Pepperoni Pizza Cups: A Quick and Easy Low-Carb Appetizer Recipe
Delicious and easy-to-make Pepperoni Pizza Cups that capture all the classic flavors of pepperoni pizza in a low-carb, keto-friendly appetizer. Perfect for parties or snacks, these bite-size cups combine crispy pepperoni, fresh basil, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and black olives in a convenient mini muffin pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 20-22 minutes
- Yield: 24 pizza cups
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Carb
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 24 slices pepperoni, 2-inch/ 5 cm each (142 g/ 5 oz)
- 24 fresh basil leaves
- 3/4 cup Homemade Marinara Sauce (170 g/ 6 oz)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (170 g/ 6 oz)
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (28 g/ 1 oz)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 200 °C/ 400 °F for a conventional oven, or 180 °C/ 355 °F if using a fan-assisted oven to ensure even baking.
- Prepare Pepperoni Cups: Using kitchen scissors, cut each pepperoni slice on all four sides about evenly, but keep the center intact so it forms a cup shape. Place each pepperoni cup into a mini muffin pan to hold its shape.
- Bake Pepperoni Cups: Bake in the preheated oven for 6 minutes to crisp up the pepperoni and begin forming the cups.
- Add Fillings: Remove the pan from the oven and place one fresh basil leaf and a spoonful of marinara sauce into each pepperoni cup.
- Top with Cheese and Olives: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce in each cup, then add one sliced black olive on top of each.
- Final Bake: Return the mini muffin pan to the oven and bake for another 6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Let the pizza cups cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a serving platter to enjoy.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. These pizza cups can be eaten cold or reheated quickly in the microwave or oven.
Notes
- Using kitchen scissors to cut the pepperoni helps create perfect cups without tearing.
- Make sure to use a mini muffin pan to maintain the shape while baking.
- This recipe is low-carb and keto-friendly, ideal for those watching their carbohydrate intake.
- Leftover pizza cups can be reheated in the microwave or oven for convenience.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute pepperoni with vegetable slices or omit it.
