These Deep Dish Mini Pizzas are a fun and easy lunch or snack that toddlers and kids love. Baked in a muffin tin, they come out perfectly golden and just the right size for little hands. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner, a party snack, or something new for the lunchbox, these mini pizza cups are endlessly customizable and always a hit. Use whatever dough, sauce, and toppings you have on hand—they’re easy to adapt and even more fun to make with kids helping in the kitchen. My kids love to help add the cheese and all the toppings. They’re way more likely to actually try it if they help make it.

Why Deep Dish Mini Pizzas are Great for Toddlers

1. Kid-Friendly and Fun: Toddlers adore foods they can pick up and eat with their hands. These mini pizzas are perfectly sized for little fingers, making mealtime an interactive and enjoyable experience.
2. Customizable: One of the best aspects of these pizzas is that they’re highly customizable. You can let your toddler choose their favorite toppings, encouraging them to be adventurous with different ingredients.
3. Nutrient-Packed: You have control over the quality of ingredients, allowing you to incorporate nutritious toppings like veggies and lean proteins. It’s an excellent way to sneak in those essential nutrients.

---

Ingredients

• 1 can of crescent dough (or other pizza dough)
• 3/4 cup pizza sauce
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
• Optional toppings: pepperoni, olives, onions, green peppers, spinach, mushrooms, etc.

---

How to Make Toddler Pizza

1. Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it’s warming up, you can get your pizza ingredients ready.
2. Prepare the Dough: Open your can of crescent dough and carefully unroll it. If you’re using pizza dough, you can roll it out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
3. Cut the Dough: Using a knife or a pizza cutter, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces.
4. Shape the Dough: Place each dough piece into the bottom of a muffin tin, pressing it to form a cup shape that will hold the toppings.
5. Add Sauce and Toppings: Spoon a small amount of pizza sauce into each dough cup, followed by a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese. Now, here’s where you can get creative! Let your toddler add their favorite toppings to each mini pizza.
6. Bake: Pop the muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 13 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
7. Cool and Serve: Allow the mini pizzas to cool slightly before serving. Be cautious as the cheese will be hot! Once they’re safe to handle, serve up these yummy crescent dough pizza cups for your whole family to enjoy.

Substitutions

Dough:

• Use crescent dough, pizza dough, biscuit dough, or even puff pastry.
• For a gluten-free version, choose a gluten-free pizza dough or make your own using a gluten-free mix.

Cheese:

• Mozzarella is classic, but shredded cheddar, provolone, or a dairy-free cheese all work.
• Get rid of the cheese or use a dairy-free alternative for a dairy-free option.

Sauce:

• Use store-bought pizza sauce, marinara, pesto, or even a spoonful of crushed tomatoes.
• For picky eaters, try blending in a little cooked carrot or spinach to boost nutrition without changing the flavor.

Toppings:

• Keep it simple with just cheese, or add chopped veggies, mini pepperoni, or finely diced cooked chicken.
• Let kids add their own toppings before baking for a fun DIY twist.

---

Storing Extra Deep Dish Mini Pizzas

If you happen to have any leftover mini pizzas, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, simply pop them in the oven for a few minutes to regain their crispy texture. These mini pizzas are also perfect for freezing. Place them in an airtight container or a freezer bag, and they can be stored for up to three months. To reheat from frozen, bake them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for around 10-12 minutes. This makes them a fantastic make-ahead snack or meal option for busy days.

---

Common Questions

Can I make these deep dish mini pizzas gluten-free?

• Yes! Just use a gluten-free pizza dough or biscuit dough. Check that your sauce and toppings are also gluten-free if needed.

Can I make them dairy-free?

• Absolutely. Use your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese or skip the cheese entirely and add extra sauce and toppings.

Do I have to use a muffin tin?

• The muffin tin gives these pizzas their deep-dish shape and helps portion them out, but you can also make them as small flatbreads on a baking sheet. Just press the dough into circles and top as usual—bake time may be slightly shorter.

---

More Easy Toddler Meal Ideas

Oven-Baked Spaghetti – This Oven-Baked Spaghetti is a cozy, family-friendly meal that turns classic spaghetti night into a hands-off, oven-ready dish. Made with a simple tomato sauce, layered with pasta and cheese, it bakes into a bubbly, comforting casserole that’s easy to slice and serve to toddlers. Great for leftovers and meal prep!

Garlic Parmesan Pasta – Garlic Parmesan Pasta is a creamy, toddler-approved dish made with just a few pantry staples. It’s buttery, cheesy, and lightly flavored with garlic—perfect for kids who like mellow, familiar flavors. Serve it on its own or with a side of veggies for a quick and satisfying lunch or dinner.

Avocado Pasta – Avocado Pasta is a creamy, no-cook sauce made from ripe avocado, lemon, and olive oil, blended until smooth and tossed with warm pasta. It’s packed with healthy fats, naturally dairy-free, and comes together in minutes for a bright and nutritious toddler meal that feels like comfort food.

Broccoli Cheese Pinwheels – These Broccoli Cheese Pinwheels are a tasty way to serve veggies to toddlers! Made with crescent dough, finely chopped broccoli, and melty cheese, they bake into golden spirals that are easy to hold and fun to eat. Great for lunchboxes, picky eaters, or snack time.

Ravioli Lasagna – Ravioli Lasagna is the ultimate shortcut dinner—just layer frozen or fresh ravioli with sauce and cheese, then bake until bubbly. No boiling pasta or assembling layers from scratch. It’s an easy, comforting meal the whole family (especially toddlers!) will love, and it freezes beautifully too.

---

Tag me @reallittlemeals if you’ve tried this deep dish mini pizza recipe! I’d love to see your yummy creations!