The Kitchn: How to make pizza bites for a crowd
Occasions when having this dish in your back pocket is handy: post-game Little League gatherings, movie nights, midnight study sessions, football playoff parties, birthdays bashes -- need I go on? If you've got a pizza-loving crowd, this appetizer is there for you. Here's how to put it together.
Use low-fat mozzarella
There are few occasions when I actually recommend low-fat cheese, but this is one of them. Look for low-fat, low-moisture mozzarella cheese -- don't get fancy. This cheese holds its shape better in the heat of the oven and stays neatly contained within the ball of dough. Anything else tends to bubble out of the bread and you miss out on the cheesy middle.
Take the time for sauce
I think it's worth it to make the simple tomato sauce for this recipe. You can substitute canned or jarred sauce if you're in a rush, but with all the other shortcuts, I like the flavor and texture of a sauce you make yourself. It doesn't add much time, and it can simmer on the stove while you assemble the pizza bites.
Serve it up
Nestle those pizza bites down in the sauce, right in the pan, and bake until the sauce is bubbling and the tops of the bites are browned. Serve it straight from the pan, but be sure to let them cool a bit first! When the pan is cool enough to safely touch, and the bites themselves are no longer quite so steamy, then you can carry it to the table and let the crowd dive in.
Pizza Bites
Serves 8 to 10 as an appetizer
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