Homemade Pizza Appetizers

Bite-sized Bruschetta, Bacon and Avocadoes, Mango and Pepper Pizza

© Kelly Donlea

Jan 6, 2009

Knowing how to make a basic pizza dough can open up endless opportunities for making dinner and, as you'll learn here, appetizers. With a pizza dough ready to go you can make a fresh homeamde traditional pizza, you can create endless lunches from last nights leftovers (barbeque chicken pizza, chicken caesar salad pizza, to name a few) and you can make a delicious platform for a multitude of appetizers for any kind of party.

Your first step is knowing how to create a basic pizza dough. And it really is basic. As you'll see below, a pizza dough requires very few ingredients.

Basic Pizza Dough Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/8 oz. dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup very warm water (120-130 degrees)
• 1 tablespoon oil

1. In a medium bowl, stir together half of the flour, the yeast and the salt until well blended.
2. Add water and oil. Mix by hand until almost smooth.
3. Gradually stir in remaining flour to make a firm dough. Cover and let set for at least 15 minutes. Generously prick dough with fork.

Ingredients

• 1 pizza dough
• 1 chicken breast
• 3 strips crisp-cooked bacon, crumbled
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
• 1 avocado halved and cut into approximately 24 strips lengthwise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons finely diced cilantro

Directions

1. Separate pizza dough into 12 equal balls of dough (easiest way is to halve, halve again, and then third).
2. Spread out and lay flat on a greased baking stone. Prebake for 5 minutes in preheated 350 degree F (185 C) oven.
3. Top dough with equal portions of chicken, bacon and cheese. Return to oven for 5 minutes more, until cheese is melted.
4. Remove from oven and top each with a small dallop of sour cream, two slices avocado. Sprinkle with a pinch of cilantro.

Goat Cheese Mango and Red Pepper Pizza Appetizers Recipe (makes 12 bite-sized pizzas)

Ingredients

• 1 pizza dough
• 8 oz. soft goats cheese
• 1/2 mango cut into fine strips
• 4 seasoned marinated red pepper strips, cut into fine strips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons basil, finely diced

Directions

1. Separate pizza dough into 12 equal balls of dough (easiest way is to halve, halve again, and then third).
2. Spread out and lay flat on a greased baking stone. Prebake for 5 minutes in preheated 350 degree F (185 C) oven.
3. Remove from oven and top with equal portions of goat cheese, mango and red pepper strips, and basil.
4. Return to oven for 8 minutes or until goats cheese begins to lightly brown.

Bruschetta Pizza Appetizers Recipe (makes 12 bite-sized pizzas)

Ingredients

• 1 pizza dough
• 1 cup fresh Mozarella cheese cut into small cubes
• 2 tablespoons diced garlic
• 2 whole tomatoes, finely diced
• 1/2 red onion, finely diced
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Separate pizza dough into 12 equal balls of dough (easiest way is to halve, halve again, and then third).
2. Spread out and lay flat on a greased baking stone. Bake for 10 minutes in preheated 350 degree F (185 C) oven, or until fully cooked. Remove from oven and cool.
3. Meanwhile combine all remaining ingredients and chill (this step can be done ahead of time).
4. Top pizza crusts with tomato mixture and serve.

Pizza Dough

Print Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds