These Mini Pizza Muffins are the perfect back-to-school snack or lunchbox addition, packed with cheesy pizza flavor in every bite. Family-friendly and customizable with your favorite toppings, they're a recipe both kids and adults will love. Plus, they freeze beautifully, making them an easy make-ahead option for busy weeks.
Around here, anything with "pizza" in the name is an automatic win. I whipped up a batch of these muffins for back-to-school season and they barely made it off the cooling rack - my kiddo grabbed one before I could even snap a photo! They're cheesy, savory, and just the right size for little hands (or for me to sneak as an afternoon snack). I also like keeping a stash in the freezer for quick school lunches or after-school snacks when everyone's hungry right now.
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Why You'll Love Them
- Kid-Approved - Cheesy, fun to eat, and easy to pack in a lunchbox.
- Quick & Easy - Less than an hour from start to finish.
- Freezer-Friendly - Make a batch now and stash for busy days.
- Customizable - Swap the add-ins with your family's favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to grab for this Mini Pizza Muffins recipe (though TBH those veggies are all optional/customizable just like regular pizza toppings!):
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder & baking soda
- Cornmeal - adds a pizza-like texture
- Italian seasoning - gives that classic pizza flavor in every bite.
- Coarse salt
- A couple large eggs
- Shredded mozzarella (or pizza blend) - gooey, melty, cheesy goodness.
- Mini pepperoni - savory pops of flavor (or swap with your favorite protein).
- Fresh spinach and basil- sneak in some greens for those kiddos!
- A handful of diced bell pepper
- Black olives - bring a briny, salty punch (optional, but tasty!).
- Your favorite pizza sauce - the signature pizza flavor baked right in.
- Splash of milk
๐ Full measurements and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
Variations and Add-Ons
- Cheese upgrade: Try adding parmesan for a salty kick, or swap in smoked mozzarella for deeper flavor.
- Protein swap: Try diced ham, turkey pepperoni, or cooked sausage.
- Extra veggies: Mushrooms, zucchini, or grated carrot work great here too.
Mini Pizza Muffins Pairings
To give these mini pizza muffins a little extra oomph, serve them with extra pizza sauce or ranch for dipping! You can also add apple slices and carrot sticks for an easy lunchbox combo or pair with soup or salad for a fun dinner side.
Equipment
Super minimal! Here's what I use:
- 24 cup mini muffin tin
- Mixing bowls (you'll need two)
- Whisk and spoon
- Cooling rack
Storage and Reheating
I sincerely doubt you'll have any leftovers ๐, but if you do, or if you want to prep a batch ahead for school lunches, here's how:":
- Fridge: Up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Up to 2 months. Freeze in a single layer, then store in a bag/container.
- Reheat: Microwave 30-45 seconds or warm in a 350ยฐF oven for 5-7 minutes.
Mini Pizza Muffins
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 Mini Muffins or 12 Regular Muffins 1x
Description
These mini pizza muffins are the perfect back-to-school snack or lunchbox addition, packed with cheesy pizza flavor in every bite. Family-friendly and customizable with your favorite toppings, they're a recipe both kids and adults will love. Plus, they freeze beautifully, making them an easy make-ahead option for busy weeks.
Ingredients
- 1 ยพ cups unbleached all purpose flour
- ยผ cup cornmeal
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons baking powder
- ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ยฝ tablespoons Italian seasoning
- ยฝ teaspoon coarse salt
- 2 large eggs
- ยผ cup pizza sauce
- 1 ยผ cup skim milk
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, Pizza Cheese Blend, or Italian Cheese Blend
- ยฝ cup mini pepperonis (or regular pepperoni, diced)
- 1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced
- ยฝ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup bell pepper, seeded and diced
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375หF. Grease a mini muffin panย and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, Italian seasoning, and salt until combined.
- In a separate, medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, pizza sauce, and milk until smooth.
- Stir in 1 ยฝ cups of the cheese, the mini pepperonis, spinach, basil, olives, and bell pepper.
- Add the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Don't overmix or the muffins may bake out flat!
- Divide the batter evenly into the prepared mini muffin pan. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with the remaining ยฝ cup of cheese.
- Place in the oven on middle rack and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
- Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Best served warm.
Notes
These muffins freeze beautifully! Just let them cool, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a bag or container. To reheat, warm straight from frozen in the microwave (45-60 seconds) or oven (350ยฐF for about 10 minutes).
Swap in your family's favorite pizza toppings - diced ham, mushrooms, or extra veggies all work well.
For a vegetarian version, simply skip the pepperoni!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Judy says
Hi Abby. I am going to make these. Just what is needed to take with us to our various appointments. I like that you can freeze them.