Description
These Pizza Bites are a fun and delicious appetizer that combines gooey mozzarella cheese, spicy pepperoni, and flavorful garlic butter in a crispy, golden dough pocket. Perfect as a party snack or a kid-friendly treat, they bake quickly and serve with warm pizza sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Pizza Bites
- 2 pounds pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 24 small cubes
- 24 pepperoni slices
Garlic Butter Topping
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt, a large pinch
Garnish and Dipping
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan, for garnish
- 1 cup pizza sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Heat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease an 11.5-inch deep dish pie pan or a large cast iron skillet to prevent the bites from sticking.
- Cut Dough into Squares: Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle. Use a pizza cutter to slice it into 24 evenly sized squares, arranged in 6 rows and 4 columns.
- Assemble Pizza Bites: Place a cube of mozzarella cheese and one pepperoni slice in the center of each square. Pinch and seal the edges tightly around the filling to form a small ball, ensuring no filling leaks out.
- Arrange and Brush with Garlic Butter: Place each dough ball seam-side down in the prepared pan. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and a generous pinch of kosher salt. Brush this flavorful garlic butter mixture evenly over the tops of the dough balls.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the pizza bites turn golden brown on top and the dough is cooked through.
- Garnish and Serve: Once baked, sprinkle fresh chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese over the pizza bites. Serve warm with a side of warmed pizza sauce for dipping.
- Enjoy and Share: Enjoy these delightful pizza bites as a snack or appetizer. If you loved the recipe, don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating and review!
Notes
- Make sure to seal the dough edges well to prevent cheese from leaking during baking.
- Use a sharp pizza cutter or knife to get clean, even squares.
- These bites can be made ahead and reheated in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle additional Italian seasoning on top before baking if desired.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
