How to Make Pizza Muffin Bites
by Alina Orozco
This pizza muffin bites recipe is made in a cupcake or muffin tin and uses store bought pizza dough, marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. That’s it. Truly, the easiest and the most delicious appetizer idea you can serve anytime.
Why Pizza Muffin Bites Are the Perfect Appetizer
These easy pizza muffins are the perfect appetizer because they are loved by adults as much as kids.
Serve them at your children’s party. Make them as a toddler snack, or even pack them for lunch for the little ones.
Customize them for adults, by adding pepperoni or other pizza toppings you like.
These mini pizza bites are the best party finger foods.
Serve them at your super bowl party or make them as an anytime snack.
What you need to make mini pizza bites in muffin pan
- ready to bake pizza dough (refrigerated section) *
- marinara sauce
- mozzarella slices or balls
- flour
- shredded cheese (optional)
- fresh basil leaves ( optional)
*crescent rolls or Pillsbury biscuits could also work.
Don’t forget the non-stick cupcake pan.
How to Make the Pizza Bites in a Muffin or Cupcake Tin
1.Take out the dough out of the plastic and let it rest for 20 minutes at room temperature.
2. Meanwhile turn on the oven to 425 degrees.
3. Sprinkle your working station with a little bit of flour and roll the dough into a long log.
4. Cut the dough into 12 even sections. Roll each section into a small circle.
5. Carefully place the dough circles inside each muffin cup. *
6. Add the mozzarella ball to each muffin cup.
7. Spoon 1/2 tablespoon of marinara sauce over each muffin.
8. Place in the over for 10 minutes.
9. Take out the muffins, sprinkle each with cheese and place back in the oven for another 2 minutes.
*If using a non-stick muffin pan you do not need to spray the pan before use. Spray the pan with oil or butter if your muffin pan is not non stick.
Tips for How to Make These Pizza Bites Even More Delicious
- I buy the ready to bake dough ( in the refrigerator section of the store) you could also use Pillsbury or Crescent rolls.
- I made this recipe with other mozzarella and it turns out well, but I really love the marinated mozzarella balls for extra gooey bites.
- And, the mozzarella marinated balls are easy to handle and are a perfect size to just pop in for this pizza muffin bites recipe.
- I use the shredded cheese to top the muffins for an added cheesy crunch on top. But you could skip it and they would be just as delicious.
- Fresh basil also helps elevate this simple appetizer.
- You can also add pepperoni or mushrooms and peppers or any of your favorite pizza toppings to this recipe.
How Do You Cook Pizza Bites in the Oven?
If you don’t want to use pizza dough you could also make crescent roll mini muffins or you could do pizza muffins with pillsbury biscuits.
The concept is the same, except you would need to follow the directions for cooking on the respective labels. So, if the crescent rolls label requires 375 degree oven and cooking time of 18-20 minutes I recommend following that direction.
For the ready to bake dough the pizza bites will be ready in 10 minutes at 425 degrees.
Pizza Muffin Bites
Ingredients
- 1 Trader Joe's ready to bake pizza dough (refrigerated section) *crescent rolls or Pillsbury biscuits could also work.
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 12 small mozzarella balls or slivers of fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup cup flour
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese (optional)2-3 fresh basil leaves ( optional)
- 2-3 fresh basil leaves ( optional)
Instructions
- Take out the dough out of the plastic and let it rest for 20 minutes at room temperature.
- Meanwhile turn on the oven to 425 degrees.
- Sprinkle your working station with a little bit of flour and roll the dough into a long log. Cut the dough into 12 even sections. Roll each section into a small circle.minutes.
- Carefully place the dough circles inside each muffin cup.*
- Add the mozzarella ball to each muffin cup.
- Spoon 1/2 tablespoon of marinara sauce over each muffin.
- Place in the oven for 10 minutes. Take out the muffins, sprinkle each with cheese and place back in the oven for another 2 minutes.
- *If using a non-stick muffin pan you do not need to spray the pan before use. Spray the pan with oil or butter if your muffin pan is not non stick.
Other Appetizer Ideas to Try
Super Bowl Appetizers I love to serve
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