Description

Mini Pizza Muffins are bite-sized savory treats perfect for snacks, parties, or lunchboxes. These fluffy, cheesy muffins are loaded with classic pizza flavors like pepperoni, spinach, olives, and bell peppers, all infused with Italian seasoning. They’re easy to make, baked to golden perfection, and delicious served warm.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

1 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

Wet Ingredients

2 large eggs
1/4 cup pizza sauce
1 1/4 cup skim milk

Mix-ins and Toppings

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, Pizza Cheese Blend, or Italian Cheese Blend (divided)
1/2 cup mini pepperonis (or regular pepperoni, diced)
1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced
1/2 cup black olives, sliced
1 cup bell pepper, seeded and diced

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a mini muffin pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and set aside.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the unbleached all-purpose flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, Italian seasoning, and coarse salt. Stir until all the dry ingredients are well incorporated.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, pizza sauce, and skim milk until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
Add Mix-ins: To the wet mixture, add 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, mini pepperonis, roughly chopped spinach, minced basil, sliced black olives, and diced bell pepper. Stir gently to distribute evenly.
Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir together just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can cause the muffins to turn out dense or flat.
Fill Muffin Pan: Evenly divide the batter into the prepared mini muffin pan, filling each cup almost to the top. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese on top of each muffin for a cheesy crust.
Bake: Place the muffin pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Bake until the muffin tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the mini pizza muffins to cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. These are best served warm to enjoy the melty cheese and soft, savory texture.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to ensure fluffy muffins.
Feel free to customize the mix-ins with your favorite pizza toppings like mushrooms or onions.
These muffins can be made ahead and reheated in the oven or microwave for a quick snack.
Use a mini muffin pan to get the proper size and cooking time.
Using low-fat cheese and skim milk keeps the recipe lighter without sacrificing flavor.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Snack, Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 mini muffins (approx. 70g)
Calories: 150 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 330 mg
Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 18 g
Fiber: 1.5 g
Protein: 9 g
Cholesterol: 50 mg

Keywords: Mini Pizza Muffins, pizza snacks, bite-sized pizza, party appetizers, cheesy muffins, pepperoni muffins, savory muffins