I tried 4 fast food thin-crust pizzas, and there was one clear winner

This pie took me by surprise.

In big cities, thick-crusted, rectangular pies have been all the rage in recent years. But as a restaurant critic, I've noticed the opposite emerging as Detroit-style mania dies down: Bar pizzas, or tavern pies, are bringing thin, crunchy crusts to the cutting edge. 

I grew up in Southern Connecticut, where Colony Grill has been serving up skinny pies with cheese that goes all the way to the edges since the 1930s. Elsewhere in New England, the crackling thin-crusts are known as South Shore bar pizza, thanks to their plenitude in Boston. Chicago has its own version, dividing locals on whether tavern pies or deep-dish should really be the city's signature pizza.

But can you take advantage of this if you live outside a big city? To find out, I tried the thin-crust offerings at the big-four pizza chains. While the cracker-like bases aren't exactly bar pies, they might be the closest you'll find without booking a flight.

Besides an appealing crunch, enjoying a thin-crust pizza is also the leanest way to bite into a pizza—a slice of a large thin-crust pie at Pizza Hut, for example, has almost half the calories of a pan pizza. You won't lose any weight dining on thin-crust pizzas, but you might not mind reaching for an extra slice or two.

How I Chose and Tested the Thin-Crust Pizzas

Choosing pizza purveyors was no sweat—four big national chains are likely in your backyard, just as they are in mine in Northern Virginia. Assessing the options was another matter. I picked up and ate in the car, or dined in (as was the case at Pizza Hut) at each location to get pies at their freshest.

From there, I considered crusts above all else. Both texture and flavor were important factors. But that's not to say the sauce, cheese, and doneness of the pizzas weren't also deeply important. All of the above, as well as price, were among my criteria.

The Best Fast Food Thin-Crust Pizzas, Ranked

4th Place: Papa Johns

The experiment didn't start well when I picked up my 14-inch pizza at Papa Johns. At $17.49, the crust was indeed crisp, but not in a good way. It was stiffer than crunchy or chewy. In fact, the more I forced the dry bites into my mouth, the more their flour-y flavor reminded me of a low-quality frozen pizza. The overly sweet sauce only amplified the effect, as did the stretch-less cheese. Points in Papa Johns favor? The spicy red pepper flakes thrown into the box went well with the pepperoni I chose as my single topping.

3rd Place: Domino's

Most pizza, even thin-crust, needs sufficient sauce for both flavor and texture. Though I detected a bit of the Domino's signature "Robust Inspired Tomato Sauce" on some slices, the pie was as arid as they come. It's a shame, because the oddly named sauce is well-balanced between tart and sweet.

This crust was the thinnest of the bunch—even thinner than most crackers—which made for a fun, ultra-crispy texture with a hint of stretch. At $16.98, the 14-inch pie started on the expensive side, but a carry-out coupon brought it down to $7.99, the cheapest of the bunch.

2nd Place: Pizza Hut

Matters improved when I saw the substantial 14-inch pie offered at Pizza Hut. It was no surprise that at $19.09 with one topping, this heavyweight was also the most expensive. But on occasion, I'd be willing to pay extra for the sauciest, cheesiest contender of them all. 

The edges of the buttery-tasting crust bubbled up, leaving the impression of a bowl of pizza, which is a dream I didn't even know I had. There's nothing quite like the heavily seasoned marinara that I remember from my childhood, especially paired with a thick, stretchy layer of mozzarella.

1st Place: Little Caesars

I've never considered myself a Little Caesars fan, but factoring in both price and pure palate appeal, I was shocked to realize this is the pizza I'd most likely order again. I loved the gush of tangy sauce beneath a blanket of brown-pocked cheese that went all the way to the edges, but what sealed the deal was the crispy crust with just a hint of chew.

At $9.99, the 14-inch pie is a steal, which cemented its status as the winner. At home, I drizzled the square slices (known as "party cut" or "tavern cut") with hot honey, adding the bit of pizzazz the pizza was missing. But even eaten plain, my pick is worthy of your order.