What’s better than pizza? Easy, low-carb pizza bites made with a slice of zucchini squash. (Well, maybe not better than pizza, but certainly a close runner-up.) Low carb and low calorie, too, with only 121 calories for five pizza bites! How long it takes: about 15 minutes Equipment you’ll need: oven broiler, shallow rimmed baking pan Servings: makes about 30 My daughter is obsessed with pizza and she loves these zucchini pizza bites. The thing is, she won’t eat zucchini if I just sauté, roast, or grill it, but cover it with pizza sauce, melty cheese, and crispy pepperoni, and she’s all in. You can have these pizza babies on the table in about fifteen minutes. They’re perfect for a quickie dinner or lunch and fairly nutritious, too, with 3 food groups represented: vegetable, dairy, and meat. Zucchini pizza bites are a popular appetizer but don’t take my word for it. Set out a platter at the next game night you host and watch them disappear. For a heartier version, be sure to try my stuffed pizza bites with garlic butter (made with pizza dough). If you like the idea of zucchini appetizers, be sure to check out my cheese & pesto stuffed zucchini or boursin cheese stuffed zucchini.
Why You’ll Love Zucchini Pizza Bites
Easy to make: These little gems are seriously easy to make. Really! And not a lot of cleanup to do either. Nutritious: Basically, each bite is mostly zucchini with a little extra love thrown in. Zucchini is low carb, low calorie, with fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients. You really can’t go wrong. They are gluten-free, too. Versatile: If you’re not a fan of pepperoni, go ahead and leave it off. You can top these pizzas with a different pizza topping, or leave them as cheese pizzas.
What You’ll Need
Zucchini: This tender-skinned summer squash comes in all sizes. The larger the squash, the larger your pizzas will be. Avoid the really giant ones because the seeds tend to get a little tough if the squash is overly mature. By the way, there’s no need to peel zucchini; the dark green skin is perfectly edible and nutritious. Olive Oil: I use olive oil spray to lightly coat each slice. It adds flavor and helps the slices brown nicely. You can also brush olive oil on them. Italian Seasoning: This combination of dried herbs is used often in Italian dishes. I like to sprinkle a bit on each slice to enhance the pizza flavor. If you only have dried basil or dried oregano, that’ll work, too. You can also use homemade Italian seasoning. Pizza Sauce: Choose your favorite canned/jarred pizza sauce or make your own pizza sauce. It’s pretty easy and tastes so much better. Marinara sauce works, too. Mozzarella Cheese: What’s a pizza without cheese?! A pinch of shredded mozzarella on each pizza bite gives you just enough gooey melty cheese. Pepperoni: Always a favorite, pepperoni pizza is a classic. I used mini pepperoni for the photos but regular size is fine, too. Parmesan Cheese: Top it all off with a sprinkle of salty parmesan.
How To Make Pizza Bites
We tested these a few times to get it just right for you. We tried baking them and broiling them. We broiled them before the toppings were added, and after the toppings were added. The tricky part was getting the zucchini tender without overcooking the toppings. We did all that so your zucchini pizza bites would be perfect the very first time you make them! So here’s how to do it: Prep the zucchini. Slice the zucchini into even slices, about a quarter inch thick. Discard the stem and blossom ends. Coat each slice lightly with olive oil and arrange them in a single layer on a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle the slices lightly with Italian seasoning. Broil. Broil the slices for four minutes. Take the pan out of the oven and flip each slice over. Add toppings. Top each slice with sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and parmesan. Broil again. Put the pan back under the broiler for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and the pepperoni is starting to curl. Serve. Let the pizza bites cool for a few minutes before you serve them. They can really scorch your mouth otherwise. Hope you love these fun mini pizzas as much as we do!
Tips For Success
Preheat the broiler. It’s important to have the oven piping hot before you put the pizzas in. Slice the zucchini evenly. We found that ¼ inch thick was just right. Thicker slices stay too hard; thinner slices tend to disintegrate. Don’t overload the pizzas. They are MINI pizzas. If you put too much on them, it all slides off.
Make It Your Own
Get creative with the toppings. There are any number of pizza toppings available so choose what you like best. Pretty much anything goes, but just remember you can’t fit a lot on them! Vegetarian pizza bites: Simply omit the pepperoni. More carb-free pizza ideas: If the idea of pizza without the carbs speaks to you, try pizza chicken, pizza stuffed spaghetti squash, or pizza quinoa stuffed peppers. More easy pizza ideas: Try pizza quesadillas, air fryer bagel bites, or homemade hot pockets.
Storage & Reheating Tips
Refrigerate: Zucchini pizza bites are best eaten fresh. If you have any left over, refrigerate them in a single layer, covered with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days. Reheat: Leftover pizza bites can be warmed up in the microwave or baked in your toaster oven until heated through. A quick stint in the air fryer will do the trick, too. Quick-Start Guide!
