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back to school pepperoni pizza lunchbox muffins - featured image

Back to School Pepperoni Pizza Lunchbox Muffins

  • Author: Grace
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 12 muffins 1x

Description

These easy-to-make pizza muffins are perfect for busy weeknights and lunchboxes, combining all the deliciousness of pizza into a portable, mess-free muffin that kids love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried oregano, basil, thyme mix)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup (240ml) milk (whole or 2%, or unsweetened almond/oat milk for dairy-free)
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) olive oil
  • 1 cup (100g) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup (about 28 slices) pepperoni, chopped
  • ¼ cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup (120ml) marinara or pizza sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
  2. Chop pepperoni into small pieces and shred mozzarella if needed.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk milk, egg, and olive oil until smooth.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined; do not overmix.
  6. Fold in shredded mozzarella and chopped pepperoni, reserving some for topping.
  7. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups, filling about ¾ full.
  8. Optionally, drop a spoonful of marinara sauce into the center of each muffin and swirl lightly with a toothpick.
  9. Sprinkle reserved cheese and pepperoni on top of each muffin.
  10. Bake for 18-22 minutes until tops are golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  11. Cool muffins in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  12. Serve warm or at room temperature, with extra marinara sauce for dipping if desired.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to keep muffins tender. Use fresh baking powder for best rise. Muffin liners make cleanup easier but greasing the pan well helps crisp bottoms. Freeze cooled muffins individually wrapped for up to 3 months. Reheat in microwave or toaster oven with a dab of butter or olive oil to restore freshness. Customize with veggies, different meats, or dairy-free alternatives as desired.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 muffin
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 2
  • Sodium: 450
  • Fat: 8
  • Saturated Fat: 4
  • Carbohydrates: 18
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 8

Keywords: pepperoni pizza muffins, lunchbox muffins, kid-friendly pizza, easy pizza recipe, make-ahead muffins, freezer-friendly snacks

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Find it online: https://mealiko.com/back-to-school-pepperoni-pizza-lunchbox-muffins-easy-recipe-for-busy-weeknights/