Pizza Pot Pies: The Ultimate Comfort Food Mash-Up Recipe
Pizza Pot Pies combine the best of two comfort foods: pizza and pot pie. Using pizza dough as the crust and filled with classic pizza toppings like marinara sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and aromatic herbs, these individual pies baked in ramekins create a fun, cozy meal perfect for sharing or enjoying solo.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 individual pot pies 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough
- 1 package refrigerated pizza dough (or homemade pizza dough)
Filling
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce or pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices (or your choice of toppings such as sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Topping
- Olive oil for brushing (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the proper temperature for baking the pot pies evenly.
- Prepare Ramekins: Lightly grease 4-6 small ramekins or oven-safe bowls to prevent the dough from sticking during baking.
- Roll Out Dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness, allowing for a crisp yet tender crust.
- Cut Dough Shapes: Cut the dough into circles or squares large enough to fit inside the ramekins with about 1 inch of dough hanging over the sides to seal later.
- Form Crust: Gently press the dough into the bottom and sides of each ramekin, creating a crust shell ready to hold the filling.
- Add Sauce: Spoon about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce into the bottom of each dough-lined ramekin, spreading slightly.
- Layer Cheese: Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce in each ramekin.
- Add Toppings: Place a few slices of pepperoni or your preferred toppings over the cheese layer inside the crust.
- Season: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese along with dried oregano, basil, garlic powder, and optional red pepper flakes on top of the toppings for flavor.
- Top with Cheese and Seal: Add more mozzarella cheese on top, then fold the overhanging dough over partially to cover the filling, sealing the edges slightly.
- Brush with Olive Oil: Brush the exposed dough tops with olive oil to promote browning and a glossy finish (optional).
- Bake: Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool: Remove from oven and let the pot pies cool for 5 minutes to set and allow safe handling.
- Serve: Serve the pizza pot pies hot, optionally with extra marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Feel free to customize the toppings to your liking, including vegetables or different meats.
- If you prefer a spicier pie, increase the red pepper flakes or add sliced jalapeños.
- Using homemade pizza dough can add a fresher flavor but refrigerated dough works great for convenience.
- Make sure to grease ramekins well to avoid sticking and tearing when removing the pies.
- These pot pies reheat well in the oven and can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking.
Keywords: Pizza Pot Pies, individual pizza, comfort food, savory pot pie, pizza dough recipe, easy dinner, homemade pizza, oven baked pot pie
