The Blackbird Foods Pepperoni Pizza meets
the Banza Plant-Based Cheese Pizza
Chef-made artisan crust, real pizzeria flavor. We tested it head-to-head against the Banza Plant-Based Cheese Pizza ($6.49) across 6 key dimensions.
Banza Plant-Based Cheese Pizza
“Chickpea crust with extra protein, everyday price”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Blackbird Foods Pepperoni Pizza
- VegNews #1 and Vegetarian Zen #1 pick, with PETA's Libby Award for Best Vegan Frozen Food confirming industry-wide recognition
- Hand-tossed crust by former NYC restaurant chefs produces real char spots and bread-like interior that no par-baked competitor matches
- Beyond Meat pepperoni has genuine smoky, paprika-forward flavor that holds up after reheating instead of turning rubbery
- At $8-10 per pizza, it costs 30-50% more than Banza or Daiya, putting it closer to takeout pricing than frozen aisle expectations
- Limited to Whole Foods, natural grocers, and online ordering; you won't find it at Walmart, Target, or most Kroger locations
- Younger brand with inconsistent stock levels; specific varieties go in and out of availability depending on region
Banza Plant-Based Cheese Pizza
- Make It Dairy Free's #1 pick out of 10 brands tested, praised as the 'closest to traditional pizza experience' across crust, sauce, cheese, and overall flavor
- Chickpea crust delivers 10g protein per serving, the highest of any frozen vegan pizza, and is naturally gluten-free for dual-restriction shoppers
- Available at Target, Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods at $6-7, making it the most accessible premium vegan pizza on this list
- Chickpea crust has a denser, nuttier texture that divides opinion; if you want traditional wheat-dough pizza feel, this won't satisfy
- As a plain cheese pizza with minimal toppings, it leans heavily on crust quality to carry the meal and can feel sparse compared to loaded competitors
- Vegan mozzarella melts but doesn't stretch or brown; the cheese is functional, not exciting, and sits flat rather than bubbling
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
Blackbird Foods won because the people behind it actually know how to make pizza. Founded by former chefs who supplied seitan to NYC restaurants, Blackbird brings real kitchen technique to a category dominated by factory-line products. The pepperoni variety layers Beyond Meat pepperoni over house-made vegan mozzarella on a hand-tossed wheat crust that hits both chewy and crispy in the same bite.
Blackbird Foods Pepperoni Pizza
Blackbird Foods won because the people behind it actually know how to make pizza. Founded by former chefs who supplied seitan to NYC restaurants, Blackbird brings real kitchen technique to a category dominated by factory-line products. The pepperoni variety layers Beyond Meat pepperoni over house-made vegan mozzarella on a hand-tossed wheat crust that hits both chewy and crispy in the same bite.
- You want the closest thing to pizzeria-quality in a frozen vegan format
- Crust matters to you more than toppings, and you appreciate real bread texture with char spots
- You shop at Whole Foods or natural grocers and don't mind paying $8-10 per pizza
- You're hosting and want a vegan pizza that non-vegans will actually enjoy
- You value chef-driven brands with actual restaurant backgrounds over mass-market food companies
Banza Plant-Based Cheese Pizza
Banza's Plant-Based Cheese Pizza won the value pick because it solves two problems at once: it's a good vegan pizza and it's a nutritionally interesting one. The chickpea-based crust packs more protein and fiber than any wheat or cauliflower competitor, which gives it a structural advantage that goes beyond marketing.
- You want a dependable weekly vegan pizza that won't break the budget at $6-7
- Extra protein and fiber matter to you, or you're managing both dairy and gluten restrictions
- You shop at mainstream grocers (Target, Walmart, Kroger) and need consistent availability
- You're new to vegan frozen pizza and want the safest first pick with broad appeal
- You prefer a simple cheese pizza you can customize with your own toppings at home