Mini pizza
On a sunny day, when I wanted to prepare something quick and keep the kids busy, I ended up making mini pizzas. I first made them for a picnic. I took a sheet of store-bought dough, cut out circles with a glass, and put on each one what I found in the fridge: ham, mushrooms, a bit of mozzarella, and tomatoes. Everything bakes in the tray, and it doesn't require much effort. The kids enjoyed something tasty, and the rest of the family ate them just as quickly.
Quick Info
Total Time: about 40 minutes
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12-15 mini pizzas (depends on diameter)
Difficulty: easy
Recipe Type: quick snack, picnic, kids meal
Ingredients
1 package of pizza dough (store-bought or homemade, enough for 12-15 pieces)
1 cup pizza sauce
1 cup diced chicken ham
1 cup canned mushrooms, finely chopped
1/2 cup canned or frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup pitted olives
a few thin slices of mozzarella, torn into small pieces
1 cup grated cheese
some sliced cherry tomatoes
few fresh basil leaves, chopped
Preparation Method
1. Preheat the oven to medium heat (about 180°C).
2. Roll out the pizza dough on a work surface. Use a wide-mouthed glass or a cookie cutter to cut circles from the dough. Don’t make them too small; about 8-10 cm in diameter works well.
3. Place the dough circles on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
4. Put a teaspoon of pizza sauce on each circle and spread it with the back of a spoon.
5. Add a bit of ham, mushrooms, corn, and olives on each mini pizza. Place pieces of mozzarella and sprinkle grated cheese on top.
6. Add a thin slice of tomato on each mini pizza.
7. Sprinkle a little fresh, finely chopped basil on top.
8. Place the tray in the oven and bake at moderate heat for about 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges are slightly golden. Don’t leave them too long, just enough to be baked and not dried out.
9. Remove from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before taking them out of the tray.
Why I Make the Recipe Often
Mini pizzas are among the simplest options when I need something that everyone will enjoy. They are quick to prepare, don’t dirty much cookware, and the ingredients can vary depending on what I have on hand. They are practical for picnics, school lunches, or as a snack on the go.
Tips and Variations
Tips
If the dough is too thick, it won’t bake well in the middle. Roll it out thin enough but not so thin that it tears when lifted.
Use parchment paper to prevent sticking at the bottom, especially if using wet ingredients.
When adding the sauce, don’t overload it. A small teaspoon on each disc is enough.
Substitutions
You can use any other type of ham or salami, depending on what you have in the fridge.
The cheese can be replaced with another cheese that melts easily, like Edam or Gouda.
Canned mushrooms can be replaced with quickly sautéed mushrooms.
Variations
For small children, place the ingredients separately for them to choose and let them make their mini pizzas as they like.
Add red onion, bell peppers, or even spinach if you want a different flavor.
You can also make a vegetarian version, just with vegetables and cheese.
Serving Ideas
You can serve them on a platter with cold sauces, such as a garlic yogurt sauce or ketchup.
They are also good cold, so they can be taken on the go or to a picnic without needing to heat them up.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use puff pastry instead of pizza dough?
Puff pastry has a different texture and puffs up a lot when baked. For this recipe, pizza dough works best, but if you have nothing else, you can try puff pastry with the note that the baking time might be shorter.
2. Can I prepare mini pizzas a day in advance?
They can be prepared and stored in the fridge covered with plastic wrap. When serving, they can be lightly heated in the oven or eaten cold.
3. What can I use if I don’t have mozzarella?
Any cheese that melts well works here. Grated cheese, Edam, Gouda, or even a mix if you want to use leftovers.
4. Can mini pizzas be frozen?
You can freeze them after baking, but the texture of the dough changes slightly after thawing. For picnics or quick snacks, it’s best to make them fresh.
5. How do I cut the dough if I don’t have round cutters?
A wide-mouthed glass is the easiest solution. A can with a cut edge can also work if you don’t have a cutter.
Nutritional Values
The values are approximate, for one mini pizza (8-10 cm in diameter), calculating 15 pieces from the above recipe:
Calories: about 95 kcal
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 11 g
Values vary depending on how much cheese or ham you use on each piece and the type of dough chosen. If you add more cheese or fatty toppings, the calorie count increases.
Storage and Reheating
Mini pizzas can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days in a sealed container. When reheating, the easiest way is to pop them in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese softens again and the dough warms up. In the microwave, the dough becomes soft. For picnics or lunchboxes, they can also be eaten cold.
This is the simple version of mini pizzas, without complications. They are quick to make, the ingredients are flexible, and they don’t need long explanations. Perfect for days when you don’t feel like making big plans and just want everything to go well without stress.
Ingredients: 1 package pizza dough 1 cup pizza sauce 1 cup diced chicken ham 1 cup canned mushrooms, chopped 1/2 cup canned corn (frozen works too) 1/2 cup pitted olives a few thin slices of mozzarella torn into smaller pieces 1 cup grated cheese a few sliced cherry tomatoes a few fresh basil leaves, chopped
