I was intrigued when I first heard about Pizza Cupcakes, so obviously I had to create my own version.
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 a deep dish pizza), 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.
🍽 Equipment
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
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!
📖 Variations and Substitutions
I love this pizza dough recipe and I've been using it for years, but this is the first time I've shared it! It's super quick and easy, and it's also dairy-free! We recently discovered that my daughter is lactose intolerant so I've been trying to make as many lactose and dairy-free recipes as possible. This pizza dough is dairy-free and I used a lactose-free cheese in these pizza cupcakes, although you could use any type of cheese if you don't need the recipe to be lactose free.
Which Pizza Dough to use
You could also use any pizza dough you wish with this recipe, such as my Bread Machine Pizza Dough Recipe, or lighten it up and make it WW friendly with my 2 ingredient Weight Watchers Pizza Dough. But I love this pizza dough because it's so quick and easy!
And you can make these pizza cupcakes with whatever '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
- green peppers
- mushrooms
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 3 WW points on the blue plan
🥗 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, especially if they're going in the lunch box!
They are just as tasty cold, as they are warm. Just keep them refrigerated (but only 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.
👪 Serving size
You can also cut this recipe in ½ by adjusting the serving size on my recipe card. Just click on the serving size ( it's highlighted in blue.)
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 pizza too, then give these a try!
Enjoy!
Homemade Pizza Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 -25 ounce -package active dry yeast (8 grams) *I use Fleischmann's pizza yeast
- 1 tsp granulated white sugar
- 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 2 ½ cups bread flour * can substitute all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil * add more (by ½ tsp full) if it's a little dry
- 1 tsp salt
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
Instructions
Quick and Easy Pizza Dough:
- Heat oven to 375°F/190 C. Spray 12 regular-size muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in flour, salt and oil.
- Beat until smooth. Then get your hands in there to get it mixed really well. Let rest for 5 minutes. *if dough is still dry, add a little more olive oil (by ½ tsp full)
- 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
- 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
- 2 ingredient Weight Watchers Pizza Dough
- use turkey bacon, turkey sausage or turkey pepperoni
- use low- fat cheese
- Can be refrigerated for up to 4 days
Nutrition
More Pizza Recipes
Weight Watchers Pizza with 2 ingredient Weight Watchers Pizza Dough
Greek-style Veggie Phyllo Pizza
This recipe is part of the Country Cook Weekend Potluck!
These are fantastic! I'm down for anything you can customize - we made half of the batch vegetarian. The rest of the batch has been popped into the freezer. Another bonus! Thanks Terri. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed them, Sharon! 🙂
Thanks, Sharon! Glad you loved them and could customize them to your diet!
Great idea! My kids would have loved these, especially for after school treats. Oh, and I probably would have snuck one or two myself.
haha I did sneak a couple myself, Bernice! I especially love that I can make them WW friendly1
I definitely snuck a couple too, Bernice! haha
Pizza cupcakes are such a clever idea and so perfect for lunches! I can't wait to try them!
Thanks, Wanda. I hope you enjoy them!
Pizza cupcakes is a great idea! I love the portability of them! Thanks for sharing this great idea!
Thanks, Lisa- enjoy!
Hi Terri, I love the step by step instructions and the cuteness of these little cupcakes. A perfect choice for an appetizer or kids party!
Thanks, Amy!
Great idea! My DD would have loved these, Maybe i can sneak some veggies in toO!
Oooh I love the idea of sneaking in more veggies, Nancy! Spinach would work well, I think 🙂