You know that depressing feeling when you pull a frozen pizza out of the oven and it looks like a sad, soggy cardboard disc? We've all been there. It's basically a rite of passage for anyone who survives on grocery store runs. But honestly, Motor City Pizza Co actually changed the math on this a few years ago. If you haven't seen those heavy, rectangular boxes in the Costco freezer aisle or at your local Walmart, you’re missing out on what is arguably the most successful "premium" pivot in the history of frozen dough.
Detroit-style pizza is having a massive moment right now. It's everywhere. From hip pop-ups in Brooklyn to chain versions at Pizza Hut, people are obsessed with that thick, airy crust and the crispy cheese perimeter. But doing this in a frozen format is technically difficult. Most frozen pizzas fail because the crust turns into a brick or stays gummy in the middle. Motor City Pizza Co, which is actually a brand under the Great Kitchens Food Company umbrella, figured out that the secret isn't just the dough; it's the pan.
What’s the Deal With Motor City Pizza Co and That Plastic Pan?
If you open a box of their Double Pepperoni, the first thing you notice is that the pizza is already sitting in a black, heat-resistant tray. This isn't just for packaging. You bake the pizza in the tray. This is the brand's clever workaround for the traditional blue steel pans used in authentic Detroit pizzerias like Buddy’s or Loui’s. In a real deck oven, those steel pans conduct heat like crazy, frying the edges of the dough in olive oil and melted cheese.
The plastic-composite tray in the Motor City box attempts to mimic that "frying" effect. It traps the fats from the cheese and the pepperoni right against the edges of the crust. Does it work? Mostly. You’re not going to get the exact level of "frico" (that’s the fancy word for the burnt cheese crown) that you’d get at a $30 sit-down spot in Detroit, but for a frozen product under ten bucks, it’s shockingly close. The crust comes out remarkably airy. It’s a focaccia-style crumb that actually has bubbles in it, which is rare for something that’s been sitting in a sub-zero warehouse for three months.
The Great Kitchens Connection
A lot of people think Motor City is some small mom-and-pop startup from Michigan. Not quite. While the branding leans heavily into that gritty, automotive Detroit aesthetic, the muscle behind it is Great Kitchens Food Company, based out of Romeoville, Illinois. They are a massive player in the private label and branded pizza space. In 2020, they were acquired by Arbor Investments, a private equity firm that specializes in food and beverage.
This corporate backing is actually why you can find the pizza everywhere. Scale matters. When you're trying to ship a pizza that weighs significantly more than a standard thin-crust Red Baron, you need serious logistics. It also explains the consistency. Whether you buy a box in Florida or Washington, the fat-to-dough ratio is almost identical. That’s the beauty of industrial food science done right. They aren't guessing; they're measuring the moisture content of the flour to ensure the "Detroit Style" rise is consistent every single time.
Why the "Frico" Edge Actually Matters
Let’s talk about the cheese. Most frozen pizzas use a cheap, low-moisture part-skim mozzarella that burns into a weird brown plastic if you leave it in too long. Motor City Pizza Co uses a blend that includes more fat. When you bake it, the cheese migrates. It flows down the sides of the crust and hits the bottom of that tray.
👉 See also: Images of Thanksgiving Holiday: What Most People Get Wrong
This creates the caramelized crust that defines the style.
If you're a purist, you know that a real Detroit square uses Wisconsin Brick Cheese. It’s a mild, high-fat cheese that doesn't quite have the "stretch" of mozzarella but has a much better melt. While Motor City uses a blend (it's not 100% brick cheese, let’s be real—cost-wise that would be impossible for a grocery store price point), they’ve tuned the salt and fat content to satisfy that craving. It’s greasy. You will need a napkin. You might need two. But that grease is what prevents the bread from being dry and tasteless.
The Costco Cult Following
It’s impossible to talk about this brand without mentioning Costco. For a long time, the two-pack of Motor City Pizza Co Double Pepperoni was the internet's favorite "secret" find. It became a viral sensation on Reddit’s r/Costco and various Facebook groups.
- People started posting "pro-tips" for cooking them.
- Users debated whether the air fryer was better than the oven (Oven is usually better for the middle, honestly).
- The price-to-weight ratio became a major selling point for families.
The sheer weight of these pizzas is what surprises people. You aren't getting a thin, flimsy snack. You're getting a dense, calorie-heavy meal. A single serving is often listed as one-eighth of the pizza, but let's be honest: most people are eating a quarter or a half. That’s a massive amount of sodium and carbs, so it's definitely a "cheat meal" territory product. But in terms of value? It’s hard to beat. You’re getting nearly three pounds of food in a two-pack for about the price of one medium delivery pizza from a chain.
Is It Actually Authentic?
Authenticity is a tricky word. If you go to Buddy’s Pizza on Conant Street in Detroit, you’re getting a pizza where the sauce is striped on top of the cheese after it bakes. This is done to prevent the crust from getting soggy.
Motor City Pizza Co takes a bit of a shortcut here. Their sauce is usually under the cheese, or integrated in a way that’s more traditional for standard pizzas. This is likely a manufacturing necessity. Toppings stay put better during shipping if they’re anchored by cheese. However, the flavor profile hits the right notes. The sauce has a distinct sweetness and a hit of oregano that mimics the classic Detroit profile.
✨ Don't miss: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessing Over Maybelline SuperStay Skin Tint
It’s "authentic-adjacent." It’s the best representation of the style you can find without a plane ticket or a specialized local bakery.
Common Mistakes People Make When Baking Motor City Pizza
Look, it’s a frozen pizza. You’d think you can’t mess it up. But because Detroit style is so thick, it’s easy to end up with a cold center and burnt edges.
First off, don't ignore the "let it sit" instruction. When you pull it out of the oven, the grease is still boiling. If you try to cut it immediately, the cheese will just slide off the crust like a landslide, and you’ll be left with a naked piece of bread. Give it three to five minutes. The cheese needs to "set" and re-adhere to the dough.
Secondly, check your rack position. If you put it too high in the oven, the pepperoni (which is high-quality, cup-and-char style) will burn before the thick dough in the center reaches 165°F. Place it on the center rack. If your oven runs cold, you might even want to go one rack lower to ensure the bottom gets that fried-pan crunch.
The Product Lineup: Beyond Just Pepperoni
While the Double Pepperoni is the flagship, they’ve branched out. The Three Meat version is a salt-bomb in the best way possible, featuring sausage and bacon. They also have a Supreme version that adds veggies, though some fans argue that the extra moisture from the frozen peppers and onions can slightly compromise the crispiness of the crust.
There’s also a "Cheese Bread" version which is essentially just the Detroit crust topped with a massive amount of garlic butter and cheese. It’s basically a heart attack in a box, but it’s a massive hit at parties because you can slice it into thin strips. It’s surprisingly versatile. You can use it as a base and add your own fresh toppings—like hot honey or fresh basil—after it comes out of the oven to elevate the experience.
🔗 Read more: Coach Bag Animal Print: Why These Wild Patterns Actually Work as Neutrals
Nutrition and Ingredients: The Hard Truth
We have to be honest here. This is not health food. It's processed, frozen pizza. A single slice of the pepperoni version can run you around 380 to 400 calories. If you eat half the pizza—which is very easy to do—you’re looking at nearly 1,600 calories and a massive chunk of your daily recommended sodium.
The ingredient list is long. It contains preservatives, anti-caking agents for the cheese, and dough conditioners. If you are looking for an organic, farm-to-table experience, this isn't it. But as far as the frozen aisle goes, the quality of the fats they use is higher than the bottom-tier brands. They use real lard or shortening in the crust to get that specific texture, which is why it tastes so much better than the "lean" frozen pizzas of the 90s.
Why Motor City Pizza Co Matters for the Grocery Industry
Before this brand blew up, "premium" frozen pizza usually just meant "thinner crust and fancier toppings." Think California Pizza Kitchen or Newman’s Own. Motor City proved that there was a market for heavy, indulgent, regional styles in the freezer section.
They paved the way for other regional styles to go national. Now, you’re starting to see more deep-dish and "tavern-style" options appearing because retailers realized people are willing to pay $8-$12 for a frozen pizza if it actually tastes like it came from a restaurant. It shifted the "ceiling" of what we expect from frozen food.
The Competition
Since Motor City’s success, brands like Outsiders Pizza Company have tried to move into the space. Even big players like Digiorno have launched their own "Detroit Style" lines. But most of them fall short because they don't use the tray-in-box method, or their dough is too dense. Motor City has managed to keep its crown by sticking to that specific high-hydration dough recipe that stays soft on the inside while the outside crisps up.
Actionable Tips for the Best Experience
If you're going to pick up a box this weekend, keep these specific steps in mind to get the most out of it:
- The Preheat is Non-Negotiable: Don’t toss it in while the oven is still warming up. You need that initial blast of 425°F heat to start the "frying" process in the pan.
- Use a Metal Spatula: When it's done, the cheese might be stuck to the sides of the tray. Run a thin metal spatula or a butter knife around the edge before you try to lift it out. This keeps that crispy cheese crown intact.
- Add a Finishing Touch: The sauce can be a little one-note. A drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and high-quality Parmesan after baking makes a $9 pizza taste like a $25 one.
- Storage: If you have leftovers, don’t microwave them. The crust will turn into a rubber tire. Use an air fryer at 350°F for about 4 minutes. It’ll be even crispier the second time around.
Motor City Pizza Co isn't just another frozen option; it's a specific technical achievement in food engineering. It manages to bring a very difficult-to-replicate regional style into the average home kitchen without requiring a specialized oven or a culinary degree. It’s greasy, it’s heavy, and it’s arguably the best value in the grocery store right now. Grab a box, find the center rack of your oven, and wait for that cheese to bubble. You’ll see exactly why the internet won't stop talking about it.