Looking for a fun and delicious twist on traditional pizza? Look no further than pizza cupcakes! These savory treats are not only easy to make but are perfect for any occasion, from game day snacks to family dinners.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
- Great flavors: Pizza cupcakes combine all the classic flavors of pizza in a cute, bite-sized package.
- Quick prep time: With just a few simple ingredients, you can have these cupcakes ready in no time.
- Perfect for meal prep: Make a batch of these cupcakes ahead of time for an easy grab-and-go meal or snack.
Ingredient Notes:
- Cooking spray: Prevents the cupcakes from sticking to the pan.
- Medium cherry tomatoes: Adds a burst of freshness to each bite.
- (ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust: Provides the base for the cupcakes.
- Teaspoons shredded mozzarella cheese: Melts into gooey perfection.
- Tablespoons pizza sauce (such as Classico): Infuses each cupcake with pizza flavor.
- Teaspoons finely chopped red onion: Adds a hint of sweetness.
- Tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese: More cheese, please!
- Pepperoni, quartered: Classic pizza topping.
- Teaspoon Italian seasoning, or to taste: Adds an herby kick.
- Teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste: For a spicy kick.
- Teaspoon garlic salt, or to taste: Enhances the overall flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.
- Roll out the pizza crust and cut it into circles to fit into each muffin cup.
- Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of each cup.
- Add a teaspoon of pizza sauce to each cup, followed by a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.
- Top with cherry tomatoes, red onion, pepperoni, and more cheese.
- Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and garlic salt.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.
- Let cool slightly before removing from the muffin tin.
Helpful Tips:
- Customize your pizza cupcakes with your favorite toppings like mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers.
- To make these cupcakes vegetarian, skip the pepperoni and add more veggies.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Expert Tips for the Best Results:
- For extra flavor, brush the crust with garlic butter before adding the toppings.
- Experiment with different cheeses like cheddar or gouda for a unique twist.
- Try using mini muffin tins for bite-sized pizza cupcakes for parties or gatherings.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve these pizza cupcakes with a side salad for a complete meal. They also pair well with a cold beer or a glass of red wine.
Storage and Reheating Tips:
To store, let the cupcakes cool completely, then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply pop them back in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I freeze these pizza cupcakes?
- Yes, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Can I use a different type of crust?
- Feel free to use store-bought or homemade dough for these cupcakes.
- Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?
- Absolutely! You can assemble the cupcakes ahead of time and bake them when ready to serve.
Conclusion:
Pizza cupcakes are a fun and tasty way to enjoy all the flavors of pizza in a convenient, handheld form. Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think! Enjoy!
Print
Pizza Cupcakes
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 8 cupcakes 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Pizza cupcakes are a fun twist on traditional pizza, perfect for parties or a quick snack. These savory cupcakes are made with pizza crust, sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings baked in muffin tins for easy serving.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- cooking spray
- 8 medium cherry tomatoes
- 1 (11 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust
- 8 teaspoons shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 tablespoons pizza sauce (such as Classico)
- 8 teaspoons finely chopped red onion
- 8 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 slices pepperoni, quartered
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray 8 muffin cups with cooking spray.
- Prepare Ingredients: Cut cherry tomatoes into halves. Roll out pizza crust and cut into 8 equal squares. Press each square into a muffin cup.
- Layer Ingredients: Layer each cup with mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, red onion, more mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and garlic salt.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is melted.
- Serve: Let cool slightly before removing from muffin tin and serve warm.
Notes
- You can customize these pizza cupcakes with your favorite pizza toppings like olives, bell peppers, or cooked sausage.
- Feel free to adjust the seasonings to suit your taste preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg