Description
Cheesy deep dish pizza cupcakes deliver Chicago-style comfort in miniature handheld form. Each bite packs robust marinara, melted mozzarella, and crispy crust edges that transport pizza lovers straight to the Windy City’s culinary heart.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (8 ounces/226 grams) can refrigerated crescent rolls (seamless sheet)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
Seasonings:
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Optional Toppings:
- Pepperoni
- Ham
- Sausage
- Peppers
- Onions
- Mushrooms
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, ensuring a consistent temperature for optimal cooking.
- Thoroughly coat 8 muffin tin cavities with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Carefully slice the crescent dough into 8 equal squares, gently pressing each into the prepared muffin cups to create mini pizza shells.
- Layer the bottom of each cup with cheese, creating a flavorful base for the mini pizzas.
- Spoon pizza sauce directly over the cheese layer, distributing evenly across each cup.
- Generously sprinkle remaining cheese over the sauce, creating a rich and melty topping.
- Add preferred pizza toppings, ensuring even distribution throughout the mini bites.
- Lightly dust each mini pizza with garlic powder for an extra burst of flavor.
- Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a minute before carefully extracting the mini pizza bites from the tin.
- Serve immediately while hot and enjoy the bite-sized pizza treats.
Notes
- Customize toppings based on dietary preferences like vegetarian, gluten-free, or low-carb options by swapping ingredients.
- Use silicone muffin liners for easier removal and minimal cleanup when baking mini pizza bites.
- Prevent soggy bottoms by pre-baking crescent dough for 2-3 minutes before adding cheese and sauce.
- Try different cheese blends like mozzarella, cheddar, or feta to elevate flavor profiles and create unique taste combinations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg