For those following a ketogenic diet, finding convenient and satisfying meal options can sometimes be a challenge. Pizza, a beloved comfort food, often seems off-limits due to its high carbohydrate content. However, the rise of keto-friendly alternatives has opened up a new world of possibilities, with several brands now offering frozen pizzas that cater to low-carb lifestyles. This article explores the best keto-friendly frozen pizza brands, examining their ingredients, nutritional information, and overall taste to help you make an informed choice.
The Appeal of Keto Frozen Pizza
The ketogenic diet, characterized by its low-carb, high-fat approach, has gained immense popularity for its potential benefits in weight loss and blood sugar control. One of the biggest hurdles for those new to keto is finding quick and easy meals that align with the diet's strict macronutrient ratios. Frozen pizzas offer a convenient solution, providing a readily available option that can be prepared in minutes.
The golden age of frozen pizzas is finally here. From upgraded ingredients (like feta cheese and roasted garlic) to diet-friendly recipes (cauliflower crust, anyone?), today’s ready-made pies are definitely not the cardboard-flavored varieties served up in your childhood.
What to Look for in a Keto Frozen Pizza
When selecting a keto-friendly frozen pizza, several factors come into play. These include the ingredients used, the macronutrient profile, and, of course, the taste.
Ingredients
Most importantly read the ingredients list Just because it has the lowest calories doesn’t mean it’s the healthiest. if you want a healthy option you have to know what ingredients are used to make the pizza. Many packaged and convenient meals are loaded with fillers, preservatives, starches and other ingredients that won’t support your healthy lifestyle.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Crust: Traditional pizza crust is made from wheat flour, which is high in carbohydrates. Keto-friendly pizzas typically use alternative crusts made from ingredients like cauliflower, almond flour, coconut flour, or even chicken.
- Sauce: Tomato sauce can be relatively high in sugar, so it's essential to check the label for added sugars and opt for options with minimal carbohydrate content.
- Cheese: Most cheeses are naturally low in carbohydrates and suitable for a keto diet. Mozzarella, cheddar, and provolone are common choices.
- Toppings: The toppings can significantly impact the overall carbohydrate content of the pizza. Meats like pepperoni, sausage, and bacon are generally keto-friendly, while vegetables should be chosen carefully to avoid starchy options like potatoes.
Nutritional Information
Most people on Keto are so focused on “keto macros” that they neglect the most important thing, the quality of ingredients. If you are looking for a Cauliflower crust pizza I assume you are trying to make a healthier lifestyle change and in that case, you should focus on the ingredients more than the macros.
- Net Carbs: This is the most critical factor for keto dieters. Net carbs are calculated by subtracting the fiber content from the total carbohydrate content. Aim for pizzas with a low net carb count per serving.
- Fat Content: Keto diets are high in fat, so look for pizzas with a good amount of healthy fats.
- Protein Content: Protein is also essential for satiety and muscle maintenance.
- Calorie Count: Be mindful of the calorie content, as it can vary significantly between different brands and varieties.
Taste and Texture
Ultimately, a keto-friendly pizza must be enjoyable to eat. The crust should have a pleasant texture, and the toppings should complement each other in flavor.
Top Keto-Friendly Frozen Pizza Brands
Based on taste, ingredients, and nutritional information, here are some of the best keto-friendly frozen pizza brands available:
1. Real Good Foods
Real Good Foods offers both cauliflower and chicken crust pizzas, making them a standout choice for keto dieters.
- Real Good Foods Cauliflower and Chicken Crust Pizzas: Real Good Foods chicken crust pizza is made with all-natural REAL chicken and parmesan cheese, which makes it the most Keto-friendly of all the frozen pizzas. It’s grain-free, gluten-free and the chicken is raised with no hormones or antibiotics.
- Crust: Made with cauliflower, almond flour, egg, and cheese or all-natural chicken breast with parmesan cheese.
- Ingredients:CRUST (ALL NATURAL* CHICKEN BREAST WITH PARMESAN CHEESE [CHICKEN BREAST, PARMESAN CHEESE {PASTEURIZED PART SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES}, LESS THAN 2% WATER, SALT, SUNFLOWER OIL, NATURAL FLAVOR]), MOZZARELLA CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), PIZZA SAUCE (TOMATO, WATER, TOMATOES [TOMATO, TOMATO JUICE, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM CHLORIDE], OLIVE OIL, SALT, SPICES, DEHYDRATED GARLIC), FULLY COOKED ALL NATURAL* UNCURED BACON TOPPING NO NITRITE OR NITRATES ADDED EXCEPT AS NATURALLY OCCURRING IN SEA SALT AND CELERY JUICE POWDER
- Taste and Texture: The crust is a good combo of soft and crispy.
- Cooking Instructions:
- To Grill Your Pizzas: From frozen, remove the cardboard and plastic wrapping, then place Real Good Pizzas directly on the grill for about 6-8 minutes on medium heat.
- To Air Fry Your Pizzas: Remove the cardboard and plastic, set the air fryer to 350 degrees and cook for about 12 minutes or until pizza cheese is golden brown.
- To Bake Your Pizzas: Preheat oven to 425 degrees and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Keto Macros:1/2 Pizza is 420 calories, 14g of Fat, 4g Net Carbs, 25g Protein
2. Cali'flour Foods
Cali'flour Foods specializes in cauliflower crust pizzas made with simple, wholesome ingredients.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
- Ingredients: Cali’flour pizzas are probably one of the healthiest frozen pizzas, made with simple ingredients, no fillers, made with fresh cauliflower, egg, whites, mozzarella, seasonings, and toppings.
- Taste and Texture: Although they are tasty (especially the spicy jalapeño crust) the crust takes thin crust to a whole other level of thin.*Find the 4-pack on Amazon or at Califlourfoods.com for $48. I really wanted to love this pizza. It has high-quality ingredients and looked super yummy. But the crust did not hold up! It was floppy and tasted a lot like cauliflower. I actually tried this pizza more than once because I wanted to give it another chance, but the same thing both times I cooked it. Ingredients: Crust (Cauliflower, Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese, Egg Whites.
3. Quest Nutrition
Quest Nutrition is known for its protein-rich, low-carb products, and their frozen pizzas are no exception.
- Crust: The crust is the closest to a real pizza dough out of all the pizzas.
- Ingredients:Water, Low-moisture Mozzarella Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Milk Protein Isolate, Tomato Paste, Uncured Pepperoni No Nitrates Or Nitrites Added Except For Those Naturally Occurring In Celery Powder And Sea Salt (Pork, Sea Salt, Spices, Sugar, Lactic Acid Starter Culture, Natural Flavorings, Celery Powder, Spice Extractives, Paprika Oleoresin), Cellulose, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Soluble Corn Fiber, Pecorino Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Sheep’s Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Citrus Fiber.
- Taste and Texture: If you make it according to the directions on the box it will be cooked perfectly with a crispy crust. The crust had a bit of a soft cracker texture to it. Not bad, but not the best either.
- Macros: The net carbs are 6 grams for half a pizza.
- Availability: Find it at Whole Foods, Kroger.
4. Cappello’s
Cappello’s has perfected almond flour everything. Cappello’s is launching the Low Carb Lifestyle Uncured Pepperoni Pizza.
- Crust: The keto-friendly, fiber-rich frozen pizza features a crust made with turnips, almond flour and flaxseed.
- Each serving contains 6 grams of net carbs.
- Taste and Texture: I wasn’t the biggest fan of this pizza. It has super clean ingredients but the crust was dry and the toppings were lacking.
- Availability: on Capellos.com for $13.
5. Amy's Kitchen
Amy’s Kitchen offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan frozen pizzas with a focus on organic ingredients and preservative-free recipes.
- Ingredients: Amy’s Kitchen pizzas are made with non-GMO veggies, dairy sourced from hormone-free cows.
- Offerings: Keep it classic with a slice of Amy’s cheese pizza made with a wheat flour crust, organic tomato sauce, herbs, spices, and grated mozzarella cheese. Bring on the veggies (and 12g of protein per serving) with Amy’s savory spinach pie topped with organic greens, salty feta, creamy mozzarella, and basil. Vegans don’t have to skip out on comfort food thanks to this dairy-free recipe. It starts with a hand-stretched crust that’s topped with diced tomatoes, Italian-style sauce, fragrant basil, and plant-based mozzarella cheese.
6. Against the Grain
Against the Grain is known for grain- and gluten-free eats like breads and pizzas.
- Grain-Free Pepperoni Pizza: Made with nitrate- and nitrite-free pepperoni, plus homemade tomato sauce and a triple cheese blend (mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar), each serving delivers 13g of protein.
7. Banza
In 2014, Banza started out as a gluten-free pasta alternative made from chickpeas, and we’re happy to report the line has expanded to include pizza.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
8. Tattooed Chef
Tattooed Chef is obsessed with plant-based eating, sustainably sourced ingredients, and bringing vibrant flavors to every home kitchen.
- Cauliflower Crust Cheese Pizza: Gluten-free, vegetarian, and clocking in at 15g of protein per serving, you won’t be able to resist this cauliflower crust pizza topped with mozzarella and provolone cheeses.
Tips for Cooking Keto Frozen Pizza
The only concern I’ve seen people have with the Real Good Foods Chicken Crust Pizzas is getting the crust cooked perfectly so we did some testing and here are the best ways to cook keto frozen pizzas
- Follow the Instructions: Always follow the cooking instructions on the packaging for the best results.
- Preheat Properly: Ensure your oven or grill is preheated to the recommended temperature before cooking the pizza.
- Use a Pizza Stone or Baking Sheet: Cooking the pizza on a pizza stone or baking sheet can help achieve a crispier crust.
- Add Extra Toppings: If you’re heating up a plain cheese pizza, don’t miss the opportunity to add some toppings of your own.
- Consider the Grill or Air Fryer: Grilling or air frying can yield particularly delicious results.
The Convenience Factor
Frozen pizzas offer unparalleled convenience, making them an ideal option for busy individuals or those who simply don't have the time to cook from scratch. They can be stored in the freezer for extended periods and prepared in minutes, providing a quick and satisfying meal solution.