Look, I don’t say this lightly: Motor City Pizza from Costco genuinely ruined other frozen pizzas for me. And apparently I’m not alone Reddit threads about this thing regularly hit thousands of upvotes, with people mourning their ability to ever enjoy a sad, floppy freezer pizza again.

So what’s the deal? Is it actually that good, or is this just collective delusion from people who’ve spent too much time in the frozen food aisle? Let me break it down.

The Weird History That Explains Everything

Detroit style pizza was basically an accident. Back in the 1940s, Buddy’s Pizza started baking pies in blue steel automotive parts trays because apparently in Detroit, car parts and dinner just… go together. That industrial origin is why this pizza looks nothing like what most of us grew up eating.

The rectangular shape creates corner pieces where cheese meets screaming hot metal and turns into something closer to a cheese crisp than actual crust. Regular pizza leaves a boring bare border, but Detroit style runs cheese ALL the way to the edge so it spills over and basically fries against the pan.

If you’re a “corner piece” person, this is your love language.

The other trick is the upside down build: toppings go on the dough, cheese blankets everything, and sauce gets drizzled on top in stripes. It sounds wrong, but it keeps the sauce bright instead of dried out and protects the toppings from direct heat. It’s genuinely clever, and it’s why this frozen version actually works.

Why This Frozen Pizza Doesn’t Suck

Here’s my issue with most frozen pizza: it’s a gamble. Like buying a “comfy” couch online and hoping it doesn’t arrive feeling like a park bench. You read the box promising crispy crust and melty cheese, and then you get… cardboard with suggestions of flavor.

Motor City actually delivers. The thick crust stays airy inside, the texture feels closer to restaurant quality, and this is the important part the double pepperoni situation is legitimately good.

They use flat slices under the cheese and natural casing pepperoni on top. Those top pieces curl into little cups in the oven, getting crispy around the edges while rendered fat pools in the middle. Is it healthy? Absolutely not. Is it delicious? Embarrassingly yes.

The crust lands somewhere between focaccia and garlic bread oily, slightly sweet, sturdy enough to handle toppings without going soggy. It’s the supportive friend your pizza toppings deserve.

Real Talk: It’s Not Buddy’s

Nobody with taste buds is claiming a frozen pizza beats Buddy’s or Loui’s fresh out of the oven. If someone tells you that, they either haven’t been to Detroit or they’re just looking for an argument.

What Motor City delivers is most of the Detroit style experience for way less money and effort. The crust to cheese ratio works. The edges brown correctly. But yeah, there are compromises.

The sauce is thinner and less complex than the originals. The cheese blend prioritizes convenience over the Wisconsin brick cheese that purists swear by. For a pizza you bake in your pajamas at 10pm, I accept that trade off. (And “pajamas pizza” is a valid lifestyle, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.)

The price is where it really wins: Costco sells two packs for about $12-14, and each pizza feeds two to three adults. Compare that to $25+ for delivery Detroit style, or DiGiorno at nearly the same price per pizza but tasting way more generic.

You’re not getting sacred, piping hot original. You’re getting impressive freezer magic. There’s a difference, and it’s an honest one.

What People Actually Say (The Good and The Greasy)

Reddit’s frozen pizza communities have embraced this thing enthusiastically and if you know Reddit, you know compliments aren’t handed out like candy. People post “it’s back in stock” alerts like they’re announcing concert tickets.

But the complaints are consistent too, and they’re mostly about the oil.

This pizza is greasy. Like, greasy. Detroit style is oily by design since the cheese releases fat, the pepperoni renders more fat, and the crust basically bathes in it. If you’re someone who blots your pizza with napkins, Motor City might send you over the edge. Some people let it sit on a cooling rack for five minutes after baking to help the crust firm up, which genuinely helps.

The thick crust also isn’t for everyone. This is a heavy pizza more dough per bite than most frozen options. If you love thin, crackly crust, this style won’t convert you. And the sodium is high, though that’s standard for frozen pizza. Check the label if you need gluten free frozen pizza options.

Bottom line from the internet: people love it for the corners and side eye it for the grease. Fair.

How to Actually Buy and Bake It

Costco is the easiest place to find it and usually the best deal. Yes, you have to commit to a two pack, but it’s the kind of commitment that pays you back in corner pieces.

Stock varies by region and season, so grab it when you see it. No Costco membership? Walmart, Kroger, and Target carry single pizzas for around $6-8 more expensive per pizza, but convenient.

Now, the baking part. Do these Costco frozen pizza bake tips and you’ll get those beautiful browned edges. Skip them and your pizza will be… fine. And “fine” is not why we’re here.

• Actually preheat: Let your oven fully preheat, then give it another ten minutes after it beeps. Underheated ovens are how corners stay pale and sad.
• Middle rack: And let the pizza rest three to four minutes after baking so the cheese sets and crust firms up.
• Check your temp: If you have an oven thermometer, use it. Detroit style edges need high heat. Under temp ovens leave everything disappointingly blonde.
• Grab corners fast: They go first. Hesitate and you’ll be stuck with a middle piece while someone else lives your best life.

Now go forth and get to the crust of it.