I Asked 6 Chefs for Their Favorite Pizza Chain, and These 2 Tied for the Top Spot

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In addition to our top picks, there are two other commendable options that may surprise you.

The records you have likely contain evidence that you share similar sentiments.

We have a variety of pizzas in our freezers and have downloaded several pizza chain apps on our phone for immediate and frequent access.

Domino's took the top spot in this category, beating out Pizza Hut, thanks to its delicious, meaty sauce, fragrant, soft crust, and well-balanced combination of crust, sauce, and cheese.

While Domino's clearly won our taste test, we decided to share the results with some professional chefs to see who they consider the ultimate pizza champion.

Our Panel of Pizza Evaluators

• in Houston, Texas
• a recipe developer and Emmy Award-winning producer based in Ridgewood, New Jersey
• Hand held pies in Des Moines, Iowa
• in Lexington, Kentucky
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• The chef attended the prestigious Culinary Institute in place of Los Angeles and is the author of “The Vita Gang Mysteries: Who Stole Vita D?”

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We can agree that the key characteristics of the top pizza chains stay the same regardless of the toppings on the pizza. According to our team of chefs, these include:

• Iannarelli looks for freshly made dough, cheese that melts easily and tastes good, tomato sauce that's not too sugary, and a crust that's not overly doughy. "When it comes to pizza, because we prefer veggie toppings in our family, we really want those to be fresh," adds Dunn. "I try to avoid pizza that's too cheesy (yes, too much cheese can be a problem!) since I don't like greasy pizza."
• Donnarumma admits that it's easy to find high-quality pizza where she lives. While a local pizzeria can't be beaten in terms of quality, larger pizza chains excel in two areas: consistency and convenience. "It's reassuring to know I'll get the same pizza every time I order from a chain," she notes. Additionally, the fact that delivery is usually available from chain stores can be a lifesaver on busy days when she doesn't have time to pick up from her local pizzeria in person.
• “Sometimes a collaboration or new menu item just looks delicious,” Bean says about checking out the hype.
• Donnarumma and Iannarelli think technology can be your best buddy on pizza night. The best pizza chains now have easy-to-use apps that give you discounts and let you order the same things over and over with just one click.

The Best Chain Pizza, According to Chefs—Plus What to Order

In the pizza market, there's intense competition between delivery chains and customizable restaurants like MOD Pizza, Blaze Pizza, and Pieology Pizzeria. We asked chefs to pick a top performer, and once again, Domino’s stood out, but this time it was in a tie with another popular pizza chain - not Domino's Pizza Hut.

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"They can indeed find the best value for the quality of pizza, no question." “She likes that the app lets customers personalize the crust choice (traditional, garlic cheese-filled, cheese-filled, thin, or gluten-free), control the sauce and cheese levels, and even make special slice-cutting requests. Want squares instead of the usual triangles? Just mark that option.

In addition to the ease of making changes, Papa Johns is Moran's preferred choice. “The list of ingredients needed to make each component of the pizza is simple and has few additives,” Moran says. “Some pizza places have a chunky or overly sweet sauce, and theirs isn't." She admits that Papa Johns also carries a nostalgic appeal: "When I was a preteen, we would get it at our middle school events and parties.”

The cost per slice might make you think you've traveled back in time, Dunn comments. “You don't have to be a regular customer to benefit from their rewards program. We order a large one-topping pizza for carry-out for around $10 dollars. That's a great deal.”

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"At the top of the list is a partnership with Papa John's. "The menu offers a wide range of options that can be tailored to fit different groups, which is particularly helpful. What's most important is that the pizza is consistently delicious and always meets expectations," Donnarumma says.

She speaks from personal experience when she confirms that "Domino's has really broken the mold in several ways. Not only did they finally surpass Pizza Hut's long-held No. 1 spot in terms of revenue, but they've also done a lot of innovative things to stand out and are willing to take risks, including self-driving delivery, robotic delivery, pizza insurance, and bundle deals."

The Domino's app is relatively easy to use, according to Donnarumma, allowing customers to save money with preloaded coupons and quickly reorder their favorite dishes. "Domino's pizza is usually ready in under 20 minutes and they offer convenient options for carry-out or fast delivery," Donnarumma notes.

If you choose Domino's, ask for a couple extra cups of ranch for dipping your crust, then order one of these chef-recommended pies - the Honolulu Hawaiian or the homemade pan cheese pizza with banana peppers.

A Couple Honorable Mentions

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You might think of it first as a convenience store and gas station, but the brand is also well-known for its pizza that "checks all the boxes: fresh dough, great cheese, and they offer a lot of options, including their famous breakfast pizza," Iannarelli says. "It's somehow good even when it's cold or reheated, and almost everything is priced reasonably."

Casey's locations number around 2,600, placing them sixth among pizza chains by the count of stores (following Hunt Brothers, Domino's, Pizza Hut, Little Caesars, and Papa Johns, and preceding Papa Murphy's, Marco's, and MOD Pizza).

If you have a Casey’s near you, recommends going with the Taco Pizza (with the lettuce on the side so you can add it just before eating) or the sausage pizza with onions since they offer a great balance of toppings and cheese to crust.

Finally, if you live near a Marco's location, you won't be let down, Green feels. "Unfortunately, I don't have any locations here in Lexington, but when I lived in Memphis, it was my go-to when ordering takeout," he says. Green is particularly fond of the brand's Old World Pepperoni, which is cup-shaped and crisps up around the edges. "I'm a sucker for textural contrast, and those little bits of crispy bites make the pizza that much better," Green tells us.

Here's a list of different types of Italian food that Santa Fe Pizza offers, including calzones, pizzoli (pizza rolls), and other options.

Still deciding on what to order? Green recommends the Pepperoni Magnifico with double Old World Pepperoni. For an even more exciting experience, Green suggests adding "a drizzle of honey and extra-hot Valentina hot sauce once you've opened the box."

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