Mini English Muffin Pizzas for Kids

ByJamie

These personal-sized pizzas give kids control over their meal while creating an interactive dinner experience. The English muffin base provides the perfect canvas for creativity, and you can sneak in extra nutrition without anyone noticing.

Ingredients

  • 4 whole wheat English muffins, split in half
  • 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Optional toppings: pepperoni, diced bell peppers, mushrooms, olives
  • Olive oil spray

Instructions

Step 1: Prep for Pizza Making Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Split English muffins and arrange cut-side up on the baking sheet.

Step 2: Create the Base Lightly toast muffin halves for 3-4 minutes until just starting to brown. This prevents soggy bottoms.

Step 3: Let Kids Build Their Pizzas Set up a pizza bar with sauce, cheese, and toppings. Let each child spread sauce on their muffin halves and add their chosen toppings. This gives them complete control over their meal.

Step 4: Add Secret Nutrition While kids are building, you can sneak tiny diced vegetables under the cheese on willing participants’ pizzas. Microscopic bell pepper pieces or mushrooms often go unnoticed.

Step 5: Bake to Melted Perfection Bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Pro Tips for Success

  • Keep Options Simple: Offer 3-4 familiar toppings to avoid overwhelming choices
  • Make Extra: Kids often want seconds of their creations
  • Involve Everyone: Even picky eaters enjoy the building process
  • Set Boundaries: Establish reasonable topping amounts to prevent overload

Sneaky Nutrition Boosts

  • Mix pureed vegetables into the pizza sauce
  • Use whole wheat English muffins for extra fiber
  • Add protein powder to the sauce for extra nutrition
  • Hide microscopic vegetables under generous cheese coverage

Make-Ahead Tips

Assembled pizzas can be frozen for up to 2 months. Freeze on baking sheets, then transfer to freezer bags. Bake directly from frozen, adding 3-5 extra minutes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

These mini pizzas prove that giving kids control over their food often leads to more adventurous eating!

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