From tastingtable.com
It's rare that a food brand has such a wide and seemingly random selection, but Amy's is distinguished for the surprising variety of products in its portfolio. There are Amy's prepared frozen meals (think enchiladas, mushroom risotto, and chili mac) to pop in the microwave, and Amy's canned soups (from gumbo to dal makhani soup) to heat for a quick meal — all with Amy's branding stamped on the packaging. It also has things like burritos and breakfast scrambles. Not only that, but the brand has plenty of options in those product categories — not just one or two mere choices.
Still, there's one food the brand sells that you shouldn't miss out on, and it's the one that's always great to keep in the freezer: Pizza. I might have had a random Amy's pizza here and there, but I hadn't tried most of the brand's line-up. For this taste test, I noshed my way through nine pizzas to determine the best of the batch. I judged them predominantly on flavour, but I also factored in how well the ingredients actually performed, as well as the texture of the toppings, cheese, and crust.
Some recommendations are based on first-hand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.
9. Dairy Free Vegan Supreme
Carmen Varner/Tasting Table
Amy's Vegan Supreme Pizza is a great comfort food option if you're dairy-free or vegan. I used to be vegan, and it would've been a lifesaver to find a product like this. It includes organic ingredients like tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. I saw a couple of olives speckled about as well as vegan sausage. That said, I don't think I'd buy this vegan option if I didn't have those dietary restrictions.
The vegan cheeze, as it's called on the ingredients list, is made with coconut oil, potato, and corn starch. It leaves a sticky film on the teeth, which makes it easily identifiable as a vegan product — it's something I've noticed in many vegan cheeses over the years, although there's a lot of new-to-me options on the market too. The cheese melts a bit strangely, which is also something that can set vegan cheese apart from the dairy version. The bottom of the crust is crisp while the part touching the cheese and toppings is slightly doughy, making for an interesting (not bad, not good) textural combination. Although this ranks last, it's not because it's a poorly made product; I simply prefer other flavours.
8. Vegan Margherita
Amy's Vegan Margherita is another fantastic pick for those seeking non-dairy frozen pizza options. As someone who eats dairy, though, this is not the best pizza Amy's has to offer. The cheese has a gooey texture that leaves a film on the teeth — the same issue that was mentioned with the Supreme. Even after baking, the cheese doesn't appear as if it's melted. This pizza fares a bit better than the Supreme option, though, because I prefer the buildable flavour (or lack thereof).
It's made with tomatoes and tomato puree, vegan mozzarella-style cheese, organic basil, and other ingredients. Leave it as it comes or include your favourite roasted veggies (cooking them ahead of time can help remove excess moisture), load it up with your favourite vegan pepperoni, or perhaps top it with plant-based bacon (Thrilling Foods came in first place in a previous Tasting Table ranking). The vegan cheese texture issue comes from personal experience and the comparison to dairy cheese, but it's not a deal-breaker; if you want a vegan pizza, this still hits the spot.
7. Gluten Free Spinach
Carmen Varner/Tasting Table
Amy's Gluten Free Spinach Pizza is made with a rice flour crust, which I think is a unique crust choice — the ingredients list mentions organic brown rice flour, organic potato starch, and organic tapioca starch, among others. Most gluten-free crusts I've had tend to use cauliflower, so I can appreciate the use of rice to change things up. In this case, you don't have that vegetal taste that cauliflower provides; instead, the rice is quite neutral, and we get an earthy punch from the spinach. The crust is pretty good with a crisp underside, but it's somewhat flat and not my favourite.
I like the more complex flavour of the rice crust and spinach morsels to give this pie a slight boost over the vegan Margherita, though. Unlike the previous vegan options, I'd reckon that you don't have to live a gluten-free lifestyle to enjoy a slice of the gluten-free rice flour base. The crust still holds up, while the cheese is perfectly rich and melty to add a decadent mouthfeel to rice and spinach.
6. Veggie Combo
I was a little concerned upon pulling the Veggie Combo Pizza from the oven. It appeared slightly watery from the veggies — this isn't necessarily a problem reserved for Amy's; it just happens with certain watery vegetables. But even so, this pizza was a surprisingly flavourful offering. It comes with organic vegetables like mushrooms, red onions, and fire-roasted red and green bell peppers. There's mozzarella and a bit of Parmesan to bring their creamy charm into the mix.
The actual cheese works well to create a creamy backdrop for fresh veggies; this likely would not have worked so well without the cheese or if it used vegan cheese, as seen in Vegan Supreme offering. This veggie combo is a newer Amy's product, according to the website, and I hope it keeps it on the roster. It's a flavourful pick if you want veggies on your pizza without having to chop and add them yourself.
5. Cheese
Amy's Cheese Pizza is a solid frozen pie. It doesn't stand out from the leading four options, but it's still a decent pizza. I like its buildable nature that makes a good foundation if you want to add anything on top. The mozzarella cheese is evenly dispersed, and the tomato sauce provides an acidic uplift that prevents it from tasting too one-dimensional. I'd select the plain ol' cheese over the veggie combo because the cheese melted better and got a bit of colour on top in this version; this results in a more complex and interesting cheesy flavour, whereas the veggie was a tad watery and didn't have the opportunity to brown.
However, the pie could benefit from some add-ins. Potentially, you can upgrade it with other best cheese varieties to add to pizza, such as provolone or Monterey Jack. The dough, tomatoes, and cheese are a classic combination, and you can't go wrong if you opt for this flavour.
4. No Cheese Roasted Vegetable
Carmen Varner/Tasting Table
The No Cheese Roasted Vegetable vegan pizza doesn't feature any type of cheese alternative; instead, it goes naked and omits the cheese entirely, which allows the taste of the roasted vegetables to come to the forefront. This pizza has veggies as the star, but it strays from veggie basics. Instead, the pie includes marinated pieces of organic shiitake mushrooms, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, and some balsamic vinegar for tang. I'm not sure that I can taste all of those individually, as the sweet notes of caramelized onion are the most prominent.
The onion effectively serves as the sauce while other veggies on top bring a dynamic mouthfeel. There's a bit of fibrous chewiness from artichokes and then small mouthfuls of mushrooms. Truthfully, their flavours fall behind the onion, but the onion is a true delight, and I didn't miss the cheese. The crust is excellent, too, with a doughy outer edge that creates a welcome chew. The pizza remains flavourful and hearty but feels lighter without the decadence associated with cheese. I'd seek the no cheese veg pizza over the cheese version because it's striking and tastes elevated.
3. Spinach
Somehow, Amy's Spinach Pizza isn't all that spinachy, despite how green it is. On one hand, this could be a compelling factor if you don't love the taste of the leafy green. The spinach appeared to be blended into a pesto-like substance, which I think is somewhat innovative and unique. We also see feta tossed into the mix, rather than just mozzarella, which brings a mild tang and creates an enticing cheesy duo.
There's a bit of tofu and honey strewn into the mix, but they aren't noticeable. The flavours are refreshing and tasty, but not too spinach-forward. If I hadn't read the ingredients list, I might have thought it was made with an odd pesto that I've never had before. If I'm judging by flavour alone, this is certainly delicious with cheese delivering richness and tomatoes bringing that umami quality. However, the lack of spinach qualities means I can't rank it higher.
2. Veggie Crust Cheese
The veggie crust was the very first pizza I tried, and it remained in the back of my mind the whole time. It's created with a blend of broccoli, cauliflower, and sweet potato, so the crust has a mild, earthy flavour. I enjoy cauliflower crusts and gluten-free pizzas when done right, and this Amy's rendition is a top pick and even stands up to the wheat-based crusts from the brand.
The earthy, vegetal crust partnered with creamy cheese makes a divine combination. It technically already contains veggies, so in a way, it's a veggie pizza, but it isn't bogged down by wet vegetables like the supreme pizza. The crust is crisp but not overly crunchy, which makes it satisfying for the taste buds and senses. You don't have to be celiac or eat a gluten-free diet to like this pizza, and that's a true testament to the taste. I like the complex flavour more than the earthy but mild-mannered spinach pie.
1. Margherita
Carmen Varner/Tasting Table
Pizza Margherita is a classic pizza style, and Amy's makes its version with organic tomatoes, mozzarella, Parmesan, and basil. This pizza is basic yet well-made. The tomatoes are acidic and bring a lot of flavour, while the creamy notes of mozzarella act as a balance. The basil is fragrant and surprisingly strong considering how small the pieces are — but Amy's is also generous with how much it puts over the 'za.
Despite this pizza being made with the basics, it still manages to stand out above the other eight options because of the flavourful ingredients. The crust isn't quite as fluffy as others, but also not as flat and crisp — it's a fantastic middle-ground which allows the flavours to speak for themselves. It's not loaded with cheese; instead, it's speckled around the pie, so the tomato has a chance to shine and bring its umami depth into the equation.
Actually, upon taking the pizza out of the box, I noticed the cheese comes in little cubes, which further differentiates it from the other offerings that came shredded. This is a fantastic pick to stock in the freezer because it's delicious on its own, but you could always jazz it up with added toppings, like pepperoni or bell peppers. This would be the No. 1 Amy's pizza that I'd buy again or recommend to newbies who haven't yet tried the brand.
Methodology
Carmen Varner/Tasting Table
Given that this is a taste test, the taste is the most important consideration. I wanted a good-tasting pizza above all. Beyond that, I wanted to taste the advertised ingredients. If I couldn't really distinguish something that was noted on the box, it ranked lower, even if the pizza tasted pleasant. Texture occasionally comes into play, too. I cooked each pizza as directed; some had different temperatures and suggested bake times, so make sure to follow the directions to ensure you don't overcook anything. Low-ranking pizzas have some foundational issues with the taste or texture, while high-ranking pies are full of flavour and intrigue.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2135270/amys-frozen-pizzas-ranked/
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