Fluffy Pizza Bites are a seriously delicious lunch or dinner option—and you can customize the filling to please your kids! We like these with a little side of warmed marinara sauce for dipping. (Holy moly, they’re so yummy.)
Wrapping up pizza toppings inside the dough is such a fun take on pizza—and it’s a much more convenient way to pack up pizza for lunch. (They also work as a snack or appetizer.) These little bites are super versatile and store so well.
We like to fill them with broccoli, carrots, and pepperoni, but you could use any pizza topping your kids like—including sausage, peppers, or chicken—to customize them for your family. (You can also go with a spiral shape with my Pizza Pinwheels recipe.)
You can make them right before serving or you can make them ahead and warm them up. They’re so good dipped in warmed pizza sauce. I love them as much as my kiddos do! They’re great as an easy family dinner or packed as an easy kids lunch.
(You may also like my Pizza Rolls, which are made in a muffin tin, Pesto Pizza, and my Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough.)
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Ingredients You Need
To make this pizza recipe for kids, you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go.
- Pizza dough: You can use whole-wheat pizza dough or purchased pizza dough according to what you prefer.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: Buy it already shredded or shred it yourself for the classic flavor and texture of pizza.
- Broccoli, carrots, and/or pepperoni: You can use one filling or a mix. The veggies are raw.
- Parmesan cheese: I typically buy grated Parmesan, but shredded works, too.
- Pizza or Italian seasoning: This adds classic pizza flavor and should be available in the spice aisle.
- Pizza sauce or marinara sauce: This is optional for dipping and tastes best if you warm it before serving.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this recipe. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full information.
- Break up your dough into pieces.
- Flatten into rounds.
- Add your chosen filling and cheese.
- Tuck the dough around the filling and press to seal. Place into the pan, seam-side down, and bake.
TIP: You can brush the tops of the bites with olive oil, pizza seasoning, and Parmesan cheese for a little extra flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use homemade pizza dough, like this Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough recipe, or you can buy a ball of dough from the supermarket. Either work!
Make the recipe and let them cool. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-5 days. (You can also freeze them in a sealed freezer bag for up to 3 months.) Warm in a 375 degree oven for 5-8 minutes or in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warmed through.
We like to make them with broccoli, grated carrot, and chopped up pepperoni, but you can use pretty much any favorite pizza topping.
How to Store
To make ahead (or to store): Make the recipe and let them cool. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the bites to an airtight container. You can store in the fridge for 3-5 days (or in the freezer for up to 3 months).
(You might also like my easy Pizza Lunchables.)
Best Tips for Success
- To reheat, warm in a 375-degree-F oven for 5-8 minutes or in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warmed through.
- Use whole-wheat pizza dough or a purchased ball of dough from the supermarket in these mini pizza bites.
- Use any other pizza topping you prefer in place of the ones I used. You can also just use cheese for the filling.
- Try variations including pepperoni pizza bites, or adding ham or cooked bell peppers to the filling.
- Serve with warmed pizza sauce or Easy Marinara, if desired, for dipping.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below!
Favorite Pizza Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough (homemade or purchased; 16 ounces)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup finely chopped broccoli florets, shredded carrots, or chopped pepperoni
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon pizza seasoning (or Italian seasoning)
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (slightly warmed)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and grease a 9-inch pie plate (or 9×9-inch square baking pan) with nonstick spray.
- Divide the dough into 16 pieces.
- Flatten each dough piece into a round circle. Add about 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese and broccoli, carrot, OR pepperoni. (Do one option per bite.)
- Fold the dough around the filling, making a little ball. Place, seam sides down, into the prepared baking dish. Repeat to make the rest of the bites. They should fit tightly into the dish.
- Brush the tops of the bites with olive oil. Sprinkle on the Parmesan and pizza seasoning (or Italian seasoning). Let rest for 10 minutes. Poke the top of each bite with a fork. (This allows steam to escape and helps prevent the cheese from running out.)
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven, let cool for a few minutes, and serve warm with slightly warmed pizza sauce, if desired.
Video
Notes
- To make ahead: Make the recipe and let them cool. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-5 days. Warm in a 375-degree-F oven for 5-8 minutes or in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warmed through.
- You can also freeze them in a sealed freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Use homemade pizza dough or a purchased ball of dough from the supermarket.
- Use any other pizza topping you prefer in place of the ones I used. You can also just use cheese for the filling.
- Serve with warmed pizza sauce or marinara, if desired, for dipping.
Nutrition
This post was first published May 2020.
I made these for dinner last night and my extra picky 5yo said “these are irresistible mama! I usually don’t trust pizza crust, but I trust these!”
I super highly reccomend!
These were a real crowd pleaser! My 22 month picky eater ate double what I expected him to eat! My husband, 2 boys, and I all loved these, definitely added to our rotation.