Best Store-Bought Pizza Dough: Top 7 Brands, According To Foodies

A growing trend in home cooking is making homemade pizza, providing a fun and tasty activity for the whole family. Although making your own pizza dough from scratch is a great experience, it’s also extremely time-consuming and messy. A great alternative to making your own is a store-bought, premade pizza dough and crust. Head over to your local grocery store, and you’ll find tons of premade dough options. From frozen pizza dough to prepackaged dough to a premixed dough mix, you’ll have a ton of options to choose from. If you want to skip the hassle of cooking from scratch, then it pays to know your options for the best store-bought pizza dough. 

Although originally Italian, Americans love pizza! According to a recent survey, the average American eats enough pizza in one year to fill an entire suitcase. That’s right, a state-by-state poll of 5,000 adults revealed the average person eats pizza three times a month and can comfortably consume five slices in one sitting. That amounts to over 180 slices of the cheesy ‘za every year. 

It is said that the stomach is the key to someone’s heart, right? Well, a recent study discovers what foods specifically fulfill this theory. The top meal to cook for a lasting impression just happens to be pizza. But, don’t worry. If you take a shortcut and use one of the premade doughs on our list, we won’t spill your secret.

So, which dough is the right choice for your next homemade pizza night? StudyFinds did our homework, consulting nine of the top foodie review websites in an effort to bring you the best store-bought pizza dough available on the market today. Our list comprises the seven most frequently listed store-bought dough options from across these sites. Think our foodies missed a great store-bought option? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! 

Someone kneading pizza dough
Someone kneading pizza dough (Photo by Ian Talmacs on Unsplash)

 

The List: Best Store-Bought Pizza Dough, According to Experts

1. Trader Joe’s Ready-to-Bake Pizza Dough

The top spot on the list of the best store-bought pizza dough belongs to Trader Joe’s Ready-to-Bake Pizza Dough. Trader Joe’s is known for providing all types of delicious foods, and its premade pizza dough is one of the best you’ll find. 

Trader Joe’s never disappoints. You’ll need to let the dough come to room temperature for 20 minutes before baking, but other than that, it’s as easy as stretching it, topping it and popping it in the oven. The dough has a pleasant yeasty, bready flavor and a decidedly doughy texture. If you love soft, thick crust, look no further,” writes PureWow.

Trader Joe’s also has some of the best frozen pizza options you’ll find in a national grocery store chain. But, when you want to make homemade pizza without the hassle of making your own pizza dough, Trader Joe’s is a great option. 

“Hands down, Trader Joe’s fresh pizza dough packs the best bang-for-your-buck value…this was the least expensive dough we purchased. The packaging isn’t the prettiest, but this is hardly a con when compared with the pros. The dough felt very sticky out of the package—but a sprinkling of flour on our work surface quickly solved that problem. The dough was easy to roll out and held its shape much better than other pizza doughs we tested,” adds MyRecipes

Trader Joe’s Ready-to-Bake Pizza Dough is affordable and tasty, so you can’t really go wrong with this dough. This dough works with all types of baking surfaces including oiled pans and baking sheets, making it a versatile dough option for homemade pizza night. 

“Trader Joe’s is known for its low prices and wide selection of tasty, high-quality food products — so it comes as no surprise that its premade pizza dough has caught the attention of homemade pizza aficionados. It comes refrigerated, and when handled properly it will bake up into a pretty impressive pizza in your home oven,” furthers Mashed

2. Papa Sal’s 

The next spot on the list of the best pizza dough belongs to Papa Sal’s. Papa Sal’s is available at many large supermarkets across the country, making a great homemade pizza

Papa Sal's Original Pizza Dough
Papa Sal’s Original Pizza Dough (papasals.com)

“Papa Sal’s pizza dough is sold at most supermarkets (including Walmart!) in the frozen section and is a great option for slinging pies at home. What we love about this dough is how easy it is to roll out and work with. It’s not sticky like some doughs, just make sure to bring it to room temperature before you start working with it,” explains SheKnows

“Papa Sal’s Original Pizza Dough must be rolled or stretched into your desired shape before putting your toppings on… Papa Sal’s says that their pizza dough is made with real and simple ingredients. It tastes exactly how you expect pizza dough to taste – a little salty, savory, and buttery. This premade dough also stretches easily, so you won’t get a hand cramp while whipping one of these up. Papa Sal’s also encourages customers to use this dough for more than pizza crust – it’s a popular choice for garlic knots, calzones, and more,” writes Shopfood

“Even better, if you’re lucky you might be able to find fresh 16-ounce bags of Papa Sal’s pizza dough in the refrigerated section. Bring it home and let it come to room temperature on your kitchen counter for 2 to 4 hours, then stretch or roll it out, add whatever toppings you like, and bake it on a pizza pan or preheated stone or steel for best results,” furthers Mashed

3. Pizza Buddy

The third spot on the list of the top store-bought pizza dough belongs to Pizza Buddy. Pizza Buddy is an excellent choice for premade pizza dough, and homemade pizza aficionados will love the versatility of this dough. 

Pizza Buddy Pizza Dough, 16 oz, Bag (Fresh)
Pizza Buddy Pizza Dough (walmart.com)

“Are you a frequent Walmart shopper? If so, you’ve likely seen this affordable brand in the deli section. The dough needs to come to room temperature before being used and the package recommends rolling it out before topping it, but other than that, there are no special steps. We think Pizza Buddy a great pick for beginners, since it’s basically foolproof and bakes to a perfect color and texture without much help. It also features separate instructions for pizza, breadsticks, calzones and garlic knots right on the packaging,” explains PureWow

“With no preservatives and only flour, water, yeast, salt, oil, and sugar on the ingredients list, Pizza Buddy dough (available in 16-ounce bags in the frozen section of select Walmart locations) is a great choice for any pizza night — as long as you remember to plan ahead… If you’re lucky enough to find a ball in the freezer section of your local store, move it to the fridge the day before you want to make pizza. Then, let it rest on your counter for 2 to 4 hours before stretching or rolling it out and adding toppings,” adds Mashed

“Pizza Buddy’s Pizza Dough is not only one of the most budget-friendly options on our list, but it also creates dark brown, charred bubbles as it bakes. You wouldn’t know this premade dough was so cheap just by tasting it. Pizza Buddy recommends letting it come to room temperature before rolling it out. Once it’s room temp, the dough is super easy to stretch with your hands to get it to your desired size. The more you knead the dough, the chewier it will be, so don’t be scared to give it a few extra stretches if you love a chewy crust,” furthers Shopfood

4. Whole Foods Market Natural Pizza Dough Ball

The fourth spot on the list goes to Whole Foods Market Natural Pizza Dough Ball. This store-bought pizza dough is only available in Whole Foods stores, but it’s well worth the special trip. 

Whole Foods Market Natural Pizza Dough Ball
Whole Foods Market Natural Pizza Dough Ball (wholefoodsmarket.com)

“This store-bought refrigerated pizza dough seems to have the biggest following among serious pizza-makers, who consider it to be a good alternative if you don’t want to make your own. While most of the options on our list are sold in 16-ounce balls, Whole Foods’ dough comes in a 22-ounce package, enough for two 12- to 14-inch round pizzas or one large rectangular baking sheet pizza,” writes Mashed

When you choose Whole Foods Market Natural Pizza Dough Ball, you’re able to make several pizzas from one ball, and that’s a huge plus on homemade pizza night. Still, this dough is very tasty and has an excellent texture, so your kids will love it!

“This dough had the most fermented pizza dough flavor that we all enjoyed while also having extra texture from the use of whole grains. You can find it in the bakery section or ready-made food area of your Whole Foods,” furthers Camille Styles

Quality pizzeria-style pizza is crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, and this Whole Foods option bakes up the same way. Not only is this great for pizza, but it can also be used for a variety of other fun homemade dishes and recipes

“They always have fun premade items, make-at-home items, and fresh market finds. Even though some of their products can be a little overwhelming, their premade pizza dough is surprisingly easy to get the hang of. Simply roll the dough into your desired shape, add your toppings, and bake. I love this dough because the inside stays super soft while the outside gets crispy. This is the best premade pizza dough that strikes a perfect balance between soft and crunchy,” adds Shopfood

5. Boboli

Unlike the previous entries on this list, Boboli is a pre-baked crust that’s available in most grocery stores across the country. “This Boboli crust is on the thicker side and has browned edges sprinkled with a bit of Parmesan. The result is crispy on the outside and soft in the center. You get a bit of saltiness from the shredded Parm but mostly you taste that wonderful yeast flavor that’s prominent in good bread—and pizza. This pizza crust is also robust enough to hold lots of sauce, cheese and a smattering of whatever you like best, including supreme-style toppings: sausage, peppers, onions and mushrooms,” explains Taste of Home

Boboli Original Pizza Crust
Boboli Original Pizza Crust

There’s a big difference between prebaked pizza crust and frozen or fresh dough balls that need to be proofed and stretched before you can make your pizza. With Boboli, you get to skip the hassle of stretching your dough and go straight into sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings. 

“Boboli is the original store-bought pre-made pizza crust. The crust is the right balance of chewy with a light airiness, the consistency is perfect, and they taste great. Sometimes they are sold in a kit with pizza sauce which is doubly convenient. We usually have our own homemade pizza sauce in the freezer, so we just grab these yummy crusts. Boboli also has personal-size crusts, and they offer thin crusts too. Unfortunately, they don’t offer deep-dish, but they should,” writes Homemade Pizza School

For the record, there are zero store-bought deep-dish pizza dough options available on the market. Regardless, Boboli offers a quality hand-tossed style crust as well as a deliciously thin and crispy pizza crust. 

“Boboli’s Original Pizza Crust makes pie making a breeze. Just choose your toppings, pop it in the oven, and wait. These crusts are 12 inches wide… Boboli pizza crust also has a satisfying chew to it and gets crispier than most other premade crusts I’ve tried. It contains less than a gram of sugar, 0g of trans fat, and no high fructose corn syrup. Premade crusts sometimes have a lot of processed ingredients in them, so this is definitely a plus,” furthers Shopfood

6. Pillsbury Canned

The sixth spot on the list of best store-bought pizza dough belongs to Pillsbury’s canned pizza dough. Pillsbury is known for its amazing canned biscuits and other baked goods, so it’s no surprise that this pizza dough is one of the best you’ll find. 

Pillsbury Refrigerated Classic Pizza Crust, 13.8 oz
Pillsbury Canned Pizza Crust (walmart.com)

“Pillsbury’s pizza dough was truly the dark horse winner of the bunch. First things first—this dough is not sexy. It comes in a tube, which is totally nostalgic if you ever overdid it on canned cinnamon rolls as a kid. Out of the can, the dough feels sticky and even a touch greasy. The instructions, however, are foolproof—simply plop the dough ‘log’ onto a cookie sheet, unroll, and bake,” explains MyRecipes

Pillsbury’s canned pizza crust is one of the only canned pizza crust options available, and it’s certainly one of the best. Pillsbury’s pizza dough strikes a nice balance between thick and chewy crust and thin and crispy crust, making it a favorite for kids and adults alike. 

“Just like the brand’s famous biscuits, you simply pop the tube open, unroll the dough and bake. The package suggests prebaking for 8 minutes on a greased nonstick baking sheet (we used a skillet for testing purposes, so we had to reform the rectangular dough sheet into a circle), topping the dough and baking again to completion, so it’s a bit fussier than standard dough you’d find at the supermarket. Nevertheless, the Pillsbury pizza turned out tasty and evenly cooked,” writes PureWow

Prebaking your pizza crust in a stovetop skillet helps create a crispy exterior while maintaining a soft and chewy interior. It’s common for store-bought pizza dough to require prebaking before topping and baking again to completion, so don’t let that scare you away from this delicious pizza crust from Pillsbury. 

“It’s so buttery that I could easily eat the dough fresh from the oven without any toppings. But we’re talking pizza crusts here, so I’ll refrain! This premade crust comes in a rectangular shape, and there’s no need to roll it out or reshape it. Simply unroll the dough onto a baking sheet and add toppings before baking. I’m a fan of super buttery crusts, which is a big reason I ranked Pillsbury this high on the list. This premade pizza dough is also pretty crispy once baked in the oven and is on the thinner side,” furthers Shopfood

7. Golden Home Ultra Thin Pizza Crusts

Rounding out the list of the best store-bought pizza dough is another prebaked crust option, this time it’s Golden Home Ultra Thin Pizza Crusts. “If a cracker-like crust is your preferred way to pizza, try Golden Home Ultra Thin Pizza Crust… And while this crust is very thin (it’s akin to a St. Louis-style crust), it does have enough structural integrity to support a handful of toppings, so don’t be shy when layering on the pepperoni,” exclaims Taste of Home

Golden Home Ultra Thin Pizza Crust
Golden Home Ultra Thin Pizza Crust

“Probably the healthiest pre-made thin crust is Golden Home. We hadn’t even heard of the company before but decided to take a risk on this one, and it was good. The company boasts their pizza crusts are low-fat and low-carb pizza, but we only care about if it tastes good, and it does,” adds Homemade Pizza School

Golden Home Ultra Thin Pizza Crusts come in packs of three, so you’ll be able to create a custom pizza for everyone on homemade pizza night. However, you don’t have to worry about buying these pizza crusts and using them right away. Golden Home pizza crusts can be stored in the fridge or the freezer and they’ll taste just as good as the day you brought them home from the store, or had them delivered from your favorite grocery delivery app.  

“You can store Golden Home pizza crusts for six months, especially if you are yet to open them. You can keep new pizza crusts in a package that you can reseal in the refrigerator for three to five days or in the freezer for up to 30 days,” explains The Proud Italian

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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. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Comments

  1. Pillsbury? Really?

    First, take the pre made crusts off the list. — they are all pure crap.

    Trader Joes and Wholefoods sound interesting — haven’t tried them— I will.

    Believe it or not Walmart / Sams frozen dough makes very good pizza. Publix is the same as Walmart for twice the cost.

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