I live in New York City, where there’s no shortage of excellent pizza options. But sometimes it’s nice (and better for my budget) to just open my freezer and pull out a pie to heat up for lunch or dinner. That’s why I was excited to test all of the frozen pizzas at Costco. The bulk warehouse has a pretty vast selection of frozen goods, including pizza (and a revolving door of ones, at that; brands seem to come and go).
I went to the Costco near me in Brooklyn and bought every frozen pizza the retailer had in stock (five, to be exact). I then invited a few friends over to help me with the taste test. Here’s how it panned out (and which frozen pizza is the best).
5. Milton’s Cauliflower Crust Roast Vegetable Pizza, $15.88 for 2 pizzas
While the veggies certainly don’t emerge from the oven with grill marks on them quite like the picture on the box displays, this frozen pizza did deliver on big veggie flavor. It has a cauliflower crust pizza base, so it’s gluten-free. As far as veggie pizzas go in my book, this is pretty good; I did find myself wishing that it had a bit more heft to it, though.
4. Sabatassos Pizza Singles, $14.29 for 12 miniature pizzas
I usually veer toward large versions of things (I’m a value guy), but for these I’ll make an exception (with some caveats). They are good and straightforward (fine bread, fine cheese, and fine sauce), but to be frank they are lacking in the flavor department. They are undeniably meant to be doctored up after exiting the oven.
Therefore I encourage you to make these singles what you wish. Our group experimented by adding garlic powder, chili flakes, and Parmesan cheese to them. Some folks also liked Tajin and Old Bay, chopped Calabrian chili peppers, and even a few pickled ramps. Needless to say, these little guys need some help but are absolutely delicious when viewed as a canvas.
3. Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza, $14.99 for 4 pizzas
These bad boys equate to about $3.75 per pizza — that’s a mind-bogglingly good deal. As far as taste goes, this is a perfectly middle-of-the-road cheese pizza. You probably won’t rave about it or compare it to your local pizza joint, but it’s a great deal and it has a nice, fluffy crust (I just found myself wishing there was more marinara).
2. Kirkland Signature Supreme Cauliflower Crust Pizza, $11.79 for 2 pizzas
This pizza is pretty much exactly what I usually look for in a frozen pizza. The crust is thin, but maintains its structure in a way that I so appreciate (even though it has no gluten!). It also stays away from the all-too-common lack of meat that some store-bought supreme pies suffer from. The balance of toppings is just right here.
1. Motor City Pizza Co. Detroit Style Pizza, $15.31 for 2 pizzas
This is the best pizza at Costco. I actually prefer thin crust, and yet somehow this thick-crust, fluffy Detroit-style won out. It was the undisputed favorite amongst my friends. Not to mention, it comes in a two-pack — and both are pretty hefty on their own. A few slices of the Motor City feels almost like a full meal. It arrives with flavor abound in its bread layer and its hefty amount of pepperoni (both circles and tiny bits). My friend Bradley said that it “clears the rest” of the frozen pizzas, and I agree.
Do you have a favorite frozen pizza from Costco? Tell us about it in the comments below.
