Pizza is undeniably one of the best foods you can get on almost any occasion. It has a lot of delicious ingredients, but they can be unhealthy with all the calories on a pizza slice.
Just like any food and drink, pizza is good for you as long as you moderate your consumption. A pizza has healthy nutrients, and it is not all bad.
Knowing how many calories you get on your pizzas can help you limit your intake and lets you track how many calories you are consuming.
A slice of pizza a day will not affect your health that much but who settles for just one slice, right? That is why it is important to know what we put in our bodies.
Along with the calories in a pizza, we will also be looking at the other nutrients you get when you eat pizza such as protein, calcium, phosphorus, and more.
So read on as we look at the different nutrients you will get when you eat a pizza and how much of these nutrients you eat for each slice or a whole pie.
How Many Calories In A Slice Of Pizza?
On average, a slice of pizza can have between 200 and 700 calories, which depends on many factors such as the size of the pizza, the topping ingredients, cheese, and more.
The most typical topping is pepperoni, and a pepperoni pizza can have an average of 494 calories in one slice. Sausages and ground beef have an average of 300 calories each.
If you want a pizza that has a slightly lower calorie content than the ones mentioned above, you can always go with vegetable toppings.
A slice of vegetable pizza can be as low as 240 calories, and it is healthy and is also full of other nutrients that will surely make you healthier.
How Many Calories In A Whole Pizza?
12 to 14-inch pizzas can have as low as 1500 calories but can get up to 3000 calories depending on the flour, toppings, cheese, and garnishes used.
A small 8-inch personal pizza can have up to 1500 calories as well. The ingredients on your pizza will hugely affect how many calories you get from a whole pizza.
The size of the pizza also obviously affects how many calories the pizza will have. The same goes for the other nutrients as each ingredient affects the number of calories and nutrients in it.
There is no one pizza that we can refer to the number of calories in it so we can only get averages.
That is why it is also better to look at the more popular pizza types and see how many calories and nutrients they have.
calories in Neapolitan Margherita Pizza
Authentic Neapolitan Margherita pizza contains fewer ingredients so it also has fewer calories. On average, a Neapolitan Margherita pizza has 900 to 1000 calories in the whole pizza.
You will get about 200 calories and 7 grams of protein in a single slice of Neapolitan Margherita pizza and about 6 grams of fat along with it.
So as you can see, an authentic Neapolitan pizza with no meat toppings and a thin crust does not have that many calories compared to other pizzas.
calories in Cheese Pizza
Cheese pizza is a good reference for other pizzas as cheese is a common ingredient for pizzas. There are about 290 calories in a slice of a small cheese pizza.
There are 25 grams of carbs in it, 12 grams of protein, and 15 grams of fat. We should expect more fats from cheese since it is an animal by-product.
calories in Meat Lovers Pizza
Because of the ingredients, we should be expecting more calories in a meat lover’s pizza. A slice of a meat lover’s pizza can have up to 300 calories.
It contains 26 grams of total carbs, 15 grams of protein, and 12 grams of fat. 50% of the total calories of a meat lover’s pizza often come from fats.
That is why you can remove some of the fats from the meat before processing them so you get fewer calories in a slice.
calories in Pepperoni Pizza
Pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping in the U.S. and a slice of pepperoni pizza can have up to 450 calories.
About 20% of those calories come from the 13 grams of protein in a slice of pepperoni pizza. A slice of pepperoni pizza can also have 15 grams of fats in total.
It is not the healthiest, so again, moderation is key to ensuring that you stay healthy while enjoying your delicious pizza.
calories in Veggie Pizza
Veggie pizza is a healthier choice between cheese and pepperoni pizzas. A slice of veggie pizza can have as low as 240 calories.
A veggie pizza only has 6 grams of fat and less than 500 milligrams of sodium. It does not have that much protein with only about 7 grams so it is good to have a side with high-protein content.
calories in BBQ Chicken Pizza
BBQ chicken pizza is another healthy pizza with a lot of protein and fewer fats than other meat toppings. BBQ chicken pizza has about 280 calories in a slice.
It has 17 grams of protein and only 6 grams of fat, making it a healthy topping, especially for people trying to avoid fats and calories while working out.
calories in Chicago Deep-dish Pizza
A Chicago deep-dish pizza has a lot of calories. It is a thick type of pizza with a lot of stuffings in it, and along with the crust and cheese, it can have 730 calories in one slice alone.
It has 50 grams of carbs and 35 grams of protein. So a deep-dish pizza does have a lot of protein that is somehow countered by the 44 grams of fat in one slice.
I do have deep-dish pizza every once in a while, and this is perhaps the type of pizza that only satisfies me with a single slice.
calories in Large New York Pizza Slices
If you are familiar with New York-style pizza, then you know they have very large slices. In a single slice of a New York pizza, you can get up to 480 calories.
It has 10 grams of fats and 12 grams of protein. So while it has a lot of calories, it is not unhealthy but includes about 60 grams of carbohydrates.
| Pizza Type | Calories | |
| In A Whole Pie | Per Slice | |
| Neapolitan Margherita Pizza | 900-1000 calories | 200 calories |
| Cheese Pizza | 2500 calories | 290 calories |
| Meat Lovers Pizza | 3700 calories | 300 calories |
| Pepperoni Pizza | 4000 calories | 450 calories |
| Veggie Pizza | 1139 calories | 240 calories |
| BBQ Chicken Pizza | 2200 calories | 280 calories |
| Chicago Deep-dish | 4800 calories | 730 calories |
| New York Pizza | 3200 | 480 calories |
Note: The table above is based on large pizzas 16 or 18 inches. The slices can also vary from 8 to 10 slices for each pizza.
Calories In Pizza By Brand
1. Little Caesar’s
If you are wondering how many calories are going into your body when you eat a slice of pizza from Little Caesar’s then you need to know that a 14-inch pepperoni pizza has 280 calories in one slice of pizza.
The calories can vary depending on your toppings and if you go all out with extra cheese and extra pepperoni, it can go up to 320 calories a slice.
2. Pizza Hut
If you order a medium cheese pizza from Pizza Hut, you would be eating 250 calories per slice.
A large 14 inches Hawaiian pizza or large pepperoni pizza has 270 and 290 calories per slice of pizza, respectively.
As you change the toppings, different pizzas can have different amounts of calories in a slice of pizza. The amount of calories in a Pizza slice from Pizza Hut usually ranges from 250-300 calories.
Check out this detailed nutritional information on each pizza that you will get from Pizza Hut so you know how many calories are in a Pizza Hut pizza.
3. Domino’s
Domino’s is pretty similar to Pizza Hut in which the pizzas you get from Domino’s average 250 to 300 calories in a single slice.
For example, a slice of Domino’s large hand-tossed pepperoni pizza has about 280 calories. It is not too few, but it is still healthy enough if you go for another slice.
I found this amazing website where you can input the pizza that you want from Domino’s and it calculates the calories in a Domino’s pizza slice that you want.
4. Papa John’s
Papa John’s offers amazing pizzas that we all love. On average, a single slice of pizza from Papa John’s can have anywhere from 200 to 400 calories.
My favorite thing to do when I order from Papa John’s is I change the regular crust to thin-crust pizzas to spare me up to 5 grams of carbohydrates and 20 calories on each slice.
5. Digiorno
Digiorno Pizza is one of the top brands of frozen pizza on the market. One whole pizza from Digioirno can have up to 2200 calories with up to 240 calories on each slice.
This goes with the supreme toppings so if you order something with fewer toppings from Digiorno, expect fewer calories from the pizza.
This type of pizza from Digiorno has up to 100 grams of protein and 94 grams of fat so it is a bit healthier than most pizzas and is really good for sharing.
6. Costco
Costco might not be the most popular place to get pizza but they have quite an amazing menu. A large cheese pizza from Costco has about 4540 calories.
That means that each slice of that pizza has about 760 calories which is a lot. Most of these calories come from fats and carbs.
| Pizza Brand | Calories Per Slice |
| Little Caesar’s | 280 calories |
| Pizza Hut | 290 calories |
| Domino’s | 280 calories |
| Papa John’s | 338 calories |
| Digiorno | 225 calories |
| Costco | 710 calories |
Note: The table above refers to the pepperoni pizzas of each pizza brand.
Other Nutritional Content Of Pizza
As a middle ground, I have used a large cheese pizza in this part to better understand what other nutrients you can get from a pizza aside from the calories you inevitably get.
These are the common nutrients you get from a cheese pizza so make sure to adjust that according to the type of pizza that you want to order.
Protein
For a regular slice of cheese pizza, you can get somewhere around 12.2 grams of protein. This can help you in your recovery after exercising for a few minutes.
Although it does not sound like it is much, a slice of cheese pizza contains enough protein to get you through a slight recovery from torn muscle tissues and other tissues in the body
It can be just 7 grams of protein for others but on average, a slice of large pizza can have 12 to 20 grams of protein depending on the toppings used.
Fats
A single slice of cheese pizza contains 10.4 grams of fats. This is not as unhealthy fat as other foods, and you can use the fat from the pizza to balance your fat percentage.
Most people shy away from food with fats without knowing that fat is three of the most important minerals that our bodies need.
So again, it is not bad to eat fats just as long as they are healthy (unsaturated) fats and are moderated so we do not get too many of the unwanted effects of fats.
Fiber
A slice of cheese pizza contains 2.5 grams of fiber which is not enough, but it helps keep and improve our metabolism. You can get more fiber if you choose to go with vegetable toppings.
Fiber can help digestion as it helps the stomach break down food. It is a component that helps make the stomach and intestines healthy while also improving our metabolism.
Calcium And Phosphorus
Pizza is a good source of calcium and phosphorus. These minerals help a lot in developing and strengthening our bones.
A slice of cheese pizza can have up to 250 milligrams of calcium and can have up to 180 milligrams of phosphorus which is a small amount but it can help.
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving (1 slice) |
| Calories | 290 |
| Protein | 12 grams |
| Fats | 10 grams |
| Carbohydrates | 36 grams |
| Calcium | 250 milligrams |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.5 grams |
How Many Calories Are In A Slice Of Pizza Without The Crust?
If you leave out the cornicione or the edge of the crust, you can reduce the calorie count on your slice of pizza by up to 50 or 75 calories.
So you see, leaving out the crust of your pizza can help reduce the calories in each slice. You can reduce up to 200 calories in one sitting.
On average, a person will get up to 3 slices of pizza when eating. That means 150 to 225 calories are removed from the supposed 700 or 1200 calories in one sitting.
So people can use this method of removing the edges of the crust to reduce their calorie intake while some eat fewer slices to enjoy the whole experience with the crust of the pizza.
How Many Calories Are In A Slice Of Thin Crust Pizza?
A large thin-crust pizza has anywhere between 180-195 calories in a slice of pizza. The calories can increase or decrease depending on the toppings and the pizza size.
If you go with extra cheese on your pizza, the calories on a slice of pizza increase by 50 calories per slice of a pizza.
Nonetheless, a thin-crust pizza is better than a regular crust, hand-tossed, or thick-crust pizza for those watching their calorie intake.
Is Pizza Bad For Weight Loss?
Eating pizza occasionally might not have a big effect on your weight loss journey but as much as possible, it is best to avoid pizza while trying to lose weight.
On average, a person eats around 2000 calories daily from pizza alone. That excludes your meals and snacks during the rest of the day.
That means you have eaten about 50% of your daily calories from pizza alone. So it can be challenging to lose weight while you eat that much pizza.
Limiting yourself to a slice of pizza daily is important if you want to lose weight. If not, you should adjust your diet and focus on healthier foods to counteract the calories from the pizza.
Having fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and some fats can help you lose weight even if you incorporate pizza into your diet.
What Pizza Has The Lowest Calorie Count?
Going with thin-crust pizza instead of regular or deep-dish pizzas can help you lower the number of calories you eat from pizzas alone.
An authentic Neapolitan pizza has a low-calorie content with only 200 calories per slice or you can go with a veggie pizza with a thin crust that can have only 240 calories per slice.
Ordering pizza with veggie toppings reduces your calorie intake and adds more fibers to your diet for better metabolism.
I also love making pizzas at home so I can adjust the ingredients and reduce the number of calories in the pizza as much as possible.
Tips On Making Your Pizza Healthier
Ordering your pizza slightly differently can improve it and make it healthier. Going for a thin crust will reduce the calorie count.
Going with regular instead of extra cheese can also help reduce fats on the pizza. Here are some of the hacks or tips you can do to make your pizza healthier.
1. The Right Toppings
As we mentioned above, choosing your toppings can make the pizza healthier, especially if you go with vegetable toppings.
If you want some proteins in your pizza, you can go with lean proteins like chicken which has fewer fats than pork or beef.
2. The Crust
It is better to go for a thin crust than the regular one. You can also make your pizza healthier by choosing whole-grain flour instead of the regular flour used in pizzas.
This can lower your calorie intake as most calories and carbohydrates come from the dough. Request for a healthier option by ordering a thin-crust pizza.
3. Skip The Sides
It is great to eat pizzas with sides. They can enhance the flavors of the pizza, but to make your meal healthier, it is best if you skip the sides.
Breadsticks, pretzels, and even heavier sides like wings can add many calories and fats to your meal.
If you want a side to go with your pizza, I recommend getting a salad instead of heavy sides, which can only make the meal less healthy.
4. Local Options
Compared to pizza chains known worldwide, local pizzerias might have more options on the toppings you can choose from. So visit one around the neighborhood and ask.
Choose pizzas with healthier toppings, and you might also get the bonus of discovering a new favorite pizza place and flavor. Plus, it is a good way to support small businesses.
Should You Blot The Oil Off The Pizza?
Yes, if you want fewer calories, you should remove some of the oil from the surface of the pizza. It is also not that pleasing to see a puddle of grease on your food so it is best to blot it out.
Use a clean paper towel and lightly press it on the surface of the pizza. Doing this can remove the fats and lower the calorie content by up to 40 calories per slice.
Again, most calories in a pizza come from the dough and the fats so by removing the grease, you can reduce the number of calories on the slice of pizza so go ahead and blot the oil off your pizza.
How Many Calories Are In A Homemade Pizza?
On average, a homemade pizza can have up to 1120 calories with cheese and mushroom toppings. That is around 150 to 200 calories per slice of homemade pizza.
The good thing about homemade pizzas is that you can use ingredients that have fewer calories in them. You can put in as many vegetables as possible to ensure your pizza is healthy.
Calories In A Large Pizza Slice Vs. A Regular Pizza Slice
A regular pizza slice can have 250 to 350 calories, while a large pizza slice can have up to 600 calories.
The smaller ones that are about 150 calories are smaller slices or have healthier toppings and thinner crusts, which translates to lower calorie content.
The larger the pizza slice, the higher the calories since it has more dough and fats. So it is best to go with a thin crust because even if it is large, it is thinner than regular pizza.
That means that you will have fewer calories from the dough. You can then enjoy more slices even if the slices are large, as long as the dough is thin!
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