The Best Store Bought Pumpkin Pie for an Easy Thanksgiving Dessert

The best store bought pumpkin pie was harder to find than I thought it would be. Great pumpkin pie should have a flaky, buttery crust and a pumpkin/gourd-based filling that’s spiced (but not, like, craft store spiced) and sweet. And that filling should hold together. It shouldn’t gloop into a puddle the second you cut a slice. 

A good number of the pumpkin pies we tasted didn’t check those boxes. But a few did. Thankfully. And, after our most recent taste test, I’m happy to say we found a new number one best store bought pumpkin pie that really smashed it. You could call it a smashing pumpkin pie. You don’t have to. But you could. So, you can put down the rolling pin—the best store bought pumpkin pie does exist. 

I love pumpkin pie. It’s really the one pie about which I am truly passionate. So, every year, I get excited to go to town on a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving (which never seems to be an issue because for some reason I’m the only person who ever wants pumpkin pie in the first place). But I do not make pumpkin pie. And neither should you. You have enough to do (but if you insist, we did find the best canned pumpkin). Instead, just check out our ranking of the best grocery store pumpkin pie (which includes frozen pumpkin pie, and even a shockingly good sugar free pumpkin pie) for the best pumpkin pie to buy for Thanksgiving, friendsgiving, or just bringing to work and eating at your desk like a boss. (And if you’re looking for the best pumpkin cheesecake, we found that, too.)

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Best Not-So-Sweet Frozen

Marie Callender’s Pumpkin Pie

Instacart

Both Marie Callender’s and Sara Lee make the best frozen pumpkin pie—but they’re two very different pies for very different people. Marie Callender’s frozen pumpkin pie has a very squashy flavor and isn’t too sweet at all. It’s heavy on the pumpkin pie spice, too—you gotta love nutmeg. The crust is buttery and it has this wonderful salty flavor that contrasts so well with the filling. It is definitely a looser pie, though. I definitely recommend popping it in the fridge after baking (yes, you do need to bake it) or else you risk slices that won’t hold their form.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Sweet Frozen

Sara Lee Pumpkin Pie

Vons

If you like a sweeter pumpkin pie, then Sara Lee’s frozen pumpkin pie is the best pumpkin pie to buy. It’s still pumpkin-y, but there’s definitely more sugar in the mix, as well as more vanilla. It’s also much firmer than Marie Callender’s frozen pumpkin pie. You can cut a slice straight out of the oven and it really stays together. The crust is crumbly and buttery and sweet—no noticeable salt in this pie crust.

Credit: Merc / Vons

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

 Best Sugar Free

Bakery Fresh Goodness Sugar Free

Ralphs

The second best store bought pumpkin pie is a sugar free pumpkin pie! I thought this would actually be super duper sweet because typically “sugar free” means filled with artificial sweeteners instead. But this Kroger brand sugar free pumpkin pie tastes more like a homemade pumpkin pie than any of the others. It’s really pumpkin forward. The crust is very tender and chewy. And it would be great with some whipped cream (go ahead and buy some canned whipped cream) or even a scoop of pumpkin ice cream. If you have a Kroger or Kroger-owned store near you, this is some of the best grocery store pumpkin pie around.

Credit: Merc / Ralphs

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Pie

Instacart

The celebrated Costco pumpkin pie is a coveted seasonal item for a reason. It’s absolutely massive, it’s ready to eat, and it’s only $6. Seriously, it’s the size of a tire. And it actually tastes pretty darn good. It’s really heavy on the pumpkin flavor—not too sweet at all. And the texture is firm. It doesn’t collapse into a pool when you cut a slice. The crust is crumbly and buttery with just a touch of salt. It’s a great vehicle for whipped cream or vanilla ice cream since the pie itself is so squashy it’s almost savory. This is definitely the best store bought pumpkin pie for a crowd and the best pumpkin pie to buy, period.  

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Other pumpkin pies we tried: Aldi Bake Shop, Sprouts, Freshness Guaranteed, Bakery Fresh Goodness