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Out of 78 DiGiorno Pizzas, These Are the 8 Best (And 6 to Avoid)
DiGiorno may have 78 varieties of frozen pizza, but there are only 8 that nutritionists recommend.
Frozen pizza is the ultimate comfort food. From your freezer to the oven, you have a delicious cheesy pie in a matter of minutes without ever having to leave your home. And when you want restaurant-quality pizza but don't want to deal with delivery, there's no better brand than DiGiorno. As the originators of the self-rising crust pizza, DiGiorno pizza is one of America's most beloved brands. It hit supermarket shelves in 1995 and has been serving up slices ever since.
But when it comes to navigating the frozen pizza aisle, you may find yourself overwhelmed by all the DiGiorno pizza choices. There are at least nine different crust options alone — from stuffed crust to hand-tossed to crispy pan.
Plus, if you're also looking to indulge in a comforting slice of 'za in a healthy and mindful way, you may also find it difficult (and exhausting) to turn every pizza box around to check the nutrition information.
To help whittle down your options to only the healthiest DiGiornio pizza, we asked nutritionists for their top 8 picks as well as the 6 flavors you should avoid.
How to buy an actually healthy frozen pizza.
While you may assume that all frozen pizzas are bad for you, there are actually plenty of options that, when paired with a fruit or vegetable, can make a balanced meal, according to Amber Pankonin, MS, RD, LMNT, registered dietitian and owner of Stirlist.
"There is no shame in reaching for a frozen pizza. Even as a Registered Dietitian and culinary student, I understand that life gets busy and sometimes you just need something quick and easy," says Pankonin. "But that doesn't mean it has to break your calorie salary or be extremely high in sodium," she says.
When it comes to picking a healthy frozen pizza, there are a couple of tips Maggie Michalczyk, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Once Upon a Pumpkin says you should follow:
Look for short ingredient lists. "Generally, it's best to opt for a pizza that has minimal extra ingredients (think stuffed crusts, double meats, or extra cheese)," says Michalczyk. Instead, she says to choose pizzas that are "topped with a variety of veggies for their added nutritional value."
When you can, buy thin crust. "Opting for a thin crust is one way to help to eliminate carbs, calories, and fat without sacrificing taste."
The best DiGiorno pizza you can buy.
Registered dietitian nutritionists picked the 8 best DiGiorno pizzas you can buy.
Per serving: 380 calories, 19 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 35 mg cholesterol, 780 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (2 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 16 g protein
"I love that there are some vegetables in addition to pepperoni on this pizza. The crust is really good and the sauce complements it nicely. The serving size is clearly displayed which is half the pizza," says Pankonin.
Per serving: 320 calories, 15 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 30 mg cholesterol, 690 mg sodium, 34 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 13 g protein
"This pizza features a delicious three-cheese combo of mozzarella, gouda, and ricotta, and it doesn't skimp on the veggies. [This Artisan Thin Crust pie] piles on mushrooms and a variety of peppers. It is also topped with salami so if you are a meat lover then you can still enjoy a meaty taste with veggies to compliment. The pesto also adds a nice flavorful touch," says Michalczyk.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Per serving: 360 calories, 17 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 30 mg cholesterol, 640 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (2 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 15 g protein
Michalczyk says, "A great remixed take on a classic Caprese style pizza. If you are looking for something more on the simple side then this is a great pick. The extra tomatoes add additional fiber and the pesto adds great flavor."
Per serving: 310 calories, 8 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 10 mg cholesterol, 380 mg sodium, 25 g carbs (1 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 9 g protein
"This pizza has a medley of vegetables like onions, peppers, and zucchini, which all provide great nutrients and additional satiety due to their fiber content. Plus, it's a thin crust, so again a little less carbs than a thin or stuffed crust pizza would be," says Michalczyk.
Pankonin says, "The crust and vegetables have really good flavor. If you're a vegetarian, this would be a great option."
Per serving: 300 calories, 11 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 35 mg cholesterol, 690 mg sodium, 32 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3g sugars, 16 g protein
"I like the different varieties of cheese used and the pizza is actually a square shape. A serving is ¼ of the pizza, which still feels like a good serving. The flavor is good and I like the crust," says Michalczyk.
Per serving: 270 calories, 10 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 25 mg cholesterol, 620 mg sodium, 34 g carbs (2 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 12 g protein
"This pizza features Brussels sprouts, which I rarely see on pizza so I love that they have this option available!" says Michalczyk. "The Brussels are nicely complemented with a number of other nutritious veggies that contain fiber, which will help with satiety, with a touch of balsamic that helps to elevate the taste."
Per serving: 230 calories, 10 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 20 mg cholesterol, 440 mg sodium, 25 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 11 g protein
"Another pizza topped with a generous portion of spinach and garlic, which is not only great for taste but also contains anti-inflammatory benefits," says Michalczyk.
The worst DiGiorno pizzas you should probably avoid.
Per serving: 410 calories, 21 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 50 mg cholesterol, 920 mg sodium, 34 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 20 g protein
"A serving size is 21 grams of fat and 910 milligrams of sodium," says Pankonin. "A quarter of a pizza feels like a small serving for most people. If you ate two servings, it would be really high in fat and sodium."
Per serving: 340 calories, 18 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 840 mg sodium, 30 g carbs (3 g fiber, 3g sugar,16 g protein
"This pizza is packed with a lot of ingredients that pack on additional calories, sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol. There are no veggies to add any additional nutrients or fiber," says Michalczyk.
Per serving: 340 calories, 14 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 30 mg cholesterol, 870 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (2 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 16 g protein
"A serving size is 1/6 of the pizza. I don't know many people who would have the self-restraint to stop eating only 1/6 of the pizza," says Pankonin. "I know I would have a difficult time with that! A serving is 340 calories, 14 grams of fat, 38 grams carbohydrate, 16 grams protein and 870 mg of sodium. Even for one serving, this is really high in sodium."
Per serving: 380 calories, 17 g fat (8 g saturated fat), 50 mg cholesterol, 880 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (1 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 20 g protein
"This is another pizza packed with so many additional ingredients that add unnecessary sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol to your meal where the value in terms of flavor doesn't seem that worth it," says Michalczyk. She adds that without veggies and doubling up on bacon on top and in the crust make this a no-go.
Per serving: 390 calories, 21 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 30 mg cholesterol, 610 mg sodium, 33 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 17 g protein
"A serving is 390 calories, 21 grams of fat, 33 grams carbohydrate, and 610 milligrams sodium," says Pankonin. Plus, while a 390-calorie pizza sounds like a good deal, t serving size is actually for 1/6 of the pizza.
Per serving: 580 calories, 23 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 55 mg cholesterol, 1090 mg sodium, 68 g carbs (4 g fiber, 9 g sugar), 24 g protein
"You'd expect that a small personal sized pizza is lower in fat, calories, or sodium than the larger sized pizzas; however, that is not the case with the Thin Crispy Crust Supreme," says Michalczyk. "This pizza is significantly higher in saturated fat and sodium than the comparable serving sizes of the larger pizzas. While this pizza does feature a few veggies, the fat and sodium content alone is very high."
