Easy Pepperoni Bites
These Pepperoni Bites are a delicious kid-friendly recipe made with quinoa, garlic, pepperoni, onion, and cheese served with a flavorful tomato dipping sauce.
I am sharing this healthier recipe for pepperoni pizza bites with you today from my friend, Lauren, over at LaurenKellyNutrition. This kid-friendly meal came from her “The Everything Wheat-Free Diet Cookbook” and let me tell you, it’s fantastic! My kids said that these pizza cups were (in their words) “super delicious!!” and my husband and I loved them, too!
The flavors blend beautifully and they really do taste like a pepperoni pizza sans excess calories and gluten. The texture is perfect and Lauren’s accompanying pizza sauce recipe is perfect for dipping them or smearing on top. I love all of the nutritious ingredients in these cups and how easy they were to throw together. This will be a regular in our meal rotation!
Quinoa Pepperoni Pizza Bites
from “The Everything Wheat-Free Diet Cookbook” by Lauren Kelly, CN
Makes 12 cups
Ingredients:
1 cup cooked quinoa
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup nitrate-free pepperoni, diced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup finely minced mushrooms
1 tsp oregano, diced
1 tsp basil, dried
1/2 tsp paprika, dried
1/2 tsp fennel seed
2 large eggs
1/2 cup grape tomatoes, diced
1 tsp tomato paste
*Easy pizza sauce for dipping (recipe below)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin tray with nonstick cooking spray. Place all the ingredients, except pizza sauce in a medium-size mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly to combine. Pour the quinoa mixture into muffin tins. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Let stand for 5-10 minutes to cool before serving. Serve with easy pizza sauce for dipping.
Easy Pizza Sauce
from “The Everything Wheat-Free Diet Cookbook” by Lauren Kelly, CN
1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped ( I used two small)
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 (15oz) can tomato tomato sauce
1 (6oz) can tomato paste
1 tbsp ground oregano
1 tsp ground basil
1/2 tsp turbinado sugar (I used 2 tbsp coconut sugar here)
1/2 tsp salt Directions:
In a skillet over medium heat, place the oil, garlic, and onions. Simmer until they soften, about 2-3 minutes. In a medium bowl, mix together tomato sauce and tomato paste until smooth. Stir in oregano, basil, sugar, and salt. Add the cooked garlic and onions and stir. Makes sauce for about 4 (10″) pizzas.
Easy Pepperoni Bites
Ingredients
- For Quinoa Cups:
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup nitrate-free pepperoni diced
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup finely minced mushrooms
- 1 tsp oregano diced
- 1 tsp basil dried
- 1/2 tsp paprika dried
- 1/2 tsp fennel seed
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grape tomatoes diced
- 1 tsp tomato paste
- pizza sauce for dipping (recipe below)
- For Pizza Sauce:
- 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1-2 cloves garlic finely chopped ( I used two small)
- 1/2 medium onion finely chopped
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1 tbsp ground oregano
- 1 tsp ground basil
- 1/2 tsp turbinado sugar I used 2 tbsp coconut sugar here
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- For Quinoa Cups:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a muffin tray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place all the ingredients, except pizza sauce in a medium size mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly to combine.
- Pour the quinoa mixture into muffin tins.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5-10 minutes to cool before serving.
- Serve with easy pizza sauce for dipping.
- For Dipping Sauce:
- In a skillet over medium heat, place the oil, garlic and onions. Simmer until they soften, about 2-3 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, mix together tomato sauce and tomato paste until smooth. Stir in oregano, basil, sugar and salt. Add the cooked garlic and onions and stir.
- Makes sauce for about 4 (10″) pizzas.
Nutrition
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I love those! So cute and healthy and kid friendly!
Thank you Bree!
These are great! I make them with whatever I have around so the flavours vary but they are great every time. I often serve them with soup for dinner. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad that you love the recipe! They would be so good with a bowl of tomato soup!!