These amazing, cheesy Garlic Butter Pizza Cupcakes are the easiest Super Bowl snack or kid-friendly dinner! You can whip up this savoury muffin recipe in under 60 minutes, and they are perfect for grab-and-go eating. For a real homemade touch, grab my quick, simple 4-ingredient Italian pizza crust recipe, too!
🍽️ 12 Muffins | ⏳ Prep: 20 Minutes | ⏱️ Cook: 35 Minutes | 🥖 Savory Baked Good
Kids love seeing something new yet familiar. This recipe makes homemade pizza easy enough for a Tuesday night, and who can resist individual food? These pizza muffins are already portioned, hot, and ready to grab-simply the best.
We're making a big batch of easy pizza muffins baked in a cupcake liner and drizzled with buttery garlic sauce. They're delicious, incredibly fun to make, and a total winner for a simple kid-friendly recipe or a brilliant Super Bowl snack.
They turn out golden brown, fluffy, and loaded with a garlicky, cheesy bite. If you love individual baked goods, you should also try my recipe for savoury Turkish boat-shaped flatbread.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Totally Simple: It uses store-bought dough or my super-easy pizza dough recipe. No complicated shaping needed!
- Fast Prep: You can have these layered and in the oven in 20 minutes.
- Great for Appetisers: They are the perfect size for individual easy appetisers. No cutting or plates needed!
- Highly Customizable: You can switch up the meats and cheese to suit any preference.
- Ultimate Comfort Food: All the gooey, cheesy delight of your favourite pizza, but in a handheld, fluffy muffin form.
🥘 Ingredients
*See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- For the pizza dough, store-bought works perfectly if you're short on time, but my 4-Ingredient Italian Pizza Dough Recipe gives these muffins a softer, fresher texture.
- Use mozzarella cheese in two ways - shredded for easy layering and a block for small cubes if you want gooey pockets of melted cheese inside. Both melt beautifully, but mixing them gives the muffins a great texture.
- Choose a good tomato sauce or a thick marinara so it stays in place and doesn't make the dough soggy.
- Butter adds richness and helps the muffins bake up golden and soft, especially when brushed on top with garlic and parsley.
- Always go for fresh garlic - it brings that unmistakable homemade aroma once baked.
- Finely chop fresh parsley to mix with the butter and garlic. It gives a nice pop of colour and freshness.
- For optional meats, salami, ham, pepperoni, or cooked sausage all work well. Just make sure they're pre-cooked and cut into small pieces so the muffins hold their shape nicely.
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♻️ Substitutes & Variations
These garlic butter pizza muffins are super easy to change up!
- Dough Swap: If you don't want to work with pizza dough, try using canned biscuit dough! Cut each biscuit into four pieces and layer the pieces instead of the small dough circles.
- Cheese Change: Swap mozzarella for a mix of cheeses. Provolone, parmesan, and cheddar cheese all work beautifully in this kid-friendly recipe.
- Meatless: Skip the meat entirely! Instead, add chopped sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, or a small amount of finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes for extra depth.
- Spicy Kick: Add a few pinches of red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce or sprinkle a little on top of the muffins before baking for a gentle heat.
- Seafood Lover's: Skip the pepperoni and use a spoonful of filling from my easy tuna pizza filling instead.
👩🍳 How To Make Easy Homemade Pizza Muffins
Love kid-friendly recipes? You have to try my healthy baked cornflake chicken next! They're simple to make, comforting, and perfect for a weekend treat. Explore more healthy handheld snacks for kids in my collection!
Step 1: Place parchment paper, add grated cheese, then press the dough on top.
Step 2: Add more mozzarella, a spoonful of tomato sauce, and fillings like ham or pepperoni.
Step 3: Add another dough circle, then top with mozzarella and tomato sauce.
Step 4: Place the pizza muffin into a muffin tin mould and drizzle with garlic butter, parsley mix.
Step 5: Let the muffins rest in a warm spot for 10-15 minutes, while you preheat your oven.
Step 6: Bake until golden and bubbly. Cool slightly before removing from the tin-you'll get 12 cheesy pizza muffins, perfect for sharing or snacking.
*See the recipe card for detailed instructions.
Pro Tip: If you're not using paper liners, I want to make sure your pizza cupcakes don't stick. After you lightly grease the bare muffin cups with garlic butter, sprinkle a tiny pinch of cornmeal or semolina flour in the bottom of each cup. I think you'll find this gives you a guaranteed non-stick base and a perfectly crispy pizza crust texture.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
These easy appetisers are basically a meal in a muffin, but here are some ideas for pairing them:
- Dipping Sauce: Serve with an extra bowl of warmed marinara sauce for dipping. You can never have too much sauce! Or pair them with some juicy Italian meatballs recipe..
- On the Side: A simple side salad or some celery and carrot sticks with ranch dressing creates a balanced plate.
- Full Meal: Pair them with a bowl of warm, creamy roasted tomato soup for a cosy and complete weeknight dinner.
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❓Easy Homemade Pizza Muffins FAQs
Yes, pizza muffins are an excellent make-ahead option. You can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. They are perfect for lunch boxes and can be eaten cold or gently reheated. They also freeze well for up to 3 months. My high-protein turkey meatballs for meal prep are also perfect for packed lunches.
You can customise them with your favourite pizza toppings. Popular additions include:
Meats: Diced ham, pepperoni, salami, cooked Italian sausage, or chorizo.
Vegetables: Finely chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, black olives, onions, spinach, or grated courgette. For best results, pat vegetables dry to prevent the batter from getting soggy.
For a delicious, cheesy centre, try stuffing them. Take a portion of pizza dough, flatten it, place a cube of mozzarella or a tablespoon of shredded cheese in the centre, then pull the dough around the cheese, pinching to seal it into a ball before baking. This creates a surprise cheesy centre in every bite.
Yes, you can use canned biscuit dough for a shortcut! Many recipes use flaky biscuits as the base for a quicker version.
For the best, crispiest texture, reheat your leftovers in an air fryer at 320°F (160°C) for 3-5 minutes or a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes. This will melt the cheese and make the edges perfectly crisp. Using a microwave is quick, but it will give you a much softer texture.
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📖 Recipe
Garlic Butter Pizza Cupcakes: Easy Homemade Pizza Muffins
Equipment
- Muffin tin
- Muffins liners or parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough use store-bought or make my 4-Ingredient Italian Pizza Dough Recipe
- 14 oz mozzarella cheese shredded is best for layering
- 1 cup tomato sauce or a classic marinara
- 7 tablespoon butter (¾ stick)
- 2 large garlic cloves freshly minced is best
- ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- * optional meats as desired - salami, pepperoni or mini pepperonis, ham, or precooked sausage work great
Instructions
- Start with the dough. If you're using homemade pizza dough, let it rise for 60 minutes until doubled in size. Store-bought works too-just bring it to room temperature so it's easy to shape.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F / Gas Mark 4) so it's nice and hot when you're ready to bake.
- Melt the butter, then stir in minced garlic and chopped parsley. Set the mix aside-you'll brush it on later for that buttery finish.
- Line a 12-cup muffin tin with parchment squares or muffin liners. Add a spoonful of shredded mozzarella to each cup.
- Pinch off small bits of dough, press into circles, and place one piece over the cheese. Add more mozzarella, a spoon of tomato sauce, and your choice of fillings-ham, salami, or pepperoni all work great.
- Cover with another dough circle, then top with a bit more mozzarella, tomato sauce, and a drizzle of garlic butter parsley mix.
- Let the muffins rest in a warm spot for 10 minutes, then bake for 35 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Cool for a few minutes before removing them from the tin. You'll get 12 cheesy pizza muffins-perfect for sharing or snacking.
Video
Notes
Bake muffins in a single layer at 350°F (180°C) for 10-12 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Storage & Reheating:
- Refrigeration: Store cooled muffins in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Freeze baked muffins in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheating: Warm in an air fryer at 320°F (160°C) for 3-5 minutes, or in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 5-10 minutes for crispiness. Avoid microwaving if you want a crunchy crust.
Melinda says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Claudia Ciorteanu says
Awesome! Thanks so much for letting me know. It makes my day to hear that.
Tisha says
These Garlic Butter Pizza Muffins are a fun, handheld twist on pizza! My family loved it!
Claudia Ciorteanu says
Right? They're such a fun way to do pizza night. So glad your crew loved them!
Kiki says
Low-key obsessed... it's like all the pizza goodness in little bite-size bombs.
Claudia Ciorteanu says
Low-key obsessed... that's the best compliment! 😄 I totally agree—they really are the perfect little bite-size bombs of pizza goodness, aren't they? So glad you're loving them!
Clare says
These were great! We served them as a side to tomato soup, and both myself and my husband couldn't get enough! We couldnt even finish the soup - we just wanted to eat these pizza muffins! So good.
Claudia Ciorteanu says
That is such fantastic feedback—I love hearing that! 😂 It sounds like those Pizza Muffins definitely stole the show. They make an awesome side, but honestly, who can resist a warm, garlic butter crust? I totally get why you skipped the soup!
Sandy P says
My family loved this!
Claudia Ciorteanu says
Awesome! My family goes crazy for them too—so much easier than passing around a pizza cutter!
Leslie says
Really enjoying this easy homemade pizza muffin recipe. It's so fun for the kids and tastes amazing!
Claudia Ciorteanu says
Leslie, that's fantastic! So glad you and the kids are enjoying them. They're a staple in our house too!
Swathi says
Garlic butter pizza muffins is delicious I have tried, twice already, so good.
Claudia Ciorteanu says
Wow, twice already, Swathi?! That's the ultimate compliment! So thrilled you're loving them.
Deborah says
I made these vegan by subbing vegan mozzarella and vegan butter. So delicious.
Claudia Ciorteanu says
That's brilliant! 🤩 I'm so glad you figured out the perfect way to make them vegan. The fact that they still turned out so delicious with the vegan mozzarella and butter sub is a huge win!
Krystle Smith says
I love how easy it is, you don't need any fancy ingredients, just good dough, cheese, garlic butter, and whatever toppings you like.
Claudia Ciorteanu says
That's exactly right!
I am so glad you find this easy recipe a fantastic, fuss-free snack. The beauty is truly in the simplicity of that good dough, garlic butter, and making them your own with whatever toppings you have on hand. Thank you for the great feedback!
Paula says
These pizza muffins were epic! I loved every bite.
Claudia Ciorteanu says
That's wonderful to hear! I am so happy you found the pizza muffins "epic" and loved every bite. It's an easy recipe, and I'm thrilled it was such a hit for you!
Claudia Ciorteanu says
My family loved this!