Say hello to your new favorite afternoon snack! Zucchini pizza bites have a crispy zucchini base that’s topped with pizza sauce, melty cheese, adorable mini pepperonis and a sprinkling of herbaceous basil. The pizza craving hit is inevitable, but these zucchini pizza bites are the perfect low-carb alternative that won’t spoil your actual dinner (even though it’s impossible to eat just one!).
Ingredients for Zucchini Pizza Bites
- Zucchini: Find the widest zucchini you can. The wider the zucchini, the more toppings it can fit!
- Pizza sauce: Store-bought pizza sauce works perfectly, but our flavorful pizza sauce recipe has a ton of five-star reviews for a reason.
- Mozzarella: Our Test Kitchen pros found the best mozzarella cheese to top your pizza with based on flavor, appearance and texture. They found that Kraft’s mozzarella cheese is the best for grating.
- Pepperoni slices: Mini pepperoni slices are the perfect size for these zucchini pizza bites.
- Basil: A garnish of basil mimics the true taste of a finely crafted pizza. Buon appetito!
Directions
Step 1: Par-broil the zucchini
Preheat your broiler. Arrange the zucchini in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. Broil the zucchini three to four inches from the heat just until crisp-tender, one to two minutes per side.
Editor’s Tip: Be careful not to under-broil or else your zucchini may become soggy instead of crispy.
Step 2: Assemble the pizzas
Sprinkle the zucchini with salt and pepper. Top each slice with sauce, a sprinkling of cheese and a few pieces of the mini pepperoni.
Step 3: Bake the pizzas
Broil the zucchini pizza bites until the cheese is melted, about one minute. Sprinkle with the basil.
Recipe Variations
- Use a different base: Not a fan of zucchini? Try a different veggie base, like large portobello mushrooms, slices of eggplants or mini cauliflower crusts.
- Bring on the spice: A dash of red pepper flakes, a few rounds of jalapenos or a splash of hot sauce will kick up the heat.
- Experiment with other cheeses: Mozzarella melts beautifully on pizza, but creamy provolone, sharp cheddar and nutty gruyere are all great cheeses for pizza.
How to Store Zucchini Pizza Bites
To store leftover zucchini pizza bites, allow them to cool completely to room temperature. Place them in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to three days. Gently reheat the zucchini pizza bites in the microwave until warmed through. We do not recommend freezing these.
Zucchini Pizza Bites Tips
What do I serve with zucchini pizza bites?
Zucchini pizza bites make the perfect snack or appetizer just by themselves, but you could also serve a really good salad or loaded potato salad alongside. Or, to make it a complete meal, serve the zucchini pizza bites with one of our top 10 chili recipes.
Should I peel the zucchini?
No, you should not peel the zucchini. Not only is most of a zucchini’s nutrition found in its skins, but the peel also helps the zucchini rounds hold their shape in the oven. Otherwise, your pizzas will be a soggy mess.
