There aren’t many parts of moving that I enjoy, but one reliable perk is the cold beer and pizza waiting at the end of the day. After our last move into a Nashville house with my partner (and after losing a bunch of stuff in a trailer fire — that’s a whole other tale), I discovered I couldn’t order the usual celebratory takeout.
Why? My partner has celiac disease, which means he must avoid gluten and any food that might be cross-contaminated. That makes eating out a bit trickier.
More pizzerias now list gluten-free pies, but they’re often smaller and pricier than the regular versions. Because toppings and preparation can still risk contamination, my partner and I usually skip the restaurant and make pizzas at home.
That habit has turned us into frequent visitors of the frozen pizza aisle. We’ve tried nearly every gluten-free frozen pizza available and gradually found favorites — and a few we steer clear of.
Trying to balance frugality with my bottomless pizza appetite, I sampled four gluten-free frozen pizzas priced under $10.
Since gluten-free options often come only as cheese pies, I bought the cheese varieties from each brand. We typically boost these with pepperoni, chicken, veggies and extra cheese depending on our mood.
My rankings below consider both flavor and value:
4. Amy’s Gluten Free Rice Crust Cheese Pizza
Cost: $7.99
Size: 12 ounces
Price per ounce: 67 cents
Where I bought it: Kroger
My partner didn’t have an issue with Amy’s rice crust, but I couldn’t finish my slice. The crust wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t what I had hoped for. It felt dry and crumbly, even by gluten-free standards.
The pie’s size could be a problem if you’re a solo pizza-eater like me, but since I wasn’t thrilled with the taste, the small portion didn’t bother me much. Despite its modest size, this pie is among the priciest options under $10.
Rating: 2 out of 5 toppings
3. Udi’s Gluten Free Three Cheese Pizza
Cost: $6.99
Size: 10 ounces
Price per ounce: 70 cents
Where I bought it: Whole Foods
Udi’s is one of the best names in gluten-free baking. If I were stuck eating only one brand of gluten-free bread, I’d pick Udi’s. That quality, however, comes with a steeper price. For $6.99 I got a tiny 10-ounce pizza — not nearly enough for two, and barely enough for me.
The crust was sturdy and flavorful, and the sauce and cheese tasted fresher than many competitors. Still, I slightly preferred the cheesy profile of the top-ranked pizza.
Worth mentioning: Whole Foods sells a larger 16.1-ounce Udi’s pizza for $12.99 and a three-pack for $17.99, which is the smarter purchase. The three-pack brings the price per ounce down to about 37 cents.
Rating: 3 out of 5 toppings
2. Kroger Gluten Free Extra Thin Crust Four Cheese Pizza
Cost: $5.99
Size: 17.5 ounces
Price per ounce: 34.2 cents
Where I bought it: Kroger
Kroger brand appears in almost every corner of my kitchen. I’ve been a Kroger Plus member longer than I’ve been driving, and I stick with it because of the deals. (Their natural peanut butter is a bargain and tasty.)
My local Kroger added a gluten-free pizza recently. It’s not gourmet, but it’s a serviceable pie for the price. My usual criticisms of their frozen pizzas apply here too: the sauce and cheese don’t match higher-end brands’ quality (the sauce tastes a bit canned). Still, at around $6, I can overlook that. Add some pepperoni, peppers and onions and this pizza improves markedly.
Rating: 3 out of 5 toppings
1. Freschetta Gluten Free 4 Cheese Medley Pizza
Cost: $9.99
Size: 17.5 ounces
Price per ounce: 57 cents
Where I bought it: Publix
By a clear margin, Freschetta delivers the best gluten-free pizza within this price range. The ingredients taste fresh after baking, and the crust stays intact remarkably well.
At just under $10, this pizza fits my budget perfectly.
While my local Kroger often only stocks the cheese version, I’ve found the pepperoni Freschetta for the same price at Publix.
Rating: 4 out of 5 toppings
Sadly, the highest-quality gluten-free frozen pizzas usually cost more than $10, though stores like Costco offer bulk packs in the $15–$20 range that I also like: when you break down the cost, each pie can end up under $10, similar to the Udi’s multi-pack deal.
Brands with premium ingredients, like Against the Grain, are worth splurging on occasionally (Whole Foods often carries them), but for a cheap weeknight dinner, these picks should cover you. (Well, maybe skip Amy’s rice crust, but the others get my endorsement.)
Not limited to gluten-free? The Savinly team also reviewed six regular frozen pizzas under $6 in a similar taste test. Read their findings here.
