Love pizza but don’t have time to make dough from scratch? English muffin pizza is about to become your new obsession. These little pizzas are perfect for busy weeknights, hungry kids, or anyone who wants pizza without the fuss. I’ve been making these for years and they never disappoint.
The combo of crispy edges and chewy centers makes english muffin pizzas special. Plus you can customize them with whatever toppings you have in the fridge. Seriously, you need this recipe in your life.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Making english muffin pizza solves the “I want pizza but don’t have 2 hours” problem. Trust me, I get it. Last week my kids were begging for pizza at 6pm when I had zero energy to make dough. These saved dinner and everyone was happy.
What’s great about this recipe is how flexible it is. No pizza sauce? Use marinara. Want it healthier? Load up on veggies. Need protein? Add whatever meat you have. They cook in minutes and you can make as many or few as you need.
Plus, english muffin pizzas in oven get this amazing texture – crunchy on the outside, chewy inside, with all that pizza goodness on top. Way better than frozen pizza and almost as fast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Basic Ingredients
- 4 English muffins, split in half
- 1 cup pizza sauce (or marinara works too)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Optional: grated parmesan for topping
The english muffins are obviously the star here. I prefer the original kind, not sourdough, for the classic muffin pizza taste. The nooks and crannies in english muffins catch all the sauce and cheese, making every bite amazing.
For cheese, pre-shredded works fine but freshly shredded melts better. And don’t skip the olive oil and garlic powder – they add flavor to the muffin base and help prevent sogginess.
Topping Options
- Pepperoni slices
- Italian sausage (pre-cooked)
- Bell peppers, diced
- Mushrooms, thinly sliced
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Black olives, sliced
- Fresh basil (add after baking)
All toppings should be pre-cooked if needed and cut small. This helps everything cook evenly in the short baking time.
How to Make English Muffin Pizza
Step 1: Prep the muffins
- Preheat your oven to 425°F. For english muffin pizza, high heat works best.
- Split the english muffins and place them cut-side up on a baking sheet.
- Lightly toast the muffins in the oven for about 2 minutes. This helps prevent soggy pizzas.
- Remove from oven and brush each half with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder.
Step 2: Add toppings
- Spread about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce on each english muffin half.
- Sprinkle with a little Italian seasoning.
- Add your favorite toppings.
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of parmesan if using.
Pro tip: Don’t overload with toppings or sauce or you’ll end up with soggy english muffin pizzas instead of crispy ones.
Step 3: Bake
- Return the english muffin pizzas to the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes.
- They’re done when the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the edges of the muffins are golden brown.
- Let cool for 1-2 minutes before serving (they’re hot!).
From start to finish, you’re looking at about 15 minutes. Seriously, you can make english muffin pizza faster than delivery would arrive.
Variations to Try
Breakfast English Muffin Pizza
Use a thin layer of sauce, add scrambled eggs, cooked bacon or sausage, and cheddar cheese. Amazing weekend brunch option.
BBQ Chicken English Muffin Pizza
Swap pizza sauce for BBQ sauce, add shredded rotisserie chicken, red onions, and a mix of mozzarella and cheddar. Try this if you love our BBQ Chicken Pizza.
Mediterranean English Muffin Pizza
Use a thin layer of olive oil instead of sauce, then add feta cheese, sliced olives, diced tomatoes, and a sprinkle of oregano. Add fresh arugula after baking.
Buffalo English Muffin Pizza
Mix buffalo sauce with a little ranch dressing as your base, add shredded chicken, blue cheese crumbles, and finish with a drizzle of ranch after baking.
Dessert English Muffin Pizza
Spread with Nutella, add sliced strawberries or bananas and mini marshmallows. Bake until marshmallows are golden. Kids go crazy for this one.
English Muffin Pizza
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Oven
- Brush (for olive oil)
Ingredients
- 4 English muffins split in half
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Optional: grated parmesan for topping
Toppings (Optional):
- Pepperoni slices
- Italian sausage pre-cooked
- Bell peppers diced
- Mushrooms thinly sliced
- Red onion thinly sliced
- Black olives sliced
- Fresh basil add after baking
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Toast Muffins: Place English muffins cut-side up on a baking sheet. Lightly toast in the oven for 2 minutes to prevent sogginess.
- Prepare Base: Remove from oven, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic powder.
- Add Sauce & Toppings: Spread about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce on each muffin half. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, add toppings, and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Return to oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool & Serve: Let cool for 1-2 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
English Muffin Pizza FAQ
What temperature for English muffin pizza?
425°F is the best temperature for english muffin pizza. It’s hot enough to crisp the muffin and melt the cheese quickly without burning. For english muffin pizza air fryer cooking, use 375°F for about 5 minutes.
How do you make English muffin pizzas not soggy?
The key to non-soggy english muffin pizzas is pre-toasting the muffins before adding toppings. Also, don’t use too much sauce, and if using wet toppings like fresh tomatoes or mushrooms, pre-cook them slightly to remove excess moisture.
English muffin pizza how long to cook?
English muffin pizzas take about 8-10 minutes in a 425°F oven. You’re looking for bubbly, melted cheese and golden edges on the muffin. If using an air fryer, they’ll cook even faster, around 5 minutes.
Who invented English muffin pizza?
While there’s no official inventor, english muffin pizza became popular in the 1950s as a quick alternative to traditional pizza. Thomas’ English Muffin pizza recipe was one of the first widely marketed versions, appearing in advertisements during the 1960s.
Are English muffins healthier than bread?
English muffins typically have fewer calories and slightly less sodium than most bread slices. A typical english muffin has about 130 calories compared to two slices of white bread at around 160-200 calories. They also tend to have less sugar than many commercial breads.
Are English muffin pizzas healthy?
English muffin pizzas can be a healthier alternative to traditional pizza, especially when loaded with vegetable toppings. One english muffin pizza half has roughly 150-200 calories, making it portion-controlled by design. English muffin pizza weight watchers points are typically 5-7 per whole muffin (two halves), depending on toppings.
Is it OK to eat an English muffin everyday?
Yes, english muffins can be part of a balanced daily diet. They provide carbohydrates for energy and can be a good source of fiber, especially whole wheat versions. As with any food, moderation is key, but there’s nothing in english muffins that makes them unsuitable for daily consumption.
Tips for the Best English Muffin Pizza
- Fork-split your english muffins instead of knife-cutting them if possible. This creates more nooks and crannies for the sauce and cheese.
- If making a big batch of english muffin pizzas in oven, work in stages so the muffins don’t sit with sauce too long before baking.
- For crispier english pizza, place muffins on a wire rack on top of your baking sheet.
- Try using different types of english muffins – whole wheat, sourdough, or even cinnamon for dessert versions.
- If you have Thomas’ English Muffin, their extra-crispy version works especially well for this recipe.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prep these ahead of time and refrigerate unbaked for up to 24 hours. Great for quick lunches or after-school snacks.
Leftover english muffin pizzas will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat in a toaster oven or air fryer for best results – the microwave makes them soggy.
You can also freeze assembled but unbaked english muffin pizzas. Freeze them solid on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding 3-4 minutes to the cooking time.
Perfect Pairings
These homemade english muffin pizzas are great with:
- Simple green salad
- Veggie sticks and ranch
- Tomato soup for a pizza-grilled cheese vibe
- Pizza Bagel Bites for a pizza party spread
If you’re feeling adventurous, try making a big spread with these along with Focaccia Pizza and Italian Pizza Dough for the grown-ups.
Closing Thoughts
I still remember making these with my mom after school – it was the first “cooking” I was allowed to do on my own. Now I make them with my kids, and seeing their faces light up when they create their own mini pizzas makes me so happy.
There’s something special about a recipe that’s stood the test of time, and english muffin pizza definitely qualifies. Simple, adaptable, and always satisfying.
Give this easy english muffin pizza recipe a try next time you need a quick meal. I bet they’ll become a regular in your dinner rotation too.
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