Why Most Frozen Pizzas Fail in a Toaster Oven—and Which Ones Don’t

Let’s be honest: we love pizza.
But we don’t always have the time—or the patience—to preheat a full-size oven, wait 20–30 minutes, and then deal with the cleanup. That’s where the toaster oven comes in. It’s fast, practical, uses less energy, and is just right for one or two servings.

That said, we learned something pretty quickly:
not every frozen pizza works well in a toaster oven.

In this article, we’ll walk through what truly makes the best frozen pizza for a toaster oven, what to look for when shopping, what to avoid, and how to bake it so the crust is crispy without burning the top.

Simple. Practical. Based on real experience.

The toaster oven is one of the most underrated kitchen appliances out there. Yet it has some serious advantages.

It’s smaller. Faster. More energy-efficient. And when it comes to pizza, one thing really matters: it heats up quickly and intensely.

That means:

• minimal preheating,

• shorter cooking times,

• but also a higher risk of burning if we’re not careful.

That’s why choosing the right pizza makes all the difference.

This is the section worth bookmarking.

1. Size Matters

It sounds obvious, but it’s a common mistake.
Most toaster ovens comfortably fit pizzas around 9–10 inches.

👉 If the pizza is bigger than the rack, even baking becomes a challenge.

2. Crust Thickness

This is where many pizzas succeed—or fail.

• Thin crust: bakes quickly and evenly

• Extra-thick crust: often burns outside while staying undercooked inside

For toaster ovens, thin or medium crusts work best.

3. Amount of Toppings

Too much cheese = burnt top.
Too much sauce = soggy crust.

👉 Less topping usually means better results in a toaster oven.

4. Check the Packaging

If the box says:

• “recommended for conventional oven only,”
  it’s usually best to keep looking.

This matters because many frozen pizzas are designed specifically for full-size ovens.

A toaster oven:

• places food closer to the heating elements,

• heats faster,

• and works in a much smaller space.

As a result:

• edges brown faster,

• cheese melts and bubbles more quickly,

• and the bottom can lag behind if the pizza isn’t a good match.

For us, it doesn’t mean:

• the most expensive,

• the trendiest,

• or the one loaded with toppings.

It means:

✔ bakes evenly
✔ doesn’t burn on top
✔ has a crispy bottom
✔ requires no special tricks

Those four points matter more than anything else.

Now let’s get practical.

Thin-Crust Pizzas

This is the safest and most reliable choice.

• shorter bake time

• lower heat demand

• far less risk of burning

If we remember just one thing from this article, let it be this.

Flatbread and Artisanal-Style Pizzas

These are often:

• evenly thick,

• lighter on sauce,

• and better suited for quick, intense heat.

They perform beautifully in toaster ovens.

Mini and Personal-Size Pizzas

There’s a reason so many brands offer smaller sizes.

• perfect fit

• no cutting required

• easy to monitor while baking

Gluten-Free Pizzas

Surprisingly, these often work very well in toaster ovens.

Why?

• thinner bases

• less moisture

• faster, more consistent baking

We’ve made these mistakes ourselves.

Extra-Thick Crusts

Deep dish. Stuffed crust.
In a toaster oven, they’re almost always a letdown.

Overloaded Pizzas

Lots of cheese. Lots of toppings. Lots of sauce.

The result is usually:

• burnt tops,

• cold centers,

• rubbery texture.

Family-Size Pizzas

Even if we manage to squeeze them in, they rarely bake evenly.

A few small adjustments can make a big difference.

Preheating

Yes, it’s important.
But 5–7 minutes is usually enough.

Temperature

In most cases:

• 375–400°F works best.

Starting at the highest setting often leads to burning.

Rack or Pan?

👉 The rack gives a crispier crust.
Using a pan slows down bottom browning.

Mid-Bake Check

Rotating isn’t always necessary, but checking is essential.
Toaster ovens move fast.

The Final 1–2 Minutes

When the pizza is almost done:

• slightly lower the temperature,

• let the bottom finish crisping up.

Should we thaw the pizza first?
No—and it’s usually better not to.

Can we use aluminum foil?
Only carefully. Don’t block airflow.

Why does the crust sometimes turn out soft?
Too much sauce, low heat, or baking on a pan.

Honestly? Quite a few people.

• anyone living alone

• quick lunch seekers

• small-kitchen households

• dorm rooms

• office break rooms

If we’re after speed, small portions, and minimal hassle, it’s hard to beat.

One thing we rarely talk about is this: the setting we choose matters just as much as the pizza itself. Many toaster ovens come with multiple modes, and using the wrong one can ruin even a great frozen pizza.

Bake vs. Broil

For frozen pizza, Bake is almost always the right choice.
Broil applies intense top heat, which can burn cheese and toppings before the crust is fully cooked.

👉 If we want extra browning, we can switch to Broil for the last 30–60 seconds only, keeping a close eye on it.

Convection Mode (If Available)

If the toaster oven has convection, that’s usually a win.

• hot air circulates more evenly

• the crust crisps faster

• baking time is often shorter

Tip: lower the temperature by about 15–25°F when using convection to prevent overbrowning.

Top & Bottom Heating Elements

Some toaster ovens let us choose which heating elements are active.

• Bottom heat helps crisp the crust

• Top heat melts and browns cheese

For pizza, a balanced top-and-bottom heat setting gives the most even result.

When to Adjust Mid-Bake

Frozen pizzas aren’t identical, and toaster ovens vary.

If we notice:

• the top browning too fast → lower the rack or reduce top heat

• the bottom staying pale → move the pizza down or increase bake time slightly

Small adjustments mid-bake can save the pizza.

Is It Worth Finding the Best Frozen Pizza for a Toaster Oven?

Absolutely.

When we know:

• what size to buy,

• which crust works best,

• and how to bake it properly,

a toaster oven doesn’t feel like a compromise—it feels like the perfect solution.

Not every pizza needs to be restaurant-quality.
Sometimes it just needs to be fast, satisfying, and exactly what we want after a long day.

And in that role, frozen pizza made in a toaster oven can be surprisingly great.