I Tried Every Whole Foods Frozen Pizza — Here’s My Ranking of All 10
Pizza can be a surprisingly divisive topic. There are regional preferences (New York, Chicago, Detroit), shape stans (square vs. triangle), whether to eat a slice flat, folded in half, or (gasp!) with a fork and knife — and this is all before we begin to discuss toppings! The one thing that’s for sure is that people get so heated about pizza because they love it so dearly.
Whole Foods not only gets this, but the company also seems to take all our pizza preferences seriously. When I stopped by the grocer’s frozen section on a recent trip, I noticed 10 different Whole Foods frozen pizzas alone. (That’s on top of all the name-brand pizzas you’ll find on freezer shelves.) With classic flavors and creative themes sold in both crispy thin crust and chewy rising crust varieties, the grocer covers much of the pizza spectrum.
In order to inform the masses on which ones are worth their weight in dough, I tried every single one — and then ranked them to provide you with a comprehensive guide of your own. Spoiler: There’s not a bad pizza in the bunch (some are just more cheesy and doughy than others).
10. Whole Foods Market Wood-Fired Pizza, Italian Cheese Board
In lieu of crackers, this Italian Cheeseboard comes on crust — and it’s one of the best crusts out of the bunch. The Neopolitan-style crust has more of that bready, chewy quality you’d find at your favorite pizza joint. The toppings (a white gorgonzola sauce, mix of mozzarella, Parmesan, and asiago cheese, and a fig sauce drizzle over top after cooking) are totally on brand — or is it on board? — for the theme. They’re delightfully sweet and salty, but mild in flavor when compared to other options on this list.
Find it in stores: Whole Foods Market Wood-Fired Pizza, Italian Cheese Board, $7.29 for 13.7 ounces
9. 365 By Whole Foods Market Frozen Thin Crust Pizza, Mediterranean
It’s not every day you see a Mediterranean pizza in the freezer aisle, which makes it a great option if you’re looking for a fresh take on the classics. The crispy, cracker-like crust is topped with mild tomato sauce and stretchy mozzarella, plenty of Kalamata olives and feta, plus a scattering of chopped sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. It would have ranked higher, in fact, if not for my own personal reservations about black olives.
Find it in stores: 365 by Whole Foods Market Frozen Thin Crust Pizza, Mediterranean, $6.29 for 13.3 ounces
8. 365 by Whole Foods Market Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza
Speaking of classics. Enter: pepperoni. The salty, spicy sausage plays well with the subtly sweet marinara and milky mozzarella, and I thought there was a good amount scattered on top — about two to three pieces per slice, so there weren’t any bites missing out. This thin-crust version is the first of two pepperoni pizzas on the list. (Read on to see where the rising-crust ranks!)
Find it in stores: 365 by Whole Foods Market Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza, $5.69 for 13.3 ounces
7. 365 by Whole Foods Market Frozen Thin Crust Pizza, Supreme
A perfect choice for people who can’t decide on just one topping, the thin-crust Supreme pizza comes loaded with pepperoni, crumbled Italian sausage, and slices of Canadian bacon along with chopped bell peppers, onions, and sliced olives. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of meat on this pie! It was so filling on its own that we struggled to finish the whole pie. But. But! My partner still managed to polish it off.
Find it in stores: 365 by Whole Foods Market Frozen Thin Crust Pizza, Supreme, $6.29 for 14.5 ounces
6. 365 by Whole Foods Market Frozen Thin Crust Pizza, Four Cheese
This four-cheese thin-crust pizza is a fail-safe dinner on demand. Without any toppings to distract my taste buds, I really enjoyed the prevalence of the malty, yeasty flavors in the crust. Where the other pizzas only use mozzarella, this pizza also included creamy fontina, smoky provolone, and salty, umami-rich Parmesan for a well-rounded and layered bite. The tomato sauce does take a back seat here, which to some could be a downside. But I don’t think I’ve ever complained about too much cheese before and I don’t plan on starting now.
Find it in stores: 365 by Whole Foods Market Frozen Thin Crust Pizza, Four Cheese, $6.29 for 12.5 ounces
5. 365 by Whole Foods Market Chicken & BBQ Sauce Thin Crust Pizza
BBQ chicken pizza is one of my favorites. This thin-crust version lives up to the hype, mainly because of the smoky-sweet sauce, which is bold with rich flavors of molasses and paprika. Along with the mozzarella’s classic stretchiness, there’s also a creamy Gouda that adds to the smokiness for a pizza that could just as well be cooked on a grill! Juicy chunks of grilled chicken and chopped red onion and cilantro top it all off, each of which add layers of texture without taking away from the barbecue flavor.
Find it in stores: 365 by Whole Foods Market Chicken & BBQ Sauce Thin Crust Pizza, $6.29 for 14.3 ounces
4. 365 by Whole Foods Market Frozen Four-Cheese Rising Crust Pizza
The rising crust is chewier than the thin crust, so it feels more akin to the experience of getting a bubbling-hot pie from a local pizzeria. I also enjoyed the slight buttery flavor of the dough that’s reminiscent of popular fast-food pizza joints, minus the delivery wait time. With the doughier (read: sturdier) base it also seemed like the makers were a bit more heavy-handed with the saucing than in the thin-crust version, which made for a more balanced pie. We ate this with a bagged salad and a drizzle of fancy olive oil on top for a little extra richness and agreed that it’s a prime example of how the classic cheese pizza can never steer you wrong.
Find it in stores: 365 by Whole Foods Market Frozen Four-Cheese Rising Crust Pizza, $4.69 for 17.3 ounces
3. 365 by Whole Foods Uncured Pepperoni Frozen Rising Crust Pizza
This pizza is more proof that crust thickness can make all the difference. Where I thought the thin-crust version of this pie got a little weighed down by the pepperoni, the rising crust did a lot to appease me. The extra crust seemed to absorb more of the spicy pepperoni oil because I did not have the same issues as I did with the thin crust. I also thought the doughier base stood up better to the pizza’s bold flavors. The bit of added tomato sauce helped to temper the spice, which really made for an all-around better eating experience.
Find it in stores: 365 by Whole Foods Uncured Pepperoni Frozen Rising Crust Pizza, $4.69 for 17.8 ounces
2. Whole Foods Market Zucchini Rapini Pizza
For something out of the frozen aisle, this pizza tastes truly artisanal. The pair of sauces — a garlicky white and dollops of verdant pesto — stood out from the sea of red. More importantly, they helped season the grilled zucchini and broccoli rabe (the non-rhyming name for rapini). Garlic fans will not be disappointed; even the mozzarella serves as a creamy backdrop that lets the garlic flavors sing. I was glad to see plenty of red pepper flakes for an added kick. Plus, the wood-fired Neapolitan crust that I was so taken with (see number 10) really cinched this pizza as one of my favorites.
Find it in stores: Whole Foods Market Zucchini Rapini Pizza, $7.29 for 13.7 ounces
1. 365 by Whole Foods Market Margherita Thin Crust Pizza
The secret to this pizza is in the details, like the fresh balls of mozzarella dotted over top instead of the classic low-moisture shredded cheese on the others. The tomato sauce isn’t a heavily seasoned marinara, like on the other pizzas, but a light mix of crushed tomatoes and olive oil that still tastes fresh even out of the freezer. The flourishes of torn basil really sealed the deal, staying bright and green, giving that unique air of herbal, anise flavor. Because there aren’t as many seasonings as other pizzas, the quality of the ingredients really mattered — and it shows.
Find it in stores: 365 by Whole Foods Market Margherita Thin Crust Pizza, $4.99 for 11.8 ounces
Do you have a favorite Whole Foods frozen pizza? Tell us about it in the comments below.