Muffin Pan Pizzas

“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have yet to be discovered.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

...and I have discovered many of these prolific plants this weekend and am looking for their virtues!

Muffin Pan Pizza-Kid Friendly

This recipe appealed to me on several levels: 

It can be served an appetizer as well as a main meal
It is a unique way to bake a pizza crust 
The muffin pan pizza can be assembled and cooked within 30 minutes

Only 5 ingredients are needed

It can be versatile depending on the ingredients you use

Ingredients:

• 1 jar of pizza sauce
• 1 refrigerated tube pizza crust
• crumbled meat
• Parmesan cheese and Colby Jack cheese or mozzarella cheese

Cook's notes: The recipe has been adapted from cuisineathome.com May/June 2013 

A 12 muffin cup pan is good for appetizers and you will need 2 pans same size

 If using the recipe as a main meal use the 6 cup muffin tins and will need 2 pans same size 

Directions:

• Preheat oven 450
• Purchased pizza dough in a tube should be at room temperature
• Spray the inside of the cups of a 12 cup or 6 cup muffin pan and the outside of a second 12 cup or 6 cup muffin pan
• If making 12 pizzas divide dough into 12 round ball pieces with floured hands
• If making 6 pizzas divide dough into 6 round ball pieces with floured hands
• Flatten dough balls and form dough around the outside cups

Invert the second muffin pan and press over the shaped dough

6 cup muffin pan-bake @ 450 for 8 minutes  

12 cup muffin pan bake @450 6 minutes

Remove inverted pan and place pizza muffin cups back in oven for 2 minutes

Remove and fill each muffin cup with 1-2 TB pizza sauce, crumbled Italian sausage or pepperoni, grated ColbyJack cheese and Parmesan cheese

Return to oven and bake 12 cups muffin cups 8 minutes or 6 cup muffin cups 7 minutes

Watch carefully to make sure crust does not overcook  

I thought this was a great easy meal for a holiday weekend which left me more time for gardening.