What is the best frozen pizza?

If you want one answer, I'd go with Rao’s Homemade Five Cheese Brick Oven Pizza. A 2026 taste test by The Kitchn had it as its overall winner, praising its crispy-yet-doughy crust, bright tomato sauce, and generous cheese.

That said, recent tests disagree a bit:

• Best premium: Rao’s Five Cheese Brick Oven

• Best classic/value: Red Baron Classic Crust Four Cheese — it won Yahoo’s 2026 blind test overall.

• Best pepperoni: Motor City Pizza Co. Detroit-Style Pepperoni — Yahoo’s 2026 taste test pick.

• Best widely available traditional pie: DiGiorno Classic Crust Cheese — The Washington Post gave it the highest score in its 2025 blind test.

• Best Chicago-style/tavern: Home Run Inn is another standout; its frozen cheese and pepperoni versions are currently highly rated by shoppers.

• Home Run Inn Classic Crust Cheese Pizza - $6.98 (Walmart)

• Red Baron Pepperoni Classic Crust - $4.82 (Walmart)

• DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni - $5.97 (Walmart)

• Screamin' Sicilian Holy Pepperoni - $6.97 (Walmart)

My personal freezer pick: Rao’s if you're chasing the closest thing to a restaurant-style frozen pizza; Red Baron if you want something cheaper and reliably satisfying.

The title of "absolute best" frozen pizza depends on what style you crave, but top-tier taste tests highlight Rao's Made For Home Five Cheese Frozen Pizza Go to product viewer dialog for this item. and Red Baron Classic Crust Pepperoni Pizza Go to product viewer dialog for this item. as the standout crowd-pleasers. While Rao's dominates for its high-quality, authentic pizzeria taste, Red Baron wins the crown for the best budget-friendly classic.

The best frozen pizzas are compared by category below:

The Best Frozen Pizzas of 2026

If you want to narrow down your selection, let me know:

• What crust thickness do you prefer (thin and crispy, classic, or deep-dish)?
• Are you looking for a specific topping (cheese, pepperoni, supreme, or veggie)?
• Do you have any dietary needs (like gluten-free or organic)?

I can help you pick the exact right box for your next pizza night.

The best frozen pizza depends heavily on what style you crave—whether you prefer a thick Detroit-style crust, a premium tavern-style thin crust, or a classic, budget-friendly late-night pie. Recent taste tests by major food publications like The Kitchn and Serious Eats highlight a few standout options that genuinely rival delivery.

The Top Frozen Pizzas

• Best Overall Cheese : Highly praised by reviewers at The Kitchn for having a crispy, brick-oven crust, a vibrant, tomato-forward sauce, and a highly generous layer of cheese.

• Standout Feature : Thaws and bakes beautifully without the soggy middle common in other premium brands.

• Best Thick Crust : The undisputed king of thick-crust frozen pizzas according to community consensus on Reddit and retail testers.

• Standout Feature : Comes in its own baking tray to guarantee ultra-crispy, caramelized cheese edges and a soft, pillowy dough.

• Best for Topping Lovers : A premium grocery pick known for its individually rolled stone-fired butter crust and heavy-handed toppings.

• Standout Feature : Features giant, high-quality rough-cut pepperonis and huge chunks of sausage that blow basic budget brands out of the water.

• Best Classic Dough : The ultimate nostalgic choice for a soft, pillowy, bready crust that rises as it bakes.

• Standout Feature : A very reliable crowd-pleaser with an iconic zesty sauce and great "late-night" comfort energy. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Style Comparison at a Glance

To help narrow this down, what style of crust do you usually prefer (e.g., thin and crispy, thick and doughy, deep dish)? Also, let me know if you are looking for a specific topping like pepperoni, plain cheese , or a gluten-free alternative!

Best overall: Rao's Homemade Five Cheese Brick Oven Pizza — it’s one of the closest frozen pizzas to a real pizzeria pie, with a better-than-average sauce, crisp crust, and good cheese balance.

Other top picks:

• Best value: Red Baron Classic Crust Four Cheese — inexpensive, reliable, and a crowd-pleaser.
• Best pepperoni: Motor City Pizza Co. Detroit-Style Pepperoni — thick, crispy edges and lots of toppings.
• Best “delivery-style” pizza: DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni — fluffy crust and classic frozen-pizza comfort.
• Best thin crust: Screamin' Sicilian Thin Crust Pepperoni — crunchy crust and bolder toppings.

If I had to keep only one in the freezer: Rao’s for quality, Motor City for a guilty-pleasure night, Red Baron for everyday value.

If I had to pick one, I’d go with Motor City Pizza Co. Detroit-Style Pepperoni. A 2026 blind taste test named it the best pepperoni frozen pizza, and its thick, crispy, caramelized-edge crust is about as close as frozen pizza gets to a good pan pizza.

• Motor City Pizza Co. Pepperoni Detroit-Style Pizza - $8.64 (Walmart)

My frozen-pizza ranking

• 🥇 Motor City Detroit-Style Pepperoni — Best overall; especially if you like thick, crispy crust.
• 🥈 Red Baron Classic Crust — Best inexpensive traditional pizza. A recent taste test actually crowned it the winner among five popular pepperoni pizzas.
• 🥉 Screamin' Sicilian Holy Pepperoni — Excellent if you want lots of pepperoni and cheese.
• DiGiorno Classic Crust — Best mainstream/value choice; the Washington Post's 2025 taste test gave it the overall win for cheese pizza.
• Home Run Inn Classic Cheese — Great if you prefer thin, crispy Chicago tavern-style pizza.

Bottom line: If you see Motor City Pepperoni, grab it. If it's $9+ and Red Baron is on sale for ~$4, I'd happily take the Red Baron instead.

• Motor City Detroit-Style Pepperoni - $8.64 (Walmart)
• Screamin' Sicilian Holy Pepperoni - $6.97 (Walmart)
• DiGiorno Classic Crust Pepperoni - $4.67 (Walmart)
• Home Run Inn Classic Cheese - $6.98 (Walmart)

Determining the best frozen pizza depends heavily on what style of crust and toppings you prefer, as recent taste tests from The Kitchn, SheKnows , and Wirecutter show distinct winners across different categories.

Here are the top-rated frozen pizzas available right now, broken down by what they do best:

Best Premium & Traditional Styles

• Standout Quality : Widely praised by The Kitchn reviewers as the best overall cheese option because it tastes "fresh, not frozen".

• Key Features : Built with a premium, crispy-yet-doughy brick oven crust and a vibrant, high-quality tomato sauce topped with five cheeses.

• Standout Quality : Named the best overall value and crowd-pleaser across recent grocery taste tests.

• Key Features : The brick oven style crust bubbles up perfectly golden brown, offering an ideal texture that balances crunch and chew for a budget-friendly price. [1][2]

• Standout Quality : Top pick for a heavy, loaded traditional pizza.

• Key Features : Features an individually rolled, stone-fired butter crust topped with huge portions of premium rough-cut toppings and a zestier secret-recipe sauce.[1]

Best Deep Dish & Specialty Crusts

• Standout Quality : The undisputed champion of thick, comforting, crispy-edged crusts.

• Key Features : Comes in its own baking tray to ensure the cheese caramelizes completely against the sides of the thick, airy dough.

• Standout Quality : Top pick by Wirecutter testers , who noted it blows almost all other alternative crusts out of the water.

• Key Features : The savory, herb-seasoned crust stays remarkably crispy and doesn't buckle under a generous layer of fennel-flecked sausage and vegetables.

• Standout Quality : The ultimate gold standard for authentic, mail-order Chicago style.

• Key Features : Handmade from scratch using the family's iconic buttery crust recipe, layered with thick mozzarella and a chunky tomato topper.[1]

Best Thin & Crispy

• Standout Quality : Highly rated for its cracker-thin crunch and well-balanced sauce.
• Key Features : Bakes up quickly, delivers a reliable crunch without getting soggy, and 100% of profits go to charity.

To help narrow this down, what style of pizza do you usually enjoy most (e.g., thin crust, thick Detroit style, standard pepperoni)? Also, let me know if you are looking for an affordable grocery store staple or a premium pizzeria-style option!

If I had to pick one frozen pizza right now, I’d go with Motor City Pizza Co. Detroit-Style Pepperoni. It consistently stands out in recent taste tests for its crispy caramelized edges, airy crust, and well-seasoned pepperoni.

• Motor City Pizza Co. Pepperoni Detroit-Style Pizza - $8.64 (Walmart)

My quick ranking

• 🥇 Best overall: Motor City Detroit-Style Pepperoni — thick, crispy, cheesy, indulgent.
• 🥈 Best classic: DiGiorno Classic Crust — excellent cheese/crust balance and usually much cheaper. A 2025 Washington Post blind taste test named it their overall winner.
• 🥉 Best thin crust: Screamin' Sicilian Thin & Crispy — loaded with toppings and a good crunchy crust.
• 🍕 Best upscale: Rao's Five Cheese — more restaurant-like, but considerably pricier. The Kitchn's 2026 test picked it as its overall winner.
• 💰 Best cheap: DiGiorno Classic Crust — around $5 in current listings.

My personal recommendation: If you're craving really good pizza, get Motor City. If you want something that tastes more like traditional American frozen pizza, get DiGiorno Classic Crust.

If you tell me pepperoni vs. cheese and thin vs. thick crust, I can give you the single best one to buy.

Choosing the best frozen pizza depends entirely on the style of crust you crave, but recent taste tests from food editors name Rao's Homemade Five Cheese Brick Oven Pizza Go to product viewer dialog for this item. and Motor City Pizza Co. Pizza Deep Dish Go to product viewer dialog for this item. as top-tier standouts. [1][2]

Reviewers across major food publications like The Kitchn, SheKnows , and Serious Eats have evaluated dozens of pies based on sauce vibrancy, cheese melt, and crust integrity. The top recommendations are grouped by style below:

Gourmet & Traditional Crusts

• Standout Feature : Rated as the top overall cheese pizza by The Kitchn , it features a premium, non-artificial tasting crust topped with their signature, high-quality marinara sauce.

• Cheese : Uses a heavy, premium blend of five cheeses (mozzarella, provolone, fontina, Romano, and Parmesan).

• Standout Feature : Frequently cited by Wirecutter testers for high-quality, abundant toppings and a stone-fired butter crust that bakes beautifully.[1]

Deep Dish & Detroit Style

• Standout Feature : Universally praised by reviewers and Reddit communities as the absolute king of Detroit-style frozen pizza.
• Texture : It bakes inside an included tray to deliver a thick, airy, buttery crust with caramelized, crispy cheese edges. [1][2][3]

Thin & Crispy Crusts

• Standout Feature : Widely praised as the best "bang-for-your-buck" option. The Brick Oven line yields a bubbly, golden-brown crust that punches far above its budget price point.

• Standout Feature : A favorite among thin-crust purists who want a rigid, cracker-like bite with balanced, herb-forward sauce. [1][2]

Alternative Crusts

• Standout Feature : A unanimous favorite in NYT Wirecutter testing , this Costco staple features a savory, herb-flecked cauliflower base that stays incredibly crispy without turning soggy or buckling under heavy toppings.

To narrow down the absolute perfect pie for your next meal, tell me:

• What crust thickness do you prefer (thin, rising, or thick/deep-dish)?
• Do you want a classic option (pepperoni/cheese) or veggie/gourmet toppings?
• Are there any dietary restrictions (like gluten-free or dairy-free)?

There isn’t one universal winner, but if I had to pick the best frozen pizza overall, I’d put these at the top:

🥇 Best overall: Rao's Homemade Brick Oven Crust Five Cheese Pizza

• Best balance of crust, sauce, and cheese
• More like a restaurant-style frozen pie than a typical freezer pizza
• Great if you care about sauce quality and a less “processed” taste

Kitchn## 🥈 Best pepperoni: Motor City Pizza Co. Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pepperoni

• Thick, airy crust with crispy caramelized edges
• More indulgent and filling than standard frozen pizza
• A favorite in several taste tests for its Detroit-style texture

Yahoo Shopping## 🥉 Best budget/classic frozen pizza: Red Baron Classic Crust Four Cheese

• Surprisingly good for the price
• Hits that nostalgic “frozen pizza” flavor without being bland
• Strong all-around performer in blind testing

Yahoo Shopping## Other excellent picks:

• Screamin' Sicilian — best if you like lots of toppings, bold sauce, and a more “pizzeria” feel.
• Home Run Inn — excellent thin tavern-style Chicago pizza, especially for cheese or pepperoni fans.
• DiGiorno Rising Crust — still one of the best mainstream choices when you want a thicker, softer crust.

My quick picks by craving:

• 🍕 Closest to a real pizzeria: Rao’s or Motor City
• 🧀 Cheese pizza: Rao’s or Red Baron
• 🌶️ Pepperoni: Motor City
• 💰 Best value: Red Baron
• 🏠 Classic “Friday night frozen pizza”: DiGiorno

A lot also depends on your preferred style: thin and crispy, New York-style, Detroit/deep dish, or loaded with toppings?

The best frozen pizza options for 2026 vary depending on your preferred crust style, with Motor City Pizza Co. Detroit Style Pepperoni Pizza Go to product viewer dialog for this item. and Rao's Made For Home Five Cheese Frozen Pizza Go to product viewer dialog for this item. consistently leading national taste tests for premium quality. Reviewers from culinary outlets like The Kitchn and Sporked rank options by how successfully they balance a crisp crust texture with flavorful, non-artificial sauces.

The top-rated frozen pizzas are categorized by style and performance below:

Best Thick Crust & Gourmet

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• Standout Winner : Named the overall best thick crust across multiple 2026 reviews.
• Crust Performance : Delivers a thick, soft Detroit-style dough with deeply caramelized cheese edges.

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• Premium Sauce : Highly praised by The Kitchn for its authentic, savory tomato sauce base.
• Cheese Profile : Uses a premium five-cheese blend that melts without tasting rubbery.

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• Classic Comfort : Consistently highlighted by Wirecutter for a predictable, soft, bread-like rise.

Best Thin & Crispy Crust

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• Bold Flavor : Top pick for stone-fired thin crust heavily layered with premium toppings. [1][2]

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• Pizzeria Quality : Features a char-spotted, ultra-thin undercarriage replicating a true coal-oven bake.

Best Budget & Alternative Crusts

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• Value King : Frequently chosen as the best low-cost option with a reliable, crispy yeasty dough.

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• Gluten Free : Acclaimed by Wirecutter for a savory, sturdy base that doesn't get soggy.

To help you narrow down the perfect pie, what crust thickness do you usually prefer, and are you looking for a specific topping?