TGIF!
In addition to being excited that it’s Friday (and Valentine’s Day!) I’m also jazzed that warmer weather is on the way. We’re only talking 35 degrees here, give or take a few degrees, but up until this week we haven’t been above freezing since January. Wretched. However, like a friend recently mused on Facebook – what the hell would we talk about if the weather was just average? Seriously, like…what? The Olympics? For some reason I just can’t get into them this year. Oh, except #sochiproblems. Kills me!
Aaanyway, I’ve got an extremely difficult recipe for you today. Brace yourselves for lots of measuring, dishes, ingredients…NOT. The recipe for Mini Pizza Quinoa Bites is so easy that an infant could make it. Or try anyway. Lincoln kept lunging at the bowl as I was making these irresistible bites. Honestly I can’t blame him – they’re insane!
Toss some pizza-themed ingredients in bowl, scoop the mixture into mini muffin tins, and then bake. Oh, then reap the CHEESY PIZZA REWARDS. I am so obsessed with these bites!
Mini Pizza Quinoa Bites are a riff on a couple of my favorite quinoa cups recipes, Mini Ham and Cheese Quinoa Cups and Mini BLT Quinoa Cups. As delicious as those are, though, I think the pizza version is my absolutely favorite. All the fabulous pizza flavor, but lighter since we’re ditching the crust.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Friday night is pizza night in my house. Last Friday Ben was out of town so I took the opportunity to go a little crazy with my order. I ended up with a BBQ sauce pizza with chicken, bacon, black olives, tomatoes, and banana peppers. I know. The freedom clearly went to my head.
I reigned it in with these pizza bites and filled ’em with classic toppings like chopped pepperoni and sliced black olives, but you could fill yours with whatever you like – peppers, cooked sausage, onions, etc. I’m thinking Hawaiian Pizza Bites would be awesome (that’s Ben’s favorite!) Serve with warmed pizza sauce and you’re golden.
Change up pizza night tonight!
Like I said, step one:Â throw some stuff in a bowl.
You’ll need 2 cups cooked quinoa (about 1/2 cup dry quinoa) that’s been slightly cooled or chilled – aka you can make it ahead of time. Make sure you rinse the quinoa under cold running water before cooking to remove the bitter substance it’s coated in. 2 whole eggs PLUS 2 egg whites join the party, along with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and 2 cups pizza toppings.
Mix!
Spoon the mixture to the top of 24 mini muffin tin cups that have been sprayed VERY well with nonstick spray. The cheese in the mixture WILL stick if you don’t spray it well. Sorry for all the CAPS but this is IMPORTANT. Yikes.
Place the muffin tin on top of a foil-lined baking sheet then bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees, or until golden brown. Let the bites cool for 5 minutes before popping them out of the cups.
Serve with warm pizza sauce then pop away!
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Mini Pizza Quinoa Bites
Description
Change up pizza night with poppable, gluten-free Mini Pizza Quinoa Bites!
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled slightly or chilled (about 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa - be sure to rinse well before cooking)
- 2 whole eggs
- 2 egg whites
- 2 cups chopped pizza toppings (pepperoni, black olives, pineapple, ham, onions, sausage, peppers, etc.)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Pizza sauce, for dipping
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, line a baking sheet with foil, then spray a 24-cup mini muffin tin VERY well with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Add all ingredients except pizza sauce to a large bowl then stir to combine. Fill mini muffin tin cups to the top with the mixture then place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from cups. Serve with warmed pizza sauce.
- To freeze:Â Place baked cups on a baking sheet then freeze until solid and transfer to a freezer bag. Microwave for 20-40 seconds depending on how many you're reheating.
- For regular-sized muffin tins:Â Bake for 25-30 minutes (Note: I have not tried this myself, although several readers have left comments saying this works!)
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Seriously, seriously so yummy. I can’t wait for you to try these. If you’ve got kids, I bet they’d love these special treats for Valentine’s Day dinner! Enjoy!
Also check out my Mini Ham & Cheese Quinoa Cups, and Mini BLT Quinoa Cups!
Cara 02.22.2014
The recipe calls for a 1/4 Grated Parmesan cheese. Is this a 1/4 cup? Thanks!
Kristin 02.24.2014
Great catch, Cara! Yep, that should be 1/4 cup. Thanks!!
Maria 02.21.2014
Love these!
Clara 02.20.2014
I really enjoy your blog and would like to follow it. But I don’t see where I can sign up.
Kristin 02.20.2014
In the right hand column there is a field that says “Subscribe to Daily Posts by Email”. If you enter your email address in there, and click on a confirmation email, that should take care of it! :)
Beth G. 02.18.2014
Made these last night. They were easy!!! They were delicious!!! My add-ins wereI turkey pepperoni and sun dried tomato both diced. THANK YOU and I love your blog.
andrea dewar 02.17.2014
We made these tonight for dinner, they are AMAZING!!! Thank you, we love your blog! Friday we plan on making those pulled pork nachos with pineapple :) Mmmmmmmmmm
Laura G 02.17.2014
Made this on Sunday in a casserole dish instead of mini muffin tin and it was great!!! Definitely will be making it again with different add-ins!
Alexe @ Keys to the Cucina 02.17.2014
Loving this new use for qunioa, great recipe!
Lisa 02.17.2014
Hi. Could
I use the whole
Egg?
Luiz Carlos 02.17.2014
DelÃcia! Vou fazer,thank you.
Hawaiian Pulled Pork Skillet Nachos with Pineapple Guacamole (Crock Pot Recipe!) | Iowa Girl Eats 02.17.2014
[…] savory, and this combo’s got it covered! It tastes SO summery too, which is much appreciated. You know those warm temps I was excited for? Yeah, more like nonstop snow and sleet. […]
Jennifer S 02.16.2014
Made these last night – so delicious! Used pepperoni, red and green bell pepper, and purple onion. I only have the regular sized muffin tins, so I bake for 26 min. A perfect pizza since my husband is gluten-free!
. link love 2/16 . | . running with spoons . 02.16.2014
[…] Mini Pizza Quinoa Bites via Iowa Girl Eats. Did someone say mini bites of cheesy goodness?!?! […]
whatjessicabakednex 02.16.2014
These sound and look absolutely delicious! :)
Helen @ Scrummy Lane 02.16.2014
Love the idea of quinoa cups! Brilliant healthier spin on pizza!
Leslie 02.15.2014
Oh my goodness, yum!!
Debra 02.15.2014
I would dig these for breakfast!
Jenn@Mark My Miles! 02.15.2014
These look amazing. I am going to make these for my next church small group gathering.
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats 02.15.2014
These look so delicious and cute! I love anything in mini form as I always feel like it makes it seem more ‘fun’ no idea why, maybe as I associate it with party food or something.
Tieghan 02.14.2014
Mmm! These are so my thing. I love quinoa and pizza!! Great recipe and have an awesome weekend!
donna dee 02.14.2014
so funny every muffin has an olive earring.