Split Muffin Pepperoni Pizza

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Recently, I made split-muffin pepperoni pizza, something I used to make for my daughters when they were young.

I recall one year I made split-muffin pepperoni pizzas for Kendra’s birthday party and served them to her and her friends.

It’s a cheap, filling way to have pizza without having it delivered or picked up.

Just split an English muffin in half. I toasted mine to give it a sturdier surface before I added the toppings.

Then I put together an easy, no-frills split-muffin pizza. I toasted mine to give it a sturdier surface before I added the toppings.

After toasting, I spread pizza sauce across the surface. Then I added about three pepperoni slices to each, along with bits of red onion to give them a bolder flavor.

I topped it with mozzarella cheese and cooked it in my countertop convection toaster oven. In a short time, I had crisp and slightly browned mini pepperoni pizzas. And they tasted so good with a side salad I made.

Pizza is a treat in many children’s diets. If you ask them what they want for supper, you’ll often hear them say: “Pizza!”

Split muffin pizzas are a frugal way to serve them pizza. Using a split English muffin as a base, you don’t even have to make or purchase pizza dough. You can keep English muffins in the freezer for standby.

What is an English Muffin?

An English muffin is a small, round, flat yeast-leavened (sometimes sourdough) bread. It is typically about 4 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches tall. It is usually split horizontally and served toasted.

Rather than being entirely oven-baked, they are also cooked on a stovetop griddle and flipped from side to side. This results in a flattened shape rather than the rounded top seen in baked rolls or cake-type muffins.

Who Invented the English Muffin?

Samuel Bath Thomas invented the English muffin. A British ex-pat, he emigrated to New York City in 1874. By 1880, he had his own bakery in the neighborhood now known as Chelsea. That’s where he invented what he called a “toaster crumpet.”

A crumpet is defined in the Cambridge Dictionary as a small, round, cake-like bread with holes on one side, eaten hot with butter. Baking soda is used in the batter to generate air pockets on top when cooked.

The Thomas English muffins were both flatter and drier than crumpets. Since baking soda was omitted from his recipe, his holes were on the inside of his product, not the top.

English Muffin Pepperoni Pizza:

A split English muffin pizza is one of the easiest meals you can make. It’s perfect for lunch, a quick dinner, or an afternoon snack, and it’s ready in about 15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 English muffin, split into 2 halves
• 2–4 tablespoons pizza sauce
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Your favorite toppings, such as:
  • Pepperoni
  • Cooked sausage
  • Mushrooms
  • Bell peppers
  • Onions
  • Black olives
  • Spinach
  • Fresh basil
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Italian seasoning
  • Red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions for Split Muffin Pepperoni Pizza

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). You can also use a toaster oven or air fryer.
2. Toast the English muffin for 2–3 minutes before adding toppings. This helps keep the crust crisp instead of soggy.
3. Spread the sauce evenly over each muffin half.
4. Add the cheese generously over the sauce.
5. Top with your favorite ingredients, and add the cheese.
6. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Air Fryer Method

• Preheat to 375°F.
• Cook for 5–7 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the muffin is crispy.

Easy Pizza Combinations

• Pepperoni: Mozzarella and pepperoni.
• Veggie: Mushrooms, peppers, onions, and olives.
• Meat Lover’s: Pepperoni, sausage, and bacon.
• Margherita: Mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil.
• BBQ Chicken: BBQ sauce, cooked chicken, red onion, and mozzarella.

Tips for the Best English Muffin Pizza

• Toast the muffin before topping for extra crispness.
• Use freshly shredded mozzarella for the best melt.
• Don’t use too much sauce, or the muffins may become soggy.
• Sprinkle a little Italian seasoning or garlic powder on top before baking.
• Finish with grated Parmesan or fresh basil after baking for extra flavor.

These mini pizzas freeze well, too. Assemble them without baking, freeze on a baking sheet until firm, then store in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen at 400°F for 12–15 minutes whenever you need a quick homemade meal.