How Many Calories Are in a Slice of Cheese Pizza?

There's no debating it: Cheese pizza is delicious. The calories in a slice of pizza, however, aren't quite as mouth-watering to think about. That's because most pizza nutrition facts are anything but healthy — even with just cheese toppings.

To state that the number of calories in a slice of pizza is identical across the board would be a disservice to you, the reader. So bear with us as we discuss not one, not two, but five popular pizza brands, to uncover the number of calories in a piece of cheese pizza.

Let's start with Domino's. According to the brand's cal-o-meter, one slice from a medium hand-tossed cheese pizza (one-eighth of the pie) comprises 200 calories, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 9 grams of protein and 20 milligrams of cholesterol. With thin crust, you're looking at 290 calories, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 12 grams of protein and 35 milligrams of cholesterol for one-quarter of the pie.

According to Pizza Hut's nutritional information, one slice from a medium hand-tossed cheese pizza (one-eighth of the pie) contains 220 calories, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 10 grams of protein and 25 milligrams of cholesterol. If you opt for a Thin 'N Crispy crust, you're looking at 190 calories, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 9 grams of protein and 25 milligrams of cholesterol for one-eighth of the pie.

Then there's Papa John's. A medium slice of original crust cheese pizza (one-eighth of the pie) consists of 210 calories, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 8 grams of protein and 20 milligrams of cholesterol. A slice of thin crust contains 215 calories, 20 grams of carbs, 10.5 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 8 grams of protein and 25 milligrams of cholesterol for one-eighth of a large 14-inch pizza, as that's the only size their thin crust is available in, according to the calculator.

It's not delivery, it's Digiorno. And, while this option might seem like a better choice, one slice from a rising crust four cheese pizza (one-sixth of the pie) comprises 290 calories, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 14 grams of protein and 25 milligrams of cholesterol. If you opt for a classic thin crust, you're looking at 290 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 12 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 15 grams of protein and 30 milligrams of cholesterol, for one-fifth of the pizza.

Last but not least, let's look at Red Baron. One-fourth of a classic crust four cheese pizza contains 380 calories, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 17 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 16 grams of protein and 45 milligrams of cholesterol. If, instead, you choose a thin and crispy crust, one-third of the pizza contains 350 calories, 38 grams of carbohydrates, 16 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 13 grams of protein and 25 milligrams of cholesterol.

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In order to understand pizza nutrition facts, it's important to consider the daily recommended dosages of each nutrient. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, female adults should be consuming between 1,600 and 2,000 calories a day, whereas males should be eating between 2,000 and 3,000. Of those calories, carbohydrates should account for between 45 and 65 percent, fats should account for 20 to 35 percent and proteins should make up the remaining 10 to 35 percent.

What's more, the guidelines recommend that adults ages 19 and older consume no more than 130 grams of carbohydrates a day to maintain optimal health. Again, considering that most people eat a couple (if not a few) slices of pizza in one sitting, it's easy for those carbohydrates (and calories) to add up.

Then there's the cholesterol angle. While there is no set recommendation for cholesterol in the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the authors suggest consuming no more than 300 milligrams per day. Since a single slice of cheese pizza has between 25 and 45 milligrams of cholesterol, this is another nutrient that adds up fast — not to mention one of the most concerning, since, according to MedLinePlus, high cholesterol foods are associated with obesity, heart disease and more.

The same is true for saturated fat. According to MedLinePlus, saturated fats should make up no more than 7 percent of your daily calories, which comes out to about 16 to 22 grams per day. That's because diets high in saturated fats are linked to a risk of heart disease and weight gain.

As much as you might love pizza, even plain cheese slices can wreak havoc on your health if consumed regularly. That said, do your best to save this savory dish for special occasions, and to look for ways to create your own at home with healthier, fresher ingredients.

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