Is there a more welcome sight than a freshly baked pizza arriving at the dinner table? It’s a moment of pure culinary delight. Now, imagine you could capture that same magic, scale it down into delightful, personal-sized portions, and hide a wonderful secret of molten cheese inside the crust. Well, we’re here to show you how! Let’s explore the delicious world of the Homemade Mini Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza. This recipe is all about leaving the expensive takeaways behind and creating a fun, engaging, and utterly scrumptious meal in your own kitchen.

This is far more than just a recipe for pizza; it’s an experience to be shared. We’ve developed these little marvels to be straightforward enough for a midweek meal yet special enough for a gathering or a weekend family bake-off. So, it’s time to roll up those sleeves, get the oven warming up, and prepare to make the most fantastic stuffed crust pizzas you’ve ever had.

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

• Ideal Individual Servings: These mini pizzas are perfectly sized for one, which means no more squabbles over the last piece! They’re fantastic for managing portions and are a brilliant addition to lunchboxes.
• A Joyful Kitchen Activity: We think this is an excellent kid-friendly pizza recipe. Little ones will have a wonderful time helping to shape the dough, arrange the cheese strings, and pile on their chosen toppings. It’s a superb way to bring the family together.
• Guaranteed Cheesiness to the End: The cheese-filled crust elevates these pizzas from great to truly exceptional. The warm, gooey mozzarella tucked into the crust ensures a delightfully cheesy finish with every single bite.
• Endless Topping Possibilities: The real joy of homemade pizza lies in the freedom to make it just the way you want. Whether you favour a classic pepperoni, are a veggie enthusiast, or like to experiment with toppings, each mini pizza can be a unique creation.
• Kind to Your Wallet: Crafting your own pizzas is considerably more economical than ordering out. You have complete control over the ingredients, allowing you to use up what’s in the fridge and help reduce food waste.

Ingredients

• 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 x 7g sachet of fast-action dried yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 300ml warm water
• 8 mozzarella string cheese sticks (or a block of firm mozzarella cut into batons)
• 150ml passata or your favourite pizza sauce
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 200g grated mozzarella cheese (for topping)
• Your choice of toppings (e.g., pepperoni slices, chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, sweetcorn, olives)
• A little cornmeal or semolina for dusting the baking tray (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Mini Pizzas

We have organised the method into clear, easy-to-follow stages. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced home baker or a total beginner; you’ll find this recipe a complete doddle. Let’s begin!

Step 1: Prepare the Pizza Dough

A truly great pizza starts with its base. While using a shop-bought dough is a brilliant time-saver, we find that making your own is immensely satisfying and much easier than you might think. For anyone wishing to learn the process from scratch, the BBC Good Food guide to pizza dough is a superb resource.

1. In a spacious mixing bowl, stir together the strong white bread flour, yeast, salt, and caster sugar. Form a small well in the middle of the dry ingredients.
2. Pour the warm water and olive oil into the well. With a wooden spoon or your hands, begin to incorporate the flour mixture into the liquid until a rough dough comes together.
3. Turn the dough out onto a surface that’s been lightly floured. Knead it for around 10 minutes, until it feels smooth and elastic. A good test is to press it gently with a finger; it should spring back.
4. Pop the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel or cling film, and let it prove in a warm spot for about an hour, or until it has doubled in volume.

Step 2: Shape and Stuff the Crusts

This is where the real fun begins! With your dough perfectly risen, it’s time to form our mini pizza bases and pack them with that cheesy goodness.

1. Preheat your oven to 220°C (200°C Fan/Gas Mark 7). Lightly dust a large baking sheet with flour or a little cornmeal.
2. Gently punch the air out of the risen dough and tip it back onto your floured work surface. Divide it into eight equal portions.
3. Take one portion of dough and roll it into a circle with a diameter of roughly 15cm (6 inches).
4. Cut your mozzarella string cheese into lengths that can be placed around the circumference of the dough circle, ensuring you leave a 1cm border.
5. Gently fold the dough’s border over the pieces of cheese, pressing down firmly to encase the cheese completely. This is the most important step for creating perfect stuffed crust pizza bites and ensuring no cheese escapes as it bakes!
6. Carry on with this process for the other seven pieces of dough.

Step 3: Assemble and Bake Your Homemade Cheesy Pizza

Now that the bases are ready, it’s time for the creative part: adding the sauce, cheese, and toppings. This is a brilliant moment for the kids to get involved and design their own pizzas.

1. Arrange your prepared mini pizza bases on the baking tray.
2. Spoon a tablespoon or two of pizza sauce onto the centre of each base, spreading it out to the inner edge of the stuffed crust. A sprinkle of dried oregano adds a lovely, classic Italian flavour.
3. Scatter the grated mozzarella generously over the sauce.
4. Now for the toppings! This is your chance to let your imagination soar. Once they are topped to your satisfaction, the pizzas are ready for the oven.
5. Bake for 12–15 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the crust is a beautiful golden brown, the toppings are cooked through, and the cheese is gloriously bubbly.
6. Let them rest for a minute or so before serving. Be mindful that the cheese inside the crust will be extremely hot!

Topping Ideas and Customisations

The greatest thing about this homemade mini cheese stuffed crust pizza recipe is its flexibility. You can stay true to the classics or venture into new and exciting flavour pairings. Here are some of our suggestions to inspire you:

• Classic Margherita: Keep things wonderfully simple with sauce and mozzarella, finished with a few fresh basil leaves after it comes out of the oven.
• Pepperoni Feast: For a timeless crowd-pleaser, add a generous amount of pepperoni slices.
• Veggie Supreme: Pile on the goodness with sliced peppers, red onion, sweetcorn, mushrooms, and black olives.
• Chicken Creations: Make use of leftover shredded chicken for a satisfying, protein-rich topping. For a more refined flavour, why not add chicken from another recipe? The chicken from this Bruschetta Chicken would offer a delicious, tangy twist.

If you’re on the lookout for more simple and tasty family dinners, we think you’ll also adore our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe, which is another certified hit for a busy weeknight.

FAQ

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Pizza Night

And there you have it – a simple, enjoyable, and unbelievably tasty recipe for the ultimate homemade cheesy pizza night. These miniature stuffed crust pizzas are more than just a meal; they represent an opportunity to create wonderful, lasting memories with your family in the kitchen.

By recreating the pizzeria experience at home, you gain full control over the ingredients, can customise the flavours to everyone’s liking, and savour that incredible taste of a fresh pizza straight from the oven. We’re quite sure this will become your new favourite recipe for parties, family dinners, or any time you fancy a bit of cheesy indulgence.

Have you had a go at making our homemade mini cheese stuffed crust pizza? We would be delighted to see your results! Please share your pictures and topping combinations in the comments section below. Happy cooking!

Recipe Card

Prep: 20 mins (+ 1 hr proving)
Cook: 15 mins
Yields: 8 mini pizzas

Ingredients

• 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 x 7g sachet of fast-action dried yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 300ml warm water
• 8 mozzarella string cheese sticks
• 150ml passata or your favourite pizza sauce
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 200g grated mozzarella cheese (for topping)
• Your choice of toppings (e.g., pepperoni slices, bell peppers, mushrooms)
• A little cornmeal or semolina for dusting the baking tray (optional)

Instructions

1. Make Dough: In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Add the warm water and olive oil, and combine until a rough dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
2. Shape & Stuff Crust: Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C Fan). Divide the risen dough into 8 equal portions. Roll each into a 15cm (6-inch) circle. Place mozzarella string cheese around the circumference, leaving a small border. Fold the border over the cheese and press firmly to seal completely.
3. Assemble & Top: Arrange the pizza bases on a prepared baking tray. Spoon pizza sauce onto the center of each, spreading it to the stuffed crust. Sprinkle with dried oregano, then top with the grated mozzarella and your choice of toppings.
4. Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden-brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted. Let rest for a minute before serving.