Mini Pizzas in GARLIC BREAD cups, made in a muffin tin! Don’t laugh when you see what I use to cut the rounds. It works! That’s what matters!
These mini pizzas were an invention out of necessity. I had friends with kids around and had planned to make mini pizzas. For the kids, that is. (OK that’s a lie. For us grown ups too).
In typical form, I thought I was super duper organised, whirling around the kitchen with the music pumping, preparing the food for lunch. Only to realise at the last minute that I had forgotten to buy frozen pastry for the mini pizzas. I didn’t even have tortillas or any flatbread around to use instead. And I definately didn’t have time to make my own pastry.
But I did have BREAD! And that’s how these mini pizzas came to be a regular in my “party food” repertoire. 🙂 See how easy they are to make?
I told you I cut the rounds out weirdly! It’s just the tin from canned tomatoes – a large tin (28oz/800g), not a small one. I’m not one of those ultra-thrifty-repurpose-everything types. I use the tin to cut the rounds because the size is PERFECT to make deep dish pizzas in muffin tins! I don’t even know if you can buy pastry cutters that size. All the round pastry cutters I have are too small to make rounds for muffin tins.
The extra little step of brushing the bread with garlic butter is so worth it. It makes the crust beautifully golden and really makes it taste like a cross between garlic bread and pizza. I don’t know about you, but when I order pizza, it goes without saying that garlic bread has to be ordered too. Pizza without garlic bread would be like having sausage rolls without sauce. It’s just not the “done thing”. 😉
These work well for making in advance. Bake them a little less so the cheese isn’t too golden brown, let them cool, then you can reheat them on a baking tray – just 5 minutes in the oven does the trick.
Yum! I know this is more of a party food, but I’d happily have these for DINNER too! (Problem is, I’d eat way too many of them…) – Nagi x
Everything Pizza!
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Garlic Bread Mini Pizzas (Muffin Tin)
Ingredients
- 12 slices white sandwich bread , fresh (Note 1)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 garlic cloves , crushed
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (Note 2)
- 1/4 cup red onion , finely diced
- 1/3 cup mushroom , finely chopped
- 3/4 cup grated cheese , melting (I used a mix of mozzarella and tasty, equal amounts)
- 1/4 cup sliced small pepperoni (Note 3)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Use a large empty can (800g/28oz canned tomato can) to cut out rounds from the bread. (Note 4)
- Mould into a muffin tin.
- Place butter, garlic and salt in a microwave-proof bowl or mug and microwave in 30 second increments until the butter is melted.
- Brush cups with butter, ensuring you use the garlic too.
- Divide the pizza sauce between the cups, then top with onion and mushrooms.
- Top with cheese then with pepperoni.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bread is golden on the edges.
- Serve warm!
Recipe Notes:

Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Oh dear, Dozer. You can wait and hope. But they will not fall. 🙁
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Hi, these look great for the kids’ lunchboxes! Just wondering if they can be frozen and the reheated in the oven, or would the base turn soggy by freezing?
Any pizza cutter works (I don’t even know what a pastry cutter is!)
Amazing..
I made these for my daughter’s birthday party over the weekend and they were a huge hit. Super yummy (I snuck a few myself). For those looking for ideas on what to do with the leftover holey bread, I made egg-in-hole for the family the next day. Thanks, Nagi!!!
I did the shortcut version of not cutting the rounds so they didn’t look as pretty as yours 😂I have no words for how delicious these are!! Soooo yummy!! My only complaint is that I could probably eat an entire loaf of bread when made this way 🤣
Thanks for another fantastic recipe
Any pizza cutter works (I don’t even know what a pastry cutter is!)
hi nagi!
what can i do with leftover bread from the garlic bread mini pizza. i hate to waste food.
thanks!
Hi Laura, you can freeze it, use bread for bread and butter pudding, let it go stale then chuck it in the food processor to make breadcrumbs – there are so many options! N x
wow thank you for the tips!
by the way, my husband and i not only love the mini pizzas but we devoured them 😁
p.s. i found you during christmas. received tons of compliments on potlucks. friends wanted recipes but i don’t want to share 😆. i did share them with family though. my husband is so impressed with my cooking! 🏆 wife! thanks to you Nagi!
These are amazingly yummy, made them for a bunch of teenagers and they disappeared in seconds
GREAT RECIPES, especially the pull apart crack bread.. thank you.
As an aside, instead of white bread for this recipe, I would make a pizza dough instead Yes, I know it’s more work, lol.
Definitely 5 stars.
Thank you Fred!!! This would be amazing with homemade dough….. 🙂
These look soooo good! How do these taste cold? We’re having a party soon at a park and I’m looking for some easy savouries to make and I’d love to make them, but wondering if they’re still nice not being warmed up?
Hi!! I really feel that anything with melted cheese is better warm but they are still yum at room temperature!
Really cute little pizzas. I love them. I will make them on the weekend when I have some friends over.
YES DO!!! I was going to share a pinwheels recipe soon too 🙂 Even faster to make, SO GOOD!
i used a mini muffin pan and a shot glass with a wider rim. i was able to get 2 rounds from each slice! these were perfect! thanks again
WOO HOO!! SO GLAD you enjoyed it Kim, thank you for letting me know! N x
LOVE this recipe! I used white sauce and pesto in place of the red sauce for a more “grown-up” version and topped with mozzorella, carmelized onions and diced prosciutto. Delish! Thanks so much for the idea!
Oooh!! You totally fancied it up Teresa, love it!!
The perfect canape Nagi. Sure hope Doza got one
PS He never gets one! When will he learn??
Thank you so much Tania!! N x
Don’t you just love how some of the best recipes are created when you don’t have something you need? Love how quick and easy this comes together. My husband caught a glimpse of your photo from across the couch and I don’t know whether I should love you or not, but now take a wild guess what I am in my kitchen whipping up now… LOL Sending smoke signals now!
HOW many batches are you making?? How will you satisfy the appetites in your household??!! 😉 N x
Hi Nagi, this is Fran from G’day Souffle’, looking at your blog for the first time. Your recipe looks ideal for a kid’a party and reminds me that you can use bread for so many recipes (my favourite being Bread and Butter Pudding)!
Hello Fran! Lovely to hear from a fellow Aussie 🙂 I OVE Bread and Butter Pudding too!! I recently made it with choc chips in it – it was SO GOOD!! 🙂
These look great!! One question though, after they are partially cooked, could they be frozen? And then reheated from frozen? It would be so convenient to have a stash of these in the freezer for unexpected company, or just a quick lunch! Thanks!
Hi Dona! Yup, they sure can! I’ve got directions in the notes for how to freeze them, I just bake them – as you say – until the cheese is just melted. Cool then freeze. Then bake on a tray. 🙂
Sometimes… necessity creates the best recipes doesn’t it?!? And these are so flipping cute!!! ADORBS!!! Where on earth did you get those cute little pepperonis! Love this! I have some french bread I need to use up…I may be having to make these… And getting the munchkin to help!
What do you mean re: pepperoni?? I thought you had them in the US!! I was just chatting to my friend about them!
So smart I would have never thought of that! And they sound delicious 🙂
Thanks so much!! Invention out of necessity! 🙂
These are fantastic, Nagi, and adaptable to many flavor variations. I rarely have white bread around so will have to get a loaf and freeze it!
Thanks Marlene! It’s not fancy, but it IS a handy idea I think! 🙂 N x Enjoy your weekend!
That dog though! We just adopted an 8 month old collie/shepherd and…frankly…she’s kicking my butt. But so worth it. These pizzas are a great way to use bread that may be a bit past its prime, too. Bread is just about the only thing that goes bad in this house. Gonna try ’em this weekend.
Ohhhhhh…..I had a collie growing up! They are the BEST! They are so much smarter than retrievers 🙂 He would know that sitting under the table wouldn’t do anything, he would be much smarter about it, like doing tricks to get my attention!!!