Pizza Cupcakes

I was intrigued when I first heard about Pizza Cupcakes, so obviously I had to create my own version.

How can you go wrong with pizza in the form of a cupcake?! You get to have your very own little handheld pizza that's not only delicious, but easy to make, a great snack for game day, movie night, and perfect for packing along in a lunch bag! You can fill them with your favorite pizza toppings and they can also be made Weight Watchers friendly  with 2 ingredient WW dough and/or lactose-free!

Since cupcakes are often associated with sweet, I'll admit it's not easy for me to get my head around savory cupcakes. If you feel the same, I can guarantee that when you try these Pizza Cupcakes, you'll have no problem making that mental shift!

🍕🧁What are Pizza Cupcakes?

They are made with pizza toppings, in the form of a filling (much like deep dish pizzas), encased in a quick and simple pizza dough (because homemade is always the best.) Although, you can use store-bought pizza dough if you prefer or are really pressed for time. Essentially, these guys are mini pizzas, in the form of a savory cupcake!

But pizza cupcakes are different than pizza muffins because they are not a muffin! These are made with a rolled pizza crust that's molded into a muffin tin and filled with pizza toppings, then topped with cheese. Pizza muffins are made with a batter and have the texture of a muffin.

🥘Ingredients

• Pizza dough recipe or refrigerated pizza dough from the grocery store * I use my 15 minute pizza dough recipe
• pizza sauce * your favorite brand- I use Primo's traditional
• bacon (or any meat) chopped * you can use ham, pepperoni, mini pepperonis, turkey bacon, sausage
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• red onion, chopped
• sliced black olives

*See recipe card for quantities

🔪Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F/190 degrees C. Prepare pizza dough according to recipe you are using. I use my quick and easy, naturally dairy-free 15 minute pizza dough (see my other recommendations in notes).
2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.

3. Roll out dough to about ⅛ inch thick.

4. Cut with a round cutter (a mug or anything round about 4 inches in diameter).

5. Press each circle into muffin tin.

6. In small bowl, mix toppings (sauce, onion, olives, meat and only ½ cup of the cheese, reserving the other ½ of the cheese for topping.) Spoon about 2 tablespoons mixture into each dough-lined cup, dividing evenly by all 12. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese on top, dividing evenly by all 12.

7. Bake in preheated oven for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden brown.

*See recipe for full instructions

🍽 Equipment

You'll need a rolling pin, a muffin tin and a cutting board/pastry board (affiliate links)for this pizza cupcake recipe.

Because pizza cupcakes are made in muffin tins, they are also known as muffin tin pizza. I love to make stuff in muffin tins because they are portable, individual servings, not to mention quick and easy.

📋More Muffin Tin Recipes

• Easy Mediterranean Chicken and Wild Rice Cups, 
• Gluten-free Ham & Rice Benedict,
• Greek Lasagna & Garlic Toast cups
• Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

I've always been a fan of individual servings, especially when it comes to party food. I've personally had some bad experiences with 'communal food, ' hence the reason I also created these  Individual Cheesy Party Pull Aparts!  Plus it's like having a mini pizza all to yourself! 

And you can make these pizza cupcakes with your choice of toppings (fillings) you have on hand. I made them with red onion, bacon and sliced black olives (my kids LOVE it when they get REAL bacon!)

• meat: bacon or turkey bacon, ham or pepperoni (or turkey pepperoni) NOTE: *If I'm using bacon, I use the Costco pre-cooked bacon because you can take it out of the freezer in individual pieces, microwave it and it's so much less messy and greasy!
• make them vegetarian/meatless
• onion (green, red or white onion)
• cheese: mozzarella, cheddar, marble, feta
• black olives
• jalapenos
• green peppers
• mushrooms

🥗 Side dishes

It's not that you need a side dish with pizza, but I think it's always good to get some veggies with any meal. I serve these with cucumber slices and/or baby carrots and maybe some fruit or a side salad, especially if they're going in the lunch box!

My kids LOVED these Pizza Cupcakes. Seriously, they even fought over them. Since they are picky teenagers, I always feel pretty flattered when they think my food is fight worthy. And if there's one thing we know teenagers love, it's pizza! So if you love mini pizzas too, then give these a try! 

Enjoy!

🍕 Pizza Cupcakes Recipe

These Pizza Cupcakes are like individual deep dish pizzas, baked in a muffin tin. They are not only delicious, but easy to make and the perfect snack for game day, movie night and packing along in a lunch bag! And they can be made Weight Watchers friendly by using 2 ingredient WW pizza dough!

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, lunch, Snack

Cuisine: American, Canadian, North American

Keyword: cupcakes, homemade, pizza

Special Diet: Lactose-free, Weight Watchers

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Calories: 231kcal

Author: Terri Gilson

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

• ▢ 1 pizza dough recipe * 15 minute pizza dough

Filling

• ▢ ¾ cup pizza sauce * your favorite brand- I use Primo's traditional
• ▢ ¾ cup bacon (or any meat) chopped * you can use ham, pepperoni, turkey bacon, sausage
• ▢ 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ▢ ⅓ cup red onion, chopped
• ▢ 200 ml -can sliced black olives

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F/190 degrees C .Prepare pizza dough according to recipe you are using. I use my quick and easy, naturally dairy-free 15 minute pizza dough (see my other recommendations in notes).
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
  
• Roll out dough to about ⅛ inch thick.
  
• Cut with a round cutter (a mug or anything round about 4 inches in diameter).
  
• Press each circle into muffin tin.
  
• Roll out remaining dough to get as many circles as you can out of the dough. You should have no problem getting 12 out of it.
  

Filling:

• In small bowl, mix toppings (sauce, onion, olives, meat and only ½ cup of the cheese, reserving the other ½ of the cheese for topping.)
  
• Spoon about 2 tablespoons mixture into each dough-lined cup, dividing evenly by all 12. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese on top, dividing evenly by all 12.
  
• Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until lightly browned.
  
• Immediately remove from muffin tins and serve.
  

Notes

*NOTE: 📖 Variations and Substitutions

Pizza Dough

I love using this 15 minutes pizza dough because it's quick and easy, but you could also use any pizza dough, such as my Bread Machine Pizza Dough Recipe,  or lighten it up with my  2 ingredient Weight Watchers Pizza Dough. Or if you prefer (or are short on time) you can use store-bought.

Toppings/Fillings

I make these with whatever 'toppings'/'fillings' I have on hand:

• any meat: bacon or turkey bacon, ham or pepperoni NOTE: *If I'm using bacon, I use the Costco pre-cooked bacon because you can take it out of the freezer in individual pieces, microwave it and it's so much less messy and greasy!
• make them vegetarian/meatless
• onion (green, red or white onion)
• cheese: mozzarella, cheddar, marble, feta
• black olives
• green peppers

Make them Weight Watchers Friendly

•   2 ingredient Weight Watchers Pizza Dough
• use turkey bacon, turkey sausage or turkey pepperoni
• use low- fat cheese

* Using turkey bacon and low-fat mozzarella cheese they are instantly WW friendly!

**NOTE:

• Can be refrigerated for up to 4 days

💭 Top tip: Can these be frozen and reheated?

Yes! They freeze really well and taste freshly baked when they are reheated. Remove them from the muffin tins after they are baked, allow them to cool 10 minutes, then place them in a freezable airtight container, or in a plastic freezer bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you go to reheat them, 30-40 seconds is about the right amount of time, but that will also depend on the wattage of your microwave.

Nutrition Facts

🍕 Pizza Cupcakes Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 cupcake)

Calories 231 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 16mg5%

Sodium 690mg30%

Potassium 127mg4%

Carbohydrates 22g7%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 183IU4%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 90mg9%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 231kcal (12%) | Carbohydrates: 22g (7%) | Protein: 8g (16%) | Fat: 13g (20%) | Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg (5%) | Sodium: 690mg (30%) | Potassium: 127mg (4%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 183IU (4%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 90mg (9%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

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