Mini Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas

I put my hand up! I love pizza in any way shape or form. I have never really met a pizza that I did not like. It is a love affair that I have been enjoying since I was a teenager.
It was not something we really made at home, but I had tasted them at school. One of my good friends Virginia used to make homemade pizzas as well and I can remember making them at her house. They were delicious! Everything homemade.
Mini Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas

It wasn't something we even considered making at home until my boyfriend who later became my husband brought a pizza mix to our house. I was 16 at the time. It was just a simple cheese pizza. We all enjoyed it so much that we then started making pizzas at home more regularly.
I know . . . boxed pizza mix, but at that time, for us . . . it was amazing. We learn and we grow. We leave home and we experience better and greater things. We become self proclaimed connoisseurs!
But . . . we don't always have the time to devote to making a hand turned, yeast crusted, from scratch pizza. Sometimes we want something a tiny bit quicker.

Meet Mini Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas. Using only 5 simple ingredients and taking not a lot of your time, you can have these delicious mini bakes on the table in less than half an hour.
They do make use of a convenient refrigerated pizza crust, but I am sure you could make a crust from scratch if you were really keen.
The idea behind these is that they are quick and convenient, and also incredibly tasty! As an appetizer, or a quick lunch, on the buffet table, for game nights, a light supper with a salad . . . whatever fits your need, your family is sure to enjoy these quick and delicious mini pizzas!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE MINI CHICAGO DEEP DISH PIZZAS
Just a few simple ingredients and not a lot of time.

1 tube of refrigerated pizza dough
8 to 10 slices of Mozzarella cheese ( you will need to cut 2 to 3 circles from each)
24 pieces of pepperoni
12 tsp your favorite pizza sauce
12 tsp grated Parmesan cheese

I used the Pillsbury refrigerated Pizza Crust. But you can use any refrigerated pizza crust that you have available to you. I dare say you could also use one of those dry mixes you add water too. I bet you could also use a can of croissant roll dough, with the perforations pressed together and sealed.
You probably wouldn't get twelve from a can of croissant dough however. Just saying.
You could also make a dough from scratch, but the idea behind these is for them to be a quick and easy option.
Mini Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas

I used ordinary sliced Kraft mozzarella cheese. You should get two or three 2-inch round circles from each slice.
I use the Pizza Delight dry cure pepperoni. I love the flavor of it and its not as greasy as some others out there.
My pizza sauce is PC Garlic pizza sauce. Its quite convenient as it comes in a squeeze bottle. I love the flavor of the garlic. My Parmesan cheese was Kraft. But you can use whatever brand of cheeses you wish to use.
Mini Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas

My muffin tin was a medium sized metal muffin tin. I sprayed it first with some canola oil cooking spray. Just in case. The finished pizzas tipped out without any problems at all.
I have not experimented with adding any other ingredients or toppings. These are pretty perfect just as is.

HOW TO MAKE MINI CHICAGO DEEP DISH PIZZAS
These are so easy to make even a child could make them. I think they would make great snacks for those occasions when your children are having guests to stay overnight!
Hopefully it won't be too much longer before we can start entertaining again and having things like sleepovers and game nights.

Preheat the oven to 375*F/190*C/ gas mark 4. Lightly spray a 12 cup muffin tin with some canola cooking spray. Set aside.Unroll the pizza dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to make it large enough to cut out 12 4-inch circles.Using a 4-inch round cutter cut out the circles and fit them into the muffin cups, making sure you press the dough up the sides.Cut out 2-inch rounds from the mozzarella cheese slices. You will need 24.Layer the following in each dough lined cup: 1 round of mozzarella cheese. 2 pepperoni slices. 1 round mozzarella cheese. Top with 1 tsp of pizza sauce and finally 1 tsp of Parmesan cheese. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown and heated through. Carefully remove from the cups to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes

You can store any leftovers of these in the refrigerator for up to three days and you can also freeze them for up to three months in an airtight freezer container. That makes them the ideal appetizer or treat to have on hand.
You can pay a whole bundle for something like this in the freezer section at the shops, but why should you when you can make a homemade version which is a lot tastier for a fraction of the cost!

It would be so nice to make these together with my grandsons, or my granddaughter, or even the young women at church. It is the perfect snack for children and you know how much they love to get involved and help!
God willing it won't be too much longer before we can start doing things like that again. In the meantime there is no reason why we can't just enjoy these things ourselves. Knowing that I can freeze them means that there is no waste, and I like that idea and the idea of having something like this ready for a snack or quick meal any time!

If you are as big a fan of pizza as I am, you might also love these other pizza ideas!
NEW YORK PIZZA - With foldable crisp slices, a delicious sauce and lotsa lotsa cheese. The crust has a Lovely flavor and texture and is just sturdy enough to stand up to the toppings, and yet at the same time light and airy. With my signature pizza sauce recipe.ULTIMATE PIZZA BAGELS -These delicious hot delights are the ultimate in Pizza Bagels. Not just a half a bagel like most Pizza Bagels you will see, these are the whole shebang!

With double the sauce, double the toppings and double the cheese. A true delight you can wrap your mouth around.

EASY PIZZA CASSEROLE - No fuss, no muss with plenty of pasta, sauce, sausage, pepperoni and cheese. Everything cooks in the one dish, pasta, etc. That way the pizza flavor goes right into the pasta with the most delicious result!