When is pizza not a good idea? The answer is never. And when time or budget is of the essence, it’s frozen pizza for the win. Maybe you remember frozen pizza from your childhood as the junk food of the pizza world. And while we’re not arguing with the delightful nostalgia of a low-quality frozen pizza, we think you can do better. That’s why we’ve taken to the experts to find the best frozen pepperoni pizzas for your next night in.

Whether you eat pizza with a knife and fork or with your hands, pizza is one of America’s favorite foods. It’s even among America’s favorite first date cuisines.  And while it’s probably not the healthiest of fare, one man even proved that with the right nutrition and fitness plan in place, it is possible to lose weight while eating nothing but pizza. Now that’s a diet we can get on board with!

A recent survey finds that when it comes to dinner prep, many of us are too exhausted to cook or go out, which just goes to show how important keeping a frozen pizza on hand really is. Menu plan, shop for the menu, stick to the menu … and then throw a couple pizzas in the cart for those midweek days when you just want an easy meal.

Ready to Netflix, wine, pizza and chill? Sounds like a good night to us! So that you can get started on pizza night pronto, we’ve compiled 13 experts’ consensus top picks of the best frozen pepperoni pizzas. Our list contains the top recommendations across these sites. If you have a go-to brand of your own, let us know in the comments below!

The List: Best Frozen Pepperoni Pizzas, According to Experts

1. Red Baron Classic Crust Pepperoni Pizza

About our number-one pick, Delish writes, “The words of one of our tasters summarizes this pizza best: ‘It tastes better than it looks.’ Though this pie is definitely not a looker, the tangy, fresh-tasting sauce, perfectly thick crust, and flavorful pepperoni will actually make you think you’ve gotten delivery.”

Restaurant Clicks agrees that it doesn’t look all that good. “Luckily, that all changes once you take a bite into its tangy, fresh-tasting sauce and crispy, thick crust. Topped off with flavorful pepperoni, you could easily mistake the Red Baron Classic Crust Pepperoni Pizza for a delivery kind. It’s THAT good!”

“This classic frozen pizza is always a crowd-pleaser. Throw it in the oven after your kid’s soccer practice, put it out with the appetizers for your dinner party, or toss it on the grill to enjoy next to the pool on a hot summer’s day. This pizza is one to remember and is an excellent freezer staple when you need something to eat asap. You’ll be glad the next time you decide to add this pizza to your grocery list,” says TastingTable.

2. DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza

It’s not delivery, it’s DiGiorno! My Frozen Picks raves, “Imagine a delicious slice of pizza that tastes like the real deal but costs less than half as much. This is possible thanks to DiGiorno’s new frozen pizzas, which are made with 100% real cheese and come in signatures like tomato sauce or pepperoni toppings. The flavor is so deep and meaty, and you’ll want to take another bite just for fun! The texture is light as air.”

“A splash of tomato sauce tops the plush crust. Some folks may crave a little more with the bready crust, but our team enjoyed the flavor nonetheless. What makes this pie really stand out (besides that top-notch thick crust) is the crispy pepperoni. ‘There’s something smoky, hearty and fun about this pizza,’ says Mark. Who can resist that?” asks Taste of Home.

BuzzFeed loves the rising crust, writing, “they call this a ‘Rising Crust’ pizza, and that’s the understatement of the century. I cooked this baby directly on the wire rack in my oven, as directed, and parts of this pizza rose to be over an inch thick!”

3. Screamin’ Sicilian Pizza Co. Holy Pepperoni

She Knows says this choice is a calorie-laden dream: “Screamin’ Sicilian’s Holy Pepperoni doesn’t skimp on mozzarella cheese and pepperoni, which is likely why this tasty pie sits at 330 calories per one-fifth pizza.”

MyRecipes likes the appearance and the flavor of this one. “Looks matched the flavor of this massive pie. The sweet and tart sauce paired with a heaping of Parmesan, Romano, cheddar, and two kinds of mozzarella cheese made the pizza an overall favorite. Tasters were satisfied with the crunch and toasty flavor of the crust and even agreed it had the all-around best pepperoni.”

Wirecutter says this is the best for toppings lovers, writing, “This frozen pizza is a pepperoni-loving maximalist’s dream, with tons of sauce, cheese, and almost two full layers of pepperoni, making it satisfying—if messy and oily—to eat. (Some tasters thought this pizza had too much sauce, noting that it oozed off the slice and dripped down their hands.) Tasters remarked that the cheese actually tasted like cheese, with satisfying salt and tang levels and a gooey texture that made for great cheese pulls.”

4. Freschetta Naturally Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza

Hip2Save gives Freschetta an 8 out of 10. “The sauce is savory, with just a touch of sweetness, there’s usually a generous amount of toppings, and the crust has a memorable texture and flavor. During our frozen pepperoni pizza taste test, Freschetta made one of the best fresh out of the oven impressions on us.”

As does BuzzFeed, who also loves the crust: “The crust was the true star of the show. Like, I think it was the best crust I tried?! The edges were perfectly puffed with gorgeously browned bits, and the crust under all the toppings stayed gloriously light without turning into a thick ol’ slab of bread.”

While MyRecipes’ taste testers were divided over the crust but still loved the pizza overall. “Although a fan-favorite, the focaccia-like crust was a divisive factor for this naturally-rising crust pizza. While it definitely had eye-appeal, it wasn’t the top choice for those who don’t love a bready-base. Fluffy crust aside, tasters loved the generous amounts of mozzarella, Provolone, and preservative-free pepperonis—even if they were a bit greasy.”

5. California Pizza Kitchen Signature Uncured Pepperoni Crispy Thin Crust Pizza

UPROXX touts the upgraded flavors of this frozen pizza: “The marinara sauce is ultimately forgettable but the chunks of vine-ripened tomatoes really give this pie a tremendous burst of flavor, making up for what the sauce lacks. The mozzarella melts nicely and has an added boost of flavor thanks to the blend of Fontina and smoked gouda which spreads its way across the entire pie. The pepperoni has a spicy bite and manages to crisp up nicely (though it produces a lot of grease) but it’s the sprinkling of basil that really brings things together for me. A strong choice with great ingredients.”

Thrillist agrees, “This thin crust pizza from the famed mall-adjacent pizza chain gets some props for getting a tad fancier: The pepperoni has a pronounced smokiness, there are tiny diced tomatoes, and the cheese—blocks of mozzarella and smoked Gouda—is haphazardly flecked with basil.”

Kitchn likes the crust, writing, “The crispy-ness and lightness of the crust is what won us over — even those of us who typically prefer our pizza crusts to double as couch cushions.”

You might also be interested in:

• Best Frozen Pizzas
• Best Of The Best Pizza Chains
• Best Pizza Ovens Of 2023
• Best Pizza In NYC
• Best Chicago Pizza

Sources:

• Delish
• Restaurant Clicks
• TastingTable
• My Frozen Picks
• Taste of Home
• BuzzFeed
• She Knows
• MyRecipes
• Wirecutter
• Hip2Save
• UPROXX
• Thrillist
• Kitchn

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.