza itself holds its own against more expensive competitors.
California Pizza Kitchen – The Restaurant Replica
One thing that stood out about this pizza was its gourmet flavor, which is likely due to the nice blend of cheeses. It features flavorful hickory smoked Gouda, fontina, and two types of mozzarella. The herbed tomato and olive oil sauce also turns the flavor up a notch. CPK tries to bring that restaurant experience to your freezer, and sometimes they succeed.
The flavor combinations are definitely more adventurous than your typical frozen pizza, but that can be hit or miss depending on your preferences. The thin crust can get too crispy and hard, especially if you’re reheating leftovers. At around ten dollars, it feels expensive for what you get, but if you’re craving something different from the usual pepperoni and cheese, it might be worth trying.
Screamin’ Sicilian – The Bold and Brash
The meat quality is top-notch, and it’s unlikely we would have ever guessed it was frozen. The pepperoni is somewhat spicy and really meaty – it tastes like you got it at an actual pizza shop. One of our tasters called it “the best frozen pepperoni I’ve ever had.” Whatever the fine people at Screamin’ Sicilian are doing, keep it up.
This brand doesn’t mess around with bold flavors and generous toppings. The downside is that all that cheese creates a molten lava situation that can seriously burn your tongue if you’re not careful. Let it cool down before diving in! The packaging is fun and the pizza delivers on flavor, though it’s definitely on the greasier side of things.
The Surprising Winner
After tasting my way through ten different frozen pizza brands, the winner might surprise you. While premium brands like Rao’s and Amy’s impressed with their gourmet ingredients, and budget options like Totino’s delivered solid value, one brand managed to hit that sweet spot between quality and accessibility that makes it the overall champion.
This Red Baron pie costs just $4, but it represents the upper crust of frozen pizzas as far as our testers are concerned. It tastes just like how you imagine frozen pizza should, but in the best possible way. As one tester put it, “Solid – this is cafeteria pizza! Reliable, no frills.” Though it didn’t outrank any of the other frozen pizzas we tested for cheese, crust or overall enjoyment, it had the highest score overall. While some pizzas soared in certain categories and nosedived in others, the Red Baron pie earned strong ratings across the board.
Red Baron takes the crown because it consistently delivers on every front without any major weaknesses. The crust has the right texture, the cheese melts properly, the sauce has good flavor, and the price point makes it accessible to everyone. It’s not trying to be fancy or revolutionary – it’s just trying to be really good frozen pizza, and it succeeds.
The frozen pizza landscape has come so far from those cardboard disasters of the past. Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly comfort food or gourmet frozen options, there’s genuinely something good out there for everyone. Red Baron proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to get quality, but brands like Rao’s and Amy’s show what’s possible when you’re willing to pay premium prices. What surprised you most about these results? Have you tried any of these brands, and did your experience match up with mine?
