Store-brand pizzas are a budget-friendly alternative to popular name brands, but not all deliver on taste. While some exceed expectations, others fall flat. Customers note some brands routinely have bland flavors, soggy crusts, and lackluster toppings. We’ve compiled a list of the six worst store-brand pizzas by taste to save you from a disappointing meal.

1. CAULIPOWER Pizza

Marketed as a healthier alternative, CAULIPOWER did not impress me. From the very first bite, my boyfriend noted something wasn’t right. He said the taste was offputting and threw the whole pizza out. It failed to impress in the flavor department. Other customers have similar experiences and note other problems like a lack of crispiness and an overprocessed taste. Additionally, the sparse toppings leave much to be desired. Real reviews from disappointed buyers frequently highlight the pizza’s lack of flavor and small portion size. 

2. Walmart’s Great Value Three-Meat Rising Crust Pizza

This pizza promises a fluffy crust and looks hearty and filling. However, customers note it delivers nothing but a soggy mess instead. Walmart’s site has a customer review score of 2.4/5 stars, with 51% off reviews at 1 star. Reviews routinely describe the cheese and sauce as bland. Some noted the pizza tasted like the box it came in or overly salty. One customer review states the pizza purchase was, “ One of the most epic mistakes of my collective lived experience.

3. Aldi’s Mama Cozzi’s Pizza

3. Aldi’s Mama Cozzi’s Thin Crust Pizza

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Aldi is a good place to shop for various items, including meats and specialty goods. While their pizzas are impressive in size, the taste has always been questionable. If a pizza needs doctoring before cooking, is it that good? Aldi offers a variety of pizzas, including the budget-friendly and generously sized Mama Cozzi’s take-and-bake pizzas. However, many customers, myself included, find them disappointing due to their cardboard-like texture and underwhelming flavor. As a result, extra seasoning and toppings are often needed to make them palatable.

4. Target’s Good & Gather Mushroom and Caramelized Red Onion Pizza

Target’s Good & Gather specialty food line includes some well-regarded items, but its pizzas receive mixed reviews. Some customers find the store-brand pizzas disappointing due to issues with flavor, texture, consistency, and uneven cooking. When it comes to the mushroom and caramelized red onion option, one review sums it up: “This pizza has no flavor and a gross squishy consistency to the sauce/toppings. Not worth 1 calorie and not worth any of your money. Bleh!.”

5. Kroger’s Private Selection Margherita Pizza

This upscale-sounding pizza falls short of expectations. Customers rate it a 3.1/5 stars on the brand’s website. The main drawbacks of this pick are that the sauce is too sweet, and the crust lacks the lightness of a traditional Margherita. Customers often mention the unbalanced flavors and subpar ingredients. One review read, “The worst private selection pizza currently for sale, I cannot recommend.”

6. Trader Joe’s Cheese & Tomato Pizza

Trader Joe’s usually delivers quality, but this pizza is an exception. While a few customers love it, its 2-star rating on one site raises some eyebrows. Customers have a lot to complain about from a high salt content to having a dense and chewy crust. One customer commented, “The sauce is scant and unimpressive and the cheese is meh. It’s a fine base for add-ons, and you’ll need them.”

Not all store-brand pizzas are created equal, and these six stand out for the wrong reasons. If you’re looking for a quick, affordable meal, you may want to steer clear of these options. Save your money and opt for alternatives with better reviews and flavor profiles.

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