6 Of The Most Unhealthy Pizza Chains & 6 That Have Some Nutrition To Offer

Pizza, America’s queen of comfort foods, comes with a wide range of nutritional profiles depending on where you order from. Some chains pile on cheese, processed meats, and refined carbs with reckless abandon, while others offer surprisingly balanced options.

Whether you’re looking to indulge or trying to make smarter choices, knowing which pizza places fall on either end of the health spectrum can help you decide where to place your next order.

1. Little Caesars: Calorie Bombs at Budget Prices

Little Caesars: Calorie Bombs at Budget Prices
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Behind that catchy “Pizza! Pizza!” slogan lurks a nutritional nightmare. A single Little Caesars pepperoni pizza delivers a whopping 2,140 calories per pie, nearly an entire day’s worth of calories in one cardboard box!

Their famous $5 Hot-N-Ready pizzas might be wallet-friendly, but your waistline pays the price. Last summer, I grabbed one for a quick dinner and felt sluggish for hours afterward.

2. Pizza Hut: Cheese Overload Champions

Pizza Hut: Cheese Overload Champions
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Pizza Hut doesn’t hold back when it comes to cheese. They’re notorious for using ultra-high-fat varieties across their entire menu. Even their basic cheese pizza demonstrates the chain’s deep commitment to saturated fat.

Their stuffed crust innovation, while delicious, essentially adds a cheese-filled bread tube around your already cheese-covered pizza.

The Original Pan Pizza’s thick, oil-soaked crust further cements its place among nutritional offenders.

3. Papa John’s: Better Ingredients, Worse Nutrition

Papa John's: Better Ingredients, Worse Nutrition
© Verywell Fit

Papa John’s famous slogan, “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza,” might make you think they’re a healthier option. Reality check: their Meats Pizza packs a shocking 370 calories per slice with 15g of fat.

Their specialty pizzas like The Works and The Meats, are particularly problematic. I once ordered their Pepperoni, Sausage & Six Cheese pizza for game night and felt like I needed a nap by halftime!

4. Domino’s: Sodium and Fat Festival

Domino's: Sodium and Fat Festival
© Verywell Fit

Domino’s specialty pies don’t just deliver flavor—they deliver concerning nutritional profiles. Their Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza provides about a quarter of your daily saturated fat allowance in just one slice.

The ExtravaganZZa, loaded with pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, beef, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and extra cheese, is particularly concerning.

Sodium levels in Domino’s pizzas frequently exceed 700mg per slice, contributing to bloating and potential heart issues.

5. Hungry Howie’s: Flavored Crusts with Hidden Costs

Hungry Howie's: Flavored Crusts with Hidden Costs
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Hungry Howie’s stands out with their flavored crusts—ranch, butter cheese, Cajun, and more. These flavor-packed edges significantly increase calorie and fat content compared to regular pizza crusts.

The Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger pizza combines the worst of two fast food worlds into one dietary disaster.

I grabbed their Butter Cheese crust pizza during college finals week and immediately regretted it when my energy crashed during my all-night study session.

6. Sbarro: Mall Food Court Calorie Factory

Sbarro: Mall Food Court Calorie Factory
© Eater

Mall shoppers beware: Sbarro consistently ranks among America’s least healthy pizza chains. Their oversized slices, particularly the Stuffed Pepperoni, can contain upwards of 960 calories and 42g of fat per serving.

The NY style slices are notoriously large, encouraging overconsumption. Their heavy hand with cheese and oil creates slices that often need blotting before eating, a telltale sign of excessive fat content.

7. MOD Pizza: Customization for Health Conscious

MOD Pizza: Customization for Health Conscious
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MOD Pizza’s build-your-own approach puts nutritional control in your hands. Their thin crust option starts at just 210 calories for an entire 6-inch pizza, before toppings.

Unlimited vegetable toppings without extra charge encourage healthier choices. Their commitment to fresh ingredients means fewer preservatives and artificial additives compared to traditional pizza chains.

8. Blaze Pizza: Fast-Fired and Figure-Friendly

Blaze Pizza: Fast-Fired and Figure-Friendly
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Blaze Pizza’s thin crust options contain significantly fewer carbs than traditional pizza. Their “Simple Pie” comes in at around 160 calories per slice, practically diet food in the pizza world!

The chain’s fast-firing ovens (reaching 600°F) create crispy crusts without excessive oil. I stopped by Blaze after a workout last month and was pleasantly surprised that I could enjoy pizza without undoing my gym session.

9. California Pizza Kitchen: Cauliflower Crust Pioneer

California Pizza Kitchen: Cauliflower Crust Pioneer
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California Pizza Kitchen revolutionized healthier pizza options by introducing cauliflower crusts nationwide before most competitors. Their cauliflower crust cuts carbs dramatically while adding fiber and nutrients.

CPK’s menu includes several vegetable-forward pizzas like the Tricolore Salad Pizza, which incorporates fresh greens.

Their nutrition-conscious options extend beyond pizza to include protein-packed salads that pair well with a slice or two.

10. Papa Murphy’s: Take-and-Bake Benefits

Papa Murphy's: Take-and-Bake Benefits
© Eat This Not That

Papa Murphy’s take-and-bake model offers unique health advantages. DeLITE thin-crust pizzas contain 35% fewer calories and 25% less fat than their original crust options.

Since you bake it at home, you control the cooking time and can add extra vegetables from your own kitchen.

The absence of a commercial food warmer means no need for preservatives or stabilizers found in ready-to-eat pizza chains.

11. Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Surprising Diet Options

Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Surprising Diet Options
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Despite being famous for deep-dish pizza, Uno Pizzeria offers a “Thin Crust Five-Grain” option with impressive nutritional benefits. Their Nutrition Information Center on their website provides transparent calorie counts for informed choices.

Uno’s “Flatbread” pizzas contain about half the calories of their deep-dish counterparts. They also offer cauliflower crust and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions or health goals.

12. &pizza: Organic Ingredients, Ethical Eating

&pizza: Organic Ingredients, Ethical Eating
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&pizza stands out with organic dough and locally-sourced toppings whenever possible. “Gnarlic” pizza features roasted garlic, grilled onion, and thyme, all ingredients with health benefits beyond just flavor.

The chain offers ancient grain dough options that provide more protein and fiber than traditional pizza crust. Their clearly marked vegan and vegetarian options make plant-based eating accessible and delicious.