We Asked Chefs to Name the Best Frozen Pizza and These Are Their Favorites

Even the pros can't resist a good freezer find.

By Karla Walsh
Published on July 14, 2024
We Asked 5 Chefs for Their Fave Frozen Pizza
Photo:

Dotdash Meredith / Janet Maples

It’s tough to find a more perfect food than pizza. It checks most of the nutrition boxes, can be easily customized to match the season, dietary preferences, and cravings, and is a crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike. Here at Allrecipes, we often whip up these best pizza recipes at home, and also adore supporting our local pizza parlors to score a piping-hot delivery pie (or several).

However, we’re not above a frozen pizza. In fact, we frequently stock our freezers with a few as affordable backup dinners and slice and savor them often. We’ve tested so many methods to optimize the frozen pizza experience (Psst… defrost it before cooking it in a high-heat oven on a pizza stone!) that we now know how to turn even a ho-hum frozen pie into a parlor-like dish.

It turns out, we aren’t the only ones who sometimes ditch DIY and delivery and turn to brands like DiGiorno, Freschetta, California Pizza Kitchen, Banza, and Amy’s. Professional chefs and cookbook authors do too.

On the heels of our chef hot takes about the best butter, fast food burger and fries, and mayo, we’re tapping culinary pros to dish about their favorite home slices.

Our Panel of Frozen Pizza-Judging Chefs

Qualities of a Good Frozen Pizza

Hill admits that “nobody is looking at frozen pizza as a life-changing nutritional powerhouse. It's all about nostalgia or quick food fixes. If you need something fast at the end of a full day, frozen pizza is a fun, delicious option that everyone is going to love.”

So what do our culinary experts look for in the pies they prize most?

  • A crust that’s made with care. The definition of the “best” pizza crust varies based on who you ask (Here’s our favorite homemade dough, in case you’d like to give it a try!). Hill and Massari seek out a thin and crisp crust, while Schroeder swears by the self-rising kind “because they best accommodate more toppings without compromising the eating experience,” he says. Regardless of the thickness, the best frozen pizza crust isn't soggy and crisps up nicely in the oven.
  • An ideal ratio of crust to sauce to toppings to cheese. If there’s too much of any element, it can overwhelm the overall eating experience, Schroeder says. Too little of any feature can also be an issue: a super-slim crust can burn or break, skimpy sauce or cheese can result in a dry slice, and going shy on toppings might make you wonder, “Why didn’t I just eat sauce and cheese on toast?” (Hey, Pizza Lava Toast went viral in 2023 for a reason.) 
  • Flavors you enjoy. This is priority number one for Sheehan and Massari, who selected artisan brands of frozen pizza as their favorites. “I always prioritize quality ingredients like real mozzarella cheese, Italian tomatoes, and fresh toppings,” Massari says. There’s no need to overcomplicate things, he continues: “Simple, classic pizza varieties are usually the best indicators of quality. I steer clear of frozen pizzas with cheap, processed cheese, sugary sauces, and gimmicky flavor combinations that often compensate for poor quality.”

The Best Frozen Pizza, According to Chefs

Unlike the unanimous results about the best butter and mayo, each of our food pros actually had different selections for their favorite freezer aisle pie. Two are names you’ll know and recognize: DiGiorno and Jack's Pizza. The other two are Whole Foods Market finds that are hand-crafted by some of the most award-winning pizzaiolos in the world: Talia di Napoli, made in Naples with Italian ingredients then shipped to the U.S., and Genio Della Pizza, by New York City pizza icon Anthony Mangieri.

Here’s what makes each frozen pizza brand stand out, according to its nominee.

  • Genio Della Pizza: As the proud mom of “a son whose idea of a very good time is frozen pizza,” Sheehan says, “I have eaten more than my share over the years. Though many are totally fine, never—I mean never—have I tasted a frozen pizza as good as Anthony Mangieri’s new frozen brand, Genio Della Pizza.” We can understand why… Mangieri’s restaurant Una Pizza Napoletana makes pizzas that were ranked the best in the world in 2022 by 50 Top Pizza. There are four flavor options: Broccoli Rabe (Sheehan’s selection), Margherita, Marinara, and Bianca, all of which are constructed with 100 percent Italian ingredients. That includes the crust, which Sheehan describes as “thin, crispy, and yeasty. It tastes as close to fresh as I’ve ever experienced.” You can order these pies on ice via Goldbelly, find them at select Whole Foods Market locations, or use the “Find Us” tool on the brand’s website to see if there are other retailers near you.
  • Talia di Napoli: “This brand excels in delivering an authentic Neapolitan pizza experience right from your freezer,” Massari says. Their commitment to traditional Neapolitan pizza-making techniques, including using naturally-leavened [sourdough-based] dough and wood-fired ovens in Naples, sets them apart.” He is particularly fond of the thin crust that’s soft on the inside and slightly crispy around the edges. That crust is topped with “a light and flavorful San Marzano tomato sauce and high-quality mozzarella,” Massari adds, as well as simple toppings. Examples include the Tartufina, which comes with mushroom, black truffle, and fior di latte cheese, and the Mozzarella, featuring cheese, EVOO, salt, and basil—and nothing else. As of publication time, the best place to find Talia di Napoli pizzas is at select locations of Whole Foods Market, Sprout’s, and Balducci’s.
  • Jack’s Pizza: Hill says that “this is my all-time favorite nationally-available brand of pizza, and it's not even close.” Admittedly, this has a lot to do with nostalgia and home-state loyalty. “The company was founded in Wisconsin, where I'm from, and they always had the best-tasting cheese of all frozen pizzas. Is this a coincidence in the dairy state? I think not!” She is also keen on the crispy, cracker-like crust “which resembles restaurant pies I enjoyed as a child,” the pleasantly sweet sauce, and what she describes as an optimal balance of toppings, sauce, and cheese. Jack’s is widely available at most major supermarkets in both original thin and rising-crust varieties. Topping options include pepperoni (Hill’s preference), sausage, cheese, meat lovers, supreme, and more.
  • DiGiorno: Schroeder swears by DiGiorno because, in his opinion, it doesn’t fall victim to the curses that strike many other frozen pizzas. “Frozen pizza brands often miss the mark by either over-seasoning, by adding too much sugar in the sauce, or underseasoning, like with a bland crust,” he explains. “For me, Digiorno has a nice sauce that's not too sweet or thick, a crust that isn't bland, and a good ratio of toppings so that the pizza doesn't turn into a mess when you try to eat it.” Just like Jack’s, DiGiorno is available at most major retailers (including even some drugstores). Unique to DiGiorno are its 11(!) different crust styles, ranging from their signature rising crust to a flaky croissant crust to a Detroit-style pan pie. Schroeder’s go-to Supreme is one of several topping line-ups available. Others include four cheese, sausage, pepperoni, three meat, and Hawaiian. 

Chef Tips to Level Up Frozen Pizza

Regardless of which frozen pizza brand you think is best, a few selection and serving strategies can take your eating experience to the next level. Here's what our chefs recommend.

  • Stick with simple toppings. Our pizza judging panel agreed that the traditional pizza toppings are popular for a reason: They taste amazing. No need to fuss with anything trendy; a classic Margherita, pepperoni, or supreme pie is often the wisest choice. “I tend to avoid Canadian bacon or ham. These meat toppings have less fat in them, so they tend to easily dry out compared to pepperoni or sausage,” Schroeder says.
  • Add olive oil and salt. The box for Sheehan’s best frozen pizza, Genio Della Pizza, suggests baking the pie, then finishing it with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of flake salt. “Being a rule-follower, I followed suit,” Sheehan says, “and it did indeed take an already singularly delicious pie over the top.” As a result, she highly recommends this for any frozen pizza.
  • Dress it up. These chef-approved frozen pies can act as a tasty canvas for your semi-homemade meal. Consider topping your baked pizza with a spoonful or two of herb-infused toasted breadcrumbs, swirl on some sriracha or hot honey, or brighten things up with a handful or two of salad or a shower of fresh basil.
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