This easy, healthy Mini Zucchini Pizza Bites recipe is a perfect appetizer, snack, or even lunch and dinner for baby, toddlers, kids and the whole family. Made in 4 easy steps they will become a part of your family menu.
Pizza is probably my favorite "fast food" meal. I could eat it every day. So here is our take on a healthier version by making these mouthwatering, but delicious Mini Zucchini Pizza Bites.
And if tomato isn't your thing and you are looking for an even simples sliced zucchini recipe check out our oven roasted zucchini slices with parmesan which is done in 10 minutes.
Why should you make this recipe:
- Super easy zucchini pizza recipe where you don't have to mess with any dough
- Healthy pizza bites
- Use any kind of cheese you have
- Great as mini pizza appetizers for parties
- Great zucchini recipe for toddlers kids and the whole family (see below on how to serve based on age)
Nutrition And Ingredients
- Zucchini - Excellent source of vitamin C and manganese and a very good source of dietary fiber, potassium, folate, and copper
- Cheese - You can really use any kind of shredded cheese of your choice here. I prefer to use shredded mozzarella cheese just because I find it healthier than other shredded cheese versions like pizza cheese, cheddar or gouda. We also sometimes use goat's cheese. It’s a great source of fat, protein, calcium, and calories
- Canned/bottled tomatoes - Tomatoes are a great source of vitamins C and K as well as a specific nutrient called lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant that can be beneficial to the cardiovascular system
- Onion and garlic - necessary to make a flavorful tomato sauce
- Spices - dried basil and dried oregano work best. If you have fresh basil that is also great
Step-by-step instructions
- Prepare for baking. Preheat the oven to 200°C / 390°C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
- Prepare the veggies. Wash the zucchinis (and peel if you want to) and cut into about 15 pieces that are around ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Place them on the baking paper. Peel and slice the onion into tiny pieces. Peel and slice the garlic cloves into tiny pieces.
- Make the sauce. Drizzle olive oil into a pot or pan and heat over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic to the pot/pan and let cook for a few minutes. Pour the tomatoes and add the spices, date syrup (optional), basil and oregano. Cook for about 5 minutes.
- Bake the zucchini pizzas. Transfer the tomato mixture onto the zucchinis with a teaspoon and cover with shredded cheese. Bake for about 25 minutes.
- Cool and serve. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes prior to serving.
Tips
- Make sure your sauce is thick enough. If the sauce is too loose (which will depend on the kind of canned tomatoes you have on hand) then just cook for longer as it will evaporate, reduce, and thicken up
- Know your baking time. The time of 25 minutes for baking the homemade zucchini pizzas might not be the ideal time for your oven. You want your zucchinis to be soft but not mushy. And you'll know this by sticking a fork in one while baking and checking it out. You also don't want your sauce and cheese to be burnt so once you see they're getting the brownish color on the edges, you know it's time to take them out of the oven.
- You can add other different toppings, such as shredded chicken, mushrooms, grated carrots, peppers or anything you like that will fit the zucchini
How To Serve To Babies And Toddlers?
- If you will be serving to babies under the age of 9 months, remove the skin from the zucchini because their digestive systems might not be able to digest the fiber yet
- We would recommend serving this to babies when they are ready for pincer grasp, so probably 9 months+, and then cut them into bite-size pieces the size of pinky fingernails.
- For toddlers – serve them as is, mini zucchini pizza bites
FAQ
Can I use a different vegetable other than zucchini?
Yes, the recipe is called Zucchini Pizza but I'm pretty sure you can use another similar veggie like eggplant that will make your pizzas just as nutritious and delicious.
Can I make them dairy-free or use a different cheese?
Yep, you can use vegan cheese or use any other type of shredded cheese. Instead of shredded mozzarella that I use you can use any kind of hard shredded cheese.
If you've tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then please rate it and leave us a comment below!
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Mini Zucchini Pizza Bites
This easy, healthy Mini Zucchini Pizza Bites recipe is a perfect appetizer, snack, or even lunch and dinner for baby, toddlers, kids and the whole family. Made in 4 easy steps they will become a part of your family menu.
EQUIPMENT
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini large
- 3.5 oz shredded mozzarella
- 5 tablespoon canned tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon date syrup (or sugar) optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion medium-sized
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 tsp oregano
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C / 390°F. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Wash the zucchinis (and peel if you want to) and cut into about 15 pieces that are around ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Place them on the baking paper.
- Peel and slice the onion and garlic into tiny pieces.
- Put the olive oil into a pot or pan and heat over medium heat.
- Add the onions and garlic to the pot/pan and let cook for a few minutes.
- Pour the canned tomatoes and add the date syrup, basil and oregano. Cook for about 5 mins.
- Transfer the tomato sauce to the zucchinis and cover with shredded mozzarella.
- Bake for about 25 minutes.
- Allow to cool for about 10 minutes prior to serving.
Notes
- Make sure your sauce is thick enough. If the sauce is too loose (which will depend on the kind of canned tomatoes you have on hand) then just cook for longer as it will evaporate
- Know your baking time. The time of 25 minutes for baking the homemade zucchini pizzas might not be the ideal time for your oven. You want your zucchinis to be soft but not mushy. And you'll know this by sticking a fork in one while baking and checking it out. You also don't want your sauce and cheese to be burnt so once you see they're getting the brownish color on the edges, you know it's time to take them out of the oven.
- You can add other different toppings, such as shredded chicken, mushrooms, grated carrots, peppers, or anything you like that will fit the zucchini
- Serving Advice for Baby and Toddlers
- We recommend serving this to babies when they are ready for pincer grasp, so probably 9 months +, and then cut them into bite-size pieces the size of pinky fingernails.
- If serving for babies under 9 months remove the skin as their digestive system may have a hard time digesting it.
- Toddlers - serve them as small pizzas.
Nutrition
Serving: 1pieceCalories: 35kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 45mgPotassium: 71mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 101IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
If you've tried this recipe for kids then rate the recipe below and leave us a comment!
Heather
I made this for my 9 months old and my 4 yo, they both loved it lol :p
Ana
Great! I am really pleased!