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I love being an editor at a food brand. I get to do what I’ve always wanted: talk about food all day. But there are a few perks that take it from good to great. One of them is trying more than 20 new frozen pizzas for the upcoming 2026 Freezies Awards.
I’ll admit it was a bit overwhelming to have crates of frozen pizzas delivered, trying to explain all the dry ice to my FedEx delivery person, and a bit challenging to find freezer space for over 50 pizza boxes (many brands sent multiple boxes of each pizza).
I am lucky enough to live in the Midwest, so I have a second basement refrigerator and a deep freezer. However, little did I know that the real challenge would be eating all those pizzas. It’s a hard job, but someone’s gotta do it!
The Testing Criteria
I had to set criteria for judging the pizzas. The four considerations for every pizza were: crust, sauce, toppings, and overall taste. I evaluated every ingredient, texture, and flavor, then weighed those against price and availability. If I’m going to recommend a product, every detail must be considered.
I’m a traditionalist. I like my grilled cheese with American, my hot dog with mustard and pickles, and my spaghetti with red sauce and meatballs. However, wherever your pizza preference lies, there is probably a frozen pizza out there for you.
Digiorno’s Wood Fired-Style Crust Premium Pepperoni Pizza
Price: $6.49 for one 12-inch pizza (prices may vary by location)
Why I Love It: I love the crisp, wood-fired-style crust, the balanced cheese and pepperoni, and the way it actually tastes like real pizza, not just something pulled from the freezer.
My Favorite New Frozen Pizza
One of the first pizzas I tried ended up being my favorite: Digiorno’s Wood Fired-Style Crust Premium Pepperoni Pizza. The crust was crisp on the outside and chewy in the center, just like my favorite wood-fired pizza crusts.
It also had a great bread flavor, which, after testing over 20 pizzas, is not universally true. I found many of the crusts to be lacking in flavor. The pizza was topped with the right amount of cheese and pepperoni, then finished with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning. A small detail that made it taste special, not frozen.
Credit: Simply Recipes / DiGiorno
All four of Digiorno’s Wood Fired-Style Crust pizzas were delicious, but the savory, crisp edges on the pepperoni won my heart. The other compelling factor is that the pizza sells for $6.49 at Target, Walmart, and other supermarkets in my area. So, no hunting necessary and a deal to boot. With a cool Caesar Salad on the side, my dinner dreams are realized.
Other Standouts
Di Fara’s frozen pizzas were also impressive. The crust tasted homemade, with sauce and toppings that felt thoughtful and well-balanced. The only drawback is availability. It’s harder to find in my area, though some Target and Kroger locations carry it. At $8.99, it’s worth grabbing if you see it.
Newman’s Own Bourbon BBQ Thin & Crispy Pizza was another favorite. The flavor was bold and memorable, and I’ve reached for it multiple times since testing. It’s pricier at $11.99 and could use a bit more cheese, so I add a handful of shredded cheddar and bake it a few minutes longer than directed. Still, it’s a solid pick.
Testing 20 pizzas was no small feat, but it reminded me how far frozen pizza has come since my college days of microwaving $1 Totino’s. There’s a frozen pizza for every craving and budget. And honestly, we’re lucky to live in a time when the freezer aisle offers this much variety.
To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.
Read the original article on Simply Recipes
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