Zucchini Pizza Bites
I’ve been searching for new ways to use up my plethora of zucchini this year.
And I’ve been struggling to find a way to get my kids to consider trying zucchini.
We’ve been exposing it to them on the dinner table, but none of them have wanted steamed zucchini, roasted zucchini, grilled zucchini, or even my zucchini bread. (I guess they did eat the zucchini chocolate cake, but that doesn’t count…)
Enter zucchini pizza bites!
I thought this would be a great way to get the kids involved in the cooking process. Kids become more interested in a meal if they have a role in the food preparation or cooking process.
When I first explained to my 4 and 3 year old that we were going to make zucchini pizza bites for lunch, I was met with loud cries and protests against zucchini. I calmly reminded them they don’t have to eat it if they don’t want to and invited them to have some fun cooking with me.
Once the pepperoni and cheese came out, we had fun assembling these little bites together. I served the zucchini pizza bites as part of a deconstructed meal, so my kids were able to eat all their favorite pizza toppings.
At the table, my oldest spent a solid minute staring closely at the container of zucchini pizza bites. I could see his wheels spinning as he considered whether to try one or not. While neither child took the step of actually placing the zucchini on their plates at this meal, I still consider this experience as progress.
Also, these zucchini pizza bites are free of 8 of the top 9 food allergens, which makes them a great snack or meal for both food allergy kids and non-food allergy kids alike. Just make sure to double check your topping ingredients for any potential hidden allergens.
Side note - these zucchini pizza bites tasted great in my opinion. I’ll be making them again with my kids in the near future!
So, ready to give them a try?
Step 1: Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Gather your ingredients:
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium zucchini, sliced into ¼ inch rounds
½ cup marinara sauce**
12-20 pepperoni slices**
½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded*
¼ cup cheddar cheese, shredded*
*Top 9 Allergy-Friendly Substitution: substitute vegan cheese
** Double check for potential allergens or cross-contact with allergens
Step 2: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a 13 x 18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Drizzle olive oil over parchment paper.
Step 3: Spread the sliced zucchini rounds on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 4a: Top each zucchini round with marinara sauce.
Step 4b: Add pepperoni and cheese toppings.
Step 5: Bake at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Try these other fun topping combinations:
Cheese lovers: marinara sauce with mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and sprinkle of oregano and basil
Meat Lovers: pepperoni, ground beef, ground Italian sausage, Canadian bacon, & bacon with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese
Barbecue chicken: shredded chicken & diced red onion with ¼ cup marinara sauce + ¼ cup barbecue sauce and mozzarella cheese
Hawaiian: Canadian bacon or ham slices, shredded pineapple, & diced green pepper with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese
Deconstructed Meal:
Zucchini pizza bites
pepperoni slices
shredded cheese
cucumber slices
watermelon
Serve family-style or buffet-style and let each person self-serve. Kids get to choose how much and whether or not they eat each food.
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