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Imagine transforming the classic, sweet monkey bread into a savory, mouth-watering pizza treat. That’s exactly what this Mini Pizza Monkey Bread recipe is all about. It’s a delightful twist on the traditional monkey bread, infusing the flavors of a pepperoni pizza into pull-apart bread. This recipe is not just easy to follow but brings the fun and simplicity of pizza to a dish that’s perfect for sharing. It’s baked in a handy small dish, making it ideal for a cozy gathering, a unique snack, or a relaxed dinner at home. The best part? We’re using refrigerator biscuits, making the prep work a breeze!
Looking for recipes ideal for small gatherings? Explore our collection designed for sharing. Try our Sheet Pan Lasagna for a rich and cheesy experience, Jalapeño Poppers for a spicy touch, a Smoked Salmon Platter for a touch of elegance, Twice Baked Eggplant for creamy comfort, and warm, smooth Queso. Each recipe is carefully created to deliver great flavor in every bite!
Why You’ll Love This Pizza Monkey Bread Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Uses everyday items like refrigerator biscuits, making it a go-to recipe for any day.
- Easy Preparation: With ready-made dough, the assembly is simple and hassle-free.
- Fun to Eat: Its pull-apart nature makes it a delightful and engaging eating experience.
- Versatile Dish: Perfect for small gatherings, snacks, or a casual meal.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable with various toppings and flavors to suit your preference.
What Is Monkey Bread?
Monkey bread is traditionally a sweet, sticky pastry in the U.S., known for its fun, pull-apart pieces of dough coated in sugar, cinnamon, and often caramel. Our take on this classic is both unique and smaller in size. Instead of the usual large, sweet treat, we’ve created a mini version with a savory twist, infusing it with the flavors of pepperoni pizza. This smaller monkey bread maintains the delightful pull-apart experience but stands out with its familiar pizza taste, making it a perfect choice for those who love savory baked goods in a smaller, more manageable size.
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Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this monkey bread recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Refrigerator Biscuits: Easily found in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores in the U.S., tubes of biscuit dough are a convenient choice. For a variation, consider using pizza dough or crescent rolls, which work just as well. If you’ve got an extra tube of biscuit dough, consider using to make Cinnamon Rolls.
- Pepperoni: If you’re vegetarian, feel free to replace pepperoni with a plant-based substitute or simply leave it out. Consider using extra pepperoni in a small Detroit Style Pizza or in a mini Crustless Pizza Quiche.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella is a great choice, but don’t hesitate to experiment with other cheeses like cheddar or Monterey Jack for a different flavor profile. Extra mozzarella can be used in Lasagna Rollups, Stuffed Shells, or Caprese Pasta.
- Tomato sauce: Use your favorite brand or use our homemade tomato sauce recipe.
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is recommended for its unrefined quality and rich flavor, retaining more of the natural taste and nutrients of olives. However, a lighter olive oil can be used as a substitute if preferred.
- Parmesan Cheese and Dried Basil: These ingredients are key for adding a burst of flavor to the dish, enhancing the overall taste.
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.
Recipe Variations
Spice up your Mini Pizza Monkey Bread with these creative and delicious variations. Whether you’re in the mood for something meaty, vegetarian, or just extra cheesy, these ideas are perfect for customizing your dish.
- Meaty Pizza Bread: Add sausage, bacon, or ham to the mix for a hearty, protein-packed version.
- Vegetarian Pizza Bread: Mix in bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or olives for a veggie-packed treat.
- Cheesy Bread: Combine different cheeses like cheddar, gouda, or feta for an indulgent twist.
- Spicy Pizza Bread: Incorporate jalapeños, chili flakes, or hot sauce for those who like it hot.
- Herb-Infused Monkey Bread: Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, or garlic powder for an aromatic flavor.
How To Make Pizza Monkey Bread
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make Mini Pizza Monkey Bread. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Start by opening the tube of refrigerator biscuits. Cut each biscuit into four equal parts. You can then place these biscuit pieces into a zip-topped bag or a large mixing bowl for seasoning. Using a zip-topped bag is often easier for mixing, but a bowl works just as well. Pour in the olive oil, sprinkle the parmesan cheese and dried basil over the biscuit pieces, then seal the bag. Shake the bag well or stir in the bowl to evenly coat the biscuit pieces with the seasoning.
- Take a 5 inch baking dish and arrange a single layer of the seasoned biscuit pieces at the bottom.
- Over this biscuit layer, evenly spread some tomato sauce, and then scatter the chopped pepperoni.
- Next, sprinkle a generous layer of shredded mozzarella cheese over the pepperoni.
- Add another layer of the seasoned biscuit pieces on top of the cheese.
- Complete the assembly by topping it with more tomato sauce and a final layer of mozzarella cheese. Now, it’s ready to bake. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the bread is cooked through.
Expert Tips
- Even Coating is Key: To ensure each biscuit piece is evenly coated with olive oil, parmesan cheese, and dried basil, the most efficient method is to place them in a ziplock bag. Add the ingredients and shake the bag thoroughly. This technique ensures a uniform distribution of flavors.
- Prevent Sticking with Oil Spray: Before adding your ingredients, spray your baking dish with oil or a non-stick cooking spray. This simple step helps to avoid any sticking and makes serving and cleanup much easier.
- Adapt to Your Taste: This monkey bread recipe is highly customizable. Don’t hesitate to increase the amount of pepperoni and cheese, or try variations like cooked ground sausage or different types of cheese. It’s a flexible recipe, perfect for tailoring to your specific preferences.
- Quarter Your Pepperoni: For a more enjoyable eating experience, chop the pepperoni into quarters. This size ensures that you get a tasty bit of pepperoni in every bite, enhancing the overall flavor of the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
The success of this recipe depends on the size of the baking dish you use. We recommend using a 5×5-inch baking dish. If you would like to double the recipe, use either two 5×5-inch baking dishes or use one 6.5×6.5-inch baking dish, or one 6×8-inch baking dish. These dishes can be found on our Store page.
Yes, assemble it and store it in the refrigerator before baking.
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this pizza pull-apart bread recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this cheesy pull-apart bread or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Mini Pizza Monkey Bread
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tube refrigerator biscuits (8 small or 5 large)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 6 tablespoons tomato sauce
- 20 slices pepperoni ,chopped
- 3 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).Lightly spray the inside of a small 5×5 inch baking dish with oil spray and set it aside.
- Cut and Season Dough: Open the tube of refrigerator biscuits and cut each biscuit into quarters.Place the biscuit quarters in a zip-topped bag or a large mixing bowl. Add olive oil, parmesan cheese, and dried basil. Seal the bag, then shake or stir to evenly coat the biscuit pieces.
- Assemble Monkey Bread: Arrange a single layer of the seasoned dough in the prepared baking dish.
- Spread tomato sauce over the dough, then sprinkle with chopped pepperoni.
- Add a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat with another layer of seasoned dough.
- Top off with more tomato sauce and a final layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the bread is cooked through.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Being a lover of pepperoni pizza AND monkey bread, what a great recipe by combining two delicious recipes into one delicious dish!
My cheese loving daughter demanded pizza bread the other day and searched and this came up… She loved the single serving although I must admit I stole a few pieces from her because – well it looked to good not to try. Perfect for when just one person really really wants some pizza bread.
My kids love this recipe! Its so much fun to pull the bread apart.
The pizza monkey bread looks delicious.
This looks so decadent! Yum!!
This is SO good Joanie – Love that it’s portion controlled too!
I don’t have a toaster oven.
Do you know if these times and Temps would work in a normal household oven?
Hi Pamela, The oven temperature stays the same but you may have to cook it longer. Start out by baking it for 30 minutes. If you find the cheese not entirely melted and golden on top, continue to cook it for a few mintues longer and keep a close eye on it.
Love the recipes for one ,as I live alone’,
I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipes. Thank you so much for letting me know. Have a great day!
Great idea. I like the serving for one. Makes a great lunch for when only one kid is around.
Thank you, Lady Lilith.
Love this recipe!
Perfect for back to school
Perfect for family members who want a little mushrooms, olives or other ingredients
Thanks, Ellen. You’re right, you could add any ingredients you like!