These homemade mini pizzas are so easy to make, using a 30 minute mini pizza dough recipe, and are the perfect lunchbox snacks. The dough is so pillowy and soft, and is the perfect vessel for pizza sauce, cheese and any toppings you like. These freeze SO well, so are great to make ahead.
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Why is this mini pizza recipe so good?
This is a really nostalgic recipe for us. There’s a bakery in Bahrain (Tariq Pastries) that makes mini pizzas and sells them by the dozen. There’s usually a box of them at any gathering or kids birthday party or event I attend. We like them so much, we knew we wanted to create our own version.
I love these right out of the oven when the cheese is melty and gooey, but my husband loves these cold out the fridge.
There’s just something so satisfying about a pizza in a little individual form, so easy to eat, especially when the dough is so soft and comforting.
- They are the perfect gathering or party snack, no plate required, handheld and delicious.
- Mini cheese pizzas are so cute and fun to eat, and also fun to make with kids. It’s a great way to get them to customize their own toppings and encourage them to be creative.
- They freeze so well, so I love having a bunch in the freezer to pull out and use for lunchbox or playdate snacks.
Ingredients you need to make these:
Flour: I almost always use all purpose flour because it’s what I have on hand, but for a chewier pizza crust you can use bread flour.
Instant yeast: to get that dough rising nice and puffy
Sugar: a pinch of sugar to activate the yeast
Salt: a little of this to enhance the dough flavor
Garlic powder and dried basil: you can leave these out for a plain pizza crust, but I really like the subtle hints of flavor they give
Olive oil: a must in pizza dough! Try to use good quality extra virgin olive oil
Warm water: You want this to be lukewarm, not hot enough to scald your finger if you stick it in, but warmer than room temperature to activate the yeast. If you have a thermometer, aim for 105-115 degrees F (40-46C).
Pizza sauce: You can absolutely go with storebought pizza sauce, which is something I do when I’m in a hurry. You can also use your favorite homemade pizza sauce- here’s my go to recipe.
Mozzarella cheese: I find it easier to use sliced mozzarella cheese, so I can cut them in neat little squares and top each pizza with a square. You can absolutely use shredded mozzarella cheese instead!
Toppings of choice: I mimic the bakery that we like, and top with just one sliced black olive per pizza. That’s my kids go to! Of course, you can also do a pepperoni slice, diced bell pepper, mushrooms, whatever you like! I’d recommend chopping whatever topping small so that they fit on your little mini homemade pizzas.
How to make the easiest mini homemade pizzas:
- Preheat oven to 410F (210C). Make the dough: Combine 1 cup of the flour with the yeast, sugar, salt, garlic powder and basil in a large bowl.
- Add olive oil and warm water and use a wooden spoon to mix thoroughly.
- Add in another 1 cup of flour, and stir. If dough is still too sticky and unmanageable, keep adding flour gradually until a maximum of another 1/3 cup is added.
- Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until puffy and doubled in size. Remove from bowl and knead gently just a few times until dough is deflated and smooth.
- Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out into a thin layer.
- With a cookie cutter, or the rim of a glass cup, cut out dough circles, and place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Add a teaspoon or so of pizza sauce to the middle of each dough circle, leaving a border of dough without sauce.
- Cut each slice of mozzarella into 4 squares (or a size good to cover the pizza sauce) and place on top of the pizza sauce on each pizza.
- Add a black olive to the center of each pizza OR topping of choice.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown on the bottom, with bubbly melted cheese, don’t overbake.
How to serve these individual pizzas:
I like eating these warm out the oven. You can serve these on a big platter, with extra pizza sauce on the side for dipping. You can also use these for on the go snacks, perfect for lunchboxes.
To make a complete meal, pair them with a side salad or veggie sticks and sip.
Storing leftovers:
Leftover mini pizzas will last in the fridge in an airtight container for 4 days.
These freeze very well for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or airtight container. Flash freeze them by placing the cooked pizzas on a baking sheet in the freezer until hard, then placing them in a freezer bag, this way you can pull out individual mini pizzas without them sticking to each other.
You can reheat mini pizzas in the microwave briefly, start with just 10 seconds. You can microwave these straight from the freezer. If you take them out of the freezer, you can place them in lunchboxes frozen, they’ll thaw quickly.
Expert tips and tricks:
- To prevent mini pizzas from becoming soggy, don’t overload them with sauce and toppings. Just place a little sauce, a square of cheese and just a teaspoon or so of toppings- make sure the toppings are chopped pretty small.
- Make sure you are using lukewarm water, and letting the dough rise in a warm place to get it puffy and proofed, especially since we follow a short rising time.
- Don’t overbake, you want the dough to be soft and fluffy. Start checking at 10 minutes, you just want a very light golden bottom.
Recipe FAQs:
Absolutely. You can even use tortilla that you cut into circles, you’ll bake for a lot less if using tortillas though.
Although mozzarella cheese is the classic cheese for pizzas, you can use whatever you like! Try feta cheese, goat cheese, or cheddar cheese for a different flavor.
Absolutely, they are very freezer friendly. Check the section above on storing leftovers for details on how to freeze them.
Yes, these would cook so well in an air fryer, at 375F (190C) for 6-7 minutes. An air fryer is actually a great way to reheat leftovers too.
For more delicious dough recipes:
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Homemade Mini Pizzas
Ingredients
For the pizza dough:
- 2 cups flour (either all purpose or bread flour) divided, plus up to 1/3 cup extra each cup weighs 125g
- 2 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 tablespoon olive oil ( and more for coating the bowl and baking)
- 3/4 cup warm water (105-115F, or 40-45C)
For finishing:
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce, either store bought or homemade recipe for homemade sauce linked in recipe notes
- 6oz mozzarella cheese slices 150g
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 210C (410F) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine 1 cup of the flour (125g) with the yeast, sugar, salt, garlic powder and basil a large bowl.
- Add olive oil and warm water and use a wooden spoon to combine thoroughly.
- Add in another 1 cup of flour, and stir. If dough is still too sticky and unmanageable, keep adding flour gradually while stirring until a maximum of another 1/3 cup is added. The dough will begin to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- Coat another large bowl with some olive oil and transfer dough to this greased bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until puffy and expanded to double in size.
- Once dough has doubled, coat your hands and a work surface lightly with flour and remove dough from the bowl and knead gently just a few times until dough is deflated and smooth.
- Use a rolling pin, and roll the dough out into a thin layer, then with a cookie cutter, or the rim of a glass cup, cut out about 20 dough circles, and place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. See the video in the recipe card for a visual.
- Add a teaspoon or so of pizza sauce to the middle of each dough circle, leaving a border of dough without sauce.
- Cut each slice of mozzarella into 4 squares (or a size good to cover the pizza sauce) and top pizza sauce on each pizza.
- Add a sliced black olive or toppings of your choice to the center of each pizza.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown on the bottom, with bubbly melted cheese, don't overbake.
- Enjoy warm or at room temperature!
Video
Notes
- To prevent mini pizzas from becoming soggy, don’t overload them with sauce and toppings. Just place a little sauce, a square of cheese and just a 1/2 teaspoon or so of toppings- make sure the toppings are chopped pretty small.
- Don’t overbake, you want the dough to be soft and fluffy. Start checking at 10 minutes, you just want a very light golden bottom.
- To air fry the mini pizzas cook at 375F (190C) for 6-7 minutes.
- You can use store bought pizza dough if you prefer.
- You can use shredded mozzarella cheese if you prefer.
- Leftover mini pizzas will last in the fridge in an airtight container for 4 days.
- These freeze very well for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or airtight container. Flash freeze them by placing the cooked pizzas on a baking sheet in the freezer until hard, then placing them in a freezer bag.
- You can reheat mini pizzas in the microwave briefly, start with just 10 seconds. You can microwave these straight from the freezer. If you take them out of the freezer, you can place them in lunchboxes frozen, they’ll thaw quickly.
Krina Thakrar says
Make these often, great party snack too!
Farah Abumaizar says
So happy to hear that, we get so excited when we have some in the freezer!
Karin says
Such an easy dough to make and to roll…I have never found one like this before. Everyone loved it and how tender it was. This is a keeper recipe.
Farah Abumaizar says
I am so so happy you liked this Karin, because thsi truly is recipe that we have in our back pocket and make anytime we need a little snack. IT’s a keeper for sure!
Abeer K says
Made great pizza for my child using your dough recipe, thanks Farah for this!
Farah Abumaizar says
I’m so glad that it worked out well for you! I have a batch in my freezer right now that’s an utter lifesaver!
Liliya says
hello i’m loving this recipe but how much flour do we need to use?
Farah Abumaizar says
I use anywhere between 2 cups to 2 1/3 cups depending on how sticky my dough is! It shouldn’t be so sticky that you can’t work with it
Hailey says
just wanted to say thanks for the recipe! easy, quick, turned out perfect. I used a circle cutter that’s used for sandwiches so they were slightly bigger this batch made 12. they are delicious my toddlers love them. will be making again😊
Farah Abumaizar says
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, it’s definitely one of our go to’s! I have some homemade pizza sauce in the freezer that you’ve inspired me to use up in some more mini pizzas now!
Brittany Buster says
Looking forward to trying these. We don’t have a microwave. How do you suggest reheating in the oven? Should I par-bake if I intend to freeze?
Farah Abumaizar says
Hi Brittany! You can reheat them at 350F for just a few minutes (or in an air fryer if you have one). If you are going to freeze I’d definitely par-bake or bake all the way and then just reheat- it’ll be way easier than freezing the raw dough!
Adina Benjamin says
hi how many come out 1 recipe
Farah Abumaizar says
Probably around 18-24 depending on the size of the circles you cut!
Jaimee says
Just like the bakery! Kids devoured them after school, super easy to make
Farah Abumaizar says
I’m so happy to hear that! My kids love them so much too, you actually reminded me to make some more for their lunchbox snacks!
Alana says
Delicious!
Farah Abumaizar says
Thank youu!!
Donalyn says
Crazy easy to make and SO yummy – thanks for a great idea!
Farah Abumaizar says
My pleasure!
Dana says
Love how easy these are. My 4.5 yr old was able to help, which he loves, and they were delicious!
Farah Abumaizar says
So glad to hear it Dana!
Louise says
These were so easy to make and topped with the homemade pizza sauce just tasted amazing!
I was wondering if it would be possible to make these up and freeze them before baking?
Farah Abumaizar says
YOu definitely can freeze either before or after baking, but before baking would result in an even tastier result, just add a minute or so to baking time and no need to thaw!
veenaazmanov says
My kids love such meal options. This sounds quick and easy and perfect for a quick bite. Cheese lovers will love it for sure.
Farah Abumaizar says
Thanks so much!
Ashley says
Can u prepare this dough to make in the morning and bake in afternoon?
Farah Abumaizar says
Yes you can! Keep it in the fridge, and let it come to room temp 30 minutes or so before cutting out and baking
Tayler says
I let the kids help me make these mini pizzas last night and it was so fun! Not to mention delicious!
Farah Abumaizar says
Awesome! I’m so happy they enjoyed it as much as we do!
Sisley says
These are so cute and so much fun to make!
Farah Abumaizar says
So glad to hear it Sisley!
Suja md says
This looks amazing and such a treat! Thank you!
Farah Abumaizar says
My pleasure!