Is Pizza Express healthier than Dominos?

Pizza Express uses slightly better ingredient quality in their toppings, but the dough bases are similarly processed (NOVA 4) at both chains. The Leggera range at Pizza Express does offer a genuine calorie reduction by replacing the dough centre with salad. For the healthiest option, a Pizza Express Leggera or salad beats any Domino's pizza.

What is the healthiest pizza at Pizza Express?

The Leggera Margherita at 464 kcal is the lowest-calorie pizza. For the least processing, choose a Leggera with vegetable toppings (no processed meats). The Pollo Salad (380 kcal, NOVA 2) is the healthiest main overall — grilled chicken on fresh salad.

Are Pizza Express Leggera pizzas actually healthy?

Leggera pizzas are genuinely lower in calories (around 30% less than Classic) because the dough centre is replaced with a dressed salad. However, the remaining crust ring still contains the same dough improvers and emulsifiers. 'Lighter' in calories doesn't mean 'less processed' — but the calorie reduction is real.

How many calories are in Pizza Express Dough Balls?

A classic portion of Dough Balls is around 340 kcal. They're deep-fried processed dough with garlic butter — scoring NOVA 4. As a starter before a pizza, you're adding significant processed carbs and calories before the main course arrives.

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Nutritional Information for Pizza Express

Pizza Express positions itself as a step up from takeaway pizza — sit-down dining with a focus on quality ingredients. Their Leggera range is explicitly marketed as a lighter option. But does lighter calories mean lower NOVA score? We analysed the ingredient lists across their core menu to see where the processing markers actually sit.

SpikeSaver analysis — Pizza Express at a glance

1/13

Keto-friendly

1/13

High protein

6/13

Low sugar

1/13

Low glucose impact

Menu items — full analysis

Classic MargheritaDough improvers and emulsifiers in the base

630 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: High

Fat

18g

Carbs

82g

Sugar

Fibre

3.5g

Protein

26g

Net carbs

78.5g

Leggera MargheritaLess dough (salad centre) but same processed crust

464 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: MediumLow Sugar

Fat

14g

Carbs

52g

Sugar

Fibre

Protein

22g

Net carbs

48.0g

American HotPepperoni adds nitrites and preservatives on top of the base

720 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: High

Fat

24g

Carbs

80g

Sugar

Fibre

3.5g

Protein

32g

Net carbs

76.5g

Fiorentina (Classic)Egg and spinach on processed base — mixed NOVA profile

590 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: HighLow Sugar

Fat

20g

Carbs

68g

Sugar

Fibre

Protein

28g

Net carbs

64.0g

Padana (Leggera)Goat's cheese and beetroot — good toppings, processed base

480 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: Medium

Fat

18g

Carbs

48g

Sugar

Fibre

Protein

24g

Net carbs

44.0g

Diavolo (Classic)Spicy nduja and pepperoni — processed meats on processed base

680 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: High

Fat

22g

Carbs

78g

Sugar

Fibre

3.5g

Protein

30g

Net carbs

74.5g

Dough Balls (Classic)Deep-fried processed dough with garlic butter

340 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: MediumLow Sugar

Fat

12g

Carbs

48g

Sugar

Fibre

1.5g

Protein

Net carbs

46.5g

BruschettaToasted bread with fresh tomato — relatively simple

280 kcal

NOVA 3Glucose: MediumLow Sugar

Fat

10g

Carbs

38g

Sugar

Fibre

Protein

Net carbs

36.0g

Pollo SaladGrilled chicken on fresh salad — cleanest main option

380 kcal

NOVA 2Glucose: LowKeto ✓High ProteinLow Sugar

Fat

16g

Carbs

12g

Sugar

Fibre

Protein

42g

Net carbs

9.0g

Caesar SaladCaesar dressing adds emulsifiers; croutons are processed

450 kcal

NOVA 3Glucose: Low-MediumLow Sugar

Fat

28g

Carbs

18g

Sugar

Fibre

2.5g

Protein

24g

Net carbs

15.5g

Penne ArrabiataDried pasta with tomato sauce — moderately processed

550 kcal

NOVA 3Glucose: High

Fat

14g

Carbs

82g

Sugar

Fibre

Protein

18g

Net carbs

77.0g

Tiramisu32g sugar — sponge and cream layers are highly processed

420 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: High

Fat

22g

Carbs

46g

Sugar

32g

Fibre

Protein

Net carbs

45.0g

Gelato (per scoop)Commercial gelato with stabilisers and emulsifiers

180 kcal

NOVA 4Glucose: Medium

Fat

Carbs

24g

Sugar

20g

Fibre

Protein

Net carbs

24.0g

Source: Pizza Express UK published nutrition data · Last reviewed: 2026-04-04

The UPF picture at Pizza Express

Pizza dough is inherently processed — flour, water, yeast, salt, and oil is the basic recipe (NOVA 3). But commercial pizza dough at scale typically adds dough improvers, emulsifiers, and preservatives that push it to NOVA 4. Pizza Express' standard bases follow this pattern.

The Leggera range replaces the central dough with a salad — reducing calories significantly but not addressing the UPF question in the remaining crust. The calorie reduction is real (a Leggera Margherita is around 464 kcal vs 630 kcal for the Classic), but the processing level of the crust itself is unchanged.

Toppings vary widely: mozzarella is NOVA 3 (processed cheese), fresh vegetables are NOVA 1, but processed meats like pepperoni and nduja contain nitrites, flavourings, and preservatives (NOVA 4). The dough balls — a Pizza Express signature — are essentially deep-fried bread dough with garlic butter, scoring NOVA 4.

Lower-UPF ordering guide

Best choices

For the lowest UPF exposure at Pizza Express: the Leggera range is genuinely the better choice — not because it's less processed, but because you're eating less processed dough overall (the centre is replaced with salad). Choose vegetable toppings over processed meats. A Leggera Margherita with added vegetables is the cleanest pizza option.

Avoid the Dough Balls (deep-fried processed dough) and creamy pasta dishes which tend to use processed sauces. The salads are the cleanest menu section — a Pollo Salad with grilled chicken is largely NOVA 1-2 ingredients. For dessert, skip the Chocolate Fudge Cake and opt for the Gelato if you must — fewer processing markers.

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