13 Frozen California Pizza Kitchen Pizzas, Ranked
Although many of the brick-and-mortar California Pizza Kitchen restaurants are now closed (RIP), you can still pick up one of its frozen pizzas at your local grocery store. The brand has 13 different options to choose from online. These are also available in-store at retailers like Target, Walmart, and Publix, among others.
Whether you're into traditional pepperoni pizza, meat-free options, or a cauliflower crust, California Pizza Kitchen's products aim to please. And although the brand does try its best to accommodate everyone's needs, some of the pizza varieties do fall short.
Here at the Daily Meal, we obsess over finding drool-worthy food and delicious restaurants. If something we've tried isn't as yummy as we had hoped, we won't hesitate to tell you all of our thoughts. Eating a pizza should feel like the best part of your day, so it's best to save yourself the hassle of trying the bad options and skip straight to the delicious ones.
13. BBQ Mindful Chik'n Pizza
Unless you're already following a plant-based diet, you likely will not love the BBQ Mindful Chik'n Pizza. Although we think the thin, crispy crust is appealing, we aren't fans of the meat substitute the brand chose to use. We felt it was rubbery and a little off-putting for the average meat-consuming person.
This pizza is topped with a plant-based chicken alternative, BBQ sauce, gouda, mozzarella, cilantro, and red onions: Nothing too crazy, but the fake chicken definitely threw us for a loop.
And as reviewer George Ross notes, this pizza leaves much to be desired in terms of taste and texture, particularly when compared to the original BBQ Chicken Pizza. However, if you already eat a meat-free diet, you may not notice the significant difference between the traditional option and the meat substitute. If you're considering going meat-free, this pizza is unlikely to be your best initial foray into a vegetarian lifestyle.
You can pick up the BBQ Mindful Chik'n Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen for $7.99.
12. Gluten Free Artisanal Style Cheese Pizza
Although we appreciate having options for our gluten-free friends, the cauliflower crust on this Artisanal Style Cheese pizza just doesn't do it for us. We wish the brand could have instead used gluten-free flour to more effectively mimic a traditional pizza crust taste.
This pizza has minimal ingredients. You'll find ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, asiago, romano, and basil tomato sauce on top of this pie. Since this pizza doesn't feature a dizzying array of toppings, the soggy cauliflower crust shines through in a not-so-great way. If you do pick up this pizza, we recommend leaving it in for as long as you can in the oven (without burning it) to try and get the crust to stiffen up.
Customer Alexia wasn't impressed with this pizza either. In her review, she attributes the blandness of the pizza to the lack of salt in the pie, specifically the cheese and the crust, which leads to an overall boring taste that should definitely be avoided.
Pick up the Artisanal Style Cheese Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen for $11.59.
11. Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza
Similarly to the Artisanal Style Cheese Pizza, the Gluten-Free BBQ Chicken Pizza has a cauliflower crust that we aren't crazy about. Luckily, the BBQ flavor makes this rendition slightly more palatable than just the plain cheese flavor.
Some reviewers were displeased with the sweetness of the BBQ sauce and the scant toppings. We have to agree: You may find yourself adding your own cheese and sauce to make up for the many bare spots on this pizza. We recommend adding some additional cheese (and maybe some ranch on the side as a dip).
This pizza isn't the worst we've ever tried, but it isn't memorable or particularly special. It is the type of meal you choke down when you're hungry and don't have any other options. However, if you're gluten-free, we can see this being a decent option for you (but it isn't the best one out there).
You can pick up the Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen for $7.99.
10. White Pizza
The White Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen is great in theory but not-so-wonderful in terms of execution. The White Pizza tends to become dry and underwhelming after cooking. The sauce almost seems to evaporate, which makes this pizza stick to the back of your throat.
Customer Angie felt similarly and complained about the strange smell of the cheese and the general lack of flavor in the pizza. Other reviewers were (again) not pleased with the small quantities of toppings and felt that they should get more food for the price they were paying.
This pizza is definitely different: You'll find gobs of spinach (yes, actual gobs), ricotta cheese, asiago, and parmesan on this pizza, along with an almost non-existent white sauce at the bottom. On the plus side, you'll get plenty of veggies (albeit soggy ones) on your pizza.
The White Pizza can be purchased from California Pizza Kitchen, with prices starting at $7.79.
9. Sicilian Recipe Pizza
Although sausage and pepperoni are usually a winning combo, the sweet sauce on the Sicilian Pizza wasn't our favorite. We aren't sure why the sauce tastes sweet, especially when considering that it's supposed to be "zesty" according to the box.
A customer named Nikki wrote about the terrible taste of this pizza. She wrote that the taste of the meat was strange and off-putting. She further wrote that she tossed out the pizza after two bites since there was nothing good about it.
This pizza has three different kinds of meat (Italian sausage, ham, and salami) which probably contributes to the weird taste. The pepperoni pieces in this pizza seem to have been oddly sliced to look like pepperoni. We aren't sure why California Pizza Kitchen is trying to bamboozle the general public, but we aren't big fans.
You can purchase the Sicilian Recipe Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen for $7.79.
8. Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza
If you have to choose one of California Pizza Kitchen's gluten-free pizzas, then it should be the Margherita Pizza. Although the cauliflower crust still isn't the best, the toppings on this pizza pair decently with it. Once again, we recommend baking this pizza as long as possible to make the cauliflower crust a bit crunchier.
As reviewer Meighanm explains, this pizza is just okay. It can be effectively stored at home or ordered from the store, although it tends to taste a bit soggy, even after cooking. While this pizza isn't the best that California Pizza Kitchen has to offer, it definitely isn't the worst.
Unfortunately, this pizza is the hardest of the (gluten-free varieties) to get your hands on. Only a few grocery stores carry it, so we wonder if California Pizza Kitchen will be phasing this rendition out of the lineup.
The Gluten-Free Margarita Pizza can be purchased from California Pizza Kitchen, with prices starting at $7.79.
7. Buffalo-Style Chicken Pizza
We feel like this Buffalo Style Chicken Pizza could have used a lot more sauce, as it was particularly dry. If you don't like a lot of sauce on your pizza, you may like this one. Since this isn't a big selling point for us, we added a lot of hot sauce to compensate for the dryness.
As customer Pizzamaniac writes, this pizza is good, but not in a sophisticated way. When compared to the other varieties, it has meager quantities of cheese, sauce, and topping; however, the taste of the Buffalo flavor is actually quite delicious.
According to the review, while this has the potential to be a great pizza with some alterations, it's actually fairly disappointing. We agree–with a few adjustments, the Buffalo Style pizza could be a real hit. Unfortunately, without any further changes, it's just average.
Pick up the Buffalo-Style Chicken Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen for $7.79.
6. Uncured Pepperoni, Mushroom, and Sausage Pizza
We think that the addition of mushrooms to a pepperoni and sausage pizza isn't the best, but it isn't the worst, either. This is likely why the Uncured Pepperoni, Mushroom, and Sausage Pizza gets an average rating from us.
According to a customer named Marisan, while this pizza tasted okay, it certainly isn't among her favorites. The review notes that the crust is chewy and not as good when compared to the BBQ Chicken Pizza.
We like the oversized pepperonis that dot the top of this pizza, but the portabella mushrooms tasted off (probably due to being frozen at one point). If you like everything pizzas, this one will likely appeal to you. This pizza has the correct amount of seasoning, and you can't go wrong with the cheeses used in this one.
The Uncured Pepperoni, Mushroom, and Sausage Pizza can be purchased from California Pizza Kitchen for $8.62.
5. Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza
Although you may smell like that episode where Spongebob thinks he's ugly (but his breath just stinks) after eating the Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza, you'll be a happy camper.
If you like garlic, you'll absolutely enjoy this thin-crust pizza that comes with a generous helping of the good stuff. Although a few reviewers complained there was too much garlic in this pizza, the vast majority of consumers enjoyed the overall makeup.
According to reviewer Kaycee, this pizza is excellent. It has an incredible flavor and a nice crispy crust, not to mention the fact that it's relatively low in calories. The review notes that this pizza can be eaten with a salad for a healthy meal.
If you're not a fan of traditional marinara, you'll especially love the creamy sauce that is paired with this chicken and garlic delight.
The Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza can be picked up from California Pizza Kitchen, with prices starting at $7.79.
4. BBQ Chicken Pizza
California Pizza Kitchen's BBQ Chicken Pizza is sure to please, provided you enjoy tangy sauce and lots of onions (which we do). So what's on this pizza, you may ask? This delicious pie has large chunks of white meat chicken, thinly chopped onions, BBQ sauce, a dash of seasoning, and plenty of mozzarella cheese.
Customers rave about the flakey crust, cooking time, and the spread of toppings. One reviewer named Klove notes that since trying this pizza, it has become a household favorite, especially due to its gourmet look and taste. The review wholeheartedly recommends this pizza to any pizza fanatic out there.
We recommend consuming this pie straight out of the oven–it tastes its best when it is piping hot! The melty cheese combined with the flavorful sauce is a real winner.
Pick up the BBQ Chicken Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen for just $7.79.
3. Four Cheese Pizza
The Four Cheese Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen is an upgraded staple for traditional cheese lovers. You'll enjoy multiple types of cheese on this pie, including gouda, two styles of mozzarella, and a generous helping of fontina. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it.
Reviewers enjoy the pizza's crispy crust, the overall taste, and the unique blend of cheeses featured in this dish. Some reviewers even recommend adding a drizzle of balsamic after cooking to really bring out the smokiness in the gouda. Although this step certainly isn't needed in order to enjoy this pie, it can jazz up a classic into a more adult-friendly pizza.
This pizza is made without artificial flavors or preservatives. Whether you're grabbing this pizza as lunch for the kids or as a pick-me-up for yourself, the Four Cheese pie from California Pizza Kitchen likely won't disappoint. How's that for a frozen meal you can actually feel good about serving?
The Four Cheese Pizza can be purchased from California Pizza Kitchen for $7.48.
2. Margherita Pizza
Solid Margherita Pizza at home? Yes, please! The diced tomato paired with a drizzle of olive oil and a mixture of cheeses really does it for us (as does the minimal cooking time). Oh, and did we mention the crispy-thin crust and "Italian herb tomato sauce"? We're swooning as we speak.
Customer Mama G raves about this pizza, writing that it's ideal for girls' wine night. She gushes about the perfect crust and writes that she'll definitely be purchasing it again. This pizza is so good that her husband almost joined in on the fun!
Although this pizza doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, the minimal ingredients that are on the pizza really shine. Things don't need to be complicated to be delicious, and the Margherita Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen proves this theory.
The Margherita Pizza can be purchased from California Pizza Kitchen, with prices starting at $7.79
1. Signature Uncured Pepperoni Pizza
If there is one thing California Pizza Kitchen knows how to do right, it's pepperoni pizza. The thin crust paired with a generous helping of salty pepperoni is a delicious snack, lunch or dinner. Simply pop this thin-crust pizza in the oven, and you'll have a restaurant-quality pie in the comfort of your own home (in no time at all).
Customers agree with us: This pizza is a winner. Reviewer April was especially pleased and noted that the spices were well done and the ingredients tasted fresh and appetizing. If you enjoy a cracker-like crunch to your pizza (a lá Pizza Hut), then you'll be singing the praises of this deluxe pie.
Plus, you'll likely appreciate the sprinkle of fragrant basil, smoked gouda, and finely-chopped tomatoes. After all, it's the little things that add up to make a majestic pizza. If you're only trying one offering from California Pizza Kitchen, it should be the Signature Uncured Pepperoni pizza.
You can pick up the Signature Uncured Pepperoni Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen for $7.79.