Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza Muffins Recipe
These Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza Muffins offer a fun, portable twist on the classic deep-dish pizza. With a golden crust, gooey layers of provolone, mozzarella, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses, savory Italian sausage, sweet peppers, and tangy pizza sauce baked inside muffin tins, these muffins capture the flavors of Chicago-style pizza in individual servings. They’re perfect for a snack, party appetizer, or an easy dinner option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 pizza muffins 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Muffin Base
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 (16 oz) package pizza dough
Fillings
- 4 oz provolone cheese, diced
- ¾ cup cooked, crumbled Italian sausage
- ½ cup cooked, diced sweet peppers
- 4 oz mozzarella cheese, grated
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- ¾ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the pizza muffins.
- Prepare Muffin Tin: Lightly brush or spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough evenly to about ¼ inch thickness, large enough to cut into 12 roughly equal pieces.
- Line Muffin Cups: Press each piece of dough into the bottom and sides of the muffin cups, forming a dough cup to hold the fillings.
- Layer Fillings: Start by placing diced provolone cheese evenly into each dough cup, followed by the crumbled Italian sausage, then cooked sweet peppers.
- Add Sauces and Cheeses: Spoon about a tablespoon of pizza sauce atop the fillings in each cup, then sprinkle grated mozzarella, and finish with a generous topping of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the pizza muffins to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before carefully removing them with a knife or small spatula. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute Italian sausage with pepperoni or mushrooms for a different flavor profile.
- Make sure to fully cook the sausage and peppers before assembling to ensure even cooking inside the muffins.
- Use fresh pizza dough for best results; frozen dough can be used if thawed properly.
- These muffins are best served warm but can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
- If desired, add fresh basil or oregano on top before baking for extra aroma and taste.
Keywords: Chicago deep dish, pizza muffins, appetizer, Italian sausage, cheesy pizza bites, party food, handheld pizza
