I Asked 4 Experts To Name the Best Store-Bought Pumpkin Pie—They All Said the Same Thing

This is the only pumpkin pie worthy of your Thanksgiving table.

Whether you’re a pumpkin or an apple pie person for Thanksgiving, there’s only one right answer: pumpkin pie. Pumpkin is the flavor of fall, with PSLs to sip, breads, muffins, and bars to bake, and candles and body washes to scent the season with.

While there are endless no-fuss pumpkin pie recipes out there, some years there isn’t enough time to whip up one from scratch. Of course, store-bought will never match grandma’s homemade, hot-from-the-oven version (though this store-bought one is grandma-approved), but packed with pumpkin, lightly spiced, and featuring a flaky crust, this brand's pie still steals the show.

Which brand is worthy of your Thanksgiving table? Every pro I asked gave me the same answer. 

The Pro Bakers and Recipe Developers I Asked

• Sarah Bond: (@liveeatlearn) Nutritionist and food scientist who shows followers how to make easy vegetarian recipes on her food blog, Live Eat Learn
• Meghan Splawn: (@meghan_splawn) Food editor who opted for a baking and pastry degree (rather than a culinary one) to understand the science of cooking better—she's currently baking a cake a week in 2024
• Rena Awada: (@healthyfitnessmeals) Recipe developer and food blogger for Healthy Fitness Meals
• Helen Jaworski: My grandmother and expert pie maker for over 60 years

Marie Callender’s Pumpkin Pie

• Price: Varies by retailer
• Why the Experts Love It: This pie tastes homemade, is the perfect texture, and is easy to upgrade to give it a special touch

The Best Storebought Pumpkin Pie, According to Experts

Splawn says, “I love baking pumpkin pie at home, but when I've been traveling for the holidays or need a pie in a pinch, Marie Callender's Frozen Pumpkin Pie is the only one I ever buy. The textures and flavors are exactly what you're looking for in a pumpkin pie, and it’s pretty easy to dress up with whipped cream or candied pecans.”

After making Thanksgiving dinner for over 60 years, my grandmother Helen was hesitant to admit that she had ever served store-bought pie. However, after some prodding, she confessed that Marie Callender’s Frozen Pumpkin Pie was the closest she had ever tasted to the real deal. “When I started working at the Royal Alec as a nurse in 1956, they served fresh pie every Friday. If you bake the Marie Callender pumpkin pie and then whip up some cream, it’s as close to that as if the hospital's kitchen sisters had baked it for you!”

Awada adds, “Marie Callender makes my absolute favorite store-bought pie. I’ve tried so many different store-bought pies, and they all fade in comparison. Even though I always encourage everyone to make homemade dishes and desserts when possible, sometimes we just don’t have enough time in the day.”

The frozen version makes all the difference—both in flavor and convenience. Bond shared that since the brand is available at Costco, she stocks up on a few pies and tucks them away in the freezer before the Thanksgiving rush.

While this pie is creamy and comforting on its own, Bond suggested an upgrade to elevate the dish and make it even more appealing for the holiday table.

She says, “No one will ever guess it’s a frozen pie if you add a brûlée topping! Sprinkle an even layer of granulated sugar (about two to three tablespoons) over the surface of the pie after it’s baked and cooled. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until it turns golden brown and forms a crispy, glass-like crust (or place the pie under a broiler for a minute or two, keeping a close eye to prevent burning).”

As Thanksgiving approaches, check one item off your ever-growing to-do list: grab a frozen pumpkin pie (or two). With grandma’s approval and creamy rich flavors, this pie is a stress-free way to impress your guests. I promise I won’t tell anyone if you pass it off as your own.

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