Name: Mini Veggie Pizza Bites
Ingredients: 1 (13.8 oz) can Refrigerated Pizza Dough: The convenient base for our bites. Choose classic or thin crust based on preference. Allows for quick assembly.; ½ cup Pizza Sauce: Use your favorite store-bought marinara or pizza sauce, or a simple homemade version. Look for one with good flavour depth.; 1 ½ cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella melts beautifully and gives that classic pizza pull. You can also use a pizza blend.; ¼ cup Finely Diced Red Bell Pepper: Adds a touch of sweetness and vibrant color. Ensure it’s diced small for even distribution on the mini bites.; ¼ cup Finely Diced Green Bell Pepper: Provides a slightly more vegetal flavour and another splash of color.; ¼ cup Finely Diced Red Onion: Offers a mild sharpness that complements the other veggies. Dice finely to avoid overwhelming bites.; ¼ cup Sliced Black Olives: Adds a salty, briny kick characteristic of many pizzas. Canned sliced olives work perfectly.; ¼ cup Sliced Mushrooms (optional): Cremini or button mushrooms, thinly sliced or finely chopped, add an earthy depth.; 1 tablespoon Olive Oil: For brushing the dough, helps create a golden crust and adds flavour.; 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning: A blend of dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary that provides quintessential pizza flavour.; Salt and Black Pepper to taste: To enhance all the flavours.; Optional: Grated Parmesan Cheese: For sprinkling on top before or after baking for an extra salty, nutty flavour boost.; Optional: Cornmeal: For dusting the baking sheet to prevent sticking and add a slight crunch to the bottom crust.

Ingredients

Scale

1 (13.8 oz) can Refrigerated Pizza Dough: The convenient base for our bites. Choose classic or thin crust based on preference. Allows for quick assembly.
½ cup Pizza Sauce: Use your favorite store-bought marinara or pizza sauce, or a simple homemade version. Look for one with good flavour depth.
1 ½ cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella melts beautifully and gives that classic pizza pull. You can also use a pizza blend.
¼ cup Finely Diced Red Bell Pepper: Adds a touch of sweetness and vibrant color. Ensure it’s diced small for even distribution on the mini bites.
¼ cup Finely Diced Green Bell Pepper: Provides a slightly more vegetal flavour and another splash of color.
¼ cup Finely Diced Red Onion: Offers a mild sharpness that complements the other veggies. Dice finely to avoid overwhelming bites.
¼ cup Sliced Black Olives: Adds a salty, briny kick characteristic of many pizzas. Canned sliced olives work perfectly.
¼ cup Sliced Mushrooms (optional): Cremini or button mushrooms, thinly sliced or finely chopped, add an earthy depth.
1 tablespoon Olive Oil: For brushing the dough, helps create a golden crust and adds flavour.
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning: A blend of dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary that provides quintessential pizza flavour.
Salt and Black Pepper to taste: To enhance all the flavours.
Optional: Grated Parmesan Cheese: For sprinkling on top before or after baking for an extra salty, nutty flavour boost.
Optional: Cornmeal: For dusting the baking sheet to prevent sticking and add a slight crunch to the bottom crust.

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Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. If desired, sprinkle the parchment paper or greased sheet with a thin layer of cornmeal.
Prepare the Vegetables: Ensure all your chosen vegetables (bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, olives) are washed, dried, and finely diced or sliced. Having them prepped and ready in small bowls makes assembly much easier. The smaller the dice, the better they will fit and cook on the mini pizza base.
Prepare the Pizza Dough: Open the can of refrigerated pizza dough and unroll it onto a lightly floured surface. If the dough is very thick, you might want to gently roll it slightly thinner with a rolling pin (aim for about ¼ inch thickness), but avoid making it too thin.
Cut the Pizza Bites: Using a round cookie cutter (approximately 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter), cut out as many circles from the pizza dough as possible. You can re-roll the scraps gently once to cut out a few more circles, but be mindful that overworked dough can become tough.
Arrange on Baking Sheet: Carefully transfer the dough circles onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.
Brush with Olive Oil: Lightly brush the top surface of each dough circle with olive oil. This helps the crust become golden and adds a layer of flavour.
Add the Sauce: Spoon a small amount of pizza sauce (about ½ to 1 teaspoon) onto the center of each dough circle, spreading it out slightly but leaving a small border around the edge.
Sprinkle with Seasoning: Lightly sprinkle the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper over the sauce on each pizza bite.
Add the Cheese: Sprinkle a generous pinch of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce on each bite.
Top with Veggies: Carefully distribute the finely diced vegetables (bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, olives) evenly over the cheese on each mini pizza. Avoid overloading them, as this can make them soggy or prevent even cooking.
Optional Parmesan: If using, sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese over the tops of the veggies.
Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and puffed, and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. Keep a close eye on them, as cooking time can vary depending on your oven and the thickness of the dough.
Cool Slightly: Once baked, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the Mini Veggie Pizza Bites cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack or serving platter. This allows the cheese to set slightly and prevents burns.

Nutrition

Serving Size: one normal portion
Calories: 220