A mini pizza is fun and easy recipe for pizza night. Make a big batch for freezing and cold-pizza breakfast, too.
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We are big pizza lovers at our house. It seems like my kids are asking for pizza at least twice a week. I make homemade pizza so that we can afford to eat it as often as we want.
While we love to grill pizza made with a sourdough crust, I like switching things up: creating new pizza toppings, playing with new dough recipes, and shrinking our pizzas.
Yes, shrinking them. Mini pizzas have been a fun addition to our freezer stash/
What are mini pizzas?
Mini pizzas are just that, smaller, hand-held rounds of pizza, topped however you like. They are the perfect size for kids as well as being a practical size for homemade frozen pizzas.
Benefits of mini pizzas
While a large pie is great for feeding a crowd, so are a variety of smaller pizzas. Mini pizzas have a lot of good things going for them:
- They are single-serving.
- They are easily customizable.
- They are portion controlled.
- They are freezer-friendly!
Serving suggestions
Mini pizzas are delicious served as a fun snack or appetizer. You could make a fun cocktail party with these pizzas, Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers, and an Easy Veggie Tray.
They make a quick and easy lunch or dinner. Serve them with a green salad and Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
What do you use for toppings?
We top our pizzas with our easy homemade pizza sauce recipe and then from there we can each make them the way we want them! I am a huge mushroom fan. I love mushrooms on my pizza. But, not everyone in my family feels the same way. With mini pizzas, I can make my pizza to please me — and so can they.
An added bonus is that I can experiment with a variety of toppings without feeling like I’m taking too many risks. It makes for a fun pizza night when we try all kinds of different combinations without fear of “ruining” a whole pie.
Ingredients
Don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of making your own dough for mini pizzas. This is simple and the ingredients list is actually quite short.
yeast – This dough recipe is a pretty straightforward yeast dough. You’ll need active dry yeast. I buy the big block of it from Costco for a few bucks and store it in the freezer. If you want to use natural yeast, try my sourdough pizza crust recipe.
sugar – This adds texture and helps the yeast do its work.
salt – Salt adds flavor and texture to pizza dough. Do not omit it. I’ve forgotten it on occasion and the flavor is just not the same.
olive oil – Adds flavor and texture to the dough. You can use another cooking oil if that’s what you have.
flour – I like to use unbleached, all-purpose or bread flours for pizza. You can use bleached or part whole wheat if you prefer. Try my whole wheat pizza dough if you want to go that route.
dry herbs – To add some punch to the dough, I’ve included dried basil and oregano. I love the subtle flavor it adds to the dough and makes it feel a little more special.
pizza sauce – Any marinara or pizza sauce will work. Try my easy Last-Minute No-Cook Pizza Sauce. It’s super simple!
mozzarella cheese – Mozzarella and Monterey Jack are my favorite pizza cheeses. Feel free to use what you have, including pepper jack, cheddar, fontina, gouda, or provolone.
toppings – Use whatever pizza toppings you like, including: sliced pepperoni, cooked and crumbled sausage, diced ham or bacon, chopped tomatoes, sliced onions, sliced mushrooms, sliced olives, sliced peppers, or chopped pineapple.
Instructions
Making the dough.
This is a super simple dough that comes together quite easily. It helps to have a bread machine or stand mixer, but you can make it without.
Mixer or hand-directions
- Combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Allow it to set for five minutes to proof. It will bubble and foam.
- Add the oil and then the flour, salt, and herbs. Stir with a wooden spoon or in the mixer with a dough hook until a dough ball forms.
- If mixing by hand, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until the ball is smooth and elastic.
- If mixing in the mixer, continue with the dough hook until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Transfer it to a greased bowl and allow the dough to rise until doubled in bulk, about one hour.
Bread machine instructions
Place the ingredients in the machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Turn the dough setting on and start the machine.
Assembling the pizzas
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or grease them and sprinkle cornmeal across them. Preheat the oven.
- Once the dough is ready, turn it out onto a lightly floured board. Divide it into 16 portions.
- Shape the portions into rounds, about 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Lay the rounds on the prepared baking pans.
- Spread sauce on each, then top with pizza toppings and cheese. Bake as directed.
Freezing instructions
Having a stash of mini-pizzas waiting in the freezer makes it easy to indulge your pizza craving, night or day. There are two ways to freeze these mini pizzas:
- Freeze the pizzas baked and ready to eat – Bake the pizzas according to the recipe and allow them to cool completely on a rack. Once cool, stack and package them for freezing. To serve: simple reheat in a warm oven or toaster oven or microwave until hot.
- Freeze the unbaked pizzas – Assemble the pizzas as directed, but instead of baking them, place the pan in the freezer. Once the pizzas are frozen solid, remove them from the pan and stack them between layers of patty papers or waxed paper. Place the stacks in a ziptop freezer bag or food box and store in the freezer. To serve: follow the recipe, baking from frozen, adding a minute or two to the cook time if needed.
Recipe costs
Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.
- sugar – $0.02
- yeast – $0.33
- olive oil – $0.20
- flour – $0.60
- herbs – $0.06
- salt – $0.03
- pizza sauce – $0.50
- pizza toppings – $0.50
- mozzarella cheese – $2.82
A large batch of 16 mini pizzas costs $5.06 or 32 cents each!
How to save more
- Shop the cheapest store. Remember these prices are factored from a mid-range grocery store in Southern California. Your mileage may vary. Be sure to shop at the store with the best prices for the things you buy. Who has the best price on olive oil and cheese? For me that would be Costco.
- Shop the sales. Always stock up on your regular kitchen staples when you see them at their lowest price. Having a grocery staples checklist will help you keep an eye on what those items are.
- Buy in bulk. A large container of olive oil or bag of cheese will likely cost less per ounce than a small one. As budget and storage space allow, buy the best unit price for items you regularly use.
- Use less. You can always dial back the cheese in this recipe to trim costs. Will it be as decadent? No, but it will still be super tasty.
- Use what you have. Make sure to use up the bits of sauce, cheese, or cooked veg and meat that you have on hand. Preventing waste is a great way to save money!
Kitchen equipment
This recipe really couldn’t be easier than it is, but having the right kitchen tools can really make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. Over time, I’ve honed my collection so that they are perfect for my needs.
- a bread machine or stand mixer – so easy for making dough
- large cutting board – for working the dough
- bench knife – for cutting the dough into smaller portions
- sheet pans
- parchment paper for easy cleanup
- pizza cutter
- ziptop bags and patty papers for easy freezing
Mini Pizzas Recipe
Ingredients
Dough ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tbsp active, dry yeast
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 1/2 cup bread flour
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
Pizza toppings
- 1 cup Pizza Sauce
- 16 oz mozzarella cheese (shredded) Monterey Jack, cheddar, crumbled feta or goat, any combination (4 cups)
- 6 oz pepperoni (sliced) or other pizza toppings
Instructions
To make the dough by hand
- Place the warm water in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Allow this to set for five minutes. The mixture will start to foam and bubble.
- Add the oil, flour, salt, and herbs. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about five minutes until a smooth dough ball is formed.
- Transfer the dough ball to a greased bowl, cover, and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about an hour.
To make the dough in a bread machine
- Combine the dough ingredients in the bread machine pan, according to the order recommended by the manufacturer.
- Set on dough and start the machine, checking after ten minutes to make sure all the ingredients have been incorporated and not stuck to the side of the pan. Scrape down any stray ingredients to insure they are mixed in.
To make the dough in a stand mixer
- Place the warm water in the mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Allow this to set for five minutes. The mixture will start to foam and bubble.
- Add the oil, flour, salt, and herbs. Attach the dough hook and run the machine until all the ingredients are incorporated, stopping the machine to scrape the sides as necessary. Knead with the dough hook until a smooth dough ball is formed.
- Transfer the dough ball to a greased bowl, cover, and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about an hour.
Once the dough is ready
- Preheat the oven to 500 °. Spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray and sprinkle with corn meal to prevent sticking or line the pans with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
- Divide the dough into 16 portions. Flatten each portion into a thin round and place on the cooking sheet.
- Spread sauce and sprinkle toppings as desired.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the crust is crisp and the cheese melted and lightly browned.
To freeze baked pizzas
- Wrap cooled pizzas in foil or plastic wrap and stash in a larger ziptop freezer bag. Thaw and reheat in a 350 oven for about 5 minutes.
To freeze unbaked pizzas
- Assemble the pizzas as directed, but instead of baking, place the trays in the freezer. Once the pizzas are frozen solid (this will take several hours), stack them between layers of patty papers or waxed paper and store in a freezer bag or box in the freezer. To serve: bake from frozen at 450 degrees, for 10 to 12 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on April 27, 2012. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Krista
These are so tasty! Both of my girls raved about them and want me to make them every time I do pizza instead of the “other” kind I make. I froze the unbaked pizzas, and they were so easy and quick to bake. These will be a staple for our pizza nights! Thanks, Jessica, for another great recipe.
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you saw success!
Molly
Oh I think I need to make these for my husband’s lunch. I would be the hit of the socially-distant cafeteria.
Jessica Fisher
Let me know how it goes!
Molly
Big hit for lunch today. And my husband is looking forward to having homemade pizza whenever he wants.
Heather
Such a great idea to freeze them separately. Then they can be packed for lunch with fresh vegetables, fruit, or salad. Thanks for the awesome idea.
Nicola Dickinson
Hi! This looks great, I just wanted to clarify that 500 degrees is in Fahrenheit? I’m Australian and we measure in Celsius, so I just want to make sure. Thanks!
Jessica Fisher
Yes, sorry for any confusion!
Lisa H
I would love to make these for my always hungry pizza loving teenager. How long would you estimate it takes to thaw a mini pizza? I am just wondering if this is something he could fix after school or if we would need to plan for it and set it out to thaw. He’s used to the boxed cheapo (that aren’t really so cheap) pizza, which offers almost instant gratification. Thanks for the awesome post and any info you or your readers could offer. Just thinking about the money I could save by doing this makes me a little giddy!
Jessica
I think it would thaw on the counter in about 30 minutes but I’ve reheated them from frozen without a problem.
Lisa H
@Jessica, Thanks for responding so quickly. Can’t wait to make these! Love your blogs.
NIA
I too love mushrooms, unlike the rest of my family, I’m in the minority. Just wondering if you know much about mushrooms, you’ve probably got the E-mail from Abundant Harvest about mushrooms. The price seems a little rich for my blood, but maybe you know something I don’t and they are actually selling for a good price and are worth snatching some up while they’re around. What do you think?
Jessica
@NIA, I didn’t get the email until a week after you asked this question. I’m not really sure. It’s low on my priority list, though.
Claire
This is making me hungry! Love the idea. Thank you!
Megan
Made these for my kids’ lunch today. Easy and tasty! Love the addition of herbs to the dough. My kids always want lunchables pizza kits, but I rarely buy them for obvious reasons. Can spend over $10 on them for my 5 kids! These mini pizzas are great for freezing. Also, I baked some of the mini crusts untopped: prick it all over with a fork, lowered the temp to 425 for 3 min, flipped them and baked for another 3 minutes. Now we can make our own pizza kits!
Jessica Fisher
Great idea to make lunchables!
Jennifer
Whenever my kids have friends over we do individual pizzas. I put all the topping in separate bowls and they get to create their own pizza. They love it.
Micha
Perfect timing. Really, how did you know pizza is on the menu? I will be doing this because we all like different things on our pizza.
Jessica
@Micha, it’s Friday night, isn’t it?
Deborah
Can you share a little more about what you put on the ones you freeze, when in the process you freeze them, and how you store them? I’m thinking this could be a great thing for us but I’d love to know more about how you recommend going about it. Thanks so much, for this and for all your great posts!
Jessica
I simply cool the extra pizzas, wrap in foil and stick them in a freezer bag to freeze. To reheat, I find it best to thaw completely and then reheat in a 350 oven for about 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted. You could nuke them, but the crust will be rubbery.
Deborah
@Jessica, Thank you so much for the information! (Had your baked chicken tonight for dinner and love your recipes!) Thanks again.
Jessica
@Deborah, thanks for your kind words!
Becca
do you freeze them after you cook them then just toss int he microwave to warm???
Jessica
@Becca, cool completely after baking, wrap in foil and slip into a freezer bag. Then thaw and reheat in a 350 oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
Tiffany @ DontWastetheCrumbs
We make homemade pizza every Friday night and love it. I did a post once, breaking down the cost of making our own vs. ordering out – a HUGE difference, plus it was damage control on our digestive systems. It’s a family affair, and hope it is a memory for the kids as they get older.
I hadn’t thought about freezing pizzas… that may be an option as we get further into homeschool. Thanks Jessica & Cherie for the idea!
http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/03/homemade-vs-take-out-pizza-friday/
Jessica
@Tiffany @ DontWastetheCrumbs, I froze small pizzas long before homeschooling. LOL. I just like pizza.
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents
You’ve given me a craving! When I was growing up, my mom would make these but use biscuit dough instead of pizza dough. Yum! I think I’ll have to make some…soon.
cherie
LOL your homeschooling brain is showing. Slices of foil wrapped frozen pizza are a prime lunchbox element here!
That said I have a batch of Artisan Pizza in 5 dough in the fridge which will become some smaller pizzas tonight – leftover meatloaf will substitute for meatballs for the girls, canned mushrooms for the boy, not sure what will float my boat.
Will have to ask my feta-chomper if she’d like some of that on her pie!