Pizza is a classic comfort food that many of us adore, and with good reason. The crust, tomato paste, and cheese combination is a staple at fast-food chains and gourmet restaurants. And if you’re making it yourself, it can be as fancy or as basic as you like. 

But pizza isn’t always the best choice for an appetizer if you’re cooking for a crowd — it’s more of a meal. Fortunately, this is where pizza puffs come in. This delightful finger food tastes like pizza but comes in a cute puff pastry that’s easy to grab and eat without a plate. 

Here’s everything you need to know about this small, delicious treat.

Why should you try homemade pizza puffs?

So what are pizza puffs? They’re a small, muffin-shaped pastry filled with all the toppings you find on a pizza, served with pizza sauce on the side for dipping.

One of the main selling points of these pizza puffs — beyond their savory taste — is that they’re easy to make. These innovative pizza bites can feed a large crowd, and they’re bite-sized for convenient snacking. They’re less labor-intensive than a traditional homemade pizza recipe, too.

Pizza puffs function as a yummy appetizer that can be tailored for your guests’ preferences. You can create a salty blend of bacon, pepperoni, and sausage for the meat-lovers among your family and friends or stick with veggie-friendly ingredients. Their versatility makes them well-suited for different events and occasions, like a game-day party or a quick snack for the kids after school. 

Another reason you should consider this pizza puff recipe? It’ll be a welcome diversion from traditional pizza when you need to switch it up. 

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What ingredients do you need to make pizza puff snacks?

*Recipe adapted from The Country Cook

Prep time: 15–30 minutes

Cooking time: 20–25 minutes

Total time: 35–55 minutes

Servings: 24 pizza appetizers

With these pepperoni pizza puffs, you can get a bit creative, so we’ve divided this section into two parts: ingredients you’ll need and optional components. Omit the pepperoni if you want to keep it vegetarian.

Ingredients you need

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• 1 cup of finely chopped pepperoni

• 1 egg, pre-whisked

• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese (you can mix mozzarella with other cheeses like shredded parmesan to add a different flavor)

• One-half tablespoon of Italian seasoning

• One-half teaspoon of garlic powder, or 2 small garlic cloves, minced

• One-half teaspoon of basil

• One-half teaspoon of oregano

• Three-quarter cup of all-purpose flour

• Three-quarter teaspoon of baking powder

• Three-quarter cup of milk

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Optional ingredients

• Bacon

• Crushed red pepper flakes

• Finely chopped Italian sausage

• Finely chopped bell peppers

• One-half cup of pizza sauce or marinara sauce for dipping

Tools

• A 24-slot mini muffin pan (if you don’t have one, two 12-slot muffin tins will do) 

• Bowls for mixing and holding ingredients 

• Non-stick kitchen spray

All right, let’s dive into this delicious pepperoni pizza puffs recipe.

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How to make pizza puffs

1. Assemble your items on the counter, including necessary ingredients, optional toppings, and your tools.

2. Preheat the oven to 375–400°F. Pick the temperature that will work best for your oven and how it distributes heat.

3. Spray your muffin tin with non-stick spray, making sure to adequately cover all sides, so the pizza puffs don’t stick. 

4. While you’re waiting for the oven to heat up, slice your pepperoni and dice your other ingredients, then set them aside.

5. Mix your flour, baking powder, salt, and Italian seasoning together in another bowl. If you’re using garlic powder and red pepper flakes at this stage, add them, too. 

6. Beat your egg in a separate bowl, then add your milk and stir them evenly into the mix. 

7. Add in the rest of your toppings to the bowl: the shredded cheese, diced pepperoni, and any optional toppings that you want to include. Mix thoroughly.

8. Once complete, let the mixture sit for 10 minutes.

9. Spoon the pizza puff mixture into the muffin tin, dividing it equally between the slots.

10. Bake the pizza puffs for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. You can check if the pizza puffs are done by sticking a toothpick into the center of the muffin. If the toothpick comes out clean with no moist mixture on it, the pizza puffs are done.

11. Remove the pizza puffs from the oven, and let them cool to room temperature. Serve with pizza sauce or marinara sauce as a dip. Or try a different condiment as a dip.

Nutrition information

Per 1 pizza puff:

• Calories: 60

• Carbohydrates: 4g

• Protein: 3g

• Saturated fat: 2g

• Trans fat: 1g

Finishing up

And there you have it: a nice, easy appetizer for pizza lovers. If you want to freeze these pizza puffs for later, let them cool, then place them in an airtight container inside the freezer. Pull them out and reheat them in the oven whenever you want a tasty treat.

Do you need some cooking supplies before you make this recipe? Order online through Gopuff and have your groceries delivered right to your door.