Eating at Little Caesars When Bulking (6 Bodybuilding Meals)

When you think of what restaurants would provide high protein meal options for bodybuilders, Little Caesars doesn’t come to mind. However, they have many high protein options that make for great meal choices.

One quick note though: I wouldn’t necessarily recommend eating at Little Caesars pre or post-workout as the fat in the pizzas is more than what is optimal. I’ll provide more thoughts on this later, but as long as your meal is on a rest day or not around a workout, there are many great bulking meals to enjoy.

So what should you eat at Little Caesars when bulking? If you are looking for a bulking meal with less than 900 calories at Little Caesars, I recommend two slices of pizza with smoked ham as one of the toppings. For a meal higher than 900 calories, increase the number of slices to 3 – 4.  

In this article, I will provide:

• 6 meal options for what to eat at Little Caesars when bulking

• My top 4 tips for eating at Little Caesars both before and after your workout

Check Out Our Complete Guide On The Best Bodybuilding Fast Food

What To Eat at Little Caesars If You’re A Bodybuilder: 6 Meal Options  

Six meal options to order at Little Caesars when bodybuilding or bulking are:

1. 550 Calorie Little Caesars Bulking Meal Plan 

• Order a large thin crust cheese pizza
• Add smokey ham as an additional topping
• Eat 2 slices as your meal

This meal has 534 calories, 31g protein (23%), 38g carbohydrates (37%) and 29g fat (48%).

Opting for a thin crust cheese pizza helps to reduce the carbs in your meal. A thin crust still has plenty of carbs to keep you energized but frees up calories that can be filled with protein and fat to create a more macronutrient balanced meal. 

Adding smokey ham to your pizza increases the protein, providing a higher protein meal option. When bulking, getting enough protein throughout the day is important so your body can recover and repair muscles after your workout. This process is what results in increased strength and muscle mass which is the key objective when bulking. 

The cheese on the pizza provides fat to the meal, adding more calories without too much physical volume. When bulking, this can be helpful so you aren’t feeling as physically full when eating a high-calorie diet. Think of peanut butter where a spoonful can be hundreds of calories. 

Customizations for increased calories

• Adding a dipping sauce for your pizza adds up to 370 additional calories. The dipping sauces that have the most calories per serving are butter garlic (370 calories), ranch (200 calories) and buffalo ranch (200 calories).

Options For Pre & Post Workout

This meal is not an optimal option for pre or post-workout since it’s quite high in fat. This will leave you feeling less energized during your workout and provide less recovery post-workout.

If you are in a pinch and ordering this meal around a workout, order your pizza with light cheese and make sure to skip any dipping sauce. 

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2. 700 Calorie Little Caesars Bulking Meal Plan

• Order an Italian sausage pizza 
• Add smokey ham as an additional topping
• Eat 2 slices for your meal

This meal has 709 calories, 39g protein (22%), 64g carbohydrates (36%) and 33g fat (42%).

The Italian sausage and ham on the pizza provide a higher protein and high-fat pizza option. Protein is critical to consume at every meal when bulking so that your muscles have what they need to repair and grow after a workout. Fat adds calories that are lower in volume than other macronutrients, keeping you from feeling too physically full.

The pizza dough provides a higher carb meal option which will provide you with plenty of energy throughout your day. Carbs are higher in volume compared to fat, which may be challenging when bulking and eating a high-calorie diet.

Given the meal is a moderate 700 calories, this is not as likely to be an issue, however, if it is for you, simply save the remainder of the pizza for when you are hungry again. Carbs are quick to digest so you will be hungry likely in around 2 – 3 hours. 

Customizations for increased calories

• Ordering a dipping sauce for your pizza can add up to 370 calories to your meal, primarily from fat. I suggest opting for the sauces with the most calories which are butter garlic at 370 calories per serving and ranch or buffalo ranch at 200 calories.

Options For Pre & Post Workout

This meal is too high in fat to be an optimal option for pre or post-workout. However, it is a better option for after a workout if you are going to eat it for one of those meals. 

If you are eating this around a workout, I recommend ordering it with light cheese and not adding any additional dipping sauces. This will reduce the fat in your meal, allowing you to feel the most energized for your workout.

3. 900 Calorie Little Caesars Bulking Meal Plan 

• Order a pepperoni thin crust pizza 
• Add smokey ham as an additional topping
• Eat 3 slices of pizza for your meal

This meal has 878 calories, 46g protein (21%), 57g carbohydrates (26%) and 52g fat (53%).

The pepperoni and cheese on the pizza make this a high-fat meal option. Higher fat meals are helpful when bulking as fat is much lower in volume compared to protein and carbs. When you are eating a high-calorie diet, this can help to prevent you from feeling too physically full after you eat. 

The higher fat combined with the lower carbs from the thin crust make this meal a very low volume option. This would be particularly good for anyone that struggles with feeling full when bulking. If on the other hand, you tend to always feel hungry, another meal option may be better for you. 

Customizations for increased calories

• Getting a dipping sauce with your pizza can add up to 370 calories. The dipping sauce with the most calories is butter garlic (370 calories) and ranch/buffalo ranch (200 calories). Add multiple servings of the dip to further increase the meal’s calories.

Options For Pre & Post Workout

This meal is too high in fat to be optimal for either a pre or post-workout meal. I recommend opting for a lower calorie meal plan. It’s still a great option for a bodybuilding meal if it’s not around your workout or on a rest day.

4. 1,000 Calorie Little Caesars Bulking Meal Plan

• Order a large supreme pizza  
• Add smokey ham as an additional topping
• Eat 3 slices as your meal 

This meal has 971 calories, 53g protein (22%), 98g carbohydrates (40%) and 41g fat (38%).

Adding the smokey ham to your pizza will boost the protein without adding a significant amount of additional fat. When increasing your calories, it’s always important to ensure you are also increasing protein. This will help you to get enough protein for your body to recover enough to increase your muscle mass and strength.

While fat is great to include in your meal as a low volume calorie booster, adding too much is likely to cause digestive discomfort. Since the cheese and pepperoni provide plenty of fat, adding a lower fat meat option such as smokey ham is the best option.

The regular pizza dough provides a high carb meal option. Carbs are higher in volume when compared to fat, which may give you more of a physically full feeling when bulking. If you are finding this is the case, save the remainder of the sandwich for when you are hungry again. Carbs are fast-digesting so you are likely to find you are hungry again within 2 – 3 hours.

Customizations for increased calories

• Opting for a dipping sauce with your pizza will boost your meal’s calories. I recommend adding either butter garlic or ranch/buffalo ranch as these will add 370 or 200 calories respectively. 

Options For Pre & Post Workout

This meal is too high in calories and fat to make for an optimal meal both pre or post-workout. I recommend selecting a lower calorie meal plan instead. A meal this high in calories will result in a lethargic feeling and may cause digestive discomfort, neither of which is likely to lead to a strong workout.

5. 1,250 Calorie Little Caesars Bulking Meal Plan 

• Order a deep dish cheese pizza
• Add green peppers and onions as additional toppings
• Eat 4 slices for your meal

This meal has 1,253 calories, 59g protein (20%), 159g carbohydrates (50%) and 43g fat (31%).

The deep-dish pizzas at Little Caesars provide a higher carb option compared to a traditional pizza crust. This high carb meal will give you plenty of energy making it a great meal option for earlier in the day. 

Carbs are usually higher in volume compared to fat so you may find that this meal is quite physically large. If that’s the case and you are feeling full, I recommend splitting the pizza into two smaller meals. Carbs are quick digesting so you’ll likely be hungry within 2 – 3 hours. 

Customizations for increased calories

• Adding a dipping sauce to your meal can also help to boost the calories, also primarily from fat. The two highest calorie dipping sauces are garlic butter (370 calories) and ranch/ buffalo ranch (200 calories).

Options For Pre & Post Workout

I do not recommend eating this meal before or after a workout as it is too high in both fat and calories. By eating a meal this high in calories you are likely to feel the sleepy ‘food coma’ many experiences after a large Thanksgiving dinner. A lower calories meal plan would make for a better option.

6. 1,400 Calorie Little Caesars Bulking Meal Plan 

• Order an Italian sausage pizza
• Add smokey ham as an additional topping
• Eat 4 slices as your meal

This meal has 1,418 calories, 78g protein (22%), 127g carbohydrates (36%) and 67g fat (42%).

The Italian sausage pizza is a higher protein pizza option and the smokey ham adds additional protein. Ensuring your meals have sufficient protein when bulking provides your body with the tools it needs to build muscle and increase strength. 

The pizza also provides plenty of fat from the Italian sausage and the cheese. When eating a meal this high in calories, getting plenty of fat will ensure the physical volume of the meal does not become too much to eat in one sitting. The fat is in a good ratio with the other macronutrients so you are not likely to feel any digestive discomfort either.

Customizations for increased calories

• Adding a dipping sauce with your pizza is an easy, low volume way to add more calories to your meal. Garlic butter and ranch/ buffalo ranch are the highest calorie options at 370 and 200 calories per serving respectively. 

Options For Pre & Post Workout

If you are eating this meal before or after a workout, I recommend choosing a lower-calorie meal plan instead. Eating a meal this high in calories will leave you feeling lethargic and is likely to cause digestive discomfort. Neither of these will leave you ready to perform well during a workout or recover post-workout. 

Tips for Eating at Little Caesars Before a Workout

Your pre-workout meal can drastically impact your ability to perform at your best during a workout. Opting for a meal that is high in carbs and low in fat will provide you with the energy you need to push through a heavy workout and perform at your best.

Should you eat at Little Caesars before a workout? If you are looking for an optimal pre-workout meal, you shouldn’t eat at Little Caesars before a workout as the fat is too high. If you are in a pinch, 2 pieces of a traditional cheese pizza with smokey ham as an additional topping is the best option. 

• Read more in my article Can You Eat Fried Food Before And After Workouts?

3 Tips for How to Eat at Little Caesars Before a Workout

My top 3 tips for how to eat at Little Caesars before a workout are:

1. Order a regular pizza 

Before a workout, the focus is to eat a high carb meal as the carbs will provide the quickest source of energy. By opting for a high carb meal, you are likely to find yourself feeling energized and able to perform better and for longer even during intense workouts. 

I recommend including at least two servings of carbs at this meal, with a serving size being about the size of a closed fist. At Little Caesars, the pizza crust in a regular pizza provides a great high carb option.

I recommend ensuring that you are eating this meal within 1 – 2 hours of your workout. 

2. Add smokey ham as an additional topping

In addition to carbs, it’s also important to limit the fat in your pre-workout meal. Fat makes it more difficult and time-consuming for your body to break down and use the carbs we just ate for energy. If you eat fat before a workout you are likely to notice you have less energy throughout your workout and you don’t have a good session.

At Little Caesars, smokey ham is the leanest protein option to add to your pizza and therefore my recommendation to consume before your workout.

3. Skip any extra meat toppings

At Little Caesars, most meat pizza toppings such as pepperoni, bacon and sausage are all high in fat. Around our workout, limiting the fat is important so skipping these toppings is recommended. Fat will reduce the energy your body has immediately available for your workout leaving you less energized. 

4. Opt for no dipping sauces 

In addition to meat toppings, another common source of fat at Little Caesars is dipping sauces. All dipping sauces at Little Caesars are high in fat so I recommend skipping them before a workout.

Tips for Eating at Little Caesars After a Workout

Your post-workout meal is responsible for the recovery and repair process, making it an important consideration to maximize muscle growth. Adequate recovery after your workout is what will lead to increased strength and muscular growth so prioritizing this meal will help you to reach your goals when bulking.

Should you eat at Little Caesars before a workout? If you are looking for an optimal post-workout meal, you shouldn’t eat at Little Caesars as the fat is too high compared to the carbs and protein for recovery. If you are in a pinch, 3 pieces of cheese pizza with smokey ham as an additional topping is the best option. 

4 Tips for How to Eat at Little Caesars After a Workout

My top 4 tips for how to eat at Little Caesars after a workout are:

1. Order a regular pizza

Throughout your workout, your body will burn through the fuel it has stored to provide you with the energy you need. Once these stores are depleted after your workout, it’s important to replenish them to kick off the process of repairing and growing your muscles. 

The best way to accomplish this is to eat a high carb meal, which generally contains 2 or more servings of carbs. The best way to approximate a serving is to use a closed fist as about one serving. At Little Caesars, the pizza crust in a regular pizza is the best high carb option.

I recommend eating this meal within 1 – 1.5 hours after finishing your workout. 

2. Add smokey ham to your pizza

Protein is what your body uses to repair your muscles making it important to consume during your post-workout meal as well. The process of damaging muscles during a workout and repairing them post-workout is what will ultimately lead to increased strength and muscle growth that is desired when bulking. 

To maximize our body’s ability to quickly digest and absorb the carbs and protein we eat, also limiting the fat post-workout is important. When we eat fat with a meal, we will slow down the digestion process, also, in turn, delaying the muscle repair process. 

At Little Caesars, the leanest meat option that provides sufficient protein is smokey ham.

3. Add any desired veggie toppings

Most meat toppings at Little Caesars are high in fat, something we want to limit post-workout. However, veggies offer a great alternative for toppings. Not only do they not add additional fat but they also help boost the carbs in your meal too. Any combination of veggie toppings is recommended to fit your taste preferences. 

4. Skip the dipping sauces

After a workout, reducing the fat consumed is important so digestion can continue to quickly break down and absorb the carbs and protein it needs to repair and grow our muscles. 

I like to think of it like carbs and protein are cars on a highway, heading towards their end destination of our muscles. Fat is the drivers on the road that are travelling below the speed limit, slowing down how quickly they can get to their destination. 

At Little Caesars, pizza already has plenty of fat from the cheese so it’s important to skip the dipping sauces which are all also high in fat. These are better suited to meals that are not around a workout.

• Related Article: 13 Best Low Sodium Store-Bought Pizza & Pizza Crusts

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions for eating at Little Caesars if you workout. 

Will Eating at Little Caesars Ruin My Gains?

No, eating at Little Caesars will not ruin your gains. To maintain muscle mass, the most important factor is eating sufficient protein during the day. At Little Caesars, smokey ham can be added to any pizza as an additional topping, creating a high protein meal that makes it possible to maintain your gains.

Can I Eat at Little Caesars and Still Gain Muscle?

Yes, you can eat at Little Caesars and still gain muscle. To gain muscle, you need to be eating enough protein after your workout so your muscles have what they need to repair and grow. Adding smokey ham as an additional topping to your pizza creates a meal high in protein ensuring you have enough protein to make it possible to gain muscle.

What Meal at Little Caesars has the Most Protein?

The meal at Little Caesars with the most protein is the deep dish 5 meat feast pizza. This pizza has 3,500 calories, 171g of protein, 322g of carbohydrates and 172g of fat.

What Meal at Little Caesars has the Most Calories?

The meal at Little Caesars with the most calories is the deep dish 5 meat feast pizza. This pizza has 3,500 calories, 171g of protein, 322g of carbohydrates and 172g of fat.

Which Meal at Little Caesars has the Least Calories

The meal at Little Caesars that has the least calories is the oven roasted wings. This meal has 510 calories, 27g of protein, 3g of carbohydrates and 35g of fat.

More Fast Food Meal Plans

Check out our other bulking and cutting meal plans from popular fast-food restaurants:

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• Eating at Domino’s When Bulking (6 Bodybuilding Meals)