Quick & Easy English Muffin Pizza: Perfect for a Weeknight Dinner!
English muffin pizzas are a classic, quick, and customizable meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights, after-school snacks, or even a fun weekend lunch. They’re incredibly easy to make, require minimal ingredients, and can be tailored to suit everyone’s tastes. This recipe provides a basic framework, but feel free to experiment with different toppings, cheeses, and sauces to create your own signature English muffin pizza.
## Why English Muffin Pizzas are Awesome
* **Speed:** Ready in under 20 minutes, making them a lifesaver on busy days.
* **Easy:** Even kids can make them! Simple steps and minimal cooking skills required.
* **Customizable:** Endless topping combinations to satisfy every craving.
* **Affordable:** Uses pantry staples and inexpensive ingredients.
* **Portion Control:** Built-in portion control with each muffin.
* **Fun:** A great activity to get kids involved in the kitchen.
* **Versatile:** Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks.
* **Freezer-Friendly:** Make a batch and freeze for a quick meal later.
## Ingredients You’ll Need
* **English Muffins:** The foundation of our pizza! Choose your favorite brand and variety (plain, whole wheat, sourdough, etc.).
* **Pizza Sauce:** Use your preferred pizza sauce, marinara sauce, or even pesto. Jarred or homemade works perfectly.
* **Cheese:** Mozzarella is the classic choice, but feel free to experiment with cheddar, provolone, Monterey Jack, or a blend of cheeses.
* **Toppings:** The possibilities are endless! Some popular options include:
* Pepperoni
* Sausage (cooked and crumbled)
* Mushrooms (sliced)
* Bell Peppers (diced)
* Onions (diced)
* Olives (sliced)
* Spinach (fresh or frozen, thawed and squeezed dry)
* Tomatoes (diced)
* Pineapple (diced, for those who dare!)
* Jalapeños (sliced, for a spicy kick)
* Cooked Chicken or Ham (diced)
* **Optional:**
* Olive Oil (for brushing the muffins)
* Garlic Powder
* Italian Seasoning
* Red Pepper Flakes
* Fresh Basil (for garnish)
## Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a detailed guide to making the perfect English muffin pizzas:
**1. Prepare the English Muffins:**
* Split the English muffins in half. You should now have two halves per muffin.
* Optional: Lightly brush the cut sides of the muffins with olive oil. This will help them crisp up nicely in the oven or toaster oven.
**2. Sauce It Up:**
* Spread a generous spoonful of pizza sauce (or your sauce of choice) onto each muffin half, covering the entire surface.
* Don’t overdo it with the sauce, or the pizzas might become soggy.
**3. Cheese Please!**
* Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese over the sauce. Use as much or as little as you like, depending on your cheese preference.
* A good starting point is about 1/4 cup of shredded cheese per muffin half.
**4. Add Your Favorite Toppings:**
* Now comes the fun part! Arrange your desired toppings over the cheese. Be creative and don’t be afraid to mix and match.
* Make sure the toppings are evenly distributed so that each bite is flavorful.
* If using heavier toppings like sausage or lots of vegetables, you might want to add a second layer of cheese on top to help hold everything in place.
**5. Bake or Toast:**
* **Oven Method:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the English muffin pizzas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the muffins are lightly toasted.
* **Toaster Oven Method:** Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the English muffin pizzas directly on the toaster oven rack (or on a small baking sheet if your toaster oven is prone to drips). Toast for 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the muffins are lightly toasted. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
* **Broiler Method (Use with caution!):** For a quicker cooking time and extra bubbly cheese, you can broil the pizzas for 1-2 minutes, watching them very carefully to prevent burning. Place the pizzas on a baking sheet and position them on the top rack of your oven, about 6 inches from the broiler. Broil until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. This method requires constant supervision!
**6. Cool and Serve:**
* Carefully remove the pizzas from the oven or toaster oven and let them cool for a minute or two before serving.
* Garnish with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, or a sprinkle of Italian seasoning, if desired.
* Enjoy your delicious and easy English muffin pizzas!
## Tips and Tricks for Perfect English Muffin Pizzas
* **Toast the Muffins First:** For extra crispy English muffins, lightly toast them before adding the sauce and toppings. This will prevent them from becoming soggy.
* **Use Room Temperature Ingredients:** Allowing your sauce, cheese, and toppings to come to room temperature will help them cook more evenly.
* **Don’t Overload the Toppings:** Too many toppings can make the pizzas heavy and difficult to handle. Less is often more!
* **Pre-Cook Certain Toppings:** Cooked meats like sausage and bacon should be pre-cooked before adding them to the pizzas. This ensures that they are heated through properly.
* **Squeeze Out Excess Moisture:** If using vegetables like spinach or mushrooms, squeeze out any excess moisture before adding them to the pizzas. This will prevent the pizzas from becoming soggy.
* **Use Parchment Paper:** Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper makes for easy cleanup and prevents the pizzas from sticking.
* **Get Creative with Sauce:** Don’t limit yourself to just pizza sauce! Try using pesto, BBQ sauce, Alfredo sauce, or even a spicy marinara for a unique flavor.
* **Experiment with Cheese:** Mozzarella is the classic choice, but feel free to experiment with other cheeses like cheddar, provolone, Gruyere, or a blend of cheeses.
* **Make it Gluten-Free:** Use gluten-free English muffins to make this recipe gluten-free.
* **Make it Vegetarian/Vegan:** Load up on veggies and use vegan cheese alternatives to create vegetarian or vegan English muffin pizzas.
* **Freeze for Later:** Prepare the pizzas (without baking) and freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag or container. When ready to bake, simply bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time. Freezing is great for meal prepping and quick weeknight dinners.
* **Using Air Fryer** Air fryers are great options for cooking english muffin pizzas. Preheat your air fryer to 350F(175C) and cook the english muffin pizza for 5 to 7 minutes.
## Variation Ideas
Here are some fun and delicious variations to try:
* **Pepperoni Pizza:** The classic! Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni slices.
* **Margherita Pizza:** Pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves.
* **Hawaiian Pizza:** Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, ham, and pineapple.
* **Veggie Pizza:** Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and olives.
* **Meat Lovers Pizza:** Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ham.
* **BBQ Chicken Pizza:** BBQ sauce, mozzarella cheese, cooked chicken, red onion, and cilantro.
* **Buffalo Chicken Pizza:** Ranch dressing, mozzarella cheese, cooked chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, and blue cheese crumbles.
* **Pesto Pizza:** Pesto sauce, mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts.
* **Breakfast Pizza:** Scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, bacon or sausage, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
* **Dessert Pizza:** Nutella, sliced bananas, strawberries, and a dusting of powdered sugar.
## Nutritional Information (Approximate)
*Note: Nutritional information will vary depending on the specific ingredients and toppings used.*
* Calories: 200-300 per pizza
* Protein: 10-15 grams
* Fat: 8-15 grams
* Carbohydrates: 20-30 grams
* Fiber: 2-4 grams
## Recipe Card
**English Muffin Pizza**
**Prep Time:** 5 minutes
**Cook Time:** 8-12 minutes
**Total Time:** 13-17 minutes
**Yield:** 4 servings (8 pizza halves)
**Ingredients:**
* 4 English muffins, split in half
* 1/2 cup pizza sauce
* 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
* Your favorite toppings (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives, etc.)
* Optional: Olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, fresh basil
**Instructions:**
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) or your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Split the English muffins in half. Optional: Lightly brush the cut sides with olive oil.
3. Spread pizza sauce evenly over each muffin half.
4. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
5. Add your desired toppings.
6. Bake for 8-12 minutes in the oven or 5-8 minutes in the toaster oven, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the muffins are lightly toasted. If broiling, watch carefully for 1-2 minutes.
7. Let cool for a minute or two before serving. Garnish with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, or Italian seasoning, if desired.
8. Enjoy!
## Final Thoughts
English muffin pizzas are a fantastic way to enjoy a quick, easy, and delicious meal. With endless topping possibilities, you can create a pizza that’s perfect for your taste buds. So, gather your ingredients, get creative, and have fun making these delightful mini pizzas! They are easy enough that kids can help with preparation and customizing the ingredients to meet everyone’s needs or just cleaning out the pantry.
Enjoy making and eating your English muffin pizzas.