Since Nora enjoys cooking and helping out in the kitchen SO much, and since I know many of you have children who are eager to help in the kitchen as well, I figured it might be fun to start posting a few SUPER simple recipes that not only taste great, but are easy for little hands to help with.
I’m going to call the series “Kids in the Kitchen” and I’ll eventually create a little logo for it in my sidebar. In the mean time, you can follow all future Kids in the Kitchen posts via this link.
I’m not planning to have any type of formal schedule for this series — I’ll just post whenever Nora and I come up with a new recipe that’s extra “kid-friendly”. And if you don’t have kids or don’t want to cook with your kids… rest assured, I’ll still be posting MANY other recipes here on the blog 🙂
Today’s recipe for Homemade Personal Pan Pizzas could not be more perfect for little hands… plus, most kids I know will eat pizza (especially if they get to choose their own toppings).
Nora had been begging me to “make her own pizza” for a couple weeks already, so when I saw these little personal pan size crusts on sale at the grocery store, I snatched a few of them up — knowing we had gobs of pizza toppings at home!
I honestly didn’t think the crusts would taste great, I just liked how small they were. But surprisingly, they were amazing — even reheated as leftovers in the toaster oven the next day! I will definitely be buying these little crusts again.
Anyway, Nora had SOOOOO much fun making her pizza and pizza for the whole family. She told everyone she saw for the next 48 hours that she made us pizza for dinner and how good it tasted. She also asked if we could make it again the following night — but I told her we’d probably wait at least another week or so.
If you’re looking for a fun, simple, frugal, and really yummy meal to prepare with your toddlers and preschoolers, this recipe should satisfy!
Recipe for Homemade Personal Pan Pizzas
INGREDIENTS:
- pizza crust (or dough to make your own crust)
- olive oil for brushing on crusts
- pizza sauce (or pasta sauce)
- favorite pizza seasonings (we used garlic, oregano, and basil)
- favorite pizza toppings
- lots of cheese (mozzarella or Italian are best)
DIRECTIONS:
- Prepare crust (if making your own)
- Top crust with oil, sauce, seasonings, toppings, and cheese
- Bake according to crust directions
- Eat and enjoy
There are literally endless possibilities of pizzas you could make — and the beauty of making the personal pan size is that everyone can choose their favorite toppings.
We made a ham, bacon, and cheese pizza for Nora and Simon to share. Nora made me a Hawaiian pizza with ham, bacon, cheese, and pineapple. And we made 2 supreme pizzas with onions, peppers, tomatoes, salami, ham, bacon, pepperoni, etc. for Dave (and for leftovers).
These pizzas were honestly WAY better than I thought they would be — and our whole family eagerly gobbled them up for dinner… and then as leftovers the next day for lunch.
I will most definitely be stocking up on pizza crusts and adding this fun, family-friendly meal to our meal plan more often!
What are your favorite recipes to make with kids?
Click here for more Kids in the Kitchen posts… or visit my virtual recipe box for more simple, delicious, family friendly recipes!
Holly says
We do pizza quite often with our 3yo. She loves it, especially as she can help by cutting mushrooms and pineapple. Then she gets to pick which toppings. We tend to insist on 1 vege (and know she’ll have pineapple), but she gets to pick which vege. I tend to use a scone dough for the crust as so easy to whip up, and can make her an individual sized one.
Andrea says
Sounds yummy… and I’m impressed she can cut her own mushrooms and pineapple already!!
Carrie says
Another crust is to use biscuit dough. It is fun for the kids to roll out and cheap!
Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says
Personal pizzas are always fun to make! When I taught preschool, I used to have the kids make them like lions (sticking chow mein noodles around the edge) and melting the cheese on top. Although, eventually I discovered it was easier / better to use an English muffin, spread peanut butter on it and then do the chow mein noodles as the mane. I’m glad Nora had so much fun making – and eating – them. Like Simon, Nathan’s already a big fan of pizza!
Rebecca says
I love the pictures of Nora where she is preparing the pizzas. She looks so focused! She’s such a cutie! I hope my grocery store has something similar, my kids would love this! Plus, if they make their own, I won’t have to hear them complain that they don’t like this or that toppings! I always tell them to just pick it off, but you know, now it’s contaminated! 😉
Anyway, looking forward to more of these recipes!!
Jen says
We do this, too, but with English muffins for crust! 8 minutes at 375 for those. I like doing these because they’re fun for kids, they’re super simple, and we can make them with anything we want. I always buy pizza sauce for the “easy” factor, but it might be fun to make my own and freeze a bunch of it eventually.
Siobhan says
Love this! I have a daughter who needs to eat gluten and dairy free so will stock up when I see these items on sale..wish they weren’t so expensive.
Corinne says
We love making individual pizzas too, and usually instead if these actual pizza crusts I buy a package of pita breads. REALLY good, and they come in a pack of 6, and are less expensive for the 6 than for 3 pizza crusts.
Corinne says
Oh! I just realized you said you need to buy gluten and dairy free and those are the expensive items! Sorry!:) Stocking up on those specialty items is definitely important when they’re on sale.
Siobhan says
Aww thanks just saw your reply 🙂
Kelly S says
Could you use corn tortillas as a gluten free pizza crust? I know it won’t be quite the same, but would be nice and tiny and flat? (and cheap and easy??)
Siobhan says
I never thought of using corn tortillas! Thank you so much 🙂
Chris says
Aww, she’s so proud of herself. That’s great that she loves to work and help out and you are encouraging that.
Jen T says
Had to laugh…one of Emily’s BFFs is not allowed to stay for dinner b/c he is such a picky eater. We were getting pizza one night and he decided to stay…he was SO proud of himself for eating a slice! What 16-year-old boy does not like pizza?! Maybe I’ll pull this recipe out the next time he comes over, lol.
Andrea says
haha! as a very NON-picky eater, I’ve always feared having super picky eating children. I realize that some of it can fall on the parents, but I’m convinced that most of a child’s pickiness is their own sensory “deal”. So they may or may not grow out of it. It does make it hard to go over to friend’s houses though. And yes, what boy (or anyone in general) doesn’t like pizza!
Jen T says
My kids ate just about everything until they were about 3…then my son got pretty picky for a few years, but the food battle is not one I was willing to fight. Eat or be hungry. Now both kids eat just about anything I serve…they may not like it but they will eat it, thankfully!
Ann says
When you stock up on pizzas, how will you store them?
Andrea says
well… probably just in my pantry next to the bread 🙂 The crusts are just in the grocery department and don’t need to be refrigerated.
JJ says
How fun! You can tell she really enjoys this. Great job for teaching her young! It will give her a lot of confidence in the kitchen. Our family favorite lately had been tortilla pizzas. 425 for 8-10 minutes. Pizza sauce, cheese, toppings–yum!