🍕 Pizza Puffs
Cheesy, garlicky, and loaded with pepperoni, these Pizza Puffs are a fun handheld twist on classic pizza. Soft pizza dough is stuffed with tangy pizza sauce, gooey mozzarella, and savory pepperoni, then baked until puffed and golden and brushed with a fragrant garlic-Parmesan butter.
They’re perfect for parties, game day, after-school snacks, or an easy family dinner.
⏱ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18–22 minutes
Total Time: About 45 minutes
Yield: 12–16 pizza puffs
Difficulty: Easy
🛒 Ingredients
🍕 Pizza Puffs
- 1 lb (450 g) pizza dough
- 1 cup (240 ml) pizza sauce
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 oz (225 g) pepperoni, sliced or chopped
🧄 Garlic-Parmesan Butter
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley, optional
Preparation
🔥 1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or butter.
For larger puffs, use a jumbo muffin pan.
🧄 2. Make the Garlic-Parmesan Butter
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, Parmesan, sea salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, dried oregano, and chopped parsley.
Stir well and set aside.
This mixture will be used both to flavor the dough and to finish the baked pizza puffs.
🍕 3. Prepare the Dough
Place the pizza dough on a lightly floured work surface.
Divide it into approximately 12–16 equal portions, depending on how large you want the puffs.
Roll each portion into a small ball.
Flatten each piece into a small round, approximately 4 inches (10 cm) wide.
🧀 4. Fill the Pizza Puffs
Place approximately 1 teaspoon pizza sauce in the center of each dough round.
Add a small handful of mozzarella.
Top with chopped or sliced pepperoni.
Be careful not to overfill—the filling needs room to stay inside when the dough is sealed.
🥟 5. Seal the Dough
Carefully bring the edges of the dough up around the filling.
Pinch the seams firmly together to completely enclose the filling.
Roll gently between your hands to create a smooth ball.
Place each stuffed dough ball seam-side down into the prepared muffin tin.
Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
🧈 6. Brush with Garlic Butter
Generously brush the tops of the pizza puffs with the garlic-Parmesan butter.
Reserve a little for brushing on after baking.
🔥 7. Bake
Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 18–22 minutes, or until the dough is puffed, cooked through, and golden brown.
The mozzarella should be melted and bubbling inside.
If the tops brown too quickly, loosely cover the pan with foil during the final few minutes.
🧄 8. Finish with More Garlic Butter
Remove the pizza puffs from the oven.
While they’re still hot, brush them generously with the remaining garlic-Parmesan butter.
Sprinkle with a little extra Parmesan and parsley if desired.
⏲️ 9. Cool Briefly
Allow the pizza puffs to cool in the muffin tin for approximately 5 minutes.
The cheese and sauce inside will be extremely hot immediately after baking.
Carefully remove the puffs and serve warm.
🍕 Serving Suggestions
Serve these with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
They’re also delicious with:
- Garlic butter
- Ranch dressing
- Marinara sauce
- Hot honey
- Spicy marinara
- Creamy garlic dip
Pair them with a simple green salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Don’t Overfill
Too much sauce or cheese can cause the filling to burst through the dough during baking.
Seal the Seams Well
Pinch the dough firmly so melted cheese doesn’t escape.
Use Room-Temperature Dough
Dough that’s had a little time to warm up is easier to stretch and seal.
Chop the Pepperoni
Small pieces distribute the pepperoni more evenly throughout each puff.
Let Them Rest
A few minutes of cooling makes them easier to handle and prevents anyone from burning their mouth on molten cheese.
🌶️ Easy Variations
Supreme Pizza Puffs
Add finely diced bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives.
Meat Lover’s
Combine pepperoni with cooked crumbled sausage, bacon, or ham.
Buffalo Chicken
Replace the pepperoni with cooked shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce.
Garlic Cheese Puffs
Skip the pepperoni and add mozzarella, Parmesan, and a little provolone.
Hawaiian
Add finely chopped ham and pineapple.
Spicy Pepperoni
Add crushed red pepper flakes or sliced jalapeños.
🧊 Storage
Allow the pizza puffs to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
🔥 Reheating
For the best texture:
Oven: 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes
Air fryer: 350°F (175°C) for 4–6 minutes
Avoid microwaving for too long because the dough can become chewy.
❄️ Freezing
Allow the baked pizza puffs to cool completely.
Place them on a baking sheet and freeze until firm.
Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.
Freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat directly from frozen in a 350°F (175°C) oven or air fryer until heated through.
🍕🧄 Recipe Summary
These Pizza Puffs are everything you love about pizza in a soft, poppable package—pillowy pizza dough stuffed with tangy sauce, gooey mozzarella, and pepperoni, then finished with buttery garlic, Parmesan, and Italian herbs.
They’re easy to customize and perfect for dipping.
Grab one while they’re hot—they disappear fast! 🍕🧀🔥