If you’re craving a fun, customizable meal that comes together quickly and satisfies everyone’s pizza cravings, then this Weeknight Personal Pizzas Recipe is going to be your new best friend. Imagine warm, golden mini pizzas with melty cheese, zesty sauce, and those perfect pepperoni slices, all crafted from simple ingredients you can keep on hand. It’s the ultimate way to bring joy to a busy evening while still indulging in a delicious homemade treat that feels special yet is effortless to make.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are straightforward but essential, each playing a vital role in balancing flavor, texture, and that picture-perfect pizza look. You don’t need a long grocery list, just a few well-chosen items that transform into something magical once baked.
- Rhodes Frozen Dough Dinner Rolls (8 rolls): Using these thawed dough rolls makes pizza assembly a breeze and ensures a soft yet chewy crust every time.
- Pizza sauce (1/4 cup): A vibrant, seasoned base that brings tang and richness, tying all the toppings together.
- Provolone or mozzarella cheese (4 slices): The melty soul of any great pizza, providing gooey, creamy texture and a mild, inviting flavor.
- Pepperoni (16 slices): Classic and bold, these slices add that perfect peppery kick and a touch of crispness as they bake.
- Spray oil (for greasing): Prevents sticking and helps create a nicely browned bottom crust with little effort.
How to Make Weeknight Personal Pizzas Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Pan
Start by heating your oven to 400º F, which is the ideal temperature to get that dough puffing up and the cheese bubbling to perfection. Lightly grease a sheet pan with spray oil to ensure your mini pizzas don’t stick and get a beautiful, crisp bottom crust.
Step 2: Shape Your Pizza Crusts
Take two of the thawed dough rolls and gently press and stretch them together into a roughly 4-5 inch diameter round. The key here is to handle the dough delicately so it doesn’t tear but becomes thin enough for a nice personal-sized pizza. Place your shaped crust onto the greased sheet pan. Repeat this process until all four mini pizza crusts are ready and lined up on the pan.
Step 3: Add the Sauce, Cheese, and Pepperoni
Spread the pizza sauce evenly over each crust, ensuring every bite gets that burst of flavor. Place a slice of provolone or mozzarella on top of each sauced crust to provide that gooey, melty layer you know and love. Then, arrange four pepperoni slices on top of each pizza for that signature savory kick.
Step 4: Bake Until Golden and Melty
Slide your sheet pan into the oven and bake for 11-13 minutes. You’ll want to keep an eye on the crust becoming lightly golden and the cheese bubbling nicely. Once that beautiful transformation happens, pull the pan out and let the pizzas rest briefly—the cheese will set just enough to make each slice perfect for biting into.
How to Serve Weeknight Personal Pizzas Recipe
Garnishes
To add a fresh twist, sprinkle chopped fresh basil or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes right before serving. A drizzle of good olive oil or a shower of grated Parmesan can elevate the flavor and add that little extra touch that makes each personal pizza feel gourmet.
Side Dishes
These mini pizzas pair wonderfully with a simple green salad tossed in a tangy vinaigrette or some roasted veggies to keep the meal balanced yet vibrant. For extra fun, serve with garlic breadsticks or a side of marinara for dipping—the perfect complement to the cheesy, saucy mini masterpieces.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange these personal pizzas on a large wooden board or colorful platter to encourage sharing and conversation. You can also let everyone build their own by setting out extra toppings like olives, mushrooms, or peppers to turn dinner into an interactive and festive experience.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any of these delightful Weeknight Personal Pizzas Recipe treats left over, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Covering them well helps maintain the crust’s softness without making it soggy.
Freezing
To enjoy these pizzas another day, freeze them individually wrapped in parchment and foil. This method preserves their flavor and texture for up to a month, letting you pull out a quick meal anytime without compromising on taste.
Reheating
Reheat your leftover personal pizzas in a hot oven or toaster oven around 350º F for 8-10 minutes. This revives the crispy crust and melty cheese like fresh from the oven, much better than the microwave alternative.
FAQs
Can I use fresh pizza dough instead of frozen dinner rolls?
Absolutely! Fresh pizza dough works wonderfully here and may give you a slightly different texture. Just make sure it’s properly risen and stretched to fit the personal pizza size.
What other toppings can I use with this Weeknight Personal Pizzas Recipe?
The beauty of personal pizzas is in their versatility. Feel free to swap pepperoni for veggies, sausage, ham, or even pineapple. Just adjust quantities to fit each mini crust.
Is it necessary to grease the sheet pan?
Lightly greasing the pan prevents sticking and helps the dough crisp up nicely on the bottom, ensuring an easy release and perfect crust.
Can I double or triple this recipe for a larger crowd?
Yes! This recipe scales up easily. Just keep using the same 4-5 inch crust size and adjust the toppings accordingly to keep each personal pizza just right.
What’s the best cheese to use for melting and flavor?
Mozzarella is a classic choice for its excellent melt and mild flavor, but provolone offers a slightly sharper, creamier option. You can even blend both if you want a little extra depth.
Final Thoughts
I truly hope you give this Weeknight Personal Pizzas Recipe a try because it’s not only incredibly doable on busy nights but also endlessly fun to customize and enjoy with family or friends. There’s something so heartwarming about making your own mini pizzas from simple ingredients and sharing that fresh-from-the-oven goodness. Once you experience how quick and satisfying this recipe is, it just might become a weekly staple in your kitchen too.
Print
Weeknight Personal Pizzas Recipe
- Prep Time: 9 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 personal pizzas
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Weeknight Personal Pizzas are a quick and easy dinner option perfect for busy nights. Made with Rhodes frozen dinner roll dough, topped with pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni, they bake up in just about 11 minutes to a golden crust with bubbly, melted cheese. Ideal for a personal-sized treat that’s simple to prepare and delicious.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 8 Rhodes Frozen Dough Dinner Rolls (thawed and slightly risen)
Toppings
- 1/4 cup pizza sauce
- 4 slices provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 16 slices pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 400º F (204º C). Lightly grease a sheet pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Shape the Dough: Gently take two of the thawed, slightly risen dinner rolls and press or stretch them together by hand to form a round pizza crust approximately 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Place each crust onto the greased sheet pan. Repeat this process to make 4 individual pizza crusts on the pan.
- Add Sauce and Toppings: Evenly divide the 1/4 cup of pizza sauce among the four crusts, spreading the sauce over each crust’s surface. Place one slice of provolone or mozzarella cheese on each pizza, then top each with 4 slices of pepperoni.
- Bake the Pizzas: Transfer the sheet pan to the preheated oven and bake for 11 to 13 minutes. Bake until the dough turns slightly golden and the cheese melts and bubbles.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the pizzas from the oven and allow them to rest briefly to set before serving. Enjoy your personal-sized pizzas hot and fresh.
Notes
- Ensure the dinner rolls are thawed and slightly risen for best dough stretching and texture.
- You can substitute the pepperoni with any preferred toppings such as veggies or sausage.
- Feel free to use either provolone or mozzarella, depending on your cheese preference.
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your oven; check for a golden crust and bubbly cheese as indicators.
- For a crispier crust, you can bake a couple of minutes longer but monitor closely to avoid burning.
