Originally posted: September 9, 2019
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These mini pizza pies are a crazy easy kid’s dinner or handheld snack on the go.
Need a quick dinner fix? We turn to these Mini Pizza Pies when hunger strikes and we need dinner on the table fast!
Finding an easy dinner or snack food at the store that isn’t loaded with preservatives and ingredients is hard. So hard, in fact, that it’s often easier to just create something entirely at home.
Sure it’s easy to resort to frozen pocket pizza pies at the market. We’ve done that plenty of times. But sometimes it actually can be quite easy to make your favorite supermarket finds right at home.
That’s how I came up with this Mini Pizza Hand Pie recipe, and I’m so glad that I did. This is one meal that my children ask for over and over again.
What I really enjoy about creating this pizza recipe is that it’s made using 4 easy ingredients. What that means for me is that it’s quick and simple to do and I know that I can create them without a ton of time or effort. It’s also a fun recipe idea to get kids cooking in the kitchen!
How Can Kids Help Make this Mini Pizza Pie Recipe?
They can roll out the dough, cut out the circles, stuff the pies, etc. So many easy and doable steps for little hands in the kitchen. My children love to be helpers in the kitchen so they really enjoy the fact that they can have a part in creating their own snack or dinner!
The other reason that this recipe rocks is that it’s kid-friendly in terms of palate. What kid doesn’t like pizza? Yes, I know there are a few kids who don’t, but there’s a reason why pizza is what you see at most kids’ birthday parties. It’s a universal favorite kid food!
How do Pizza Hand Pies Compare to Store-bought Pocket Pies?
As mentioned I’ve had store-bought pizzas like Hot Pockets many times and I’ll be the first to admit that this pizza pie recipe sweeps them under the rug! Yes, it’s really that good! And so easy to make you can’t just try it at least once.
Also since each mini pizza is created individually, you can alter them for each child’s palate. My son actually prefers cheese only pizza and my daughter pepperoni so I make them with and without easily in the same batch.
Can you Make these Mini Pizza Pies Gluten-free?
Since I’m just using ready-made pie dough, check your store and see if they have a pre-made gluten-free dough. If they do, you’re in luck! Once you have that down, you just need to make certain your other ingredients are gluten-free as well. Cheese, pizza sauce, and pepperoni already are so if you make this version you’re good.
What Type of Cheese Would you Use in this Pizza Pie Recipe?
Honestly, any type of cheese that your child likes. Mozzarella is always a big hit, but you can add any other shredded cheese blend that you want. You can even mix and match!
If an adult is eating these, keep in mind that there are spicy or fancier cheeses out there that could be a fun addition, too! A brie or camembert, for example, would make a wonderful addition to your small pizza pie, in order to elevate it a bit for adult tastes.
MINI HOMEMADE PIZZA PIES – INGREDIENTS
- Refrigerated Pie Crust (of course you can always make your own but ready-made pie crust is such a time saver!) (we love the Trader Joes brand)
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Small Pepperoni Slices
- Marinara or Pizza Sauce
- Egg Wash (optional for a golden crust)
- 75″ round cookie cutter
As you can see, just 4 simple ingredients make a super simple dinner or an awesome snack. You can even send leftovers for a kid’s lunch the next day.
And if there are extra ingredients that you’d love to have in your mini pizza pie, go ahead and add it! These little wonders can fit in a few olives, jalapenos, sliced mushrooms, peppers and tomato. Maybe not all of it at once, but you can put different ingredients in each, and make every single bit an exciting one!
NOTES:
I did not give ingredient amounts because I realize not everyone will use the same pie crust as I did and so total filling amounts will differ. Please refer to the approximate filling per mini pie cut out using a 2.75 inch round cookie cutter below in the recipe card.
Also note the mini pies are heavy on crust, but adding more sauce to the inside will just cause it to bubble out. To combat this issue, we serve these handmade mini pizza pies with a side of warm marinara or pizza sauce for dipping!
How Do you Store Leftover Mini Pizza Hand Pies?
While I doubt that you’ll have any leftover, simply store them in a sealable plastic bag or an airtight container and place them in the fridge. Once it’s time to eat them, reheat them in the microwave until warm, or better yet, in a toaster or oven for the best results. That way, these pizza pies will taste just as fresh and delicious as when they were just made.
Mini Pizza Hand Pies
Equipment
- 2.75 inch round cookie cutter
Ingredients
- Ready-made refrigerated pie crust We use Trader Joe's brand. It's 22oz and makes approximately 15 mini pies, 2.75" wide each.
- Pizza sauce reserve extra for dipping
- Mozzarella cheese
- Mini pepperoni
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out your pie crust to about 1/4" thick on a lightly floured surface.
- 2. Cut rounds with your 2.75" wide round cookie cutter. Lay on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet, 12 to a pan. Reserve leftover rounds to place on another baking pan.
- 3. On top of each pie round, add about a tablespoon of pizza sauce. Top with a tablespoon of cheese and a few pieces of mini pepperoni. We used 3 per pie.
- 4. Add a second pie round to the top and crimp the edges shut with a fork.
- 5. Beat an egg and brush an egg wash over the pies to give them a golden crust.
- 6. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-22 minutes. They are ready when golden on top and sauce is starting to bubble out. Remove and cool slightly before eating.
Notes
Ready to Make this Awesome Pizza Pie Recipe with Pie Crust?
Now that you’ve had all your questions answered, you should be ready to make these delicious little pizza pies! Your whole family is sure to fall in love with this recipe, so get ready to add them to your regular rotation. And best of all, they can be changed each and every time you make them, to always keep them interesting!
For dessert, why not try apple fruit lollipops or fruit yogurt parfaits? After all, the kids will already be having fun in the kitchen, so don’t kick them out just yet. The healthy fruit desserts will also help balance out their diet so that your family can have the best of both.
More Dinner Pies Recipes to Try
Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.
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