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Pizza Muffins – a playful spin on traditional pizza, with all the deliciousness of traditional pizza tucked neatly into muffin-sized packages. Instead of the wide expanse of dough, sauce, and toppings we’re all familiar with, imagine compact, handheld ooey-gooey pizza bites. These pizza muffins are more than just a novelty; they’re a statement in creativity and convenience, combining the flavor of pizza in the form of a muffin.
Table of Contents
- Why you’ll love these Pizza Muffin Cups
- Ingredients to make Pizza muffins
- How to make Pizza muffins with pizza dough
- Tips for making the best pizza muffin cups
- Popular substitutions & additions
- What to serve with pizza muffins
- How to Store & Reheat Pizza Muffins
- Frequently asked questions
- More pizza recipes:
- Pizza Muffins Recipe
These pizza muffin cups are perfect for parties, quick snacks, or just those moments when you crave pizza but want something a bit different. With all the essential ingredients of a slice wrapped up in an easily portable form, they offer both nostalgia and novelty. And with customization at your fingertips, you can easily make these pizza muffins uniquely yours.
Why you’ll love these Pizza Muffin Cups
- Fewer Utensils, Less Cleanup: Using a muffin tin means you’re not juggling multiple trays or pizza stones, making post-dinner cleaning a breeze.
- Freezer-Friendly: Make a big batch, and you’ve got a ready-to-go snack or meal for another day.
- Soft Inside, Crispy Outside: Cooking the pizza dough balls in a muffin tin method creates a contrast in textures, with a gooey cheese-filled center and a perfectly golden exterior.
- Perfect for Stuffed Crust Lovers: Every bite is packed with gooey cheese, just like your favorite part of a stuffed crust pizza.
- No Soggy Bottoms: The muffin tin ensures even heating, so you get that ideal crisp base every time.
Ingredients to make Pizza muffins
- Prepared Pizza Dough: This forms the base for our muffins. Opt for your favorite store-bought dough or, if you’re feeling crafty, make your own pizza dough from scratch.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Split into two uses, this cheese provides that delightful melted center and a golden, bubbly top. Mozzarella is the classic choice, but you can always branch out and try other melt-friendly cheeses.
- Italian Seasoning: A mix of classic herbs that give our muffins that traditional pizza flavor. It subtly seasons the cheese inside each muffin.
- Pizza Sauce: Every pizza needs a good sauce, and these muffins are no exception. Whether you use homemade marinara or store-bought, a dollop on top elevates each bite.
- Sliced Black Olives: These add a touch of brininess, breaking up the rich flavors of the cheese and sauce. However, if olives aren’t your thing, feel free to customize them with your favorite toppings.
How to make Pizza muffins with pizza dough
This recipe is really easy to make, especially if you use store bought dough. The hardest part is waiting for your pizza muffins to cook!
Stuff and prepare the pizza dough for baking
- Divide the prepared pizza dough into equal portions.
- Take one portion of pizza dough and flatten it into a circle. Place some of the mozzarella cheese in the center of the dough and season with some of the Italian seasoning.
- Pull the edges of the dough up and around the cheese, pinching to seal and form a ball.
- Place the filled dough ball into one of the muffin cups. Repeat this process for the remaining dough, cheese, and seasoning. Spoon a small amount of pizza sauce over the top of each dough ball.
Bake pizza muffins
- Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese on top of each pizza muffin and add the black olives.
- Bake until the pizza muffins are golden brown on top and the dough is fully cooked.
Tips for making the best pizza muffin cups
- Spray the muffin tin. I use avocado oil spray before adding the dough balls into the muffin trays, and it makes it so easy to lift them from the tray without anything caking on. Make sure it’s also a non-stick muffin tin.
- Use room-temperature dough. Let your pizza dough sit at room temperature for around 20 minutes. It’ll be more pliable, making it easier to work with.
- Avoid overfilling the dough. Ensure that you don’t overstuff the dough. Too much filling can cause the muffins to burst open during baking.
- Watch the oven. Oven temperatures can vary. Keep an eye on your pizza muffins, especially during the last few minutes of baking, to avoid over-browning.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Make your own pizza dough. This recipe makes 2 pounds of dough and it comes together so quickly with just an hour or resting time. I like to use 1 pound of the dough to make the pizza muffins and save the remaining pound for a Cast Iron Pizza or Sheet Pan Pizza later on in the week.
- Add veggies inside the pizza muffins. I’ve made a version before with chopped green peppers, red onions and olives inside and they’re a great way to pack in veggies for lunch.
- Use different cheeses. Why limit yourself to mozzarella? You can experiment with other cheeses. Think feta for a tangy surprise or a sprinkle of parmesan for an added depth of flavor.
- Add fresh herbs. Consider mixing some fresh basil, oregano, or parsley into your dough or sprinkle on top for an extra layer of aroma and taste.
What to serve with pizza muffins
- Pizza or marinara sauce
- Classic Caesar Salad
- Fresh Garden Salad
How to Store & Reheat Pizza Muffins
Storing: Once your pizza muffins have cooled down, place them in an airtight container, ensuring they’re spaced out to prevent them from sticking together. Store in the refrigerator.
Reheating: When you’re ready to enjoy them again, preheat your oven or toaster oven to 350°F. Place the pizza muffins on a baking sheet and warm them up for about 5-7 minutes, or until they’re heated through and the cheese gets melty again. Avoid using the microwave as it might make the crust a bit chewy.
How Long Will Pizza Muffins Last in the Fridge?
Your pizza muffins will stay fresh and delicious in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container.
Can I Freeze Pizza Muffins?
Absolutely! If you want to extend their shelf life, you can freeze these. Once they’ve cooled completely, place them on a baking sheet and freeze until they’re solid, usually about an hour or so. Transfer them into a freezer bag or airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper if needed, and store them in the freezer. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. When you’re in the mood for a pizza muffin, just reheat them directly from the freezer following the above reheating instructions, adding a few extra minutes to ensure they’re heated through.
Frequently asked questions
The key is even distribution of heat. Make sure your oven is properly preheated, and if you’re unsure, you can always insert a toothpick into the doughy part of the muffin. If it comes out clean, they’re done!
Certainly. You can prepare the stuffed dough balls a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator. When you’re ready, just add the sauce, cheese, toppings, and bake as directed.
Positioning your muffin tin on the middle rack of the oven can help. Also, make sure to check them a couple of minutes before the suggested baking time to gauge their progress. Every oven can vary slightly in temperature.
These pizza muffins bring a playful twist to a classic pizza night. Simple ingredients combined in an inventive way mean you get all the comforting flavors of pizza in a bite-sized snack. Whether you’re cooking for curious kids or just looking for a twist on your weekly pizza ritual, give these a go. After trying them out, you might just find yourself making a batch whenever the pizza craving strikes.
More pizza recipes:
- Pizzadillas
- Cast Iron Pizza
- Grilled Pizza
- Sheet Pan Pizza
- Broccoli Pizza Crust
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Eggplant Pizza
- DIY Pizza Lunchable
- Upside Down Pizza
- Pesto Flatbread Pizza
If you try this feel good Pizza Muffins recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
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Pizza Muffins
Ingredients
- Avocado oil cooking spray
- 1 pound prepared pizza dough
- 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 2 tablespoons sliced black olives
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin with avocado oil spray.
- Divide the prepared pizza dough into 12 equal portions. Take one portion of pizza dough and flatten it into a circle. Place one tablespoon of the mozzarella cheese in the center of the dough and season with some of the Italian seasoning. Pull the edges of the dough up and around the cheese, pinching to seal and form a ball.
- Place the filled dough ball into one of the muffin cups. Repeat this process for the remaining dough, cheese and seasoning.
- Spoon a small amount of pizza sauce over the top of each dough ball, sprinkle with the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese on top and add the black olives.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the pizza muffins are golden brown on top and the dough is fully cooked. Allow the pizza muffins to cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
