Pizza is a popular food that many people enjoy as an occasional treat or even as a regular part of their diet. However, pizza can also be high in calories, especially varieties with thick crusts and extra toppings like cheese and pepperoni. For people watching their calorie intake, a thin crust cheese pizza can be a better option. But just how many calories are in 2 slices of thin crust cheese pizza?
Calories In Pizza
In general, the number of calories in pizza depends on several factors:
- Crust thickness – A thin crust has fewer calories than a thick, bready crust.
- Type of crust – Hand-tossed, deep dish, and stuffed crust tend to have more calories than thin or flatbread crust.
- Size of the slice – Larger slices contain more calories than smaller slices from the same pizza.
- Toppings – Cheese, meat, vegetables, and sauce all add calories.
- Cooking method – A wood-fired pizza tends to have fewer calories than a pizza cooked in an oily deep dish pan.
So a thin crust cheese pizza, without extra meats or veggies, will tend to be one of the lower calorie pizza options. But the exact number of calories can still vary between brands and recipes.
Calories In Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
For a basic thin crust cheese pizza from a national pizza chain, two slices generally contain between 500-700 calories. Here are some examples:
- Domino’s thin crust cheese pizza (2 slices): 500 calories
- Pizza Hut thin ‘n crispy cheese pizza (2 slices): 560 calories
- Papa John’s thin crust cheese pizza (2 slices): 700 calories
As you can see, even among thin crust pizzas, there is a significant range in calories depending on the brand. Factors like the ingredients, baking methods, and portion sizes affect the calorie counts.
Calories By Pizza Slice Size
The size of each slice also makes a major difference in the calories. Here are some estimates for the calories in different slice sizes of thin crust cheese pizza:
| Slice Size | Calories Per Slice |
|---|---|
| Small slice (1/6 of a 14″ pizza) | 220 calories |
| Medium slice (1/8 of a 14″ pizza) | 275 calories |
| Large slice (1/4 of a 14″ pizza) | 550 calories |
As shown, the bigger the pizza slice, the more calories it has. A small thin crust cheese slice may have just 220 calories, while a quarter of a pizza can have over 500 calories. So the slice size makes a major difference in calories.
Factors That Add Calories
While a plain thin crust cheese pizza has a modest amount of calories, there are many ways the calories can quickly add up:
- Thicker crusts – Stuffed or deep dish crusts can nearly double the calories compared to a thin crust.
- Extra cheese – Extra portions of cheese significantly increase the calories.
- Meat toppings – Pepperoni, sausage, bacon and other meats can add 70-150 calories per slice.
- Extra sauce – More tomato sauce or olive oil drizzle leads to more calories.
- Pan versus wood-fired – A greasy pan pizza often has more calories than a crispier wood-fired oven pizza.
So even if you start with a thin crust cheese pizza, ask for extra toppings or a stuffed crust and the calories can quickly skyrocket.
Tips For Lower Calorie Pizza
If you want to keep pizza as a lower calorie food option, here are some tips:
- Stick to thin crusts without a stuffed or multilayered crust.
- Order cheese pizza instead of meat- or veggie-loaded pies.
- Opt for a small slice instead of large slices.
- Avoid the pan pizzas cooked in a lot of oil.
- Load up on veggie toppings like onions, mushrooms, tomatoes instead of fatty meats.
- Dip your crust in tomato sauce instead of greasy garlic butter.
- Share one pizza between multiple people instead of each eating a whole pie.
Following these guidelines can help you enjoy pizza without going overboard on the calories!
Nutritional Values Of Thin Crust Cheese Pizza
In addition to calories, two slices of thin crust cheese pizza also provide:
- Protein: 15-20g to help you feel full.
- Carbohydrates: 30-60g for energy.
- Fat: 5-10g, some from cheese but less than thick crust or meaty pizzas.
- Vitamins & minerals: 15% DV of calcium and iron.
- Sodium: 500-800mg depending on brand.
So along with calories, a thin crust cheese pizza provides protein, carbs, and some vitamins and minerals. Just watch the sodium content if limiting your salt intake.
Low Calorie Pizza Alternatives
If you are really watching calories, there are even lower calorie options than thin crust cheese pizza:
- Cauliflower crust pizza – Uses riced cauliflower instead of white flour for the crust.
- Zucchini crust pizza – Grated zucchini replaces some of the regular crust.
- Portobello mushroom pizza – No crust, just mushroom caps topped like a pizza.
- Chicken crust pizza – Use baked chicken breasts as the pizza base.
These creative alternatives clock in at under 400 calories for two slices. So they can be great options for cutting calories while still enjoying pizza flavors.
Conclusion
The number of calories in pizza comes down to the crust, toppings, portion size and cooking method. For a thin crust cheese pizza, two small slices provide about 440 calories. Regular slices range from 500-700 calories for two slices depending on the brand. Factors like extra cheese, thick crusts, large slices and meat toppings can quickly increase the calories. Sticking to thin crust cheese pizza and watching portion sizes is key to keeping pizza as part of a healthy diet!
