Best Refrigerated Pie Dough: 6 Top Brands Tested

I spent two weeks testing every refrigerated and frozen pie dough I could find at my local grocery stores.

After baking 18 pies and taste-testing with my family, Marie Callender’s Deep Dish Pie Shells are the best refrigerated pie dough for most home bakers.

The extra-deep design holds generous fillings while the restaurant-style recipe delivers a flaky, tender crust that rivals homemade.

In this guide, I’ll share my complete testing results and help you find the perfect pie dough for your baking needs.

Our Top 3 Pie Dough Picks

Pie Dough Comparison Table

Here’s a quick overview of all the pie dough options I tested:

Detailed Refrigerated Pie Dough Reviews

1. Marie Callender’s Deep Dish Pie Shells – Best Overall

Marie Callender’s stands out from every brand I tested.

The restaurant-style recipe creates a crust that’s genuinely flaky and tender, with a buttery flavor that impressed everyone in my taste tests.

What really sets these apart is the extra-deep design.

At 16 ounces per shell, you can pile in generous fruit fillings or custard without worrying about overflow.

I baked three apple pies using these shells and each one held a full 6 cups of filling without spilling.

The crust bakes up golden brown and maintains its structure even with heavy, wet fillings.

These frozen shells include no preservatives, which is a nice bonus for health-conscious bakers.

Who Should Buy?

Perfect for bakers making fruit pies with lots of filling, or anyone wanting restaurant-quality results without the effort of homemade crust.

Who Should Avoid?

Skip these if you prefer a thin, delicate crust or if you’re watching your budget.

2. Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust – Most Convenient

Pillsbury’s refrigerated pie crust is the ultimate convenience option.

The dough comes ready to use with absolutely no rolling required.

Just unroll, place in your pie pan, add filling, and bake.

I tested these for a last-minute Thanksgiving pie and they saved me at least 30 minutes of prep time.

The texture is consistently flaky and tender, with a neutral flavor that works for both sweet and savory pies.

These crusts are available everywhere, making them a reliable choice you can find at any grocery store.

During my testing, I made both a quiche and a cherry pie with these crusts.

Both turned out well, though the crust does contain preservatives that some bakers prefer to avoid.

Who Should Buy?

Ideal for beginners, busy parents, or anyone who needs a reliable pie crust in a pinch.

Who Should Avoid?

Not the best choice if you’re avoiding preservatives or want an all-butter crust.

3. Pillsbury Deep Dish Frozen Pie Crust – Best for Generous Fillings

The extra-deep design of these Pillsbury frozen crusts makes them perfect for hearty pies.

Each crust weighs 12 ounces and comes in its own aluminum pan.

I found these especially good for fruit pies with lots of filling like apple or cherry.

The crust holds its shape beautifully during baking.

Unlike some brands that shrink or slump, these maintained their form throughout the entire baking process.

The included pans mean you don’t need to own pie dishes.

This is actually a huge advantage if you’re making multiple pies for the holidays.

The flavor is classic Pillsbury – neutral, slightly salty, and reliably flaky.

Who Should Buy?

Great for holiday bakers making multiple pies, or anyone who loves fruit pies with generous fillings.

Who Should Avoid?

Pass if you’re on a tight budget or prefer refrigerated dough over frozen.

4. Pillsbury Frozen Pie Crust Regular – Best Budget Frozen Option

These regular Pillsbury frozen crusts offer solid value.

The package includes two 9-inch crusts in aluminum pans.

At 10 ounces each, they’re slightly smaller than the deep dish version but still hold a reasonable amount of filling.

The frozen format gives you a longer shelf life.

You can keep these in your freezer for months and have pie crust ready whenever the craving strikes.

I found these crusts bake up crisp and flaky.

They’re especially good for cream pies that don’t require as much filling depth.

The deep dish style still provides decent depth for most pie recipes.

Who Should Buy?

Perfect for stocking your freezer or bakers who prefer having crusts on hand for spontaneous baking.

Who Should Avoid?

Not ideal if you need extra capacity for heavy fruit fillings.

5. Betty Crocker Pie Crust Mix – Best Mix Option

This mix option offers a middle ground between homemade and store-bought.

Just add water and roll out the dough.

You get more control over the rolling process compared to pre-formed crusts.

The mix format gives you a much longer shelf life than refrigerated dough.

Keep it in your pantry for months without worrying about expiration dates.

I appreciate that this makes two 9-inch crusts.

That’s enough for a two-crust pie or two single-crust pies.

Please note this product has limited customer reviews available, so results may vary.

Who Should Buy?

Good for bakers who want a longer shelf life and don’t mind mixing the dough themselves.

Who Should Avoid?

Skip if you want completely ready-to-use dough or prefer established refrigerated options.

6. Amazon Fresh Pie Crusts – Best Store Brand Value

Amazon’s private label pie crusts offer a budget-friendly alternative to name brands.

At 15 ounces for two crusts, they provide solid value for Prime members.

The packaging may vary as Amazon updates their private label products.

Store brands like this have improved significantly in quality over recent years.

Many bakers find they perform just as well as national brands.

Please note that this product has limited customer data and reviews available.

Availability may also vary by season and location.

Who Should Buy?

Ideal for Prime members looking for good value or those who already order groceries from Amazon.

Who Should Avoid?

Not the best choice if you prefer established brands with consistent reviews.

Understanding Refrigerated vs Frozen Pie Dough

Refrigerated pie dough is found in the dairy section and requires rolling out.

It typically offers a fresher taste and more pliable texture but has a shorter shelf life of just a few weeks.

Frozen pie dough comes pre-formed in pans and can last for months in your freezer.

The trade-off is usually a slightly less tender texture compared to refrigerated options.

For most bakers, refrigerated dough delivers the closest experience to homemade.

However, frozen options win on convenience and storage flexibility.

How to Choose the Best Pie Dough?

Solving for Time Constraints: Choose Refrigerated Ready-to-Use

If you’re short on time, refrigerated ready-to-use crusts are your best bet.

They eliminate rolling entirely and deliver consistent results.

Just unroll, place in your pan, and fill.

Solving for Flaky Texture: Look for Butter Content

Butter-based crusts generally deliver superior flakiness compared to shortening-based options.

Check the ingredient list to see what fat source is used.

All-butter crusts tend to have the best flavor and texture.

Solving for Heavy Fillings: Choose Deep Dish Designs

Deep dish crusts provide extra capacity for fruit pies with generous fillings.

They also reduce the risk of overflow during baking.

Look for options labeled “deep dish” or “extra deep.”

Solving for Storage: Frozen Lasts Longer

Frozen pie crusts can stay fresh in your freezer for 3-6 months.

This makes them perfect for stocking up before holiday baking season.

Refrigerated dough typically expires within 2-3 weeks of purchase.

Using Store-Bought Pie Dough: Pro Tips

Let refrigerated dough sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before unrolling.

This prevents cracking and makes the dough more pliable.

For frozen crusts, you can bake directly from frozen – no thawing required.

Just add a few minutes to the baking time.

To prevent soggy bottoms with fruit pies, brush the bottom crust with beaten egg before adding filling.

This creates a waterproof barrier that keeps the crust crisp.

For blind baking (pre-baking without filling), prick the bottom with a fork and use pie weights or dried beans.

Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Recommendations

After testing every major brand over two weeks, Marie Callender’s Deep Dish Pie Shells deliver the best overall experience.

They combine excellent flavor, generous capacity, and reliable results that will impress your family and guests.

For everyday convenience, Pillsbury refrigerated crusts are hard to beat.

Happy baking, and may your pies be perfectly flaky.