English Muffin Pizzas

Did your mom make you English Muffin Pizzas growing up?  Mine did, all the time. They were part of her quick and easy repertoire.  My little sister and I thought they were delicious and loved to help her make them.

 

I came across a recipe in a cookbook recently and realized that it had been at least 15 years since I’d had one.  I wondered, were they really as good as I remembered, or was it just nostalgia kicking in? To satisfy my curiosity, I decided to try them out. I’m happy to report that they were just as delicious (in a yummy, kid food kind of way) as I remembered.  I made a few “grown-up” versions for Michael and me; my favorite was topped with fontina, Parmesan and fresh basil but Michael preferred the authentic childhood version made with mozzarella and pepperoni to them all.

It must be said that there are lots of recipes for English Muffin Pizzas out there – the idea has been around for decades – but too many go about it all the wrong way.  It’s essential to toast the English Muffins before you top them with sauce and cheese, otherwise they’ll come out soft and undercooked, and there’s almost nothing worse than a raw English muffin; after all, the beauty is in the toasty crunch of every nook and cranny.

So in case you were cruelly deprived (okay, I exaggerate), or just want to recreate a childhood favorite, here is my foolproof adaptation.

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English Muffin Pizzas
Printable Recipe

Makes 8 mini pizzas

Ingredients

4 English Muffins, sliced down the center
1 cup marinara or pizza sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 ounces pepperoni, thinly sliced and cut into quarters
Dried oregano, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the broiler.

2. Toast the English muffins in the toaster until golden brown and crisp on top and bottom.

3. Arrange the muffins cut side up on a foil lined baking sheet. Spoon a generous tablespoon of pizza sauce over each muffin half. Top with the Mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Sprinkle with dried oregano and Parmesan cheese.

4. Place the pizzas under the broiler for a few minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbling and slightly golden. Serve warm.